Has anyone had any experience with this food or any advice for me as I'm a complete novice when it comes to what to look out for:

CONTENT:     Chicken, Lamb & Rice (min 26%), high fructose corn syrup, soy grits, soy flour, wheat flour, corn syrup, calcium carbonate, brewers condensed solubles, salt, DL-methionine. Contains EEC permitted preservatives, antioxidants and colourants.
 
NUTRITION:  
Protein 19
Oil 8
Fibre 1
Ash 5.5
Moisture 28.5
Copper 7
Phosphorous Calcium Vitamin A Vitamin D3 Vitamin E

I'm a bit concerned about all the corn syrup and wheat flour.

The trouble is, I've tried both Burns & Naturediet and after having great success to start with Molly gets bored within days.  Hi-Life is the only food we've tried that has kept her interest for more than a week - sometimes we mix in some cheese or chicken etc.

I think I'm consigned to the fact that the food I want her to eat is not necessarily the food she wants to eat!

Hi,

I resulted to using this when my young male Golden was teething he was fed on this because that was all I could get him to eat.Not my preferred choice and I personally don't rate it very good he is now back on JWB,however at the time at least he was eating something and it did him no harm.

Briony:-)

I use this supposed fod as a training treat only.  As you may have noticed it is full of sugar (Fructose, Corn syrup).  This is not needed by dogs at all, same for the colours, but the4 bits are easy to ahndle and tiny enought to give as frequent treats without overfeeding.

I would not recomend it as a staple diet, as it will contribute greatly to ruining teeth.

I wouold stick to a good food, with as high a meat content as you can find, be that dry or wet.  If she doesn't eat a meal pick it up and offer nothing at all until next meal time.

I have had two of mine, one in particular that were picky eaters, but even if they are a bit lean they will not starve themselves if otherwise healthy, and by the time they get to five or 6 years old you may find you actually have to watch they don't eat too much :D

Hi Claire

The first thing to note is that the overall CRUDE protein level in this diet works out at 26.5% (you need to remove the moisture and then divide the protein by the dry matter %age and multiply by 100) there will be no protein in moisture. :D

Also remember this does not indicate what %age of this protein is actually available to your dog or its quality.

I am surprised that it says min 26% after "lamb and rice", what %age of this 26% is lamb and what rice; the labelling should be clearer.

Dogs do not need sugar and in fact it is not good for them and the high fructose corn syrup AND corn syrup is there to make the food more palatable to the dog!

This food also contains soya which is not recommended for dogs as it produces a lot of gas; it is put in as a cheap form of complete protein but it does not suit most dogs.

Brewers condensed solubles indicates Brewers Yeast, not something that is advisable especially with dogs that may have "yeast issues" eg gunky ears, gut overgrowths etc!

Salt again is a no no!

Methionine is an amino acid that must be added as it is lacking because the food is cereal heavy (soya, wheat, rice).

Then you have preservatives, antioxidants and colourants which may or may not be harmful SINGLY but combined may be!

Dogs, like us, will often choose highly flavoured junk often over the more healthy alternative.  I doubt she is actually "bored" but from your post it sounds as though she has figured out you will give her another alternative if she plays "not interested".

If this food comes in a "pouch" and is what they call "semi-moist" then all that corn syrup is used as a humectant to keep it that way; so you are paying for "looks and texture" rather than nutrition!

Personally I would not feed this food to a dog; but that is only my opinion.

Hi Claire,

Betcha your dog eventually gets bored with whatever brand this food is too :-) 

I think that variety keeps a dog interested.  If you prefer dry complete, I would go back to Burns and supplement it with other foods for flavour variety. Or try one of the better dry completes, like JWB or Arden Grange.   You can add tuna and oil one day.  Chopped meat the next. A bit of cottage cheese or egg.  Toss in some minced veg.  And so on. 

Based on the ingredients you list, it is not a food I would choose to feed my dog.  I too find it odd that lamb&rice are treated as a single ingredient.  Salt to me is a definite no-no.  Corn syrup is as well.  These are both additives to make the food more palatable to dogs. I'd rather do that by adding something healthy.   I also do not use foods with added preservatives, mostly because there is no reason to use them.

That said -- all of the above is for the "main course".  I do give my dog a few commercial treats every day as she shows no interest in any of the healthier ones, like JWB or Burns.  I also make my own, which she prefers over any of the commercial ones.

Stacey

Thanks everyone for the replies - you have all pretty much said what I already thought.

I know I've probably contributed to her fussiness by changing her food, but I can't bear to see her not eat - although I've been much stricter with her over the last few weeks (sticking with the same food and if she doesn't eat it then that's it til the next meal) and she seems to be improving.

I've tried making her dinner myself but she will just pick out the meat - not interested in rice or veg (unless it's from the chinese of course - then we have to stop her pinching it!)