Help Needed! I've just had an argument with my partner re this!!

[Bruno and Gidget]

Our Boo Boo is currently on Hill ZD Low Allergen kibble. He has been displaying slight signs of irritated paws, nothing major. I posted a question here yesterday about this horrible noise he makes sometimes (like clearing his throat). Some suggested it could be allergy to food, others said this is normal for bulldogs. One member suggested I put him on Ziwipeak food as Fromm is not available in Australia. Problem is my partner thinks I'm mad to be spending $150 for a 5kg bag of Ziwipeak kibble as compared to $140 for a 13 kg bag of the Hills kibble. I only want whats best for Boo Boo. I'm going back to my vet to ask his professional opinion BUT the member that suggested Ziwipeak on here also said that vets know diddly squat about nutrition!! Blah!!!! So i've found out what's in the ZD kibble and I was hoping someone on here with all their knowledge would be able to advise if any of the following ingredients are bad for our bully's:

Low Allergen Ingredients Dried Potato Product, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Potato Starch, Soybean Oil (preserved with BHA, propyl gallate and citric acid), Hydrolyzed Chicken, Powdered Cellulose, Calcium Sulfate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Glyceryl Monostearate, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), DL-Methionine, Taurine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene , Rosemary Extract.

There is also an Ultra formula with these ingredients:

Starch, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Soybean Oil (preserved with BHA,propyl gallate and citric acid), Hydrolyzed Chicken, Powdered Cellulose,Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Glyceryl Monostearate, PotassiumChloride, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin ESupplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin,Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate,Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin,Vitamin D3 Supplement<(>,<)> Folic Acid), DL-Methionine, minerals(Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper sulfate, Manganous Oxide, CalciumIodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols &Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.

Sorry to be so painful guys but I need your help!

 

[PeterPanAndWendy]

I am not an expert, so others will be on to help.
i know that potato can cause a build up of yeast, so you need to be careful there.
Also, some bullies don't do chicken very well... It's an allergy thing.

But like I said, we have some food gurus roaming around, so someone else can really break it down for you!

 

[RiiSi]

[MENTION=2291]cowsmom[/MENTION] is the specialist aroun here and can tell you why that is no good. But can you see even 1 natural incredient in that list???? Your vet will tell you that it's the best for your dog, (cause they sell it) when it clearly is not and will bring you back to see him/her with reoccurring problems.
There is other good brand of kibble besides Ziwipeak. Check this link http://www.englishbulldognews.com/forums/content/dog-food-ratings-219/ There must be some better in there that is sold in Australia as well.

You can also check the site dogaware. It's really informative and has tons of information about dog nutrition and health.

You're not being painful at all, Hopefully we can help. But remember that it's better to pay a bit more for good quality food than watch your baby be poorly and carry loads of money to the vets pockets.

I feed raw against all vets recommendations (has had urate bladder stones and is supposed to eat prescription kibble and he hates kibble) and my Usko is thriving.

 

[Vicaroo1000]

Yeah. Hang on.. [MENTION=2291]cowsmom[/MENTION], the gastronomical goddess will have some thoughts for you...

The thing is, even that Ziwipeak may not be the perfect food for your pup. Origen is VERY good food but it doesn't work for Bea and Bo. Too rich. You just never know until you try it. But I vote that if whatever you're feeding him now works GREAT -- stick with it! Why upset the apple cart?

 

[LariP]

The right food can make all the difference in the world. And as others have said, in the long run you will save money on trips to the vet if you get the right food for your bully. Finding that food can be a challenge though. We have to go grain free, chicken and salmon free for Gracie. She has done best on Fromm Beef Frittata so far. We tried switching to change out protein source and give other options and neither of the new foods sat well with her. (increased itching, licking, tear stains, shedding and smelly softer poo) So she is now going back to the Fromm. We are almost finished with the transition, but I see improvement already.

 

[bullmama]

Can you post the ingredients in Zwipeak?


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[izstigspunks]

@LariP is right. I went to the vet almost every other week with Stig's allergies, spent about $1000 in less than two months on antibiotics, physicals, mange meds (that was a secondary reaction to his allergies). Once I changed his diet, haven't gone back since, except for a cherry eye and annuals. This was almost 2 years ago.

So finding the right food can make all the difference in the world, it's vital for their health plus it's always going to be cheaper than repeating vet visits.

 

[izstigspunks]

Or, to save you and your bf from food trial frustration, you may want to get a full screen allergy test done on Bruno. At least this way, you'll be able to avoid the foods that have ingredients that he's allergic to. This test costs at least $400 here, I can imagine them being similar there. Not cheap, but it'll save you from guessing.

 

[cali~jenn]

Dont bother asking the vet, they usually dont know much about food and nutrition and actually push what they sell since they get kick backs from what they sell. If there is something else of similar quality on our list that you have over there I would try that maybe? One thing is finding the right food is such a life saver and as much as you are going to spend on it is really worth it. Fromm is not the most expensive food but very expensive compared to say canidae or something BUT Cutty has no tear stains on it whatsoever. None. First time in his 6 1/2 years that I have been able to say this and believe me I have tried MANY brands of food. I mean pedigree is a cheap food and all but there is no way I would ever feed it to my babies. Cheap usually equals less quality ingredients and more fillers. You do get what you pay for. Sorry you are going thru this, thankfully hubby doesnt care what I do as far as feeding the pups.

 

[cowsmom]

ok let me weigh in on this. the difference between hills and ziwi peak is like night and day. i see lots of potato something and some kinda chicken there and not much else. if meat is not the first ingredient i dont even consider it. to me hills is not much for alot of money. here is whats in ziwi peak as ive posted it below. its a top of the line raw food. i would have sarah on the canned if it was not so expensive and i didnt have 5 pets to feed. sarah would not even eat the hills when the vet gave it to me before i knew any better. i would try it or some other food before i would leave my pet on hills but that just my opinion. now having said that if youve tried other foods and hills is all that works for your bully then by all means leave them on it but i would try better foods first and you dont get better than ziwi peak really. now will it work for your bully dunno. id consider a blood allergy test as i had sarah on 20 foods before i had her tested and found out shes allergic to most kibble. shes on freeze dried food now and doing good. good luck and if you need more help im always around.

Lamb - Meat (includes up to 3% finely ground bone)​	min. 56%		Protein (min.)	33%
Lamb - Liver, Lung, Tripe, Heart and Kidney	min. 34%​		Fat (min.)	27%
New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel	min. 3%​		Fibre (max.)	1.5%
Lecithin, Chicory Inulin, Dried Kelp, Parsley, Naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E)			Moisture (max.)	15%
Vitamins: Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Hydrochloride			Ash (max.)	8%
Chelated Minerals: Iron amino acid complex, Copper amino acid complex, Manganese amino acid complex, Zinc amino acid complex, Selenium Yeast, Potassium Bicarbonate, Calcium Carbonate

 

[Jack Daniels]

[MENTION=2291]cowsmom[/MENTION]

Wow reading that list of Ingredients made me think..... (i do that every now & then)

Our Bullies eat healthier than I do. !
I just had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch... meanwhile, Jack at home
had Lamb and vegetables .

 

[RiiSi]

[MENTION=2291]cowsmom[/MENTION] [MENTION=4197]BooBoo (aka Bruno)[/MENTION] I suggested Ziwipeak thinking it could be at least a bit cheaper in Australia, near where it comes from, than in other side of the world, Europe. Checking out raw around there is a good idea too. All the possible meats you could get!

 

[cowsmom]

@cowsmom

Wow reading that list of Ingredients made me think..... (i do that every now & then)

Our Bullies eat healthier than I do. !
I just had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch... meanwhile, Jack at home
had Lamb and vegetables .

well seeing as you control what you eat thats kinda pitiful

 

[cowsmom]

@cowsmom @BooBoo (aka Bruno) I suggested Ziwipeak thinking it could be at least a bit cheaper in Australia, near where it comes from, than in other side of the world, Europe. Checking out raw around there is a good idea too. All the possible meats you could get!

i looked at ziwi dry for sarah but it has kelp and shes allergic to that but i like the looks of it. its kinda like the vital essentials shes on now really. they just need to introduce slowly to check for allergies.

 

[Bruno and Gidget]

Thanks everyone for the input! Love you guys. It's back to the vet for a full allergy screen test for Boo Boo!