Off Topic Forum...

[Kathryn41 3,205]

oh, that is good news about Buddy. It sounds a little bit like what happened to Tristan. My vet attributed it to feeding him store brand commercial catfood. I improved the quality of his food (as the vet said, pay the money to buy better food and I won't be paying her) and went to a premium catfood and have had no problems with any of them since. I am glad that Buddy is home and doing well.

[brown_eyes 0]

Yeah... I did upgrade their food a while back and I am noticing a big difference in how much they eat now.

Kathryn, I was going to ask you about your cats... are they Maine #######? Some look like they are but others look like Tabbys but they all look related!

[Mephys 2]

Oh we see a lot of things that can cause pancreatitis or GI tract infection/irritation. And 80% of them is unknown. Some animals are just very sensitives, and yes cheap food can be a cause of it.

We see it happening a lot more in dogs of course because they eat anything they find outside or they get a lot of human food, either everyday or when there is visit at home. Some of them are not at their first time and even though we tell the owners to be careful, they will come back 6 months later "oh I gave him pork roast 2 days ago, but he didn't get into anything" like duh

For cats it's more touchy. Sometimes an irritation because of a furball, constipation because of it and just giving them some IV fluids in the hospital or subcutaneous will help them get rehydrated and pass the obstruction and they feel better, without being a major obstruction necessiting surgery. Other times your cats get into something and you might never know because they are so sneaky And sometimes it's just because of the weather, they are more warm and don't eat as good, etc.

It's pretty much like us, we can eat something that never causes any problem and one day it's gonna make us sick. The only difference is we know we don't have a rubber toy in our guts so no need to go to the hospital, and we drink cause we know we need to. Oh and we make it to the bathroom

Anyhow, glad everyone is doing ok

[Carlawarla 1]

Good Morning. Canadian coffee this morning. Taste the difference? I'm going to check out a few stores to see if something jumps out at me to wear to Gene's brother's wedding in a few weeks...if nothing does, I'll be wearing something I already have.

I'll be MIA tomorrow morning, and of course I usually take weekends off.

[Emancipation 2]

I miss Krikit

Glad to hear Buddy is okay!!

Have a great time shopping Carla!!

[trailmix 77]

I miss krikit too!! Did she not say she would check in with us....has she...NO!

Carla I hope you find something gorgeous!

Glad to hear your kitty is ok browneyes! We did have a pet picture thread in the Canada forum not that long ago, but I can't find it now.

Kathryn, what cat food do you use now?

Oh and Mephys, I was just looking at the picture of your cat, she looks a lot like mine, do you have a picture of her where we can see her face?

[Ban Hammer 13,258]

g'morning everyone. i guess i'll get to do the coffee tomorrow since carla's gonna be gone

[trailmix 77]

g'morning everyone. i guess i'll get to do the coffee tomorrow since carla's gonna be gone

Looking forward to the 200 gallon jug of coffee Charles.

Oh and I see the pet thread got bumped

[Emancipation 2]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry2091289

i should have walked away.. but i just couldn't!!!!!!!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry2091289

i should have walked away.. but i just couldn't!!!!!!!

Oh no, your response was priceless!! Thank you for adding some perspective to that thread:-).

Trying to remember who asked what now . . . .

Well, three of my cats are listed as Maine ####### types - Lion, Bear and Tristan. I actually know nothing about their parentage as Tristan showed up on my back porch one very cold December night and streaked into the house when I opened the door - a skinny, long-tailed, long-haired unneutered male with the nicest personality I had ever met. He was about 10 months old at the time and after no one answered any of the 'lost and found' ads, I decided to keep him.

Lion and Bear - and their sister Tiger Lily (who now lives with a friend in Minnesota) - also showed up on my porch step back in Canada in the hands of two young neighbourhood kids. The kittens were about 10 days old and their dog had killed the mother cat. Their parents told them to just leave the kittens but the kids knew I was the 'cat lady' (hehehehe) and brought them to me. They were small and dark with eyes and ears still closed. I bottle fed them and raised them with the help of my other resident cats. They were short haired until about 7 months old when they suddenly developed these beautiful, thick, long fur coats. Bear has a ruff that would do a lion proud and a tail as plumey as an ostrich feather! They are good sized cats - 15 and 16 pounds - but not quite as big as purebred Maine Coons. They do have the look though so I suspect one of their parents may have been a Maine ####### or even a Siberian or Norwegian. Tristan has the size but not the coat length which is more medium in length so again, there could be Maine ####### blood somewhere. They are all tabbies - Tristan is black and grey/brown mackerel tabby; Bear is brownish/grayish mackerel tabby and Lion is brown and black classic tabby.

They eat three different types of dried food: Eukanuba or ProPlan Organics, and Freija (one of the black and whites) only eats the Nutro Max Roasted Chicken. They get the Proplan canned food and occasionally the new Fancy feast gourmet cans as treats. Instead of regular treats (although they sometimes get Temptations), I pick up the small sample bags of different flavours of premium brand cat foods (Royal Canin, Innova, etc.) and give them tidbits from those as 'treats'. Because they are being fed by hand in small bits they also think it is a treat and it is healthier for them.

Edited August 7, 2008 by Kathryn41

[Chica Yeyé 41]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry2091289

i should have walked away.. but i just couldn't!!!!!!!

you are the best... EVER!!!!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Info on dog food, but the system can probably be used on cat food. From my readings, pretty much any food you buy from a grocery store is junk! Same goes for the big box pet stores. majority of the high end foods are found in the smaller mom/pop stores or have to be ordered online----which many instances are cheaper than the mom/pop stores.

rating Dog Food

This method of grading dog food was developed by Sarah Irick. It is

not to be considered exact science but a starting point for people who

need help with how to read labels and choose a good food. You can read

about Sarah here. She has provided, with permission to Naper Doodles

to include on our website, the Grading Scheme, foods that have already

been graded in Alphabetical Order, and dog foods that have been graded

In Order of Score.

How to grade your dog's food

Start with a grade of 100 points

1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points

2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat,

meal or fat) reference, subtract 10 points

3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points

4) For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source subtract 5

points

5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first

five ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice", "brewer's rice", "rice

flour" are all the same grain), subtract 5 points

6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2

meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points

7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points

8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points

9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points

10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract

2 points

11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is

allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points

12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points

13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic

to wheat), subtract 2 points

14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic

to beef), subtract 1 point

15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point

Extra Credit:

1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points

2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist,

add 5 points

3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points

4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points

5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points

6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3

points

7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2

points

8) If the food contains barley, add 2 points

9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points

10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point

11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point

12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the

first one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein

source, but "chicken" and "fish" as 2 different sources), add 1 point

13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point

14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are

pesticide-free, add 1 point

94-100+ = A

86-93 = B

78-85 = C

70-77 = D

69 = F

Following are some foods that have already been scored (alphabetical

order then ordered by score):

ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+

Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F

Canidae / Score 112 A+

Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+

Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F

Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B

Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A

####### Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+

####### Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+

Eagle Pack Holistic / Score 119 A+

Eagle Pack Holistic Chicken / Score 114 A+

Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy / Score 94 A

Eagle Pack Natural / Score 94 A

Eukanuba Large Breed Adult / Score 83 C

Eukanuba Natural Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B

Flint River Ranch / Score 92 B (non-specific fat source)

Foundations / Score 106 A+

Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 A

Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D

Iams Large Breed / Score 83 C

Innova Dog / Score 114 A+

Innova Evo / Score 114 A+

Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+

Kirkland Signature Puppy Chicken, Rice and Vegetable / Score 108 A+

Natural Balance Duck and Potato / Score 114 A+

Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B

Nutro Chicken, Rice, & Oatmeal / Score 85 C (non-specific fat source)

Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B

Nutro Natural choice Lamb and Rice / Score 85 C

Ol Roy / Score 9 F

Pedigree Complete Nutrition / Score 42 F

Pedigree Adult Complete / Score 14 F

Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F

Pro Plan All Breed / Score 68 F

Pro Plan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+

Purina Benful / Score 17 F

Purina Dog / Score 62 F

Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F

Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+

Royal Canin Dachshund 28 Formula / Score 97 A

Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+

Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A

Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F

Science Diet chicken adult maintenance / Score 45 F

Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F

Solid Gold Bison / Score 123 A+

Timberwolf Organics Lamb and Venison / Score 136 A+

Wellness Just for Puppy / Score 117 A+

Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+

Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A

NUMERICAL ORDER (BY SCORE):

Grade A

Timberwolf Organics Lamb and Venison / Score 136 A+

Solid Gold Bison / Score 123 A+

####### Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+

Eagle Pack Holistic / Score 119 A+

Wellness Just for Puppy / Score 117 A+

Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+

Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+

Eagle Pack Holistic Chicken / Score 114 A+

Innova Dog / Score 114 A+

Innova Evo / Score 114 A+

Natural Balance Duck and Potato / Score 114 A+

Canidae / Score 112 A+

Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+

Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+

Kirkland Signature Puppy Chicken, Rice and Vegetable / Score 108 A+

####### Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+

Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+

Foundations / Score 106 A+

ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+

Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+

Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A

Royal Canin Dachshund 28 Formula / Score 97 A

Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A

Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A

Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy / Score 94 A

Eagle Pack Natural / Score 94 A

Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 A

Grade B

Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B

Flint River Ranch / Score 92 B (non-specific fat source)

Eukanuba Natural Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B

Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B

Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B

Grades C and D

Nutro Chicken, Rice, & Oatmeal / Score 85 C (non-specific fat source)

Nutro Natural choice Lamb and Rice / Score 85 C

Eukanuba Large Breed Adult / Score 83 C

Iams Large Breed / Score 83 C

Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D

Grade F

Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F

Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F

Pro Plan All Breed / Score 68 F

Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F

Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F

Purina Dog / Score 62 F

Science Diet chicken adult maintenance / Score 45 F

Pedigree Complete Nutrition / Score 42 F

Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F

Purina Benful / Score 17 F

Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F

Pedigree Adult Complete / Score 14 F

Ol Roy / Score 9 F

About the Author of this Food Grading Method:

My name is Sarah Irick and I am a Great Dane owner and rescue

volunteer. I am a Civil/Industrial Engineer, not a veterinarian or

animal nutritionist by education or employment. I do not work for a

pet food manufacturer nor am I affiliated with one. I am just an

individual who is concerned about what I feed my dogs and wants to

help others decide what to feed their own. I cannot remember the exact

date I designed this system, though I know it's been more than a year

(probably 2-3 years ago). I was concerned with the way people

sometimes throw out names of "good" dog foods that maybe aren't so

good, and others take their words for it. Foods that maybe used to be

good before their ingredients were changed for the worse or before

better options became available are still being touted by some as

being super-premium and I disagree. Since many pet owners do not have

the time or inclination to do as many hours of research into pet

(specifically dog) nutrition as I and many of you have, I wanted an

*easier* way for them to compare labels. Unfortunately it is still a

bit cumbersome (sometimes 2 people calculate the same food and get

different scores even) but it's better than nothing in my opinion.

Is it exact science? No. I don't claim for it to be. In fact I've had

to make a couple of changes over time (which the above don't reflect)

for new circumstances I've run across, such as the food that contained

NO MEAT (not a special diet just one that was so cheap it didn't

contain any meat at all) and needs a steep penalty IMO but still

scored a decent grade on the original or the newer kibbles that

contain no grain and IMO if it still has sufficient fiber and carbs

then it deserves extra credit that wasn't previously reflected. Also

I've gotten comments and opinions that I take seriously and

incorporate if it seems appropriate.

I don't have a permanent site host for this although seeing how hugely

popular it is and how widely spread without accreditation it has

become perhaps I should do so. It isn't that I care so much about

credit but many people will ask the questions that your posters have

about my affiliations and biases, etc.

I don't officially support any one food; anywhere that I personally

posted grades on specific foods it was to give an idea of where these

foods fell so people didn't always have to do the math. If you want to

e-mail me with questions or comments, you can at fredirick@hotmail.com

. This is my "spam" address, so put "Dog Food Grading" in the subject

line or I'll probably delete it mistakenly. ~ Sarah Irick

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry2091289

i should have walked away.. but i just couldn't!!!!!!!

What did you use as bait, a few loonies or a container of tar sands oil?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Hey bro! I thought you were MIA there for a sec

[MissStacey 1]

Wow- Thanks for that post Flames!!

I have been looking at the Wellness brand and was thinking about buying it. Seeing the rating it got- I definitely will.

When I first got Cooper- I was feeding him Halo- dry puppy food. He loved it. I went one day to get more and they were out. I ended up picking up some Science Diet- which he hated. After that I wasn't sure to keep getting the Halo or try something else. I stopped in at a local Vet's office to see what they had. I bought a bag of Purina Pro plan for puppies. Cooper likes it but I see from the list ProPlan doesn't have a high rating.