Purina Pro Plan vs. Natural Choice "Nutro"

[Lisa]

Quick Question:

Any opinions on which brand of dog food is better?  I have two yellow labs who are both on Purina Pro Plan.  My oldest is on the Sensitive Skin and Stomach blend (no corn) and my youngest is on the Performance blend.  I'm looking at switching to the Natural Choice (Nutro) Sensitive Coat and Nutro Max blends.

Any one better than the other?  Any better choices around the same price range?

Thanks
~Lisa

[The General]

I have heard good things about both foods you have asked about.  I did my research and found Diamond Naturals as my dog food of choice.  You should check into it.  It is 100% Natural.  No byproducts.

[Mayfly]

The breakfast, lunch and dinner of champions!!

[Spinach]

I am using Purina Pro Plan also, I switched this past spring from NutriSource, mainly because of the price difference.

NutriSource at Gander Mountain went up to $33.99 A Bag, compared to $26.99 for Pro Plan.

The dog loves it and I'm saving a few bucks on a high quality dog food.

[repoman]

ive been breeding dogs over  15 yrs and ive allways used proplan i think for the money you cant ggo wrong . ive used all types but defiinitly proplan  iis my dogs food of choice ....

[Buster]

The General mentioned Diamond Naturals, I feed my dog Diamond lamb & rice naturals @ low $20's per 40lb. I saw a week or so ago an ad for same Diamond at Tractor Supply Co for $17.99 reg $19.99. Even at full price cheaper by $3-4 over my current local pet store. Not sure how many locations for TSC, but in SE metro Inver Grove off 55.

[The General]

Diamond Naturals
Extreme Athlete

    * Rich in Protein and Fat for Optimal Energy and Condition
    * Antioxidant Formulation
    * Contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin
    * Balanced Omega Fatty Acids for Skin and Coat
    * Crunchy Kibble Helps Clean Teeth and Reduce Plaque
    * Natural Formula with Vitamins and Minerals

Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Chicken & Rice Formula for Dogs is specifically formulated with optimal levels of protein and fat to fuel your hard-working dog. Also designed to meet the needs of growing puppies and pregnant or nursing adult dogs, this formula will meet all the nutritional needs of your program.
Feeding Guideline (standard measuring cups/day)
Weight (lbs.)   6 - 11 weeks   3 - 4 months   5 - 7 months   8 - 12 months   Adult Dogs
 
3 - 5   2/3 - 1   1/2 - 1   1/2 - 2/3   1/3 - 1/2   -
5 - 10   1 - 1 2/3   1 - 1 1/3   2/3 - 1 1/4   1/2 - 1   1/4 - 2/3
10 - 20   1 2/3 - 2 3/4   1 1/3 - 2 1/3   1 1/4 - 1 3/4   1 - 1 1/3   2/3 - 1 1/4
20 - 30   2 3/4 - 3 2/3   2 1/3 - 3 1/4   1 3/4 - 2 1/4   1 1/3 - 1 3/4   1 1/4 - 1 1/2
30 - 40   3 2/3 - 4 1/2   3 1/4 - 3 3/4   2 1/4 - 2 3/4   1 3/4 - 2 1/3   1 1/2 - 2
40 - 60   -   3 3/4 - 5 1/4   2 3/4 - 3 3/4   2 1/3 - 3   2 - 2 2/3
60 - 80   -   -   3 3/4 - 4 1/3   3 - 3 3/4   2 2/3 - 3 1/3
80 - 100   -   -   4 1/3 - 5 1/3   3 3/4 - 4 1/4   3 1/3 - 4

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein    32.0%    Minimum
Crude Fat    25.0%    Minimum
Crude Fiber    4.0%    Maximum
Moisture    10.0%    Maximum
Sodium    0.3%    Maximum
Zinc    150 mg/kg    Minimum
Selenium    0.4 mg/kg    Minimum
Vitamin E    150 IU/kg    Minimum
Omega-6 Fatty Acids *    3.5%    Minimum
Omega-3 Fatty Acids *    0.5%    Minimum
Glucosamine Hydrochloride *    300 mg/kg    Minimum
Chondroitin Sulfate *    100 mg/kg    Minimum

* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile.

Calorie Content: 4,710 kcal/kg (470 kcal/cup) Calculated Metabolizable Energy.

AAFCO Statement
    Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Chicken & Rice Formula for Dogs is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.
Ingredients
    Chicken meal, chicken, brewers rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), egg product, cracked pearled barley, powdered cellulose, beet pulp, flaxseed, natural chicken flavor, fish meal, potassium chloride, choline chloride, glucosamine hydrochloride, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, chondroitin sulfate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

[The General]

I also like to look at the amount I have to feed my dog per day.  I brand might be 2 1/2 cups and the next brand is 4 cups.  The more you have to feed the more that comes out the other end.  In stead of going to the local pet store to get your dog food look into going to the local feed store.  I have always found better deals there. 

[thunderpout]

Pro plan is a good choice, but Im a guy who is pretty anal about ingrediants in human and dog food, reasearched em all and have to agree with the General...Diamond is a very good quality food and if ya go to the right place to get it, its hard to beat the price... I feed drummer the wonderdog the lamb & rice formula off season and then when he starts training late summer, I mix it with the x-treme athelete.  Used to mix it with pro plan or other higher protien/higher fats food in the fall until the naturals came out... its good stuff, but I need a beer or a glass of milk to get it down...JK :ROTFLMAO:    -thunderpout 8)

[Merimac]

I dont like Nutro at all.  Not saying it isnt good but My dogs have been really gassy with that stuff and I  am talking toxic.

When you get into these foods I think they are all pretty good.  Find what one fits your needs from results with your dog to price you want to pay.

Next I was talking to some one who was in Las Vegas at a vet confrence last week.  He went to multiple seminars and the one he and I talked about was feeding a sporting dog.  Best results were...

Do not feed the dog with in 8 hours of running dog
High fat High protein foods... Not brand specific
45 minutes before a brace sugar water is a good thing  Not a ton.

And the one that was new to me  was mix in some pasta  with the dog food the night before no sauce just noodles..

[Birdshooter]

pro plan and purina. Look at facts! There's very few if any dog food mfg's who have such a research facility as purina. most lamb and rice foods are for dogs who have food allergies, or are finicky. The other thing is it's against the law to put the amount of DIGESTIBLE calories on a bag of food. reason being not all dogs need so much, but for working dogs it's important to replace what was lost during the day's hunt. proplan performance is the best I've fed.

[thunderpout]

Pro Plan is good dog food...the reason they have the facilities, is because Purina has been making animal feed for years, they are a big company therefor they have alot of $$$...alot of other dog food companies make high fat, high energy food for dogs that need it!  Lamb and rice formula food isnt just for finicky dogs, its a different source of protien and carbs that is more digestable than some other forms, but yeah, its also for dogs with allergies.  Also, most dogs dont need a high energy food the whole year....in the off season, when your dogs are a little, sometimes alot less active... a lower fat/carb/protien food is fine...just as with us humans....     -thunderpout

[Tami]

I feed mine Eagle Pack.. since the 80's
And they poop way less, and you don't have to feed as much
my 63 huskies all grew up on Eagle, and it made a huge diff with dog sledding. And the coat and build on my lab is wonderful.


  Eagle Pack® Holistic Select® and Eagle Pack® Super Premium brands offer natural, human grade ingredients and the highest quality meat meals, grains, and fats and oils available. Both contain at least 8 of our holistic, custom supplements.  To learn more about ingredients used in our foods, choose a product line (Holistic Select® or Super Premium) and follow the link to the respective "Ingredients" page.

The Eagle Pack® Holistic Select® brand offers hypoallergenic formulas, unique ingredients such as duck, organic quinoa, a broader variety of fruits and vegetables and added holistic supplements.

http://www.eaglepack.com/

[Plott]

If anyone is interested, I have a feed called K-9 Elite available. I have fed it to my running dogs and hounds for several years. I've been through all the feeds you've mentioned. It is available in  30-20 chicken and rice and a 26-18 chicken and rice. My dogs run 6 to 8 hours a day and do very well on it. Its in the $25.00 to $28.00 range for 40 punds. Feel free to contact me for more info.
Plott

[repoman]

i know this , solid gold is the best dogfood anywhere ! period ! its just spendy

http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/

[peent]

I use Purina because the head guide says I have to!

[Tami]

OK lol