PC Nurition First Puppy? New dog owner needs help!

[Charliee]

I'd love your imput as I noticed in a prevous PC food post this doesn't sound like a fan favotite brand around here and I'm feeling a bit worried. The registered breeder that I'm getting my puppy from feeds it so I bought a bag for when junior comes home... is this an okay long term choice? I can't be forking out big bucks so I'm looking for a balance between $$$ and health.

"PC Nutrition First Puppy" chicken & brown rice ($9.99 for 3 kg)-

Chicken Meal, Chicken, Brown Rice, Dehulled Barley, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (perserved w/ mixed tocopherols), Whole dried eggs, Natural chicken flavour, Tomatoes, Flaxseed, Salmon oil, hearring meal, brewers yeast, clacium carbonate, whole sweet potatoes, whole carrots, whole blueberries, whole cranberries, whole apples, potassium chloride, Dicalcium phosphate, sodium chloride, Vitamins (A, D3, E, Niacin, C, Inositol, d-calcium pantothenate, Thiamine mononitrate, Riboflavin, Beta Carotene, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin K, Biotin, B12 supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulphate, Manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, Calcium iodate, sodium selenite), probiotics, digentive enzymes, DL-Methionine, Yucca Schidigera, Dried Rosemary.

(sorry for any typos!)


Can't wait for your expert advice!

[Marty11]

Do you have a "Global Pet Food" near you. They have an amazing line up of food. You have to decide Grain Free or Regular Grain Food. It's the big debate these days. I personally feed "Acana" Lamb and Apple, it has grain, but I also add high quality canned. It also depends on activity, size, breed etc. I don't feel that grocery store food is good quality, some say Costco has a good food.

[Longblades]

It looks OK to me and a key point is that you should feed puppy whatever the breeder used for a while anyway. One or two months. Most breeders will send you home with a small bag of their food. Puppy is going to face a lot of big changes soon, best to keep what you can the same for a bit.

I would expect the breeder to give you detailed feeding instructions on how to up the amount for proper, SLOW growth, and when to switch to adult food and to give her/his recommendation on the adult food

I see you have highlighted the Vit. K. Vit K is a naturally occuring vitamin. Synthetic Vit K., called Menadione, is controversial. You might want to confirm that with the company, is it obtained from natural sources or is it synthetic? I would discuss the importance with the breeder.

Also check your health guarantee. You might lose it if you change the food.

[Charliee]

Originally Posted by Longblades

I see you have highlighted the Vit. K. Vit K is a naturally occuring vitamin. Synthetic Vit K., called Menadione, is controversial. You might want to confirm that with the company, is it obtained from natural sources or is it synthetic? I would discuss the importance with the breeder.

Also check your health guarantee. You might lose it if you change the food.

I never thought about the health guarantee part, I'll have to ask!

I'm new to the pet world but have noticed, after lurking around here, that this food part is taken with the same passion as breast vs. formula! So I highlighted the VIt K part because from other heated threads re: the vitamin my understnding is if it says Vitamin K it is the natural source vs being listed as menadione.

Thanks for the great info!

[jenniferkdiaz]

Wow. Pretty healthy line up there. It's okay to feed those or to have some of that vitamins on the food you serve for them. As long as they have annual check ups with the vet. Vitamins and exercise. Your dog are good to go.

[kmoose]

We tried the PC Nutrition First a while ago. Bought a small bag of the chicken and a small bag of the Lamb - they were on sale. My dog has an iron stomach and can eat anything, anytime.

This food gave her the nastiest farts I've ever encountered. Both the Chicken and the Lamb. My neighbor tried it as well and said the same thing (and she feeds Iams...for comparison)

My dog turned her nose up at both flavours within a few days as well.

Kirkland (Chicken or Lamb) works well, is comparably priced, etc. We also use TLC (order online) and occasionally Acana in the rotation. She does best on either the TLC or the Kirkland Chicken, a close second on the Kirkland Lamb, and a close third on the Acana Wild Prairie. She's tried Merrick and Canidae as well in the past but they both made "extra large prizes" in the backyard so we stopped those.

Also note Breeders often have a health guarantee because they get a % of the food you buy back - see TLC's business model. Hence we set up a new account with TLC under my wife's name and WE get the kickback.....not the breeder (she didn't tie her guarantee to it, but fed it and strongly recommended it...)