Dalmatian

Question
QUESTION: I have a Dalmatian that is about eight years old. I was wondering what kind of dog food do you recommend me to fed her? I also have a Siberian husky that is about one year and eight months old. What do you recommend feeding her? The husky also gets adult vitamins daily.

ANSWER: Hi Christin,

First of all, I'd be better able to provide recommendations if you could expand a bit on the dogs. What have they been eating to date? Any health issues? And why are you adding  vitamins to a commercial food? That's a practise I tend to discourage, as most quality kibbles already contain more than enough esential nutrient. On the other hand, it can be beneficial to use a probiotic, some fish body oil, and/or a supergreen food like spirulina.  But first - what are you feeding now, and what is it makes you want to switch?

I can list off the names of several top end food companies, and that may give you a starting point, but each company will offer several formulas, such as some grain-free/higher protein, some gluten free, some geared to large or small breeds - and Dalmations can have very specific dietary requirements as well, although I assume if yours  had problems you would have mentioned this.

If you can fill me in a bit more with regard to the above, I'll be better able to help you.
All the best, Catherine

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The dalmatian is eating Purina Dog Food and the Siberian Husky is eating Ol'Roy dinner rolls. The dalmatian has very sensitive skin and a problem with her leg. I am not sure whether those affect the type of food she eats or not. The Siberian Husky is healthy she has no health issues except a couple of months ago she had hook worms, but that is already cured. She has adult vitamins and skin and coat supplement because I'm not sure if she is getting all the nutrition she needs from the food she is eating.

Answer
Thank you for filling in the details. Yes, you can definitely upgrade your dog's overall wellbeing by switching to a high quality food. Diet has an enormous impact on skin and coat health, although I can't say anything about the leg issue without knowing what it is(obesity of course makes any orthopedic problem worse, but you don't say your dog is overweight).

Dalmatians are very susceptible to both allergy and the development of a specific type of urinary stone. Since your dog has not developed them so far, you may be fortunate enough that she will not...but, it is still something to watch out for.  Females are less likely than males to develop urates but it is still a much higher likelihood than with other breeds. Some information and links for you:
http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/dalmatian/dalmatianhealth.htm

I would recommend - strongly - a switch to any of these foods:

1) Natural Balance -  I like the sensitive formulas for your Dal:
http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/home.html

2) Fromm FourStar - any of these:
http://www.frommfamily.com/products-fs-d.php


3) Wellness -
  http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog_wellness_dry_index.html

4) Innova - another good choice:
 http://www.naturapet.com/brands/california-natural.asp

I would avoid the very high protein foods, although a grainfree moderate protein such as Fromm's Duck and Sweet Potato will work.

My sense of this is that any of these foods represent such a vast improvement over Ol Roy that your Husky will thrive on them as well as your Dal; although I often like to increase protein for a Sibe, this is a great starting palce.
My apologies if I sound critical in any way, I would just love to see your dogs on foods that truly merit the descriptor "premium".

I hope this has been helpful, feel free of course to ask anything I may have missed.

Catherine