feeding my Golden Ret.

Question
QUESTION: We just adopted a 9 yr old Golden and he came with his Nutro Senior food but
wasn't interested in eating it. When he did he seem to gag on it like it was too
dry. We bought him some Pedigree Senior food because I noticed that it had
some softer kibble along with the harder kibble.  He does eat this much
better but still doesn't get excited.  I believe he was fed from the table in his
other home.  He also has thrown up a couple of times.  Is Pedigree a good
food?  Any suggestions on what we should be feeding him?

ANSWER: No pedigree., no nutro, and no table food.
His food should be a light senior food,no by products, no corn, no wheat, no soy no chemicals. Try Wellness., Natural Balance, Flint River, Canidae, or Eagle Pack. All are premium dog foods. He will poop less, and be healthier. You might also want to try feeding him small amounts throughout the day rather than two big meals.
Put his food down for fifteen minutes., then pick it up. Keep him on a regular schedule, no additives.
He should also be on good supplements., chondroiten and glucosomine, vitamins c, E, B complex, omegas, and flax seed oil.
By products in dog food btw, are what is called four d meats. That means Dead, Diseased, Dying, and/or down. This can be road kill, euthanized animals, animals too sick for human consumpption, killed by chemicals, or already dead by the time for slaughter. UGH.
Be sure to have your guy vetted, his teeth cleaned and a complete workup done.At this age you can really extend his lifespan with a good vet checkup
Good luck
Cindi

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

QUESTION: Thanks for your help.  

Last night he was acting weird and wanted to go outside a lot.  When I
watched what he was doing I noticed that he was eating the needles off of
tiny pine trees that had been uprooted and laying in our yard.  We live in
Alaska and have no grass yet, everything is still frozen.  I also noticed that he
tried to eat the artificial tree in the house.  Could he be sick?  Are the pine
needles harmful?  (He eats "stuff, small critters", while on our walks around
the neighborhood).

Answer
Sounds like he is definitely having stomach issues. Dogs eat grass (or other roughage) when their tummies don't feel well. It makes them vomit which very often takes care of the problem. I would have him completely vetted just to be safe
Good luck
Cindi