Truth is that feeds (like Ol' Roy) contain a LOT of corn and fillers. That's what makes it cheap, there's much less of the ingredients a dog NEEDS to be healthy. Corn is a glycemic, a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are sugars. Sugar is a fuel that spikes the blood sugar followed by a sugar crash. A dog who consumes a high carb diet will need to eat a LOT to fuel the body, because it's not going to be as filling as higher quality, healthier ingredients. Think of eating a plate of cornbread day in and day out vs a hearty steak with a baked sweet potato. The steak will fill you and fuel you much more and for a longer period than the cornbread will. Other misleading ingredients may include an animal "meal".... that means the leftovers of that animal (bone, skin, fat, gristle, etc.)....not the flesh which is what your pet needs. I agree that "meal" is a good thing, but it's not the protein you'd like to believe that it is. It's more like the A1 that ads "oomph" to the steak.
Dogs switching to a higher quality diet will have a few days of adjustment. Pavlov's theory plays a part in that: dogs switching from an 8 cup-a-day diet to less than half that will feel cheated at first. Sugar addiction is the other factor. Soon though, they won't be begging for more and will feel more full, possibly leaving uneaten food in the bowl. That's okay! They aren't living on corn and floor sweepings anymore.
Once the dog has adjusted to the new, higher quality diet the owner may notice a drop in feed costs. Sure, the better food is much more expensive at the cash register, but the dog is eating much less.... which typically produces a significant savings. Don't you wish your gas tank were as easy to fix? .... Another benefit is much, much less fecal waste because the dog is using what he's ingesting rather than having floor sweepings express through his GI to your back yard.
Health benefits are the other effect. A high glycemic diet can well bring on diabetes which is a forever adjustment in diet and care and yes, more expense. Daily insulin injections, specialized diet and regular monitoring. Other effects can be arthritis and an increase in dental issues.
We don't feed our children a diet of candy, so why feed the dog something equally as harmful?
Even if you do feed a quality food, do check the ingredient label. I was shocked to learn that the specialized "diabetic" kibble sold only by a prescribing vet is actually more harmful as it's first ingredient is.... you guessed it: CORN. Even the vet was unaware of the negative effects of corn on a diabetic. Don't blame the vet... blame the pet food manufacturer. A prescription diet that is more harmful than a quality feed from a reputable dealer. Never take a bag of food for granted.
How do you find these higher quality feeds? I did a search on a specific brand and found ("Canidae", "Taste of the Wild", "Evo", etc.) a feed store near me; paid them a visit and received helpful advise, lots of education and made a few new friends to boot. I dare ya, give it a try and enjoy a healthier pet.
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