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Just because a dog is fed Beneful doesn't make their owners cruel. In fact some of the vets recommend this food along with the crap that they sell. I would not recommend it, but trying to get someone to change to a better food when the vet recommends this and they see those lovely commercials about "spoiled" pets getting Beneful, what are they supposed to think? My mom feeds Beneful to her lab, I have tried to get her to switch and even bought a different food for her, but she always goes back to Beneful, 1. it is convient to get, 2. Austin (lab) loves it, 3. the vet said it is a good food, 4. it is healthy because of the commericials. I pointed out the ingredients on the bag and she still did not get it. What are you to do? You can not change everyones mind, and atleast the dogs are getting fed and are not starved. I would much rather see a dog fed Beneful than to see one starved. I have had to report several cases where they are starving. Sad Sad situations.
Our shelter won't even acept beneful, and they accept some low level kibbles... they won't accept any foods with food coloring... Just one of many reasons...
Beneful dog food is manufactured by Nestle Purina Pet Care Company, which is a division of Nestle. I think it looks like stew. The main ingredient in Beneful is corn, but there is chicken in there. They also use corn gluten meal, animal fat, animal digest, soybean meal, brewers rice, beef tallow, chicken by product meal, sugar, and sorbitol. Good foods, like Natural Balance, Artemis, and By Natural, do not contain these ingredients. Beneful, unlike most dog foods, contains the dyes Yellow 5, Red 40, Yellow 6, and Blue 2.
Crickett, I realize most people dont know any better. But if you do, there is no reason to feed something like Beneful, doesnt matter if you are short on money or not. You can feed something moderately better, that costs more, and still save money. Why? Well, we all know dogs eat less when they eat better food. It evens itself out. So the money excuse doesnt fly with me either.
Parents that feed their kids junk everyday are irresponsible. Owners that feed their dogs Beneful when they KNOW better are just as irresponsible. And yes, cruel, because the dogs dont have a say. We make the choice not to load our body with something that will cause cancer, diabetes, allergies, etc. They can't.
And again, I know there are people that honestly dont know beneful is bad for their dogs. I'm not referring to them.
Purina Beneful Original has 1674 calories per pound of food. The cost of a 17.6 pound bag on PetFoodDirect.com is $19.49.
1674 * 17.6 = 29462.4 calories
So it costs $19.49 for 29463 calories (I rounded up).
Per calorie it costs you $0.00066.
Canidae All Life Stages has 1875 calories per pound of food. The cost of a 20 pound bag on PetFoodDirect.com is 25.79.
1875 * 20 = 37500 calories
So it costs $25.79 for 37500 calories.
Per calorie it costs you $0.00068.
Sedona needs 850 calories per day. Beneful would cost me $0.56 per day to feed her, or $3.92 per week.
Canidae would cost me $0.57 per day, or $3.99 per week.
That's a difference of $3.64 per YEAR!!! I'd much rather pay FOUR MORE DOLLARS PER YEAR and not give my dog a whole bunch of chemicals! Seriously, if someone can't spare an extra 4 bucks a year they really don't need a dog. That may sound mean and brutal, but it's FOUR STINKING DOLLARS!
That's what I was trying to say, probably wasn't clear enough. I didn't break it down to price per calorie though. As for 'Vet Recommended' I don't listen to anything a vet says about canine nutrition unless they show me the paperwork to prove that they studied it. Nutrition is an elective, most vets don't take it. They simply recommend what they were brainwashed into feeding during their schooling.
I am my veterinarian's adviser when it comes to dog food because I can print him informational pamphlets and such to hand out. He's learned a bunch (especially for a senile old man) and no longer sells any food from his office. He's not ready to make the jump to Orijen and the like but he no longer supports the corn-baggers either.
It's a judgment call that has to be made by the pet owner. While I would be more than happy if every one of the cheap producers were shut down and their plants destroyed it's not going to happen.
LOL...yeah I noticed that but figured I'd let it slide. Personally, I love meat. Since I love meat that's what I prefer to feed my dogs. This trend starting in 'Vegetarian/Vegan' pet foods (for carnivorous pets) really bugs me to no end.
Beneful may be cheap, that is the problem with it. The company wants to make a buck which means they buy cheap and jack the price up to turn a profit. Since corn is cheaper than anything and their meat sources are highly questionable it's a perfect example of 'you get what you pay for'.
Riley, I did not say that I feed Beneful!! Did you read all of my post? I feed Timberwolf Organics and I am starting the transition to Natural Balance. I rotate foods. I said that my mom feeds Beneful to her lab and because of the reasons I listed in my first post will not switch. I have bought her Canidae and Diamonds Naturals and have tried to educate her, but because of the misleading advertisement and vets saying it is good food, people will feed it!!!!!
well, this is not about benefull but its about pedigree... My sister in law adopted a dog from a shelter and they were feeding him pedigree when she got him, so I told her about the better quality foods out there and she switched him to Solid gold (batm)... after a few months he didn't seem to be enjoying his food so she went back to pedigree... her response to me was that he didn't want to eat it so she gave him what the shelter had him on and he eats no problem now... I again explained why it wasn't a good idea but I don't think she listened,, she spoiles him and gives in too soon and has his food out for him all day, If he was bored with the solid gold she could turn into something better like evo, fromm, natures variety, etc....
I guess she thinks that I'm wrong when I say its nasty food.... she sees the TV commercials, then it must be good for her dog...
I don't know what else to do, because she lives in a different state, so I can't really do much from here...
again I consider benefuls quality the same as pedigree... (Junk) like eating cardboard...!
Oh well some people just don't want to listen..
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