My parents just recently moved them on Iams instead of what i had them on. They've been on TOTW, 4health, Blue wilderness, and then Earthborn. They had been doing amazing on Earthborn which i had a feeling they would. Kay has been gassy since we've had her and has been having liquid stool. My parents blamed it on this exotic diet i had them on. My dad liked 4health because of the price and he really didn't like Earthborn because it's $56 for about a 30lb bag, don't remember the exact weight.

So my dad believes Iams is the best food in the world since he works for procter and gamble. Kay got an upset stomach from it and her stomach was making lots of bubbly noises, it sounded like mine does. My parents were wondering why her stomach was upset and i just kept my mouth shut. I would love it if i could keep them on Earthborn but my parents are stubborn and don't believe me about the reviews on dogfoodadvisor.com. When i told them about it they asked who are the people giving the reviews are and overall just blew me off.

I've always had issues with animal food and my parents, my older sister tried to get them to feed our old cat better food but they wouldn't listen. I've also had issues with getting them to take pets to the vet for check ups and whatnot. Kay hasn't even been to the vet since we've got her, she went to a vet clinic event at a local pet store to get updated on shots and get rid of her tapeworm. She really needs to go to the vet and i can't take her, i would if i could. She needs to get her dew claw removed since it looks like it was ripped off but not all the way. It just bounces around on her leg while she walks around. So that's my little rant, i don't rant too awfully much but i'm just really frustrated.

I was wondering if anyone would know a way to convince my parents that Iams isn't all that great. I don't usually argue with my parents because i know i can't win, they're my parents, and i don't argue with people older then me.

Are you unable to purchase the dogs food yourself so that you don't have to bother convincing your parents?

I don't have my licence nor a job.

I payed for the food when they were on Wilderness and payed to get Sophie spayed because i wanted her spayed before she went through her first heat cycle. The money i used was from pet sitting my moms friends golden retrievers and my grad money.

The way I see it, it's ultimately up to them if they're the ones paying for it.

You could try breaking it down and explaining what's in Iams vs whatever you'd like them to be fed and why it makes such a difference. You could also ask them for what they're willing to pay and shop around to see if you can find something better for the money.

I had to give hubby the whole "there's more fillers in Iams, and it just comes out in his poop, without doing him any good" argument. I drilled into him that he'll eat less food of higher quality, and get more nutrition out of it versus the "cheaper" stuff. Why pay for something that is mostly just coming out the other end, and doing nothing from him nutritionally.
It worked, lol. I don't give up easily, and he knows it. Lucian is on the earthborn too. Convincing parents is a whole different ball game, good luck!

Do you have a costco membership? They sell a good grain free food there that is like TOTW but cost less, nature domain. I think you need to show them the site again, find the info on why grain free is better but the proof is right in front of you, the dogs are sick from the iams. Can you not fine a job to help care for them?

This is why I waited til I was capable of taking complete care of a dog myself before getting one. I didn't want to argue about what my dog gets. Jarod's parents had an opinion even when it wasn't their money, so I can't even imagine if it was. I have to agree, you can preach it to them, but if it's from their wallet, then it's their call.

Yeah i'll try telling them about ingredients and see how well that goes Thanks

I'm not good at going in depth to things but i'll try my best.

jbealer wrote:

Do you have a costco membership? They sell a good grain free food there that is like TOTW but cost less, nature domain. I think you need to show them the site again, find the info on why grain free is better but the proof is right in front of you, the dogs are sick from the iams. Can you not fine a job to help care for them?

We don't have one, i don't even know if there's one near us. I would but we're working on getting my licence first, i'll look at places near us that i could walk to.

Have you shown them the website foodadvisor.com? It goes into details why a food is good or not good. I was shocked to read that some Science Diet has cancer causing ingredients.

Also, one of the TOTW flavors gave my girls really bad gas but when I switched them to Another flavor of TOTW, the gas went away. So don't discredit a brand if they have other flavor options you can try.

I do have my girls on 4Health Salmon now. Is there a reason your dad took them off 4Health? It's a 4star food and very reasonably priced.

No i haven't, i just told them about it, i'll see if i can get them to look at it soon. I didn't think they would want to look at it.

I know that it's their choice since they're the ones buying it, i just want them to be educated about what they're actually feeding them.

Oh Maya and Sophie weren't doing to well on 4health and Maya actually had a lot of eye boogers which she never got before. But i might see if my dad wants to switch them back to it if they do worse on Iams. Tractor supply is a little bit of a drive from us but he was okay with the drive.

Kay's had gas and the runs on all the food we've tried and she's had lots of eye boogers. Maya and Sophie didn't have any gas on the foods we've had them on. Though Maya does have gas on Iams but hers are loud and don't smell, Kay's are silent and deadly.

Ask around and see if anyone you or your parents know has a Costco membership. They could get the food for you. I feed Nature's Domain and have been very happy with it.

If Kay's had gas on everything, I would seriously consider trying to figure out if she might be allergic to something.

The way I look at it with Parents is this: Get as much information in your tool belt as possible. This includes graphs, statistics, studies...all of them abotu dog food and why its important to feed higher quality. Next, go to your parents and have them sit down with you and discuss it all. Even throw in some of the horror stories if you like, like cancer statistics from preservatives and the animal cruelty disputes against Iams.

If nutrition won't get them, hopefully animal cruelty will. No one wants to support somethign that harms animals.

I second the Nature's Domain suggestion if you can get your hands on it. That's what we feed after trying many different foods that gave Bode soft stools. And the price is fantastic. The cost of a Costco membership is made up for times over in the amount that we have saved on dog food, Frontline, and a dog bed that would have cost probably $60 at a pet store that we got for $20.

I'll print out as much statistics, graphs, and other things as i can and sit down with them. They love the girls about as much as i do so i think that will change their minds. Thanks

I hadn't thought about her being allergic to anything, i'll look at the ingredients and see whats been constantly showing up in all the food.

And i'll talk to them about the costco and see what we can do about that. I think the closest one to us is in Cincinnati which is about a 50 min drive. There could be one closer. Costco sounds amazing, is it like flower factory? i don't think they sell dog food there though.

Costco is a wholesale retailer. They sell a lot of groceries in bulk. They are basically like Sam's Club, if you're familiar with that.

We have Sam's Club xD

and yes Abby the closest costco is in Cincinnati

I'm thirding the Costco Natures Domain.

We feed Natures Domain Salmon (blue bag) It's about $1/1lb and far better than any other food that price, that I've ever seen.

Even just good old Kirkland Signature Chicken or Lamb is good, and that's like $30/40lb.

Just asked my mom about Costco, she's never been there but said it'd be about a 30 min drive which isn't bad. She told me to talk to my dad which i'll do after dinner tomorrow when he comes home from work, he tends to fall asleep at this time when your talking to him

If we can't do the Costco i'll see about Kirkland, don't think i've seen it in our main pet store we go to.
@Mobezilla have you seen it at jacks or anywhere?

Mobezilla wrote:

We have Sam's Club xD

I haven't seen any good dog food at Sams, i'll have to look better next time i go

@Abby I'll check at jacks pets next time I'm in but I think costco gives you deals if you have a membership there and thats why its cheaper

I'll see what my dad thinks tomorrow, he always likes bargains but who doesn't

Kirkland is Costco's own generic brand. And you can only shop at Costco if you have a membership, it's not just a discount program. Base membership runs around $55 for the year.

As far as I know, Sam's doesn't have the quality food, if they have dog food at all.