Reeeaaaallllly offensive dog burps

[shannonRN]

We feed both our doggies Nutro Ultra, but only one of them has this 'gas issue.' Our GSD lets rip a few times a day with these rancid, sour-smelling burps--I guess I could spare you the details, but that's half the fun!

Our vet suggested the obvious, that we switch foods, but there is very little choice around here. The food at the supermarkets/dept stores is loaded with corn, and the only other thing sold by the feed store is Blue Seal.

Does anyone use the internet and have food shipped to their door? How much additional expense does this amount to? If we order tons of it at a time (not literally), will it keep as long as it's not opened, for instance 3 or 4 months?

Is there anything we can add to his diet to cut down on the stinky gas without changing the food altogether? Rolaids or Gas-X maybe?

[Prin]

Could you feed less each meal and have more portions per day? It sounds like he's burping when his belly isa little empty... They say if you don't let them drink too much in one shot and certainly don't raise the food bowls, the dog will take in less air that way... I don't know about supplements though..

[shannonRN]

Actually, I thought it might be the opposite of an empty belly--swallowing air when he eats, combined with a food that maybe gives him indigestion??? He always burps after eating but sometimes between meals too.

Now, I'm not sure what's going on. Funny though that our other dog is the one who wolfs her food, while the slow eater is having gas issues.

We feed them twice a day and I don't think it would be possible to increase the # of feedings while keeping a consistent routine--we both do shift work and our schedules change constantly. It's very annoying to me that this may be as simple as a diet thing, but coming by a decent food when you live where I do is no small feat!

[Prin]

Hmmmm.

And you have no dog food stores near you? None at all?

[mastifflover]

I agree I think you may need to switch foods. I had Buddy on Solid Gold for a while but the gas from it was unbelievable the boy could clear a room in seconds. But I know a lot of people who use it with no problems so I think each dog is different. I use Costco Kirkland Series Chicken and Rice good food if you have a costco near you. Ordering your food online should not be that much more expensive, just use ground shipping it is the cheapest way.

[shannonRN]

Locally, we have feed stores (farm-ish, like Agway) where I currently can get Nutro, Blue Seal, and Big REd brands. There's the local puppy mill, er I mean pet store, and there are the grocery/dept stores where the usual stuff is sold. Beyond that, it's a long drive ~1hr 20min to where I could have a greater range of options. I'm concerned that since we don't venture that way very often, that it will be very inconvenient to have to drive all the way up there for dog food. I'm concerned in the same way about buying over the internet--I'm terrible about planning and know I will run out--then what do I do? Maybe I can try both--stock up when I do go to the city, order over the internet when I don't.

[Prin]

I'd say buy two bags each time and when you're down to half a bag, go get another 2... A bag should last you nearly a month, eh? So if you go once every month and a half... Not so bad, right?

[coppperbelle]

I buy my dog food from a supplier about an hour and a half away from me. I save a great deal of money doing so. I buy 3 bags at a time. Make sure you check the expiry dates. The 3 bags I just bought are good until March 2006.
I remember a while back someone on this message board ordering Solid Gold dog food online. The shipping costs weren't that bad.

[shannonRN]

I didn't realize they had expiration dates printed on the bags--that is good to know, so I can stock up without fear.

[Prin]

Kandy gets Solid Gold WolfCub shipped, but I don't know if she still comes to this site...

[Dog Dancer]

When I was looking into getting the Timberwolf Organics shipped to me they quoted me $7.50 US to ship from Florida, but then decided they wouldn't ship to Canada afterall. So that wouldn't be too bad, probably if you ordered 3 bags the cost would be a bit more but not triple. If you find a site online to order from they should be able to show you the shipping costs.

[shannonRN]

I looked into having a heavy item shipped recently and the price was just astronomical. Really scared me off--thought a single bag of food would cost a fortune, based on weight. When I've tried to look into shipping costs online, you have to actually process the order and start putting in personal information, and that makes me nervous, but I guess I could email or call them--lazy I guess. I guess my other "issue" about this whole thing is that I really try to spend my $ locally and support the small business owners, rather than supporting the petco franchise owner. Oh well.

I suppose I shall just stock up in Rochester, and if I have to have some shipped at times, then so be it. And hopefully Rommie will stop belching. A gas-free variety would be good

[SnowDancer]

If you order on-line, I would be careful during the summer to keep supplies to a minimum since all sorts of little "creatures" can develop in the food. I keep my dog's food in its original packaging placed in an airtight container. Still I cringe. I once had a mouse jump out of a cereal box right into my face. To this day cereal goes into a freezer bag and then into an airtight container or I don't open it.

[Prin]

LOL Did you hear about the woman who sued one of the HUGE cereal companies because she opened a box and it was all moldy? That makes me cringe.

[shannonRN]

I've gotten all sorts of yuck human food...had a roommate get me a bottle of a certain electrolyte drink once when I had the flu in college. I thought it tasted funny, but assumed it was b/c of the flu, barfing for two days straight, etc. Then, when I got through about a liter of it, I took a swig and noticed it seemed slimy; that's when I saw all the yellowish-white slime mold floating around in tendrils in the bottom of the jug. I barfed for another day straight and haven't had that product since. I haven't ever had problems with pet food though.

[Prin]

Eeewwwww

[shannonRN]

We've made the transition to a new food now (Premium Edge) and the nasty burps are all gone
Couldn't be happier! Added bonus--food available (sort-of) locally at a tiny shop my husband never told me about in the town where he works. We're all happy campers around here now.