Rural area with limited choices; suggestions? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

susansmom · 08-25-2005, 02:14 AM

We llive in a pretty rural area. There are small towns around but the nearest city is 2 hours away. We can find Iams, Eukanuba, and Science Diet in our local area. Our breeder started the puppies on Science Diet, but my mom's dog won't eat it. Mine will, but it worries me that it has so much corn in it. I had a mixed breed a number of years ago that had terrible skin allergies. He was prednisone for a long time until I could see it was hurting him. Then the man at the pet heath food store (this was in Tulsa; there are LOTS of choices in Tulsa) told me to get him food with no corn. He had no allergies or hot spots at all after changing his food. I don't want to see Susan suffer with that, so I don't want her having corn in her diet. I don't want to be a nut about this and I'd really rather not have to make dog food. Is there something that can be shipped at a fairly reasonable price, or should I just stock up when we go to Fayetteville or Springfield? We go to Fayetteville more often and I don't think it has much fancier than a PetSmart in the way of pet food outlets. I guess the vets would have something, but I hate to go searching out vets in a strange city where I usually only spend about 4 hours every 3 or 4 months. I guess I just want it all -- convenience, reasonable cost, and most of all healthfulness. I guess I might have to sacrifice one of the first two.

lily's mom · 08-25-2005, 04:57 AM

I have fed Eukanuba for a while. Lily likes it and doesn't have any problems on it. I know a lot of people prefer Bil-Jac and Royal Canine. If you can get any of those easily I would go in that direction. A bag of anything ought to last quite awhile.

luv4yorkies · 08-25-2005, 05:13 AM

Welcomr to YT.

SoCalyorkiLvr · 08-25-2005, 06:23 AM

I think the best food out there is Natural Balance Raw and Natural Balance dry organic kibble. If you go to the Naturl Balnace website you can find out where the closest store that has it is and then call them to see about shipping. Good luck.

Snow Yorkies · 08-25-2005, 06:35 AM

I know the feeling on rural areas. I am in the sticks as well, with not a whole lot to choose from (whally's world, oh boy) I have to drive about the same distance to get premium food as well.

So when I take my trip, go to pets supplies plus (only pet store with in 85 miles of me) I look like we are going to go through world war III and there will be a food shortage..... But this is what us country folks have to do. I get looks from other clients, but the store employees know me now and just help me with my carts...lol

hreason · 08-25-2005, 11:47 AM

Are you in Arkansas? I think I am going to switch Brody to a Natura brand (Innova, California Natural, HealthWise, Karma) food when he becomes an adult. Right now he is on Royal Canin. I looked up Arkansas on the Natura website and only one place in the whole state carries it! That's crazy! I thought Oklahoma was bad...

Do you have any local feed stores near you? You can usually ask a feed store to buy a certain brand of food and they will do it for you. You might even be surprised at the brands that they carry. We found some very high quality foods at our local feed stores.

I wouldn't stock up on too much food at one time because high quality foods don't have a long shelf life. You don't want half your supply to go bad. Right now, I go through 1 3lb. bag per month of the Royal Canin Mini Puppy. So if you could get to a store once every couple of months and buy the 6lb. bag, you would probably be okay.

I understand how you feel about feeding lower quality food. I think Brody might be developing allergies on the Royal Canin, but the allergies could be from something else. Not sure yet. Many vet offices carry Science Diet, so that might not be any help to you. There might be one around though that carries a better quality food. There is a vet in Glenwood, AR that carries Natura products.

chattiesmom · 08-25-2005, 01:57 PM

Welcome Susansmom!!!!! So glad to have you and your furbabies on board!

I, too know the woes of living in an area with limited food choices. I drive 65 miles EACH WAY to buy food for my two girls and one very tiny picky boy.

I have been feeding Innova EVO for almost a year now and it works for us.

spydergurl · 08-25-2005, 06:11 PM

I like Natural Balance Beef and turkey rolls. You can buy them online or at Petco. Just go to their site and check it out.

I also live 75 miles from a big city, but we've lived here for 25 years, so I'm used to it. I commuted 18 years to the high school where I worked which was 45 miles away. Get into cd's, talk radio, and make fun out of it. It's also a good time to meditate, pray or plan your days. If you go to school, it's a good time to study, too.

,

chloeandj · 08-25-2005, 06:37 PM

Just wondering if you have checked feed stores in your area, if you are rural there is usually one around. We get our food at our local feedstore, they have chicken soup for the dog lover's soul, solid gold and a few others. Just a thought...

08-25-2005, 02:14 AM	#1
susansmom YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Harrison, AR Posts: 347	Rural area with limited choices; suggestions? We llive in a pretty rural area. There are small towns around but the nearest city is 2 hours away. We can find Iams, Eukanuba, and Science Diet in our local area. Our breeder started the puppies on Science Diet, but my mom's dog won't eat it. Mine will, but it worries me that it has so much corn in it. I had a mixed breed a number of years ago that had terrible skin allergies. He was prednisone for a long time until I could see it was hurting him. Then the man at the pet heath food store (this was in Tulsa; there are LOTS of choices in Tulsa) told me to get him food with no corn. He had no allergies or hot spots at all after changing his food. I don't want to see Susan suffer with that, so I don't want her having corn in her diet. I don't want to be a nut about this and I'd really rather not have to make dog food. Is there something that can be shipped at a fairly reasonable price, or should I just stock up when we go to Fayetteville or Springfield? We go to Fayetteville more often and I don't think it has much fancier than a PetSmart in the way of pet food outlets. I guess the vets would have something, but I hate to go searching out vets in a strange city where I usually only spend about 4 hours every 3 or 4 months. I guess I just want it all -- convenience, reasonable cost, and most of all healthfulness. I guess I might have to sacrifice one of the first two.

08-25-2005, 04:57 AM	#2
lily's mom Lily Loves Maximus Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,633	I have fed Eukanuba for a while. Lily likes it and doesn't have any problems on it. I know a lot of people prefer Bil-Jac and Royal Canine. If you can get any of those easily I would go in that direction. A bag of anything ought to last quite awhile. __________________ Lily and Dawn

08-25-2005, 06:35 AM	#5
Snow Yorkies Biewer Passionate Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern AL Posts: 1,684	Stocking Up I know the feeling on rural areas. I am in the sticks as well, with not a whole lot to choose from (whally's world, oh boy) I have to drive about the same distance to get premium food as well. So when I take my trip, go to pets supplies plus (only pet store with in 85 miles of me) I look like we are going to go through world war III and there will be a food shortage..... But this is what us country folks have to do. I get looks from other clients, but the store employees know me now and just help me with my carts...lol __________________ Dare to Dream Biewers Charter Member of BAPPC

08-25-2005, 11:47 AM	#6
hreason Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 113	Are you in Arkansas? I think I am going to switch Brody to a Natura brand (Innova, California Natural, HealthWise, Karma) food when he becomes an adult. Right now he is on Royal Canin. I looked up Arkansas on the Natura website and only one place in the whole state carries it! That's crazy! I thought Oklahoma was bad... Do you have any local feed stores near you? You can usually ask a feed store to buy a certain brand of food and they will do it for you. You might even be surprised at the brands that they carry. We found some very high quality foods at our local feed stores. I wouldn't stock up on too much food at one time because high quality foods don't have a long shelf life. You don't want half your supply to go bad. Right now, I go through 1 3lb. bag per month of the Royal Canin Mini Puppy. So if you could get to a store once every couple of months and buy the 6lb. bag, you would probably be okay. I understand how you feel about feeding lower quality food. I think Brody might be developing allergies on the Royal Canin, but the allergies could be from something else. Not sure yet. Many vet offices carry Science Diet, so that might not be any help to you. There might be one around though that carries a better quality food. There is a vet in Glenwood, AR that carries Natura products. __________________ Holly and Brody Brody's Dogster Page:www.dogster.com/?132069

08-25-2005, 01:57 PM	#7
chattiesmom Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 17,674	Welcome Susansmom!!!!! So glad to have you and your furbabies on board! I, too know the woes of living in an area with limited food choices. I drive 65 miles EACH WAY to buy food for my two girls and one very tiny picky boy. I have been feeding Innova EVO for almost a year now and it works for us. __________________ Silk Step-In Harnesses www.foxypups.etsy.com

08-25-2005, 05:13 AM	#3
luv4yorkies YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,611	Welcomr to YT.

08-25-2005, 06:23 AM	#4
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	I think the best food out there is Natural Balance Raw and Natural Balance dry organic kibble. If you go to the Naturl Balnace website you can find out where the closest store that has it is and then call them to see about shipping. Good luck.

08-25-2005, 06:11 PM	#8
spydergurl YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 516	I like Natural Balance Beef and turkey rolls. You can buy them online or at Petco. Just go to their site and check it out. I also live 75 miles from a big city, but we've lived here for 25 years, so I'm used to it. I commuted 18 years to the high school where I worked which was 45 miles away. Get into cd's, talk radio, and make fun out of it. It's also a good time to meditate, pray or plan your days. If you go to school, it's a good time to study, too. ,

08-25-2005, 06:37 PM	#9
chloeandj Tinkerbell, My Little Flutterpup Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Beautiful California! Posts: 6,112	Just wondering if you have checked feed stores in your area, if you are rural there is usually one around. We get our food at our local feedstore, they have chicken soup for the dog lover's soul, solid gold and a few others. Just a thought...