Kirkland VS. Royal Canin??

[goodguy]

I'm in a hunt to find the best food for my 17month old yellow.. The vet found a "small concetration of crystals" in her urine a little bit ago.. he said it's not a big problem or anything.. He told me to give some vitamin C to get her PH back to normal and see how it goes. So far she's good. But this whole crystal thing got me on the search for better food.
I have been feeding Royal canin since she was a 8 week old pup, that was what the breeder was feeding. She's done good on it no major issues, but would like to see if I can get her a better food, I like what the Innova Evo is all about, but she's just a little to young still to start that. I was looking at the Kirkland Chicken, rice, and vegetables. Tell me what you think between these!
Also if someone can tell me the average price of the kirkland prodcut, I pay $43 for the 38lb bag of RC Lab formula right now...Price isn't an issue just curious.
Both have VERY similar ingredients, MAIN difference is that the first ingredient in Kirkland is CHICKEN... Not chicken meal as in RC's..
Opinions and comments are GREATLY appreciated!


Kirkland's ingredients

Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and Vitamin E), egg product, beet pulp, potatoes, fishmeal, flaxseed, natural flavor, brewers dried yeast, millet, carrots, peas, kelp, apples, dried skim milk, cranberry powder, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, rosemary extract, parsley flake, dried chicory root, glucosamine hydrochloride, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, chondroitin sulfate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite (source of vitamin K activity), riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid

Guaranteed Analysis
Protein: 26%
Fat: 16%
Fiber: 4%
Moisture: 10%

Other Nutrient Guarantees
Calcium: min 1%
Phosphorus: min 0.8%


Royal Canin


Ingredients
Chicken meal, brown rice, corn gluten, oatmeal, barley, chicken fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural chicken flavor, brewers rice, beet pulp (sugar removed), pea fiber, fish oil, sodium silico aluminate, soya oil, potassium chloride, sodium tripolyphosphate, salt, choline chloride, fructo-oligosaccharides, borage oil, taurine, calcium carbonate, inositol, niacin supplement, vitamin E supplement, glucosamine hydrochloride, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), chondroitin sulfate, d-calcium pantothenate, marigold extract, L-tyrosine, zinc oxide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), rosemary extract, L-carnitine, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), zinc proteinate, iron sulfate, manganous oxide, vitamin A supplement, manganese proteinate, folic acid, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, biotin, calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement, sodium selenite, vitamin B12 supplement.

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein Minimum 30.0%
Crude Fat Minimum 13.0%
Crude Fiber Maximum 5.7%
Moisture Maximum 10.0%
Vitamin E Minimum 600 mg/kg
Vitamin C Minimum 300 mg/kg
L-Carnitine Minimum 200 mg/kg
Lutein Minimum 5 mg/kg
Glucosamine* Minimum 780 mg/kg
Chondroitin* Minimum 220 mg/kg
*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile.

[imported_zoezoe]

I have fed Kirkland C&R for about 2 years and have had great results with it.

[Bob Pr.]

I've fed Kirkland C&R for several years and my Puff does very well on it. The price (tax additional) is about $17.49/40 lb. bag if I remember right. My Puff eats so little that an opened 40 lb. bag goes stale and unappetizing halfway through it so immediately on opening, I transfer the contents into 10-11 one gallon Ziplock freezer bags, seal them shut (first sucking excess air out; this also tests for bags with leaks). That works well for us.

"Diamond Naturals" (not "Diamond" -- that has more fillers in it now) is available from many feed stores and is very similar in formulation to the Kirkland C&R; they're made by the same company. http://www.diamondpetfood.com -- click on their "locate a dealer" link. I like so many other things at Costco, it's worth the 140 mile roundtrip.

[blackjack]

If it makes a difference Kirkland was not involved in the food recall and Canin was.

We went through this just recently with our dogs. I have been feeding Kirkland for several years and have not had a problem. However, we have been going through a series of ear infections with the beagles and I was beginning to wonder if there could be an allergy involved. So I started reading online and asking various friends and we made the switch to Canidae. I am really happy with the switch and have noticed improvement in the dogs coats. Still working on the ears >

[Canyon Labradors]

I avoid anything with corn gluten, which would mean Kirkland is OK.

Ever try Nature's Variety? I can get you a buy one, get a 5# bag for free coupon to try it.

[windycanyon]

Kirkland's canned foods were recalled out here (WA) recently, just for the record.

I like the ingredients in the Kirkland C&R, fed it for a short time to one litter of pups but just feel safer w/ Canidae since that uses human grade, USA ingredients. I've fed Canidae to my adults for ~8 yrs and don't plan to switch! -Anne

[imported_Nick]

I think it's a good food, I've fed their Diamond label (no Costcos here) with really good results. If your dog does well on it, I wouldn't hesitate to feed it.

The label "human grade" is wholly unregulated since pet food plants are not tested the same way as plants that deal with foods for humans and all foods going into them are animal grade by definition and law. Quite honestly, I'm not sure how they can get by with it - it seems a bit misleading to call a product something it's not. The food I feed does it, lots of companies do, I wouldn't not feed a particular food just because they use that term. I'd be surprised if AAFCO doesn't come up with some definitions in the future so that maybe that term will actually have a meaning and be useful in selecting pet foods.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul (made by same company that makes Kirkland) used to have a little blurb about why they choose not to use that term, but I can't find it now. I'm not sure you can read too much into whether a food is listed as "human grade" or not considering none of them are human grade.

[windycanyon]

I think it's a good food, I've fed their Diamond label (no Costcos here) with really good results. If your dog does well on it, I wouldn't hesitate to feed it.

The label "human grade" is wholly unregulated since pet food plants are not tested the same way as plants that deal with foods for humans and all foods going into them are animal grade by definition and law. Quite honestly, I'm not sure how they can get by with it - it seems a bit misleading to call a product something it's not. The food I feed does it, lots of companies do, I wouldn't not feed a particular food just because they use that term. I'd be surprised if AAFCO doesn't come up with some definitions in the future so that maybe that term will actually have a meaning and be useful in selecting pet foods.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul (made by same company that makes Kirkland) used to have a little blurb about why they choose not to use that term, but I can't find it now. I'm not sure you can read too much into whether a food is listed as "human grade" or not considering none of them are human grade.

We've heard all that before, and while I agree in part, there also is alot to be said for reputation and trust in a company. I'd suggest to anyone seeking a change in food to look at the multitude of dog food rating sites, the Whole Dog Food Journal, etc., and base at least part of your decision on the research presented. Talking to people who have fed a food long term with good results is another good tool. Of course, sometimes you just need to see how your dog does on it. -Anne

[Snowco Labradors]

I don't think 17 months is too young to feed a grain free food. Although Evo is quite hi in calcium at 3.03%

I too feed the Natures Variety Instinct (calcium 2.49%) and started my youngest (at 1 year) 2 months ago and she is doing great on it.

Orijen is grain free with 3 or 4 different formulas and lower in calcium.

[goodguy]

I don't think 17 months is too young to feed a grain free food. Although Evo is quite hi in calcium at 3.03%

I too feed the Natures Variety Instinct (calcium 2.49%) and started my youngest (at 1 year) 2 months ago and she is doing great on it.

Orijen is grain free with 3 or 4 different formulas and lower in calcium.

I read somewhere that I shouldn't feed Innova Evo until at least 18months-2 years..