feeding different brands of food
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| I do the same, gives them variety and I also think it helps them not build up an intolerance to one particular type of food, and yep gives them a difference in the nutrients also, just my thoughts there on swapping variety or brands.
I go from Eagle Pack Holisitc, few varieties there to Dick Van Pattens Organic Natural Blend. Each time we are due for a New Big Bag well different flavour or the other brand of one the next time around till that is all gone. 
They like the variety too, instead of the same old same old each time. New Flavour/Taste Woo Hoo. 
But I do just use the Dry as a filler, I still like them to have fresh organic meats and veggies etc too.  |
| I switch too. Currently Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice large breed. Also use Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul... (I need to pick brands w/ shorter names! ) Also Canidae, and a couple other new ones I am trying. I switch all 7 and they do fine with a week's transition time. |
| Me too. I've been switching the boys as long as they've been with me, usually every 3 or 4 months. We fed Nutro Ultra most of this year but part of the year they had Canidae and now they're transitioning to Eagle Pack Holistic (which is the first food I've seen Bear take a serious interest in!). I've also read it helps dogs from developing allergies and getting finicky so I tried it and it worked well. The boys don't have sensitive stomachs so there's no reason we have to pigeonhole ourselves to one food.
I don't switch Lucy because she's old and we never did that with her before so she is very sensitive to changes. She had chronic soft stools until I started feeding her Merrick canned and then everything firmed up and she seemed to actually feel better and have more energy. however, she too seems to like a few occasional mouthfuls of the Eagle Pack. There must be something pretty good in there, lol. My two dogs that are least excited about eating seem to love it. However, the fat one is the least interested, which could be good for him. |
| The Whole Dog Journal also recommends rotating foods. I switch now from Innova to Timberwolf Bison about every 3 months. The seem to like the variety.
Mary |
| I do believe Obe has a sensitive stomach as it took forever to a find a food that did not give him soft stools. Which is the main reason I have stayed with Natures Logic. I have been thinking about mixing another food with his not sure which one, we are going to Chow Down (pet store) today. Does anyone do something similiar? |
| I rotate between my favorite brands as well (usually Solid Gold, Wellness, Natural Balance, Canidae, Eagle Holistic). Usually bag to bag, whatever strikes my fancy, when I need more. Only thing I have to be careful of is Canidae - packs on the pounds in a heartbeat. Great stools, though.
I just switch mine cold turkey. I think they're all part goat. Never bothers them. Kristine |
Mad Dog wrote: I rotate between my favorite brands as well (usually Solid Gold, Wellness, Natural Balance, Canidae, Eagle Holistic). Usually bag to bag, whatever strikes my fancy, when I need more. Only thing I have to be careful of is Canidae - packs on the pounds in a heartbeat. Great stools, though.
I just switch mine cold turkey. I think they're all part goat. Never bothers them. Kristine Lol. I think the same way. I think the transitioning is more for me so I feel like I'm doing the right thing. Kristine, what about Canidae packs on pounds? Have you identified something in it? The reason I ask because as soon as you said that, it hit me that it was when they wee on Canidae this year that Clyde cracked 100 pounds. Up until then, he'd never really been too heavy and his eating habits really hadn't changed too much. Now I'd like to blame Canidae for his fatness rather than myself.  |
Mad Dog wrote: I just switch mine cold turkey. I think they're all part goat. Never bothers them. Kristine Well Chewie apparently didn't get the goat gene.  I have poopie butt going here from the current transition - and it is only a 50/50 mix! And it started less than that. |
got sheep wrote: Mad Dog wrote: I just switch mine cold turkey. I think they're all part goat. Never bothers them. Kristine Well Chewie apparently didn't get the goat gene. I have poopie butt going here from the current transition - and it is only a 50/50 mix! And it started less than that.That stinks! (no pun intended  )
What are you transitioning from and to? I also feed the guys certain things raw. Not recommending you try that if his stomach is already on the fritz! I can imagine that outcome...
You need to get his stomach settled first. Perhaps try some cooked chicken or hamburger and rice and transition him from that to the new food? KB |
| It never matters which foods are in the switch, and it is only a goopier poop for a couple days. (sorry about that description)
The previous was from the 100% Nutro he had been on changed to 50% Nutro and added 50 %Nutro Ultra Puppy for more calories. Couple days of poopie butt and all was well. And the final mix was 50/50, started out more gradual over a week. The current switch was just phasing out the Ultra puppy and replacing that part with a different food. Again, over several days. This one is one we got at the weight pull, Arkat brand Enhance professional athlete. It is rich (30% protein, 22% fat) so I really expected this adjustment period. The ingredients are good, and all the dogs love it. (They all are going through the same transition, and all the rest except my Chewie-butt are having normal poop.) Just fed them all breakfast, so will have to check the poop out........brb.... Ok, it is a perfect formed brown stool!!! Yay! (only nurses and dog owners get this excited ) |
| 30% PROTEIN????????????
He's not a sled dog. He may think he's a sled dog, but he's not. Don't bother with the gradual switch next time. If he's going to have poopie butt (I just love it when I'm technical... ), he's going to have poopies butt. Just feed him whatever you're switching to and see what happens.
If it gets too bad, well, you know where I live and have the key to my house
KB |
Yep, and I have found that with 30% protein and all that fat (and it's only half the mix - still getting half Nutro) that he STILL is calmer than Sybil. 
Ah yes, I do have that key still........ |
ButtersStotch wrote: [Kristine, what about Canidae packs on pounds? Have you identified something in it? The reason I ask because as soon as you said that, it hit me that it was when they wee on Canidae this year that Clyde cracked 100 pounds. Up until then, he'd never really been too heavy and his eating habits really hadn't changed too much. Now I'd like to blame Canidae for his fatness rather than myself.
I'm not sure. That's a really good question! Didn't used to happen - only this year for me too. I'll try to find out if they switched their formula somehow. Might be a good food for underweight sheepies, but not my chow hounds for any extended period of time, unfortunately. KB |
got sheep wrote: Yep, and I have found that with 30% protein and all that fat (and it's only half the mix - still getting half Nutro) that he STILL is calmer than Sybil.
Ah yes, I do have that key still........ Haha - very funny. Maybe Sybil is so - hm - busy because she is hungry...
Honestly, stop worrying about his weight. He is a young male. It will come (Hello! Have you met grandma???  Do you want him to look like his sister, Martha, and need puppy weight watchers???? )
Just let him grow up at his own rate. Pumping him full of extra calories, high protein, puppy food, no - not necessary and possibly detrimental. If it's for the sake of the breed ring, yes, I know they like them fat, but you're shaving him down so his body will fill it at the same time as his hair comes in. Keep having him do all of those activities and the appetite will come. Very few dogs are as underweight as their owners seem to think they are... Just stop thinking breed ring. This is an active working dog. Muscled and lean the way they should be. He feels great. If you have to pork him up for the breed ring when his hair comes in, just stop doing anything with him or send him to his co-breeder, the other one, for a month 
Kristine |
| I have mine on Acanada with a good break down of protein and fat and all. But I do mix it with orijen Which is higher in protein.I mix these together I do it only because it can be hard to get I live 2 hours away from the store that sales it and a little scared they may not have one of them in there sales have trible since the dog food scare. No wheat and corn no garbage. I find they do not eat as much when I have them on others. I also feed them T/D big bites hills science diet. It vegy base and it is to be good for their teath. They love these things I am only feeding them these as a treat. I just can not get over how much they like it. |
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