Dog Community

Rotating foods

Posted : 4/18/2006 8:03:10 PM

How many of you rotate between 2 or 3 (or more) dog foods? I don't mean daily, but more like every few months, do you switch say from Innova to Canidae and back to Innova to keep some variety in the dog's life? I am considering doing this with Zoe since she seems to like some change.

Are there any benefits (aside from preventing boredom) or negatives to rotating?

Diane

Posted : 4/18/2006 8:03:57 PM

I rotate with innova and eagle pack every couple of bags.

jessies_mom

Posted : 4/18/2006 8:09:19 PM

I rotate but I use similar formulas of the same brand. Jessie is allergic to chicken, so I rotate her between the Eagle Pack Holistic duck, fish, and lamb. She gets either cooked or raw meat or raw egg on her food daily, along with some pureed vegetables or fruit, which provides some variety.

papillon806

Posted : 4/18/2006 8:20:17 PM

It is very beneficial to rotate foods. It minimizes the chance of your dog becoming deficient in any nutrients, and not to mention makes them happy with the variety! [

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Susan

Posted : 4/18/2006 8:30:14 PM

I guess you could say I rotate between kibble, homecooked and raw. I also rotate different formulas of the same brand kibble. I use Timberwolf and I buy cases of 4lb bags so each dog gets whatever formulas they need. One dog needs a higher protein formula so I rotate those and throw in one of the moderate protein formulas. One dog needs fewer calories and less fat so he gets rotated between the lower and moderate formulas and the others I just rotate all the moderate formulas and every once in a while throw in a high protein one. I don't think you can get much more variety than that ! Oh yeah... and I also mix canned formulas in w/the kibbles and change daily between Green Cow, Innova, Eagle Pack, Solid Gold regular canned and now I'm trying that Lamaderm and they love it.

Patt

Posted : 4/18/2006 8:55:49 PM

I just started rotating between Innova & Wellness, b/c I thought it would give her variety.

sooner

Posted : 4/18/2006 9:40:07 PM

[:@] Between rotating for variety and trying to find a food that didn't give him gas I've created the pickiest eater. If I can find a food he'll eat happily we're sticking with it.

loveukaykay

Posted : 4/18/2006 11:22:11 PM

I dont think its absolutely necessary but definately something you could do if you wanted. I would just wait at least one bag between, I would think more than one for a big dog buts she little... then again you may buy little bags... I would wait at least 3 months (thats what Ive heard) before switching.

kennel_keeper

Posted : 4/19/2006 5:05:47 AM

Like Jessesmom, I rotate between the EP holistics for the Chi's and sometimes throw in some EVO. They will get beef short ribs a few times per week and get some homecooked at times.
The beagles are finally on a diet they are doing well on (for performance, coat, and condition). The EP original is working well for them and when they are being worked harder, I do give them the EP Power formula for the added protein and fat. They will get some raw meat/bones at times, but only when I have time to supervise 10 dogs eating meat in kennels. They will get a little nasty with each other when there are "treats" at stake!

ron2

Posted : 4/19/2006 5:41:50 AM

A "cat fight" in the dog kennel, so to speak?

smilee1079

Posted : 4/19/2006 8:52:35 AM

ORIGINAL: patt_b

I just started rotating between Innova & Wellness, b/c I thought it would give her variety.

Do you feed the same amount of Wellness as you do Innova? Does your doxie do as well on the Wellness? I was considering that as one of the foods to rotate, but I need to look into it more.

Patt

Posted : 4/19/2006 2:39:51 PM

Do you feed the same amount of Wellness as you do Innova? Does your doxie do as well on the Wellness? I was considering that as one of the foods to rotate, but I need to look into it more.

I was feeding Wellness SS (duck or venison) not the regular adult. I fed the same amount, and she does well on both.

sandra_slayton

Posted : 4/19/2006 3:25:06 PM

I do not roatate. I tried Buck on better food once and it made him sick, so back to his purina. I tried kayCee on diet foods and none did the truck except for when my vet said try her to Science RD. I did, she dropped 15 pounds and is on purina fit and trim. Since they all do great on these, i do not change the dry food. however, I do vary meats in their supper. They get fresh caught & baked fish or canned mackeral, boiled chicken hearts, gizzards, livers, boiled beef hearts or liver (having beef liver tonight), and sometimes boiled ground beef or boiled chicken. They also get canned (unslated) green beans and carrot slices with the meat and tad of dry food. Here lately, for a little added variety i have been baking one sweet potato and putting 1/3 in each dog's food (about twice a week) or boiled a cut up potatoe with the meat. a couple of nights a week.

kennel_keeper

Posted : 4/19/2006 6:45:31 PM

That's right Ron! It can get pretty heated too! It has come to drawing blood at times, so I just don't do it often unless I can be at the kennels. What's bad is when there is conflict in one kennel, this usually triggers conflict in another. Then I have to be two places at once! LOL.

John

Posted : 4/21/2006 10:25:28 AM

I rotate both canned and dry. For dry, I'm currently doing TO Wilderness Elk (smells like cinnamon), SG Wolf Cub and Cal Nat L & R.