Switched to INNOVA EVO

I tried Innova Evo for my two dogs and they did well on it for a while.  Their stools were becoming extremely hard and even began to show some blood after much straining. (sorry for the details!!)  I switched them to Innova Adult and they seem to be doing much better on it.  I think it is just too much for some dogs...also the extremely high protein level can be detrimental to dogs with kidney problems...so just use it with caution.

I'm not a huge fan of canned veggies, but I grew up in a time when it came from the garden and was canned at home...so really cooked to mush.  The canned veggies today aren't too bad....comparitively.  But I still like them fresh from the vine and tender/crisp.
 
It's amazing what you'll find at the grocery if you just LOOK for it.  []  So many folks have issues with too much sodium that almost everyone makes low salt or salt free versions of their product these days.

For treats I give April baby carrots, she eats them but I don't think she likes them that well. []

Hi Glenmar,  I really like your signature phrase.." A house without fur is not a home "  Perfect!!

Hi Guys,  Parker is still doing well on the Innova EVO and we have him on 3 measured cups daily.  1-morn-1-afternoon-1-eve. I was talking to my neighbor today and she feeds her Lab only 1 cup daily. Now her Lab is about 1/2 the size of mine so yes he can take in less. My Lab is 109 Lbs. and I'm worried 2 cups is nothing and I will be starving him. I went onto the Naturapet website and used the wizard chart which said to give him 3 3/4 cups daily. The man at the store where I get Parkers food said they all make their feeding guidlines much higher than is really necessary .  So, I guess I am going to switch him from 3 cups daily down to 2 cups and hope he doesn't have a fit. I am also going to get the Innova dog  treats  to give him a few  to help with the lower food amount. Maybe 2-3 a day.  Does this sound like a fair idea to you guys?  Thanks

Actually, I find Natura to be quite honest on the amount of food you should feed.  The key is picking the right activity level for your dog.  Thor is around 90 lbs.  If I feed him only Innova (at 556 or 557 kcals per cup) he'd get 4+ cups per day.  I don't know the kcals in EVO so I can't say for certain, but if it's anywhere close to Innova, well, 1600-1700 kcals a day isn't unreasonable for a big boy like yours.
 
The real litmus test of how much a dog should eat is how he LOOKS and how he feels...to your hands.  You should be able to feel his ribs easily without digging for them.  I see soooo many labs who look like overstuffed sausage links support by toothpicks and it just makes me cry thinking of their poor joints!
 
My gsds range from 55 lbs to 90-93 lbs (Thor hasn't been on a scale lately)  They all get 3 cups of Innova every morning, PLUS the homecooked or raw for dinner.  And they are LEAN.  In fact the 3 younger boys just saw the vet this week for rabies and he was amazed that they were so lean.  Vets are pretty accustomed to seeing overweight dogs and having to counsel the owners on feeding less.  Theo actually only usually will finish about 2.5 cups in the morning, but he's the smallest at 55 lbs....and smaller in stature as well.  His brother is 78 lbs but he's TALL...that's the pup who went to another home and was fed P[:'(]digree for two months and turned into a giant in that time...and Thunder has finally made it back up to 69 lbs.  My 3 older boys had one heck of a time keeping weight on this winter and they were actually getting FOUR cups of Innova, plus homecooked PLUS some raw everyday just to try and boost the weight a bit.
 
So, the gist of that long winding story is that you need to go by your OWN dog and how he looks and if his ribs are easily felt.  And if you are someplace with severe winters, you'll want to start nudging the amount up a bit BEFORE cold weather hits so you don't end up like I did with dogs that look like they were being starved.
 
If memory serves, and it doesn't always, the Innova Health Bars have 50 kcals in the small size and 100 in the large ones.  They are VERY hard and some of my crew are not crazy about them because they are so hard.
 
You do want to keep your boy lean, and you can always puree a few green beans to add to his food so he thinks he's eating more than he is calorie wise, but if he's doing well and looking good, you are probably feeding the right amount.  What were you feeding kcal wise and what are you feeding now kcal wise?  If you figure that out, you'll have a solid idea of what he needs now.