Dog Community

Posted : 7/14/2006 10:08:29 AM

ORIGINAL: jessies_mom

High quality foods such as timberwolf organics,innova,Wysong,Natural Balance,Natures variety etc are far more concentrated and pack a bigger nutritional punch per cup than the cheap foods,therefore you have to feed less.

Edie, This may explain why dogs with a sensitive digestive system have problems with foods like Canidae and Innova; [linkhttp://www.royalcanin.us/faq.html#6]http://www.royalcanin.us/faq.html#6[/link]

I have a Labrador and I'm thinking of swithching from Iams to your product, but I don't understand why your Daily Allowance Recommendation is about 7 cups and theirs is 3 cups? Since your product already costs slightly more this would increase our costs by 2x and with Labradors this doesn't seem to make sense to me.
The answer comes down to 2 factors. The first and most important factor is product density. Our product is much less dense than the other brands. By density, I am actually referring to two things. The first is actual product density and the second is caloric density. Our entire product range is at least 25% less dense than competitors. Why? Decreased density increases both palatability and digestibility.

Royal Canin says that foods that are less dense are more digestible so that may explain why some dogs have problems with the high end foods.

That makes sense, but I can see that being a problem as well. I've resorted to free-feeding during the summer and I still don't think mine are taking in 1/2 of what they should, and they are only supposed to get ~3 cups. Getting some dogs to eat several cups would be a chore. (Of course, with most labs this wouldn't be a problem [

])

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 7/14/2006 11:37:21 AM

Thanks, Glenda. [][] Now you've given me something really *fun* to think about next time I'm stuck in traffic.

Joyce

Margaret Tyler

Posted : 7/14/2006 3:38:40 PM

ORIGINAL: minsk99

My pup has thrown up the last two days and we just changed his food as well. He has had a high urine ph problem, so we switched from Wellness Puppy to Eagle Pack Chicken and Rice, which has a lower target ph. Anyways, his poops have firmed up and he seems to like the taste of the food, but it seems like it might be harder for him to digest. We are going to keep him on it for a few days to see if it just takes a while for him to get used to. We slowly switched him onto it (over the course of ten days) and this is the first couple of days he is 100% Eagle Pack. I'm hoping it just takes a week or so to get used to as finding a puppy food with a low target ph was a task in itself.

Innova Senior (not the new "plus" formula) and Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice and Senior also lower PH in the urine. Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice is very easy to digest, but will not help with stool consistancy.

Also, most vets and most studies will recommend that you feed a moist food diet because more moisture will keep the bladder clean and will decrease the likelyhood of infection. I would add canned food to his diet. Innova Senior, Nutro Senior formulas, and Eagle Pack (any formula, but fish - too much ash) are great canned foods for dogs with UTI's.

papillon806

Posted : 7/14/2006 4:43:58 PM

I honestly believe in sticking with what works.

I agree with this statement completely!

But aside from that, I think you can go a little "higher" on the quality scale than Pedigree without having to worry about being too rich.

Margaret Tyler

Posted : 7/14/2006 5:04:00 PM

ORIGINAL: papillon806

But aside from that, I think you can go a little "higher" on the quality scale than Pedigree without having to worry about being too rich.

Like California Natural or Nutro Natural Choice or Sensible Choice or Breeder's Choice Avo Derm.

shamrockmommy

Posted : 7/15/2006 9:12:34 AM

ORIGINAL: papillon806

I honestly believe in sticking with what works.

I agree with this statement completely!

Me three. I was switching around among foods every 3-4 months and seeing problems arise with most all of them, with the exception of one.
My bichon girls had urinary pH problems/UTIs and I found PetGuard produces the appropraite pH. All 3 digest it so much better than most other of the holistic type foods. They are still doing well now after 2 months on it.

So if you do find something that works that is easily accessible to you, I would stick with it. I think Purina has a sensitive systems food available at the grocery stores, have you tried it? Good luck.

Oh and keep a journal of the foods you feed, when you started/ended it and how your dog did on it, so you can help keep track of what works for him.

loveukaykay

Posted : 7/15/2006 4:03:13 PM

I was also going to suggest you start using an enzyme such as Prozyme to help with digestion.

Throw up that frequently can cause damage to the trachea, so you need to figure this out. I also think you need to go get blood work done if you havnt.

ronross

Posted : 7/15/2006 5:47:30 PM

ORIGINAL: Firestorm

Jada, If all you have option for is at the grocery store...you could try Purina One, it has yogurt in it to help tummys. My Shih Tzu is doing very well on it. There are different flavors, I currently feed the chicken one. A lot of people here can get the premium brands where they live but if you can't I think that Purina One works well, atleast for my dog.

No knock on Purina One, but I'll bet that grocery store also has plain yogurt with active cultures and a spoonful would do a world of good for any kibble you can buy. [

] I can completely understand people not wanting to feed dogs raw foods, I guess, but fresh food shouldn't require much of an argument.

The more limited the local kibble options, the more some nice mashed fruit or veggies or a little cooked rice and hamburger or a can of nice mackerel suggests itself.

Just sayin'

In the meantime, the plain pumpkin and a little lightly cooked meat and rice sounds good, fed often in small portions as has been suggested.

Wishing us all good health.

Ron

Firestorm

Posted : 7/15/2006 6:16:39 PM

Ron he ate regular yogurt for a little while and then he had NO INTEREST....that's why I switched to Purina one with the yogurt in it. He had issues with the better brands. So far he hasn't had any problems with the purina one. I was giving him Organic yogurt and he ate it for 2 weeks and then he stuck his nose up at it. Now he finishes up a cup of food everyday instead of not eating the yogurt and barely touching his food. This is what works for me and my dog. Who knows it might work for someone else's. I day with my dog if it works why change it. I can't keep buying higher food only to have him decide he won't eat it or that it bothers his tummy. If he cannot process the better stuff no point in giving it to him.

Changed Food