Alternatives to w/d?

I'm not sure I'd use NB food rolls as actual food.  Mainly because it isn't very cost effective for a dog bigger than say a Toy breed.  If your new guy is on the W/D because of stomach issues, you might want to try the NB Potato and Duck.  I think it would be close to the W/D.  Best advice I can give is to check out the ingredients of the W/D and see if you can find something else that is close to it.

I was thinking along the lines of NB duck and potato, since he already gets NB rolls everyday mixed with his food.  Then I could just keep the rolls on hand like I do with Rummy for strictly training and treats.

Anyone know what the benefit of mixing in NB rolls with w/d would be?  I thought that if a dog is on a prescription diet then it needs to be strictly that diet and nothing else.  Almost seems pointless to have a dog on that kind of food if it is not being used for that intent.  He is not diabetic but does have a slightly sensitive stomach.  Also with that long fur, soft or runny stool would be a nightmare. He is an extreemly active dog so I would need a food that could keep up with him.

If he's only on w/d because of a sensitive stomach, I don't see why you couldn't switch him to something else.  Honestly, tho, I'd skip the NB rolls, and just gradually switch to the dry Duck and Potato.  With the stomach thing I'd be hesitant do the food roll, then switch to the dry anyway.  Since he has a sensitive stomach, remember to make sure to make the switch very slowly. 

jettababy

I'm surprised he is on w/d just for a sensitive stomach! That food is VERY low protein and fat, with a ton of fiber (16%!) and a pretty drastic choice for a dog who is otherwise healthy (assuming he doesn't have diabetes, etc).  If his only issue is a sensitive stomach, I would try a different simple food formulation

   I had a very bad experience with Jessie last week trying to change her to a cooked diet. She has chronic pancreatitis and I knew her digestive system was sensitive, but last week I learned she is far more sensitive than I imagined. She ended up at Purdue small animal hospital. I would look over the vet records very carefully and speak to the previous owner, if possible, to find out why he's on that diet before attempting to make any changes.

Read through everything that came with him, vet records were rather extensive but had little mention of needing to be on a special diet. I was just told he was on w/d because it was easy on the stomach and he is a very picky eater so that is why NB rolls are mixed in. 

The odd thing I did find was the instructions from the breeder had completly different food that was recommended. Also had recipies for home cooking.  Well, he is going to stay on what he has been fed for now untill I take him in for a vet exam and see what she recommends.

  Sounds like he should be able to do well on another diet. Jessie has chronic pancreatitis and I was in the process of changing from her old diet to a cooked diet formulated  by a nutritionist. The diet was very low fat and I was doing a slow transition but she had a severe flare up of the pancreatitis and needed hospitalization. The internist at the hospital (Purdue Small Animal hospital) said there was something in the new diet ( egg and rice) that she couldn't tolerate and to put her back on her old diet. The nutritionist I was working with strongly agreed. Jessie is back on her old diet and seems to have made a complete recovery. I was worried that may happen with Logan but it doesn't look like that's the case. He is beautiful and is lucky to be getting such a wonderful home.

Congrats on Logan!!  I have really good luck with Tuscan Natural Lamb/Rice.  It's put out by one of the exec's who quit natura after the buyout.  Also, all my dogs love the taste of it. I just splash warm water on it so they get extra moisture.

It's one of my favorites in the rotation.

Janice, sorry to hear JEssie had a flare.  I hate having mine on kibble with all that 'kibble is awful' advice out there, but sometimes it's for the best and offers the best quality of life.  It's hard for me to comprehend but for whatever reason, it works!

shamrockmommy

Janice, sorry to hear JEssie had a flare.  I hate having mine on kibble with all that 'kibble is awful' advice out there, but sometimes it's for the best and offers the best quality of life.  It's hard for me to comprehend but for whatever reason, it works!

   Thanks Tiffany; she's doing great now but it was a severe attack. I never felt that kibble was awful, but believe that fresh food is better. Also, Jessie has several food allergies and by having a cooked diet formulated for her I didn't have to worry about what to do if the company changed the ingredients in her kibble. Monica has worked with tons of dogs with pancreatitis and other gastrointestinal diseases and I was confident Jessie would do well on the diet. It's not that she does better on kibble, but there's something in this particular kibble that keeps her gut happy. It may be just the right amount of fiber, or the type (beet pulp). It may be the protein source (venison meal), or the combination of rice and oatmeal for the carbs. Her old diet isn't that bad; it's a combination of kibble, canned food, and baked turkey breast, and she loves it. In this case, it was a mistake to rock the boat.