Dog Community

Fish Oil and Puppies???

Posted : 8/17/2006 2:08:46 PM

I'm new to puppy feeding, and need some advice. Harry is a corgi, 3 mos today. Vet and breeder both recommended "any of the premium puppy kibbles" as his primary diet; I've been using Iams smart puppy (because it was on sale the day I brought Harry home -- scientific, hey?).

Problem: my male cat is allergic to all fish products (cause bladder problems and exacerbate his asthma, so the issue is not negotiable). All the premium puppy foods I've looked at in my petsmart have the fish oil in them. So far, I've been keeping the cats away from the dog food, but this is not a permanent solution -- the cats can smell the fishy kibble and have launched assaults on all the places I've hidden the bag, they scavenge around the kitchen floor for stray pieces of dog food . . . suffice it to say that they apply all their considerable feline predatory skills to the hunt, too often with 'successful' results. They are driving me crazy.

I gather from the other posts about fish oil that it is highly desirable for dogs. SO,

1. Can anyone recommend a fish-free puppy kibble that will keep Harry well nourished?

2. Would it be possible or advisable to give Harry fish oil in some supplementary form that could be kept away from the cats more easily than the 20 lb bag of kibble? If so, what kind, and in what quantity?

Thanks for whatever help you can offer!

dogslyfe

Posted : 8/17/2006 3:07:17 PM

You can actually buy airtight bins to put your dog food in (Petsmart usually keeps them in stock). You can also feed your dog at specified times, and pick up the food when the pup is finished (ie not free-feed). I don't know what the recommendations are for puppies and fish oil, though. Of the brands that Petsmart typically carries, Blue Buffalo is my fave. It probably comes closer to being a premium food than any of the others.

Sera_J

Posted : 8/17/2006 3:27:05 PM

I'm not sure what foods are fish oil free, but regarding the supplement you can pick up Grizzly Salmon Oil. It comes in a bottle with a squirt-head on it. You use the recommended dose and pump the oil right onto your dogs kibble. My dogs will lick it out of their bowls, BEFORE eating the kibble [

] They love it. You can probably use it for your cats, too. Anyway, make sure you either get an additional supplement of Vit E or the type of fish oil that includes it.

I'm sure you'll be thrilled with the results!

labcrab

Posted : 8/17/2006 3:42:42 PM

I don't have a "fish-oil free kibble" suggestion, but when you find one - you can supplement with Flaxseed for Omega3's instead of fish oil.

mudpuppy

Posted : 8/18/2006 9:15:01 AM

Iams is not a premium food. Try Innova puppy-- it doesn't have fish oil in it. It is very very very important for your puppy's health that you supplement his diet with omega 3's. Omega-3's are unstable, and by the time you get that kibble into the pup, they are mostly broken down, so you need to supplement with fresh fish body oil. Since you have the cat problem, it might work well for you to get it in capsules and feed those to your pup, no danger of the cat licking residue out of the bowl.