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Dog wont eat Science Diet or Natural Balance...but will Bil Jac?

Posted : 8/20/2006 9:23:55 AM

I have an 18 week old Lab/Coonhound (KOBI) who is the pickiest darn eater I have eever seen. When we first got him, the Science Diet Large Breed Puppy was like candy to him. Then he stoped eating it. So we switched over to Natural Balanace. He ate that for awhile (not crazy about it), but then we ran out on vacation and could only find Bil Jac. Now Kobi won't eat anything but Bil Jac. We try mixing it with other kibble (we just boaght a 40lb bag of Science diet on the vets reccomendation to get off Bil Jac). He just picks out the Bil Jac. He's gone Bil Jac crazy, which I almost don't care about , because at least he is eating. We have had the hardest time getting this dog to eat.

I hear the Bil Jac is not the best, but at this point, I dont give a care because he is finally eating. I tried everything with the other foods when we got back from vacation to get him to eat (gravy, wet food, mix with a very little puppy Kong, etc.) nothing worked, until my wife sprinkled a little Bil Jac on there. He picked it all out.

So, what do you guys think?

shamrockmommy

Posted : 8/20/2006 9:35:04 AM

I'd probably stick with the Bil-Jac. If he does great, great, if not try to get him onto something else.

I wouldn't make food a battle. And science diet is not that great quality of a food anyway.

Good luck.

papillon806

Posted : 8/20/2006 10:02:24 AM

Mine also found Bil-Jac very appetizing, lol. I am currently trying it, feeding Bil-Jac frozen in the AM and Bil-Jac dry for dinner. I would stick with it...it's not too bad of a food.

chewbecca

Posted : 8/20/2006 10:14:38 AM

Is Science Diet by chance available for purchase at your Vet clinic?
If so, it stands to reason why your vet would suggest it over Bil-Jac.

When I spoke to my vet tech about starting Ella on raw and was telling her how Ella wouldn't touch raw food, she said to get a higher quality kibble and she gave me various suggestions on how to get her started based on the kibble I bought.
Anyway, she grabbed a bag of the Science Diet and was talking about how I wanted to stay away from grains in dog foods, she pointed out how the first ingredient in the Science Diet (not a puppy formula) was corn of sorts.

My answer is: I think the Bil-Jac ingredients look better than those of Science Diet. And not even just that, if he's eating it, stick with it.

Melaney B.

Posted : 8/20/2006 10:15:48 AM

I have personally always thought of Bil Jac as a "junk food" dog food, just my opinion!

chewbecca

Posted : 8/20/2006 10:17:53 AM

ORIGINAL: Pooch_luvr

I have personally always thought of Bil Jac as a "junk food" dog food, just my opinion!

Honestly, Science Diet isn't better.

papillon806

Posted : 8/20/2006 10:47:49 AM

I agree, I would say Bil-Jac is way above Science Diet.

Melaney B.

Posted : 8/20/2006 10:51:17 AM

ORIGINAL: chewbecca

ORIGINAL: Pooch_luvr

I have personally always thought of Bil Jac as a "junk food" dog food, just my opinion!

Honestly, Science Diet isn't better.

agreed! I wonder why vets are so crazy about it,seemingly!?!?

I guess i just think that both of them are junk and that he should try a different brand entirely, i've heard mostly nothing but bad about both of them!

Lena (Penny Forever)

Posted : 8/20/2006 10:53:27 AM

Personally, I would switch your baby over to Innova and pack up the SD and BJ and donate it to your shelter.
My kids are also picky but just love their Innova.
I have even tried a piece of Innova and it doesn't taste bad at all. I seem to have this sick habit of tasting new products I give to my furkids. Hope I'm not alone on this[

]

Melaney B.

Posted : 8/20/2006 10:55:30 AM

I always feed my girls Eagle pack, but Innova is also a very good brand as well!

chewbecca

Posted : 8/20/2006 10:58:34 AM

See, Ella doesn't much care for Innova. She ate one sample of it, but wouldn't eat another sample I tried to give her.
I stick with Nature's Variety Raw Instincts, but I say for OP to feed whatever his/her dog will eat. It can get expensive realizing your dog won't eat certain brands.

Melaney B.

Posted : 8/20/2006 11:03:55 AM

It can get expensive realizing your dog won't eat certain brands.

This is true! Have you considered maybe trying a dry food/can food mix? My dogs love canned food and gobble up there dry food along with it. I understand that it can be expensive to feed your dog, but BJ and SD are just not healthy for your dog!

chewbecca

Posted : 8/20/2006 11:09:31 AM

See, Ella ate Natural Balance Duck and Potato canned and some of their other canned foods, but sometimes she eats it, sometimes she doesn't. I should look and see if NV Raw inst. makes canned and how much it costs.

Lena (Penny Forever)

Posted : 8/20/2006 11:09:45 AM

Chewbecca,
you are absolutely right when it comes to the expence of trying different foods. Our pet shops here will give you test samples to try on your dog before you make any purchases. Maybe the OP should try out different samples before making the final purchase. When I changed my kids over, I had 3 samples each in their own bowl. I let the dogs decide which one they liked best and that is what they got. Now if they turn their snouts up at it, tough titties, thats what they get and nothin else.[

]

chewbecca

Posted : 8/20/2006 11:11:54 AM

ORIGINAL: lena

Chewbecca,
you are absolutely right when it comes to the expence of trying different foods. Our pet shops here will give you test samples to try on your dog before you make any purchases. Maybe the OP should try out different samples before making the final purchase. When I changed my kids over, I had 3 samples each in their own bowl. I let the dogs decide which one they liked best and that is what they got. Now if they turn their snouts up at it, tough titties, thats what they get and nothin else.[]

I, too, gave Ella samples and she ate the samples up! But I buy the bag of food and by the time the bag is done, she doesn't want that food anymore and won't eat it.
I NEED to take the "tough titties" approach, with me switching her foods around and trying to "food please" her, I'm only making her a pickier eater.