TWO feeders- the poop looks good!!!

ORIGINAL: chewbecca

Also, I have NEVER had a problem (so far) cold switching to T.O. I did it with Ocean Blue and with Wild and Natural and haven't had any issues so far.

Excellent.  I'm still not sold on the gradual switching thing among premium brands.  It may be more necessary when switching from corny or higher grain "junk food" type brands that are taste enhanced (with spray on fat or salt) to more premium stuff but my very limited experience has been than I can darn near switch every meal and the bottom line has been that the ingredients either work or don't. 
 
I may be wrong since I haven't kept my dog on something for more than a couple of days if it is not close to working off the bat.

ORIGINAL: jessies_mom

That is great news; I hope the new food keeps working for you. []

Thank you!
Yeah, I guess it's pretty strange that I'm happy about this, but I REALLY am.
It's like, she can't wait to eat her next meal.

I've got a pretty stupid question, so don't laugh at me.
But, on the bag it says that dogs that are 51-80 lbs. feed 2-4 1/4 cups daily. Well, Ella is 60 lbs so I usually feed her 2 1/2 cups a day. I am having a hard time telling if she's putting on weight. Sometimes I think she is when I look at her. She's USUALLY pretty active. She usually gets 2 bike rides a day equaling about 2 miles a day for her. That would be considered active, right? On days she's not AS active, or if the weather doesn't permit a bike ride, I will only feed her about 2 cups. Does that sound right? Or should I feed her the same amount on days that she doesn't get that exercise?

If it were my dog I would feed the same amount each day. If she started to gain weight, I would cut down a tad each day until she was back to normal. If she started to loose weight, I would add a bit each day until she was back to normal. Either way I either give my boy the same amount each day or a little more. Not less....
 
Glad to hear Ella is doing great! It's good to hear you do cold turkey switches. That is what I am going to have to do with my boy because UPS came down the street today...and NO package for me! This is taking a LONG time for one little 4lb bag. I might have to suck it up and just buy it in Reno for way more...at least I would know I have food!! [&o]

ORIGINAL: chewbecca

Or should I feed her the same amount on days that she doesn't get that exercise?

I'm no expert but I vary the amount I feed mine.  She gets a smaller morning meal if I know she will be snoozing most of the day.  Her 5pm meal doesn't vary much unless she's had an active afternoon.

If she gets a lot of running in after her 5pm meal I may zap 2-3 Nature's Variety medallions for her or she may get some meat scraps (and I mean scraps) from dinner around 8-9pm.
 
Do you see more fat older dogs or fit older dogs?  I doubt anyone who frequents this website has a dog that is undernourished.  My solidly middle class neighborhood certainly has more pudgy or fat older dogs than fit ones.

That is great news; I hope the new food keeps working for you.

 
Thanks Jessies mom  []  The fact that you had your allergy pup on the Ocean Blue Formula is part of what made me decide I should at least give it a try! 
 
 

ORIGINAL: jjsmom06

OMG!
I decided to make the switch to Timberwolf Dakota Bison yesterday. I was going to wait 2 more weeks on the Pinnacle chicken to see if we got a change in poop consistency, but after 2 weeks on this formula & 12 weeks on the duck formula the poops were worse than ever. After having a heck of a time picking up poo while camping this weekend we were fed up and we decided to pick up a bag and give it a try.

My company distributes Breeder's Choice, which includes Pinnacle. I had the same problem when I tried the Pinnacle (my dog couldn't even wait through the night). I recently discovered this is because Breeder's Choice does not use unnecissary stool firmers in their foods. In other words they don't add extra grains or suppliments or synthetic stuff to make the dog's poop firm and easier to hold.

Just letting you know.

ORIGINAL: jojo the pogo

recently discovered this is because Breeder's Choice does not use unnecissary stool firmers in their foods.

I guess the question then is who says they are unnecessary? [:@]
 
If fiber in a dog's diet has the same effect as fiber in a humans' diet then why doesn't Breeder's Choice lower the fiber content in the Pinnacle Chicken?

Yah, that's what I thought too. I should have put "unnecissary." That's just how the rep explained it. Don't get me wrong. I think Breeder's Choice is a great company. I haven't heard the same pooh problems with their other formulas (Avo Derm and Active Care).

I think Breeder's Choice is a great company. I haven't heard the same pooh problems with their other formulas (Avo Derm and Active Care).

i agree, they are trully a wonderful company and I also love their Avoderm Shampoo- fantastic product!   It is interesting that you say that you have NOT heard the same poop problems with Active Care and Avoderm because if you go to the testimonials on their website, there is 5x times the # of testimonials for both avoderm and active care than pinnacle. I always wondered why. . .  Perhaps many folks aren't satisfied with the product because of the poop???

Perhaps they also leave the stool firmers out because it is an "allergy formula".   Again, it is really too bad that their poop was soooo soft becasue I really loved their products and the pups look great on it with no allergy problems....oh well

BTW- anyone else feeding TWO have HUGE poops??? I'm shocked by the volume and weight of them on tonights walk.[]

I love i-doggers!!! Some of the only folks that you can post a thread about dog poo & not be ridiculed! []



 

I love i-doggers!!! Some of the only folks that you can post a thread about dog poo & not be ridiculed! []

Oh, I love talking about poop! One of the many joys in my life. I swear I worry about my dogs health, poops, etc...more than my own! He he he...oh well it's fun! []
 
Are you saying that your dogs poops are now big and heavy? Are they still firm? I would think it would be the change in food. Maybe try not increasing the amount of TWO for a few days to see if it improves. Every dog is different to transitions. I have heard some people spend a whole month transitioning their dogs.

Now, the main mission is to get your dogs poops small, firm, and compact!! I really hope that they do. I would at least give it a week or two to see how things play out with TWO.
 
Maybe by that time I will have received my order!! []

I get a kick out of how much poop talk there is with this forum!  It's great to be able to discuss my dog's poop issues and everthing else that comes up without feeling silly about it.   

ORIGINAL: kelly_c

I get a kick out of how much poop talk there is with this forum!  It's great to be able to discuss my dog's poop issues and everthing else that comes up without feeling silly about it.   

 
My wife and kids expect me to ask for a poop report when they walk the dog. If the dog poops when I'm not around I want details!  I'm still mixing and matching food.  I'm leaning towards throwing a couple of small bags of Bison and Wild & Natural in the rotation.  The big piles have me on pause though! []
 
One detail has been left out of the poop reports in this thread is odor intensity.  No poop report is complete without that you know. []

One detail has been left out of the poop reports in this thread is odor intensity.  No poop report is complete without that you know. []

Oh my gosh! I know exactly what you mean! People must think I am sick, twisted, and weird. Everytime I am out playing with or walking my dog and he poops...I wait for him to finish...making sure to not watch him, because I know they like their privacy. Then I go walk up to where he pooped and examine it! I swear I should be out with a pen and paper to take notes!! [] Not only that...but I will stoop down to kind of smell the air to see if there is an odor!
 
HOW WEIRD AM I??? [sm=crazy.gif] I can't believe I am admitting this...
 
Anyway, I always have to laugh at myself for being so "obsessed" with my dogs poop! Then when it is a great poop...I pick it up...and tell my pup "yes, another great poop...food is digesting well!"

ORIGINAL: Twin

One detail has been left out of the poop reports in this thread is odor intensity.  No poop report is complete without that you know. []

Oh my gosh! I know exactly what you mean! People must think I am sick, twisted, and weird. Everytime I am out playing with or walking my dog and he poops...I wait for him to finish...making sure to not watch him, because I know they like their privacy. Then I go walk up to where he pooped and examine it! I swear I should be out with a pen and paper to take notes!! [] Not only that...but I will stoop down to kind of smell the air to see if there is an odor!
 
HOW WEIRD AM I??? [sm=crazy.gif] I can't believe I am admitting this...
 
Anyway, I always have to laugh at myself for being so "obsessed" with my dogs poop! Then when it is a great poop...I pick it up...and tell my pup "yes, another great poop...food is digesting well!"

I face ridicule for being crazy about Roxie's poop.  No one "gets" why I care so much.  At least I'm not alone ... LOL!

I am the SAME way about Ella's poop.
If my boyfriend walks her (which I can't STAND other people walking her), then I'll ask him, all frantically, "DID SHE POOP?! HOW WAS IT???"

Ella's poops aren't smelly on the T.O.