Switch to Innova????

A lot of people have excellent results with Innova. I wasn't one of them. My three dogs did horribly on it.

Since learning more about food I'm surprised Innova has as good of a reputation as it does since it has a lot of grain/carbs - barley, brown rice, potatoes, and rice all in the main ingredients. It's good that it has both meat and meat meal as the first ingredients though. I think they place too much emphasis on the apples, carrots and cottage cheese. Those are ingredients better given fresh IMO, if they are to be given at all. Personally I lean toward the less calorie dense foods. Easier to digest and the dog gets to eat more and be more satisfied (only an issue if you have chow hounds like mine).

While the urge to switch is understandable, sometimes it's better not to mess with what works. OTOH you could find another option or two to rotate with the Nature's Recipe if you are worried about it not being good enough.

Well, if after some research you're happy with the food you're feeding and your dog seems to be doing well, you shouldn't feel like you have to switch.

On the other hand, if you'd like to try something different (probably with fewer grains), you could give it a month and see if your dog starts to do even better than "well." There are lots of good foods out there besides Innova, too. I'm feeding Timberwolf Organics right now and I like it a lot. Other people here feed and are very happy with Eagle Pack Holistic, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul, Natural Balance, Canidae, Orijen, and many others.

For me, my dog seemed to be "doing well" on Nutro Natural Choice, but after learning more about dogfoods I decided to "upgrade" and have been happy, though it took me a little bit to find a food that both he and I liked.

Good luck with whatever you choose! []

I have all my dogs on Innova.. I use the all stage one in the green bag...There coats are beautiful , soft and shiny there poops are small and they go once a day...I have trouble using the Innova meat for some reason.. that makes my one dogs poops runny.. but all dogs are different   

Innova is one food that my dog has loose stool on. My unofficial opinion is that about half of dogs do great on Innova and the other have very loose stool. You could always try it to see how it works for your dog. Here are some other foods that may be good:

Canidae
Eagle Pack Holistic
Timberwolf Organics
Natural Balance
California Natural

My dog does fantastic on Innova, the small bites version in the green bag.  Nice soft coat, small stools etc...  Unfortunately she has grown tired of eating it and I'm now searching for something else that will give me just as good results.

Since learning more about food I'm surprised Innova has as good of a reputation as it does since it has a lot of grain/carbs - barley, brown rice, potatoes, and rice all in the main ingredients. It's good that it has both meat and meat meal as the first ingredients though. I think they place too much emphasis on the apples, carrots and cottage cheese. Those are ingredients better given fresh IMO, if they are to be given at all.

4x's ditto on this.

All Forums >> [Dog.com Forum] >> Nutrition >> Switch to Innova????

How about Canadie?  Thanks again for all the help!

ORIGINAL: jenns

My dog does fantastic on Innova, the small bites version in the green bag.  Nice soft coat, small stools etc...  Unfortunately she has grown tired of eating it and I'm now searching for something else that will give me just as good results.

 
My dachshund loves both Innova and Canidae and the results are very similar. 

I'm in the "my dog did bad on Innova" camp. It wasn't pretty. But every dog is different. Try it and see how he does.
 
I do Canidae now and love it for both of my dogs. Maybe give that a shot?

Thanks all.  My feed store guru suggested Eagle Pack holistics lamb as Fergie was already on a lamb based kibble.  The guru thought I shold consider sticking with the same protein source as Fergie was doing well on it.  I'll post back over the next few weeks.  Once again thanks for the help.

Eagle Pack Holisitic is my tried and true favorite, and I know a lot of dogs do great on it, so I think that's a great choice. []

Try Orijen...
 
Timberwolf Organics....Whats Organic about it?  Should not be allowed to use the word organic on the packaging.
 
Orijen No Grain Food.

Try Orijen... I love it, well Champ does that is!

I have been thinking about along the same line as you about Innova. 
 
My 6 month old lab loves brocolli, carrots, green beans, apples, (the list goes on... but he will never get stuff like grapes, chocolates, onion, etc.).  He also enjoys "grazing" on our grass, especially when it has just been mowed (I think he was a lamb in his previous life).
 
Although I rotate his food for different protein sources (his base food is Canidae, all three kinds), he enjoys fresh veggies and fruits.  And I would rather give him the fresh stuff than in powder form added to the kibble.