rotating food

• rotating food 3guysandagirl Posted : 4/25/2006 6:39:13 PM Hello, I have been reading and getting points from this forum for quit awhlie, but just registered today, I know you've all been over this. I want to rotate my dogs food but everytime I go to do it I worry if the food I am changing to will be as good. They are eating innova right now, I want to go to Canidae next and then a third one maybe, I heard about Artemis today, they have tried NB, SG but weren't crazy about them, and EP just doesn't sound that great to me.I read that the foods should be different  in some ingredients, thats where I get confussed. I'm not sure which ingredents or how different. So I have come to the experts to tell me if my choices are good ones. Thanks for your help LIKE 71 REPLIES 2471 VIEWS LAST POST EDIE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Sarah Posted : 4/25/2006 6:43:31 PM I think what most people mean by different ingredients is different protein sources. Say you have a lamb formula, then you'd want to get say, a turkey formula. And then you may want to get a fish based one, for example. It basicly means to have a variety of meats. I believe both Innova and Canidae are chicken/turkey based foods? Then you may want to try maybe a venison, lamb, fish, etc formula. Timberwolf Organics has a great selection of "exotic" proteins like venison, elk and bison. Good luck! 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• smilee1079 Posted : 4/25/2006 6:52:22 PM I am thiinking of rotating the same 2 foods as the OP... Innova and Canidae.  Both are a multiple source of protein.  Does that mean if I use Innova already that has 4 sources, I should use the canidae that is just chicken or their all ages formula with many sources also.   What is the benefit of switching to diff't sources of protein?   I have pretty much concluded I want to do Innova and Canidae, not others. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• kennel_keeper Posted : 4/25/2006 6:54:27 PM I was under the assumption that you should NOT use exotic proteins unless your dog is having allergy problems. If you start giving these protein sources without a problem present, then what are you going to fall back on IF your dog DOES develope allergies?   I think the practice of "rotation" is actually to balance the nutrients that may be lacking in one or more foods and NOT as much for the variety. I would be careful about throwing all those "exotic" proteins at them and save them IN CASE they start having problems with more readily available proteins. This is what has happened to "lamb".   "... and EP just doesn't sound that great to me."   May I ask what about it that you didn't like?? I feed it and think it's a great food, but just curious about your statement. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• 3guysandagirl Posted : 4/25/2006 6:55:57 PM Ok I understand now, thank you. So would it be ok though if  went from Innova to Canidae just so they could have a change. Or since they are so close would it be a waste of time if there is nothing really different about them?  What other foods do you recomended? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• glenmar Posted : 4/25/2006 6:59:34 PM What are the four sources in Innova?  My bag says chicken and turkey. I also don't care for most of the EP formulas.  The holistic ones are good, but for the most part, EP isn't something I'd feed.  As a matter of fact, I was given a large bag of holistic and I didn't find it to be all that great.  Thor had terribly large and loose stools on it and the kcals are REALLY low. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• tiffy Posted : 4/25/2006 7:22:36 PM Just a question, but why rotate? If it works with your dog, why change it up? I also would like to know why you( 3guysandagirl) think EP isn't very good. I feed it and the dogs love it. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• kennel_keeper Posted : 4/25/2006 7:31:28 PM I guess it just goes to show that there's not one single food that is good for every dog,    0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• papillon806 Posted : 4/25/2006 7:31:53 PM I think that one of the main purposes to rotating a food is either for variety or to change protein sources so your pet's diet will me more "nutritionally complete."  Personally, I rotate for both reasons.  I guess it's just up to personal preference 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• glenmar Posted : 4/25/2006 7:32:12 PM Even the Whole Dog Journal recommends rotating foods and if I recall correctly it's as kennel keeper said, to be sure that what nutrients might be missing in one food, are covered by the others.  I don't rotate kibble because I rotate the veggies and protein source in my homecooked which is their dinner most nites. There are varying qualities of EP, with the Holistic supposedly being at the top of the heap.  My personal experience with Holistic was NOT positive. I'm not saying that it is NOT a good food, but it didn't work well for my dogs....or dog actually since Thor was my tester. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• smilee1079 Posted : 4/25/2006 7:36:42 PM Sorry... Glenda is right... the Innova has chicken and turkey, but the Canidae has chicken, turkey, lamb and fish in its all life stages formula I was going to use.  So, these would be ok to rotate, right?   My reason for no EP is because I have heard mixed things (when I first decided Innova I had considered EP and although I can't remember what made me decide against EP, I do feel Zoe would have to eat more of it than I feed of Innova based on kcals. But, that wasn't my original reasoning... I can't remember what it was.  However, before, when I chose Innova, I hadn't researched Canidae much.  I like both.   The reason I am rotating is because I want to give my dog variety so she doesn't get bored, which I noticed may happen.  I have also heard many people say they do it and their dogs like the rotation.  0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• papillon806 Posted : 4/25/2006 7:41:17 PM smilee--those would definately be a good choice to rotate between.  My parents old cocker spaniel rotates between Innova Senior and the Canidae Platinum (although he seems to do better on the Platinum so he may stick to that). I am planning on rotating between TO wild and natural, TO ocean blue (for a grain-free formula w/ a different protein source), and EVO.  Originally I had planned rotating between EVO, w&n, and SG BATM, but my pup despised the SG.  I think when he becomes an adult, I may throw in a grain formula in there just for good measure (I was thinking the Artemis Freshmix Small breed adult) or SG wee bit.  But who knows? [] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• glenmar Posted : 4/25/2006 7:44:48 PM First off, lets debunk the notion that dogs are like people and get bored with their food.  Me, I can eat the same thing for days in a row before I get tired of it.  DH won't eat for lunch the next day what he had for dinner the nite before. I personally SWEAR by Innova.  Ron tried it for his boy and it didn't work for him.  Dyan SWEARS by EP, but it didn't work for my boy.....so no there is no one food that will work for every dog.  Doesn't make the food bad, or less anything, just means that it isn't the ideal food for THAT dog. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• John Posted : 4/25/2006 8:02:39 PM ORIGINAL: glenmar First off, lets debunk the notion that dogs are like people and get bored with their food.  Me, I can eat the same thing for days in a row before I get tired of it.  DH won't eat for lunch the next day what he had for dinner the nite before. I personally SWEAR by Innova.  Ron tried it for his boy and it didn't work for him.  Dyan SWEARS by EP, but it didn't work for my boy.....so no there is no one food that will work for every dog.  Doesn't make the food bad, or less anything, just means that it isn't the ideal food for THAT dog.   I'm like you, Glenda,  but I suspect many dogs would appreciate an occasional change.  I do think rotating protein soureces and just ingredients in general is a sound policy. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• glenmar Posted : 4/25/2006 8:10:01 PM I don't disagree that the enjoy a change, but I don't think that they CRAVE a change.  But then, mine get their variety in homecooked 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login