Innova vs. Natural Balance

• Innova vs. Natural Balance kalishea Posted : 7/18/2006 12:16:10 PM I switched my dog gradually from Innova to Natural Balance about 3 weeks ago. Since she has had more bowl movements and accidents on the carpet almost everynight. I do believe that the food is the cause because of the time frame. So why is the happening? Why would she be having accidents because of the food? What do I do to solve the problem? I have a whole bucket of NB still. Also, she seems to like the NB better because in the beginning I combined the two foods and she would always pick out the NB and leave the Innova- so obviously adding Innova to the NB would not work. LIKE 17 REPLIES 1390 VIEWS LAST POST PAPILLON806 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
• sooner Posted : 7/18/2006 12:45:00 PM Which Natural Balance are you feeding? 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
• probe1957 Posted : 7/18/2006 12:46:32 PM I think 3 weeks is long enough for you to be able to conclude that this new food is not going to work for your 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
• kalishea Posted : 7/18/2006 12:49:11 PM I believe it is the Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dry Dog Food.   Also, just a note- I called Petco and they will give me my money back if I bring the food in. So that is an option.   I just don't want to upset her digestive system any more than I have. 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
• sarah_b Posted : 7/18/2006 12:49:33 PM First thing to try -- and this is only a suggestion --- back off on the amount you feed just a bit, even if it say 1/4 to 1/8 the amount you are feeding. Some foods just do not need to be fed to what they say on the bag. 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
• kalishea Posted : 7/18/2006 12:52:11 PM I actually did cut her back a bit last week. I felt that she was producing so much waste and gaining a little weight in such a short amount of time that I cut her to between 1/2 cup and 3/4 cup a day. She is only 8 pds to begin with. 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
• sooner Posted : 7/18/2006 1:02:36 PM ORIGINAL: probe1957 I think 3 weeks is long enough for you to be able to conclude that this new food is not going to work for your dog. Actually no, I think 6-8 weeks is generally recommended for a true result. I don't hear many people talk about the Ultra Premium, the ingredients look good but it is possible that your dog is sensitive to an ingredient that wasn't in the Innova, like duck. I agree with cutting back, some people find that they only have to feed 1/2 or less of the recommended amount on the bag. There are several things you can do...give some canned plain pumpkin if her stools are runny...give digestive enzymes to help her process the food.. return the food and go back to Innova Are her bowel movements normal - just more frequent, or are they runny? 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
• sandra_slayton Posted : 7/18/2006 1:12:14 PM I dont think I would go 6 to 8 weeks if my dog was having problems that more than likely was caused by the new food.   I mean, if something does not agree with me  and giving me the bathroom trots, indigestion, lots of gas,  or making me throw up, I refuse to contine eating it for weeks to see if my body will eventaully adjust.   EDITED.  I take it to mean i was not meant to eat that food. 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
• sooner Posted : 7/18/2006 1:17:02 PM ORIGINAL: sandra_slayton I dont think I would go 6 to 8 weeks if my dog was having problems that more than likely was caused by the new food.   I mean, if something does not agree with me  and giving me the bathroom trots, indigestion, lots of gas,  or making me throw up, I refuse to contine eating it for weeks to see if my body will eventaully adjust. EDITED.  I take it to mean i was not meant to eat that food. That's why I asked if the bowel movements are normal and more frequent or runny. To the OP: This dog isn't throwing up, having excessive runny stools or having lots of indigestion is she? I didn't get that from the original post. I know my dog has trouble adjusting to new foods sometimes, and switching every three weeks was heck on his tummy, people a lot more knowledgeable than I was suggested waiting 6-8 weeks and usually the problems clear up. Unless of course, the dog is having a serious bad reaction. 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
• kalishea Posted : 7/18/2006 1:19:53 PM Her stools seem to be the same as before, just ALOT more frequent. If I did go back to Innova, what is the best way? You guys are so helpful- thank you.   No throwing up, either. 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
• sooner Posted : 7/18/2006 1:23:47 PM If the bowel movements are normal I would cut way back on the food and see if that helps. Digestive enzymes are another good option. If your dog isn't having runny stools, throwing up or gas from the switch her system probably isn't that sensitive - you haven't really "upset" her at all. That said, if you want to switch back I would do so gradually, 1/4 new for a week, 1/2 new for a week, 3/4 new for a week... 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
• papillon806 Posted : 7/18/2006 2:06:45 PM Actually no, I think 6-8 weeks is generally recommended for a true result.   I agree 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
• kalishea Posted : 7/18/2006 2:15:32 PM Ok, so now I'm a little unsure about what to do. Should I wait 3-5 more weeks and see if she keeps having accidents? Or should I start switching her back to Innova? I can get some tonight if so... 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 : 7/18/2006 2:49:14 PM Are you sure there's nothing medically wrong? What kind of "accidents"? 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
• kalishea Posted : 7/18/2006 2:54:52 PM Basically she started going #2 at night on the carpet rather than in her litter box and it all started after we switched foods. Before we switched she had gone over a year using her box without any problem. Also her bowel movements have doubled and I have even reduced the amuont I feed her. I don't know, I did have her at the vet last week for anal gland expression and she had a full checkup in Feb. She is 2 years old now, but I guess it's possible she has a health problem of some sorts? 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