Food Help Needed

I personally don't care for the Senior formulas.  Blue Buffalo makes a nice large breed, but that's chicken based.  Lamb or fish would be a nice alternative.  Looking at their web site, the protein is a bit less in the Senior as well as the fat.  The presumption is that as dogs get older,they are less active so they need less of both.  However, the 1% less fat isn't a big enough deal to worry about, I don't think, and regardless of age, dogs need high quality protein.

Regarding the feeding recommendations on the food you are using, do you happen to know the kcals per cup?  As an example, my german shepherds get 2.5-3 C of Blue large breed per day at 505 kcals per cup.  That's way below the "recommendation" however, you need to feed the right amount to keep your dog at a healthy weight.  Just like in people, thinner is better.  Fat is not healthy for them either, and you want to be able to feel the ribs without digging for them.

Another food that I really like is Innova, but it's gotten so pricey that it's way out of the ballpark with 6 gsds.  Solid Gold is another good food,and you might want to look at some of the "grain free" foods that are out there.

Good luck.  That gas problem is something most all of us have dealt with.  At one point I was ready to rent my crew out to strip paint....it was that bad!

Opps.  Edited to add:  Welcome to the forum.  Or as us oldies call it, idog!

Thank you for the reply.

The food I have her on is a Purina brand they don't list the calories but it is 28% protein with 16% fat content.  It is a new brand put out called Chef Michaels.

I really would like to get her on a different brand based on her size. Thank you for the ideas, I will take a look at them.

 I actually like Senior formulas. Some dogs really need extra fiber - for whatever reason, they've been adapted to a "trashy" diet.The senior diets in premium foods tend to have things like extra fiber, high digestibility, and high protein/low fat. All these are great for most low energy dogs or ones with touchy tummies.

Canidae Senior used to be good. I got a bit miffed at them when they changed their formula. But I do think it's chicken based.

Taste of the Wild has a fish based formula, and a red meat based formula. Both of these are fine for a senior dog - the fish formula particularly. 

Wellness Core has a really good fish formula but you'll be in the same boat with having to feed a good bit - not as much as the Purina you described, but it will cost twice as much, so same difference.

On the other hand, Evo Red Meat gives good bang for the buck. Be cautious of the dairy in it, however - it sounds like she might be intolerant of dairy.

My favorite is Orijen, of course. They have a fish based formula and now have a Red Meat formula in some stores (but not online).

I'm with ya on the chicken dilemna. I had a dog who was violently allergic to chicken, and also ate huge amounts of food. Bleh. I ended up simply feeding him "prey model" raw. That's where he ate only raw meat and bones, mostly beef heart meat, pork ribs, lamb parts (we raise sheep), and goat. Still expensive but not nearly as expensive as the premium foods he would have had to eat.

Here are my ideas-

Fromm in the varities below:

Whitefish & Potato, Pork & Applesauce and Salmon A La Veg

Pinnacle

Duck & Potato and Trout & Sweet Potato  

Merrick

Cowboy Cookout, Wilderness Blend.and Campfire Trout Feast

 Natural Balance also has some really nice foods that don't have chicken, might be worth a check (I'm not sure about senior-ness or price):

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/allergy.html#F

Oh boy, I went food shopping today, it all sounds so good!  I came home with:

 Natural Balance in Swt Pot w/ Venison and Swt Pot w/Fish

Eagal Pack in Anchovy, Sardine, Salmon w/Oatmeal

Nutri Source in Salmon and Pot

I don't know if I should have gotten the different brands, but I think I read on here, if they are good products switching between them shouldn't be too hard to do. I was going to try one for a week at a time and see how she does.

I heard something interesting from a lady in the store looking at food, she said she usually buys wholesale, and she wasn't use to these prices in the store. But they were on vacation and ran out.  I wished I would have asked her what she meant by buying wholesale.  We were at Petco, which is retail.  I want to thank everyone  on the forum for their suggestions. I feel good about these choices.

A little funny added here, when I got home I gave Pella a few pieces of the Eagle Pack, which she gobbled up and I gave our little dog a few pieces too and all she wanted to do was roll in it!  So, I am going to think it smelled so good, she wanted to smell like it!! Fishy.

Thanks again.

 Haha, great! I hope your dogs enjoy it :)

I would not "try the food for a week" and then switch to something else.  I would slowly transition from one to the other and leave them on one food for 4-6 weeks.

 Tootsie,was on EP Holistic Sardine for three years and did wonderful on it. I switched to Orijen, which she also did well on, but shes bulking up. So I'm going back to EP because she loves it and does well on it.

Just wanted to post an update, I have put Pella on EP Sardine. Of all the kinds I have tried in the past few weeks, this one is the winner.  She loves it.

I can't believe that we have lived with her for 9 years with the awful gas (and that she had to live with it as well, I am sure it made her feel awful). It is gone.  It use to be she would eat and within an hour it was un bearable to be any where near her. Never thought it was a food issue, the vet just thought it was her system.

We are a happy family now, and we can watch TV with her right next to the couch. Thanks to everyone for there comments.

Marilynn