Time to switch...

• 06-25-2008 12:56 PM

  zatchbell322 Joined on 03-17-2007 Oklahoma city, OK Posts 345 Points 55

  Time to switch... Reply Contact Since early april Lex has been on Diamond Naturals Lamb and rice. He does extremly well on it and its pretty much the only food he has been on that results in firm poo. The only diffrence is that he seems slightly more itchy. I dont know if that is because of the new climate/environment he is living in ( We moved form Oregon to Oklahoma), or the fact that I am slowly trying to cut back on his allergy meds. Anyway, my dilemma is that I think he is getting bored with his food, and I like to switch things up every once in awhile. I feed him 1 cup with 1 tablespoon wet in the am and 1 1/2 cups with 1 tablspoon wet in the pm. The wet I use is purina one, I know its not a favorite around here, but it helps keep weight on him.  Which is another problem I am having. I am struggling to keep him at a steady weight. He just wont eat! I tried uping his food to 2 cups am and pm, but he wouldnt not eat more than about half of it. So in conclusion is there any food that is fairly similer and in the same price range? Maybe one for active/working dogs? Oh and no chicken.... Thanks!

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• 06-25-2008 1:48 PM

  In reply to zatchbell322

  janetmichel3009 Joined on 11-28-2006 Beijing, China Posts 2,820 Points 370

  Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact have you tried "tricking" him into eating his food? i has BIG struggles getting jason to eat and started just cracking a raw egg on his kibble and mixing it well. i cant say for sure if that's what made the difference, but i sure cant find anything else that could be it. anyhow, he eats like a champ now!!! sometimes faster than moca (and moca is FAST!!!!!) i dont even bother much with the egg anymore either... just saying. the egg might not work. but just adding some "flavor" to the kibble might be all he needs... Janet

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• 06-25-2008 2:06 PM

  In reply to zatchbell322

  DanielleNY Joined on 05-27-2007 Posts 92 Points 5

  Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact What are the allergy meds for?  Have you tried Canidae Lamb & Rice? It's a good value for the price. My dogs did well on it before I decided to go grain-free. It was the first food that put weight on my high metabolism girl. I would guess that the climate change is playing a big role in the dry skin. Try adding a capsule of fish oil to his food. The taste also might entice him to eat more. Solid Gold might be another brand I'd look into as comparable to Diamond.

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• 06-25-2008 4:04 PM

  In reply to DanielleNY

  zatchbell322 Joined on 03-17-2007 Oklahoma city, OK Posts 345 Points 55

  Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact Allergy meds are for Flea dermatitis. I am giving them to him every two days versus every day. I had him on Canidae before and his poops were huge and very oily. I have used fish oil on him before, when he was on Natures recipie and he still wasnt very interested in his food. I dont use it with this food because his coat is no longer dry and flaky. He seems alittle more itchy, but his skin isnt flaky... Janet - I have given him 1 egg in his food before, but I wasnt sure if it would be good for him long term, is it? What about sardines, I heard they are a good topper?

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• 06-25-2008 4:54 PM

  In reply to zatchbell322

  AuroraLove Joined on 11-26-2007 Posts 1,196 Points 330	Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact I agree with trickery, LOL. I have a stubborn eater as well. Things I've found that are fun to add to the food is... raw eggs scrambeled eggs warm plain oatmeal veggies fruit sweet potato rice plain yogurt sometimes I'll just add warm water, anything healthy to spice it up a bit!
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• 06-25-2008 6:50 PM

  In reply to AuroraLove

  zatchbell322 Joined on 03-17-2007 Oklahoma city, OK Posts 345 Points 55	Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact  I think I am going to start giving wet for dinner and then adding a topper for breakfast or maybe vice-versa, thanks for the ideas everyone!   Oh I just had an idea - Maybe I should do wet food every other day and the toppers on the off days....hmm.
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• 06-25-2008 8:10 PM

  In reply to zatchbell322

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 9,403 Points 75

  Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact  Hands down, best food topper ever.....   Crock pot.    Super easy recipe. Take any meat that's on sale for $1 or less per pound, throw it in the crock pot, cover it in water.... and leave it on low, overnight. Pull out any bones that don't mash up with a fork. I haven't met a dog, yet, that will turn down a bowl of anything with a couple of tablespoons of warm crock pot meat mixed in. Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003) Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008) Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)

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• 06-26-2008 1:29 PM

  In reply to jennie_c_d

  zatchbell322 Joined on 03-17-2007 Oklahoma city, OK Posts 345 Points 55	Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact Thats such a good idea......
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• 06-26-2008 3:28 PM

  In reply to jennie_c_d

  brookcove Joined on 09-10-2007 Semora, North Carolina, USA Posts 4,883 Points 335

  Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact jennie_c_d: I haven't met a dog, yet, that will turn down a bowl of anything with a couple of tablespoons of warm crock pot meat mixed in.   When we get together you'll have to meet Ted then!  The little brown spotted turd.  He's next in line for a diet consult because I'm tired of dealing with his royal highness. If you can't find stuff on sale, or you are cheap like me (hee!), you can cut up veggies - starchies, squash, green beans, carrots, apples, pears, peaches, plums, tropicals - whatever is okay for your dog to eat - and do about 25% meat and 75% veggies.  More work, less money.    Plus you can feed more without throwing anything off.  When everything is pretty much homogenous in the pot, everything will taste like meat.  The dogs go bonkers for this.  Becca Shouse: Irena Farm, Semora, NC Cord, Ted, Gus, Zhi, Maggie, Lynn, Lu, Min and Tully Waiting: Bubo & Ben "We didn't have a phone, and we couldn't call you!" Helen, AIDS orphan. Don't let them die of ignorance - WorldHelp.net "I-Dog Biggest Loser" Official Cheerleader/Mascot Start 09/15/08: 186.4 lbs Current 175.6 lbs

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• 06-26-2008 4:59 PM

  In reply to brookcove

  zatchbell322 Joined on 03-17-2007 Oklahoma city, OK Posts 345 Points 55	Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact Thanks for the Crock-pot idea. I have decided that is what I am going to do. Plus I'm sure all the things in the crockpot will be so much healthier for Lex than the canned food, and so much cheaper.  You guys are awesome.     eta - Do the veggies have to be fresh, or can they be frozen? Is spinach ok? I eat alot of that.
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• 06-26-2008 5:54 PM

  In reply to zatchbell322

  huskymom Joined on 09-10-2007 Thunder Bay ON Posts 5,971 Points 495	Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact  Spinach is fine as far as I know.  One other thought, and my dogs second this, add a third meal in the form of a glop of the crockpot gunk, frozen.  If the heat is anything like it is here, nobody feels much like eating and a nice frozen pupsicle is a nice treat. Candace
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• 06-26-2008 9:31 PM

  In reply to huskymom

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 9,403 Points 75

  Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact  Spinach is fine, if the dog isn't arthritic. If he is arthritic, just keep the spinach content moderate. Frozen veggies are FINE! Less work, too. I tend to just... rotate greens. I throw in a handful of blueberries, or if I have another berry, I'll put that in. I might have apples, and throw in one of those, too. Maybe some sweet potato. I do mostly meat, with a few good veggies. They LOOOVE it!   Ted is a freak of nature, LOL. My dogs would eat grass and dirt, if you threw some crock pot meat in the bowl! Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003) Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008) Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)

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• 06-26-2008 10:14 PM

  In reply to jennie_c_d

  sl2crmeg Joined on 10-08-2006 New Smyrna Beach, FL Posts 2,915 Points 345	Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact I haven't been brave enough for spinach after my kale experience. I used a brick of frozen broccoli and that was a hit :) Zucchini was big too.
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• 06-27-2008 10:07 AM

  In reply to sl2crmeg

  tiffy Joined on 09-10-2007 Tacoma, Wa. Posts 1,777 Points 150	Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact I use Salmon Oil daily on Tootsies food, at first to get good coat quality, but now for maintaining it.
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• 06-27-2008 12:30 PM

  In reply to jennie_c_d

  zatchbell322 Joined on 03-17-2007 Oklahoma city, OK Posts 345 Points 55

  Re: Time to switch... Reply Contact jennie_c_d:  Spinach is fine, if the dog isn't arthritic. If he is arthritic, just keep the spinach content moderate. Frozen veggies are FINE! Less work, too. I tend to just... rotate greens. I throw in a handful of blueberries, or if I have another berry, I'll put that in. I might have apples, and throw in one of those, too. Maybe some sweet potato. I do mostly meat, with a few good veggies. They LOOOVE it!   Ted is a freak of nature, LOL. My dogs would eat grass and dirt, if you threw some crock pot meat in the bowl!   Lex loves grass too lol. He LOVES apples! So that will be super easy. Oh I am so excited! I already picked one out at the store, I'm gonna go in on saturday and buy it along with some meat and veggies. The one I was looking at was a 2 quarts. How long will the prepared food last? Should I store it in tupperware, or jars in the fridge?

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