Just wondering...What do you feed?

[GoCougs]

No, not kidding. The "puppy food" varieties are just a marketing thing. You're puppy doesn't have any special nutritional requirements that are received from "Puppy Formula".

Canidae is a kibble simply marketed as "For All Life Stages". Other well respected dog 'experts' (i.e. Pat Hastings) also believe that there is no need to feed "puppy food". You're pup will live happily and healthy and grow up just fine by eating the adult variety of whatever brand it is you choose to feed.

 

[Nedra's_momma]

I don't think that you *need* to feed puppy food, but there is some truth in the thought that puppy foods contain more fat and more protein, so they may be better for growing puppy bodies. I would say that if you can get away with feeding adult food instead of puppy food, go for it, because puppy food is more expensive. Having said that, I do think that you need to feed puppy food in some cases.

I tried Pixie on Wellness Adult Lamb and Rice because I had some left over after having to switch Nedra to homecooking. Pixie ended up losing weight and getting the runs because I was feeding so much of the adult that she was getting too much fiber and not enough fat and protein (her ratios were off). I had to switch her to Wellness puppy which, like most puppy foods, contain a higher ratio of fats and proteins to the 'other stuff', and now she is doing fine.

Normally I have no problem with keeping a skinny puppy. Actually, I think it is better on their growing bones to keep them on the thinner side rather than making them fat (which was the "old way" of thinking - my parents always believed that a chubby puppy is a healthy puppy, as did quite a few vets), but her breeders told me that she wasn't in good weight for show, so I had to switch her to the puppy formula.

Another option would be to feed the adult formula along with a few tablespoons of raw hamburger. At one point, we had to switch her back to the adult food because the feed store was out of the puppy and this is how we supplemented. It worked very well, but was a tad more expensive than just feeding puppy.

But, this is just our experience! I will probably switch her back to adult food when her weight starts catching up with her, but for now this is what we have found works. Good luck in making your decision, there are a ton of great food choices out there!!

Jessica

 

[Nek'sMom]

The way I think of puppy food is if your dog was out in the wild, he wouldn't be able to get special wild food geared toward pups. That's one of the reasons I picked Canidae for Niko, it's an all life stage food. I add things to his food also, raw egg, meat, yogurt and he gets treatts throughout the day. I want to feed him BARF but I am scared to!:eek: I am afraid I won't get everything right, and make him sick!

 

[j12toad]

I used to feed Iam.... but have switched to Canidae about a month and a half ago. Wow what a difference... Riley's coat is so soft now, and she loves to eat, not that she didn't before. Her poops are firmer and have actually reduced slightly. From other readings, I think that is due to the lack of fillers, that other foods use. Thats my 2 cents.

 

[ljnash]

Right now I'm feeding California Natural lamb & brown rice Senior food. I have fed Innova in the past, and I'm going to try Dr. Foster & Smith chicken & brown rice Senior. I just ordered some of that. I change their food every couple of months to get a variety.

 

[BingsDad]

Bing has been fed Purina Puppy Chow since he was weaned from his Mama. He positively THRIVES on it. He has consistently put on a little over 2.5 lbs. per week since he was 6 wks old. I have not had any problems whatsoever with diahrea, or skin issues. In fact, his coat shines like its wet. He has gone from 9.25 lbs at 6 wks of age, to currently 41 lbs at 18 wks.

I understand that many people choose to feed their dogs/puppies the more expensive variety of dog foods and I can totally appreciate that. However, I think that regardless of the various names of the more expensive brands, collectively they are marketed as THE BEST. Yes, there is a large market for THE BEST. Always has been/always will be. People like having THE BEST for various reasons. So regardless, whether it be called Innova, Nutro, BilJack, whatever. What youre really paying for is THE BEST. Do we forget what dogs eat in the wild? Theyre carnivors yes, but scavengers too. If it was left to mothers feeding puppies in the wild theyd all be eating a yummy regurgitated concoction of fat, gristle, and God knows what else.

I choose to take the sensible route, and I do not buy THE BEST either with currency, or acceptance of what I am told about THE BEST. Besides, alot of your puppys development is dependant upon good ole genetics, anyway. Purina Puppy Chow. He likes it/I love it. Who could ask for anything more? :D

 

[jmb9101]

Well about a week ago I changed Harlies food to Wellness Fish and Sweet Potato. She likes it so much. (In another thread about flaky hair they suggested this food) Well I tried to mix in the Nutro that we had had her on, just so she wouldnt get diarehha...well like before she picks out the new stuff...haha...it must taste better. I mix it but she just wont eat it...so she has had a little diarehha the past few days. We changed her food on friday...so hopefully the diarehha goes away soon, its not too bad, but just looser than normal. Well we have noticed her hair is a lot softer already, and hopefully we will see an improvement on the flakes soon. Well see! Im just glad she actually likes it.

 

[chloesowner]

Originally posted by SammynDqtz
. My dogs go through about 40 pounds of kibble per month.

40 lbs a month ? Chloe chows through at least 60 lbs a month of canidae, not adding in her wet food and ocassional steak and chicken.!(i switched her from nutro max to canidae)

JMB-
BTW Boxers are medium not large.Please take a peek at the links

I had the same food question before, when switching from nutro I posted a thread on the subject. You can search and find so much information you'll be more coinfused than when you started!!!!!

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39864 http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39513

 

[AntJan]

We used to give Nikki Eukanuba Lamb & Rice -- I know, I know . Then we switched to Nutro Natural Choice Lamb & Rice. But while she was on Nutro, she scratched a lot & developed huge flakes of dry skin. Strangely enough, she also developed Seasonal Flank Alopecia while on Nutro.

Now she's on California Natural Lamb & Rice, and she's doing great. Her bald spot immediately started growing back when we switched, and she has no more flakes.

A good dog food doesn't work for every dog. So, even though Nutro is a good brand, it didn't work for Nikki... but it's worked great for other dogs. Even Innova, it's one of the best, but it was too rich for Nikki (diarrhea). We're sticking with California Natural.

janet

 

[BingsDad]

Since I'm such a fair guy and have no problems admitting when I am wrong, I wish to retract the post up above about Puppy Chow. Well, to make a lengthy story short, Bing, Himself, says NO! to Puppy Chow. I dont know what happened but he just stopped eating it about four days ago. I let him go a few days of just picking at the Puppy Chow expecting him to get so hungry that he would continue his regular regimen. He refuses. When it got to the point of him vomiting yellow bile in the mornings because he had nothing in his stomach, I thought I would do some more reading on the natural foods. Impressed with what I read, I thought I would give it a try (had to do something). So, I mozied on down to the local pet store and bought some Royal Canin Holistic Natural Blend. When I got it home, he absolutely went nutz over it - sniffing the bag, chewing at the corner attempting to get it opened. So I opened the bag and dug out a handful and placed it on the floor. He gobbled it all up in a matter of seconds. Did it again, again gobbled it up. "GeeWhilikers, Bing! Is it really all that?!" ( Yes, I DID have the nerve to pop a kibble in my mouth to taste and NO, I wasnt impressed ). But, Bing sure was. He answered my question by burying his muzzle in the opened part of the bag and "going to town."

In just a few days, I have noticed that his coat, though always has been shiney, now has that velvet feel. Also smells sweet. I did a comparison to ingredients in Puppy Chow to Royal Canin and was ashamed at being so neglectful of my boys welfare. BAD DAD! :rolleyes: Also I saw that Royal Canin has alot of the same ingredients as Innova, so that was pleasing as well. My female died of lymphoma at 10.5 yrs last February, and she never ate anything besides Pup Chow and Pedigree. I sure am glad I "got with it" and decided to educate myself about the benifits of a Natural Diet. I suppose lots of people are ignorant about the whole cheap, popular dog food brand rigamarola. Natural way, its a good thing. :D