On Canidae....switch to Solid Gold?

[Bruisersmomi]

Bruiser is eating Canidae all Life Stages right now, I have to drive 40 miles to pick up his food twice a month. Our Petsmart just started carrying Solid Gold, he is 10 months.... is Barking at the Moon to much protein for him at this age? He doesn't gobble up the Canidae as much as he used to I think he is getting bored with it. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[huxleton]

I am no expert, but from what I have read solid gold has too much protien for his still developing skeleton. I would wait until 18 months or so before switching to such a high protien food. Food rotation is great both for their health and their enjoyment, so you are on the right track. We rotate Huxley between Canidae all life stages and Fromms duck and sweet potato. 6 months canidae to 3 months Fromms because the canidea seems to have a little bit better of ingredients. I don't know if this helps with your travel issue...do you have access to large bags?

 

[kayboxer]

Bruiser is eating Canidae all Life Stages right now, I have to drive 40 miles to pick up his food twice a month. Our Petsmart just started carrying Solid Gold, he is 10 months.... is Barking at the Moon to much protein for him at this age? He doesn't gobble up the Canidae as much as he used to I think he is getting bored with it. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I asked the same question previously about Solid Gold. I was told my 7 mo. old would be fine on it, and I also asked a vet in my area that carries it and he also said it would be fine. He also sells the puppy version, so I know his answer wasn't based just on trying to sell the product. Yours is 10 months, so I wouldn't worry at all putting him on it.

 

[huxleton]

I should clarify my response...Solid gold makes plenty of food suitable for puppies. the Barking at the moon however (in my opinion) has too much protein in it for a still developing dog. I believe if you look it up on www.dogfoodanalysis.com it even states that it is not suitable for puppies and 10 months is still very much a puppy.

 

[kayboxer]

I should clarify my response...Solid gold makes plenty of food suitable for puppies. the Barking at the moon however (in my opinion) has too much protein in it for a still developing dog. I believe if you look it up on www.dogfoodanalysis.com it even states that it is not suitable for puppies and 10 months is still very much a puppy.

I have done ton research on food and asked tons of questions about high protein diets because my pup had a high protein level in his urine, and have found as well as was told there is no proof or evidence that high protein diets cause growth problems. So, it is a matter of opinion on that one, and if you trust a vets opinion who actually sells something other than Science Diet, which is hard to find. Come to find out the protein in my guys urine was due to an infection.

 

[SILLY6PAK]

since it is still up for very much debate about protein levels. I would play it safe and go with the other solid gold products.
Vets are FAR from nutritional experts. Better safe than sorry I say.

 

[gmacleod]

I wouldn't ever go so far as to say there's no proof or evidence that high protein diets cause (or exacerbate) musculoskeletal disorders if fed to puppies. Some research finds exactly that Some alternative research says protein isn't the problem. Everyone has to choose for themselves which set of findings they prefer to believe, but it simply isn't accurate to say "does" or "doesn't". It isn't conclusive either way, and probably won't be for some years yet (after these foods have actually been around long enough for any increase/decrease in the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders to be apparent).

IMO, it would certainly be more prudent to take a pass on those foods till the pup has finished, or nearly finished, his skeletal growth.

 

[huxleton]

kayboxer-I did not mean to insinuate that you were feeding anything you shouldn't be. A vets opinion obviously trumps mine. I apologize if I came off too strong. I am sorry to hear about your guys infection, I hope it cleared up and worked out ok.

 

[kayboxer]

kayboxer-I did not mean to insinuate that you were feeding anything you shouldn't be. A vets opinion obviously trumps mine. I apologize if I came off too strong. I am sorry to hear about your guys infection, I hope it cleared up and worked out ok.

I appreciate your asking about my guy, he is on his second round of antibiotics as of today. Sorry if I seem a bit touchy, been a bad week already and it's only Wednesday (son broke his arm yesterday). It is true what gmacleod said about high proteins. I guess I just like to believe what I have read, that it is not how much protein, but the quality of the protein and the over feeding that lead to the problems. It is a huge controversy, you read and hear one thing and believe it and the next you read something else and believe it too. It is such a hard decision, you just have to trust your feelings and do what you think is best. I had asked about the same thing not long ago if you look back in the feeding forums and gmacleod thought it would be okay to give Solid Gold BATM a go. I then called a few vets and thought I'd give it a try. So far, so good. Anyway, it's like feeding children, you just do the best you can with what information you have.

By the way, where in Kansas are you? Nice to see someone from the same state on Boxerworld.

 

[gmacleod]

I guess I just like to believe what I have read, that it is not how much protein, but the quality of the protein and the over feeding that lead to the problems.

Kayboxer: That is in relation to kidney issues, in which high levels of protein have no role (but quality of protein does). Musculoskeletal disorders are completely different and the same research is simply not applicable.

As I've said before numerous times, I'm inclined more toward the belief that it will be found that "high" protein foods have no role in the development of musculoskeletal disorders. But that is opinion only - not based on any conclusive research into the issue to date (to the best of my knowledge, such conclusive research doesn't yet exist - opinions remain divided).