Switching to Canidae

[Alydarling]

I have never boarded my dogs but am wondering. If you take your dog to a kennel don't you take his food? And if so, isn't it unethical for the kennel personal to switch your dogs diet. Even though they may not like or approve of it, shouldn't they keep him on the food you give him? The first post said that the kennel had been feeding a dog on Iams the Canidae.

Also, since everyone says it's so good I have ordered a 5lb bag to try out on my dogs. What is the best way to switch, over a 2 week period? Adding a little of the new to the old and gradually more of the new? My golden looks much better but after looking at goldens on Canidae I figured I would give it a shot just to see if he would look even better.

Thanks,

Jenn

 

[craZ4HERKIE]

Jenn...you're probably right about it being unethical to switch the food without the owner's consent...but since Iams is such a yucky food....oh well...I won't be boarding my babies with her anyway!

And yes, it's best when switching foods to do it gradually, 1/4 new 3/4 old...and gradually increase until you've phased out the old food. Good Luck!

 

[Smooshie]

Mine have done wonderfully on Canidae, and they go crazy for the snap biscuits as well . I hope Herkie has the same success!

Sspiro....glad to hear your dogs are doing well since the switch

 

[craZ4HERKIE]

I don't know how well Herkie is going to do on Canidae! He loves it, have been blending it gradually with Nutro Max. At first his stools were firming up...but now they are softening back up! I am hoping he's just adjusting to Canidae. He's been waking me every day to go out at 6am. Soft stools...which is to be expected with canned food. So I started blending in Canidae kibble as well. When I got home from work this evening he had pooped in the crate twice...well once in the crate, once kinda out of the crate on the carpet. Poor baby! I took him on a long walk today before work and he never pooped, I guess he couldn't hold it anymore! I am thinking, with the switch to Canidae, even though I've not completed the switch yet, I also just started adding the kibble yesterday, and with the snap biscuits (I have to chop those up for his treat...so it ends up being like a snap meal) it may be quite a bit on his tummy right now. Hopefully when he builds all the enzymes his tummy will straighten out. No gurglies, hardly ANY gas....just soft stools...and the accident tonight. Thoughts anyone? Do you think that makes sense?

 

[BeckyNC]

Jessica,

If Herkie has a sensitive tummy, you may be right that he's been exposed to too much too quickly. Can you remove the canned Canidae and just transition from Nutro to Canidae kibble? Maybe hold off on the snap biscuits, except for several times (2-3 a day) and only give a small piece.

I'm no expert at this! I'm fortunate b/c Tae seems to have a tummy of steel, thank gosh.

Becky

 

[craZ4HERKIE]

Thanks Becky.... I really think it's too much too soon. So last night when I blended his food I also added 2 Pepto tabs. Today was the 1st time he hasn't woken me at 6am appicon....his stools also firmed up today. Unfortunately, his food has to be canned, I always like to blend kibble in, hoping that will help thicken the food some, and possibly help keep his stools firm. As far as the snap biscuits go...I've been going by what the bag says, and for his weight, he's allowed 4 daily. So I give him 2 after each meal. What I'm thinking, is that it's probably the kibble, because I just threw that in the mix....and started with pretty large amounts....so I believe that may be what upset his tummy. I truly hope that my dog doesn't want to exist on Alpo forever(that's what I used to feed him, before I switched to Nutro) Now that I'm single, and can afford it, I am trying to give him the best. So, I am going to give it a few more weeks and see what happens.

And Herkie used to be like Tae...I used to call him "Ole Iron Gullet"....but since he has to eat just canned food...his stools will never be the same as a dog who eats just kibble. Thanks for the repsonse!

 

[harleyboxer]

why don't you soak the kibble in hot water until it is soft?

 

[craZ4HERKIE]

Thanks for the suggestion Harleyboxer...I don't know how well it will work, because it would still have to be blended. I may give it a try though.He now seems to be adjusting to the Canidae...I still have him on 1can Canidae/1 NutroMax..plus a handful of kibble. So far so good this week! His stools have firmed up, and stayed firm thus far...and I swear his coat is getting softer..could be my imagination though!

 

[Alydarling]

Finally got my bag the other day and have been adding small amounts to Shadow's Nutronatural. He loves it, as do my golden and the cats. They keep sneaking into the dog bowls to eat it. So their stools are fine. I'm just adding a small amount at a time though.