What kind of puppy food?

[Tulsa-Dan]

Boxers are NOT large breed dogs! They are a medium size breed. The difference between puppy formula and adult is the amount of fat, calcium and protein in them. Check the labels. My personal opinion is there is no need for "puppy" formula. Once a pup is weaned from it mom, then it eats what she eats (adult food more than likely), albeit softened in her stomach and regurgitated for easier digestion.

As for Eukanuba, my opinion again is that this is probably the WORST food you can feed a dog. If you check the labels you will find it is CHOCKED FULL of chemical preservatives, renderings, byproducts (what is that?????) other known carcingens, and the main ingredients are mostly filler and grains. Very little protein or REAL food in it at all. Certainly NOT human grade food. These foods are designed to fill up your dog with filler, they poop and poop large amounts of waste (waste not used or absorbed by their bodies) and because of the amount of filler, they keep you buying more and more and more of it. Compare how much they recommend feeding a dog, compared to some of the other good, recommended foods such as Nutro Natural, Innova, Wellness, Canidae, etc.

Check out the information at this site: http://members.aol.com/smplyschnz/nutrition/wdjtopten.html

This will give you important information about what foods are best for your dog, then you can make a more informed decision as to what food you feel best feeding.

Good luck.

 

[sgchewy]

dog food

my daughter was told when she bought her great dane that dogs that weigh over 50 lbs at maturity shouldn't be fed foods that is high in fats and protein. The reason is their bones grow too fast and make them weak as they get older. The bones grow faster than the rest of their body. Have you heard this? Also I was told that Iams was the worst foods for Boxers due to the chemical preservatives in it.

Thanks for your info.

Shelia

 

[Doreen H.]

Hi again--

As for Griffin, we have tried him on several different foods--including Nutro, Eukanuba, Iams and the only one he seems to like is Science Diet. I don't know how this food compares w/ all the other ones, but I am just so happy he's eating. We also have to put wet food in there to entice him to eat. He weighs 26 pounds now and the vet says he's very healthy. His coat is shiny and he's getting his adult teeth. Haven't had any problems w/ vomiting or diarrhea either (thank God).

I am still unsure about the whole large breed vs. regular size breed food--we're giving him just regular puppy food at this time.

Doreen

 

[ssleighter]

Hi.

We have had problems getting Hammer to eat over the past 7 days or so. We've tried everything (except cottage cheese). He was eating Science Diet and he was eating it well til a week ago. We tried Iams when he went off SDiet, and we even tried Purina ONE and that semi-soft icky stuff just so we could make sure he was getting food.

I am thinking of switching to Nutro Natural Choice. Thoughts? :confused: I don't want to end up with 40 different bags of kibble in my pantry (the local shelter is going to have lots when this is over anyway) so I would like to find a food that has worked for you guys in a case like this.

He seems to be thriving, even on the small amounts that he eats. He's a little over 3 months and weighs about 25 pounds. He's active and loves to play, he just hates his food lately.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[KELLY W]

We feed Muggsey Nutro lamb and rice kibble. We change it up with things we mix in. Sometimes Nutro wet food, or cottage cheese, or baby food, or even a scrambled egg. He always eats really well though. His coat is really shiney and he is soooo soft and full of energy!!

 

[ssleighter]

Hammer ate the Nutro!!!! And I mean ATE it! He has been picking at his food for so long it was great to see him actually enjoy it.

I thank you BW!!

 

[MJTillou]

We feed our 5 month old a mixture of Bil-Jac Puppy Food and Natural Balance. He likes it, but his appetite is inconsistent most of the time. We feed him 3 times a day, averaging 1 cup per feeding.

Mike

 

[scott95]

Don't know what to say about any of the brands out there, but all i feed Jackson is purina puppy chow. He is 6 months old and eats very well sometimes doesn't even chew. He is around 50-60 labs and his coat looks great. The only question i have is when to switch from puppy food to adult food. He seems to have all his grown up teeth except his front bottom ones.
Jackson is 6 months, flashy brindle with docked tail and natural ears.


Scott

 

[ssleighter]

I would try to keep him on puppy food for a full year, even though he appears to be fully grown. Lots of growing on the inside that we can't see on the outside is still going on!

 

[Eric J]

Originally posted by ssleighter
I would try to keep him on puppy food for a full year, even though he appears to be fully grown. Lots of growing on the inside that we can't see on the outside is still going on!

A major reason I wont use puppy food at all. I am weening my puppy off of it since the breeder had him on it. Boxers are a slow maturing breed and should not be full grown in 1 year. Puppy food has added protein and calcium for fast growing. This is unhealthy for the joints. It has been covered on many threads here, I would do a search on "Dog Food" or "Premuim Dog Food".

I also would suggest those using any dog/puppy food you can find at a supermarket to do a search. Those foods are mostly fillers so your dog has to eat more garbage to get to the nutrients needed. Alot of owners here use Solid Gold, Holistic Blend, Canidae, Innova, Flint River, etc. This cost more, but you use less, it works out pretty even AND it results in less vet visits in your dogs life since it is eating so much healthier.

OK, off my soapbox for now, I just am a big supporter of using a premium food over a commercial food. Heck, now we need a BARF person to give the pro's of that, and point out the fact, puppy food is not naturally occuring, there is no prey marked for puppies out there. Pups eat what the adult dogs eat in the wild and if they are BARF raised.