Question on multiple dog foods....

Lonewolfblue · 05-26-2008, 06:56 PM

I was at Petco, and saw this older couple buying dog food. They were buying Natural Balance, and got like 3 or 4 bags. I overheard their conversation, and she was saying that she wanted a different flavor for each day of the week, like Potato and Duck one day, Potato and Venison on another, and Natural Balance Ultra on another, etc, etc. She was telling her husband she was wanting to give their dog a variety. Is this a good idea or is it ok as long as they same with the same brand name, such as Natural Balance? I know when changing foods, you should do it by mixing the old with the new, gradually working over to the new food. But is that the same if you are staying with the same brand?

Dakota Spirit · 05-26-2008, 07:01 PM

Nope, it's not the same. Different formulas within the brand still have different ingredients. I know some dogs will do great on one formula but then fall to pieces with another.

Personally, I would not want to switch foods as often as this women is doing. It's unneeded hassle for little to no benefit.

Patt · 05-26-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dakota Spirit

Personally, I would not want to switch foods as often as this women is doing. It's unneeded hassle for little to no benefit.

I second that. I can't imagine why she wants to change foods daily.

Lonewolfblue · 05-26-2008, 07:10 PM

Good to know. I've been thinking of switching from Solid Gold WolfKing over th Natural Balance Potato and Duck. I just bought a small bag to see if they like it. I currently have the WolfKing mixed with Pedigree, as Nell was on Pedigree and am taking her off of it, so I thought it wouldn't hurt Betty much to have the mix, at least til this small batch is over with. I'm still debating, should I change or not? Betty likes WolfKing, and Nell seems to like it as well, but was told by a couple other people that WolfKing is more for much larger dogs. Any thoughts?

Edit:

I was thinking of either Natural Balance or Eagle Pack to switch to. Still debating. I was looking at the thread that scores several dog foods, and these have better scores than the Solid Gold. I'm just looking for the best possible food for them and that they both like, as Betty doesn't let Nell eat out of her own dish first, they both have to eat out of Betty's, and when it's gone, then they go to Nell's.

trumpetjock · 05-26-2008, 10:34 PM

Honestly, I wouldn't see it as a problem as long as the dog doesn't have any issues with any one of the formulas. I mean, us raw feeders give them different proteins pretty much daily. Rocky will have chicken every morning, but one day it might be a whole fish for supper, the next beef heart, the next rabbit, the next venison, the next pork, the next tripe etc etc etc. If it can be done raw, I don't see the reason it shouldn't be fine with kibble.

I agree though, that's it's probably a lot of hassle for little benefit.

poodleholic · 05-27-2008, 05:56 AM

I feed different proteins all the time with no problems. Their base food is EVO, with poached chicken or ground lamb, sirloin, bison, etc., plus steamed vegetables, which vary daily. Then there's the hard boiled eggs, sardines, and on it goes!

briteday · 05-27-2008, 11:23 AM

My dogs are on raw and they eat something different every day.

However, the issue I would see about having multiple bags of dog kibble open at the same time is spoilage. When I feed kibble( vacations, travel, petsitter here) we strive to finish a bag of kibble within a month, especially in hot weather. Otherwise we keep a portion of the bag in the freezer until needed. So although I don't see a problem with feeding multiple foods, I think it is more of a logistics issue...depending on the size of the dog, storage arrangements, and size of the bag.

And honestly, when on kibble I sometimes have small amounts of 2-3 kibble ending up in the freezer. I try to mix it all together but sometimes they get a different kibble every day or two. It doesn't seem to bother them. But not all dogs would do well with that.

Chicster · 05-27-2008, 04:03 PM

You raw feeders feed your dogs better than I feed myself

My mouth was watering reading some of those menus!

wyx · 05-27-2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicster

You raw feeders feed your dogs better than I feed myself

From a health standpoint I'd have to say my dogs eat better than I do, though the main differences in our diets are that I prefer most meat cooked at least on the outside, leave the bones on the plate, and can use a corkscrew. Though I'd take a pass on the green tripe. Yes, I did actually taste it once because I'd like to think I wouldn't feed my dogs anything I wouldn't eat myself, and I was still running back to the sink to wash my mouth out an hour later. But they go nuts for it.

trumpetjock · 05-27-2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyx

From a health standpoint I'd have to say my dogs eat better than I do, though the main differences in our diets are that I prefer most meat cooked at least on the outside, leave the bones on the plate, and can use a corkscrew. Though I'd take a pass on the green tripe. Yes, I did actually taste it once because I'd like to think I wouldn't feed my dogs anything I wouldn't eat myself, and I was still running back to the sink to wash my mouth out an hour later. But they go nuts for it.

Color me jealous. I've been trying to find green tripe in my area for weeks now. No one in town has ANY idea where I can get ahold of it.

zimandtakandgrrandmimi · 05-28-2008, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trumpetjock

Color me jealous. I've been trying to find green tripe in my area for weeks now. No one in town has ANY idea where I can get ahold of it.

I get fresh green tripe cuz izm good with a cattle farmer(my gramps, he's awesome.) try looking up a butcher out in the boonies and put in a request for some. they aren't that hard to find. and the meat you get from them tends to be better and cheaper and for a smile and a good tip they might even portion it out for you. I don't know how it is in your area but thatzs the way it seems to go here

trumpetjock · 05-28-2008, 07:27 AM

Not in cattle farming territory up here really, but I visit my hometown often enough, which is 15 miles from the South Dakota border... aka cowville. I'll see if I can't set something up somewhere, it'd be nice to have tripe as my organ even if it's only once a month or so.

wyx · 05-28-2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trumpetjock

Color me jealous. I've been trying to find green tripe in my area for weeks now. No one in town has ANY idea where I can get ahold of it.

I haven't found it in my area, I order it from Greentripe.com. We get it 50 pounds at a time delivered by UPS. With the shipping from Southern California to Washington state it ends up about 2$/lb total. We get variety of stuff, mostly the 5 lb bags of green tripe and 2 lb tripe/organ blend, plus a few gullets and hooves for chewies.

jesirose · 05-29-2008, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patt

I second that. I can't imagine why she wants to change foods daily.

Because the woman herself probably doesn't like to eat the same food every day. As much as I love mac and cheese, every now and then I want a burger or even corn

The difference is I have the ability to choose what I have. The dog gets what he's given - so she's trying to give him exciting meals by changing it up. We as dog owners want our dogs to be happy and have good lives, and so plenty of people would think to do this.

My cats get one brand of food and different types of treats, but we just switched them to Felidae. Sadie gets Canidae and several brands and types of treats. The rats get one brand of food with a homemade mix as well - I often change up the stuff in the mix and they get fresh fruit and stuff like that.

I don't see any problem with it as long as all of the foods are good for the dog and they aren't allergic to them or anything. When we got Sadie we used one food and she had diarrhea. People said it was because we switched her too fast but she never had solid poop on it. We switched to another cold turkey and she was fine. I don't see any reason why dogs can't enjoy different foods on a rotation.

Oh, on another thread someone posted this link:
http://dogfoodanalysis.com/how-often...nge-foods.html

There is a point in there about how switching foods prevents the development of allergies. I know this happens in humans so it makes sense.

In High School I was on a PB&J kick for a while. I ate a PB sandwich EVERY day for months. Then one day I broke out in hives! I wasn't allowed to eat Peanut Butter for months!! I can eat it now, but this sort of thing happens to people all the time.

Patt · 05-29-2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesirose

Oh, on another thread someone posted this link:
http://dogfoodanalysis.com/how-often...nge-foods.html

I don't see a problem and do agree with the article about changing the food periodically, but do not agree with changing the diet DAILY as the woman wanted to do. JMO

Pai · 05-29-2008, 08:31 PM

I switch flavors of the same brand, but only after we've gone thru a bag of one flavor food, not everyday! So it's more like every month and a half.

Lonewolfblue · 05-30-2008, 12:20 AM

Cool, I got 2 small bags of the Taste of the Wild, one is the seafood one, and the other is the one with Venison. Guess which one they like better? The one with Venison. They haven't touched the bowl with the seafood one. Looks like I might give that bag to a friend of mine for his dog to try. So it looks like I'll be getting the big bags of that one, and stay with it for a while. Once they get the samples in, which she said they have ordered and are waiting for it, I might get 2 free samples of the wild bird one to see if they like that one too. If they do, I might rotate the 2, when one bag is gone then get the other. I also need to finish off the Duck and Potato bag as well before getting the big bag. So, when that is gone, and the small bag of Venison is gone, then I'll get the big bag and put in my new large sealed container for dog food to keep it fresh. Comes with a measuring scoop as well.

Lonewolfblue · 06-04-2008, 10:39 PM

Well, they went through the small bag pretty darn fast, lol. Whenever I feed them, it doesn't take long and the bowl's are empty, lol. They love the venison one. As for the seafood one, they have not touched it, so I gave the bag to a friend of mine at work. His dog just loved it, said he finished the bowl in less than a minute, lol. So when he's done with that bag, he may start getting The Taste of the Wild as well. Now, when they get the free samples, I'm going to get 2 samples if the wild bird one, as they like the Duck and Potato by Natural Balance. If they like it, then I'll switch between the Venison and Bird every other bag. Either that, or I'll stick with the Duck and Potato as the other one to switch with.