New here and new puppy mom, have questions about food

LauraA · 07-22-2008, 05:12 PM

Two weeks ago we got a wirehaired fox terrier named Jake. He is the most precious puppy and we love him so much!!!! The breeder had him on Purina Exclusive. I took Jake to the vet and she told me Purina Pro or Eukenabu would be good foods. So, I went to the pet store and bought some Eukenabu and started mixing it with his old food. He really did not like either his old food or Eukenabu.

I then started doing some research and found that Eukenabu is not good food. I went to my local small pet boutique and bought Innova Puppy and he hated it. I think that it was really strong for him. He only weighs 8 to 10 pounds now.

In the meantime I was babysitting my niece's puppy and she is feeding her Science Diet. Jake got into her food and scarfed it down, he loved it. At least he was eating something because he really had not had more than a cup of food in two days. I realize that Science Diet is also not good food. So, back to the boutique I went and this time I got California Natural and he hates it. He will pick the Science Diet out of his bowl and only eat it. Thank goodness I have several sample bags and can take back the bag that I bought.

One good thing about the Science Diet is that he no longer has diarhea (sp?). He had really loose poop and that is gone now.

So, now my problem is what food do I try now? I think that I have it down to 3 that I might try. 1. Blue Buffalo, 2. Chicken Soup, 3. Merrick. I will have to order the Merrick online because my local store does not carry the puppy food. There is not another store local that carries Merrick. I also can get Eagle Holistic ( I think that is the name). Should I be giving him canned food also??? I did read that you should not give canned until 6 months of age. Jake is going to be 12 weeks on July 25.

sorry this is so long, I really just want to find the best food for him and it seems that a lot of the really good foods are made for the larger breeds.
I hope someone can help!!!!!!!

xkitxgirx · 07-22-2008, 05:21 PM

Here are some great food brands you can look for. I personally like Pinnacle. It's the only food that I've tried so far that Maya actually does really good on. But here's the list:

Blue Buffalo
By Nature
Canidae
Natural Balance
Eagle Pack Holstic Select
Evanger’s
Fromm
Merrick
Timberwolf
Natura Products
Wellness
Nature’s Logic
Nature’s Variety
Orijen
Solid Gold
Taste of the Wild
Ziwi Peak

These are all better quality kibble. A reason for why he doesn't like the new food may be that most of the lower quality kibbles have fats and flavors sprayed on them to make your dog like the taste better, then they get addicted to the junk food.

Willowy · 07-23-2008, 12:30 AM

Give Chicken Soup a try. My dogs do great on it, and even visiting dogs who normally eat other brands at home will eat it without hesitating. Get a small bag to test, you don't want to be stuck with 35 pounds if he doesn't like it.

Argos' Mom · 07-23-2008, 12:45 AM

All of the suggestions sounded great. I would like to add however, and this is completely a personal preference, that Canidae and Chicken Soup are both run by Diamond from what I've heard. Canidae is currently changing their formula and on another forum I belong to some dog owners aren't happy with the change. My mom uses Blue Buffalo and swears by it. I haven't been able to try it as they don't sell it around here and I'd need a big bag for my dog. I have used Eagle Pack Holistic and it is one of the foods that we rotate even now. And, as Merrick goes...well I know some people like them and Argos did love the food. That being said, I have some serious concerns with their food and their ethics. Ultimately, you have to pick something that your pup will eat and that is healthy for him. Good Luck on your search. I'd definitely try getting samples or small bags if you can.

briteday · 07-23-2008, 01:15 AM

Food is a very personal choice. I think you are still in the trial phase and I wouldn't pay for a bag of something that the dog hadn't sampled yet. Even a manufacturer, contacted directly by email from their website, will usually offer sample bags. So I always say try before you buy. You may think something is a great food based on the ingredients and the company ethics...but if the dog won't eat it = not so great.

Allie3985 · 07-23-2008, 01:28 AM

It awesome that you are getting the best food possible for your dog! One thing to think about, if you're not already doing this, is making sure that you are feeding your dog twice (3 times usually for puppies) a day at the same time every day and then picking up the food that is not eaten. This, if done consistently over a little time, will get him to eat pretty much anything that you are giving him. It kind of teaches them to "clean their plate." It is much healthier than letting him graze on food that is left out for him to pick at all day.

LauraA · 07-23-2008, 01:58 PM

Thank you so much everybody for your comments. I have to take Jake to the vet today for some shots and checkup. I called a local pet store that carries Chicken Soup and Eagle and they recommended that I try Eagle. They do have samples of it so I am going by there after the vet visit. They also have a 2lb bag of Chicken Soup but he said that he would recommend the Eagle before Chicken Soup. So, we are going to give it a try!!!!!! I will let everyone know what happens.

xkitxgirx · 07-23-2008, 03:15 PM

Make sure you go with the Eagle Pack Holistic. The plain eagle pack is OKAY but it has too much grain for my taste.

LauraA · 07-23-2008, 05:12 PM

I took Jake to the vet and of course voiced my concerns about Science Diet and the vet said that I am feeding him the best food available. I did not buy that line.

I went by the pet store and they did not have samples of the Eagle Holistic but I went ahead and bought a bag of the Chicken Meal and Rice forumla for puppies. They said that if he didn't like it then I could return it. I mixed a little with his food and he did take a bite of it. We will see.

I looked on the dogfoodanalysis.com website and it said that if I did feed the eagle then I should also supplement with something with meat in it. Should I do this? Should I buy him some canned Eagle food?

Thanks

xkitxgirx · 07-23-2008, 06:50 PM

You don't have to. They are only stating it as a suggestion. Where I live its a lot cheaper to mix other things into kibble rather than canned food and better for your dog. If you want to mix some cooked chicken or ground beef into the food then you can and it will probably be better for your dog. I also like to supplement with eggs. I give Maya an egg 2-3 times a week, it's really good for the coat.

If the canned food is cheaper than putting fresh meat in the kibble then you can go with the canned.

GreatDaneMom · 07-24-2008, 08:47 AM

my girls were on eagle pack holistic for a while. they did ok on it, but my brindle gets a flakey coat on any food that has grains in it.

right now i wouldnt put anything into the food. you had said before he had diarrhea, and you dont want to complicate that. food digests differently than kibble. my harelquin has to be very careful what she injests because shes got a very sensitive stomach and the littlist thing can cause massive booty blowout. stick to the kibble. canned food also tends to cause diarrhea in a lot of dogs.

focus on getting on a good food that he will consistantly eat, then look at his coat, teeth, body weight, etc. and decide by that if you need to add anything. but your main focus right now is getting him to eat everything, or almost everything at every meal.

ILuvLucy · 07-24-2008, 08:59 AM

I feed my dog the Blue Buffalo for puppies dry food. She really likes it. I also mix in a spoonful of canned food. (never heard about not giving canned to puppies). Right now it's the Wellness puppy canned.

LauraA · 07-24-2008, 04:04 PM

The little stinker is picking out the Science Diet and eating that and will not touch the Eagle. I do not want to completely take away his Science Diet because I know him, he just will not eat and I do not want him to starve. He only weighs 8.2 pounds. Thank goodness the pet store will let me return it and try something else.

skelaki · 07-25-2008, 08:42 AM

A healthy dog will not starve itself. Just fast your dog for one meal (give lots of water) then decide what you want him to eat, put the food down for 2o minutes and then remove any leftover food (refrigerate if you've given any soft food). At the next meal put down the same food he left previously. You can add enough to equal what he should eat at one meal but DO NOT try and make up for the missed meal (or part of meal). It may take a few days as he's used to being catered to but he will eventually give in and eat the food you give him IF you persevere and don't give in.

By the way, rarely if ever listen to most vets when it comes to nutrition. They do not study nutrition and in fact most of their "knowledge" comes from pamphlets that pet food companies gave them to "study" when they were in vet. school.

cbrons · 07-25-2008, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelaki

By the way, rarely if ever listen to most vets when it comes to nutrition. They do not study nutrition and in fact most of their "knowledge" comes from pamphlets that pet food companies gave them to "study" when they were in vet. school.

I'm in the middle of Dr. Tom Lonsdale's book Raw MEaty Bones.... scary, scary, scary stuff... but I work in retail pharmacy so the unscrupulousness of big corporations (pet foods) does not surprise me in the slightest. After doing considerable research, I decided my dog isn't getting any of that bagged up, pulverized garbage they sell at the store. Its raw from here on out for me

Allie3985 · 07-25-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelaki

A healthy dog will not starve itself. Just fast your dog for one meal (give lots of water) then decide what you want him to eat, put the food down for 2o minutes and then remove any leftover food (refrigerate if you've given any soft food). At the next meal put down the same food he left previously. You can add enough to equal what he should eat at one meal but DO NOT try and make up for the missed meal (or part of meal). It may take a few days as he's used to being catered to but he will eventually give in and eat the food you give him IF you persevere and don't give in.

This is EXACTLY right!! Besides the fact that this will get your dog eating what you want him to eat, it is a healthier way to feed AND to top it all off it helps with their behavior. Also, if your dog goes and eats a little and then walks away, its good to pull the food up. This teaches him to "clean his plate." That way, if he needs to be eating more or less he will always eat whatever you give him when you give it to him.

It is tough to feel like you're starving your dog. I am switching to an all raw diet right now and while one of my dogs acts like she would love to eat a whole raw cow, the other two will only lick at it a little. I know, however, that they are going to get over it and learn to love their new healthier diet!

LauraA · 08-05-2008, 04:36 PM

I should have posted an update but I have been busy. We gave Jake the Eagle Holistic on the same day that he had puppy shots and rabies shot. He did not eat much of the Eagle but did eat his Science Diet.

24 hours later he was throwing up, lethargic and diahrea all over my rug (had to throw it out it was so bad). On this day he did not eat at all.

He is still eating Science Diet and I have returned the Eagle. I also received some samples of Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lovers Soul and he didn't eat it either. Now I am thinking about trying Blue Buffalo. I am worried though that since he didn't do very well on the Eagle then he will not do well on Blue Buffalo. The ingredients seem to be about the same. I do not want a repeat of the throwing up/diahrea.

Also, would Purina Pro or Purina One (can't remember the name) be better than the Science Diet???? I know that neither are good foods but chicken is the first ingredient of the Purina and I thought that it would be better to have meat as the first ingredient and it is not in Science Diet.

Thanks!!!!!

I just got back from Pet Smart and bought a bag of Blue Buffalo. I will try it out tomorrow and if he doesn't like it then I can return it. UGH, picking out dog food is not fun!!!!!!! I did look at the Purina Pro puppy and the first ingredient is Lamb. I guess if the Blue doesn't work then I will try a bag of it. It seemed that the Purina is better than Science Diet. Give me some opinions.

sheltiemom · 08-05-2008, 09:45 PM

Personally, while I think Science Diet is over priced for what it is, I don't think it is the worst thing you could be feeding...certainly not bottom of the barrel imo. I would wait a while before trying anymore foods and let his system settle a bit...the SD isn't going to kill him in the mean time...this is just based on my personal experience, but I was feeding SD on the vets recommendation (and having no problems), and after reading alot about how it was awful, I tried several different foods, pretty much one after another, and had bad results on all of them. I don't think it was the foods, maybe just too many changes for a small puppy. Now that mine are over a year I have less problems switching foods, though I'm still not someone who swears by premium foods. I would just wait a while and try a switch again in a few months if you want to.

LauraA · 08-06-2008, 12:29 PM

Sheltiemom, thank you so much for your reply. I think that you may be right. To many changes and it is really upsetting his tummy.

I put a little bit of the Blue Buffalo in with his food this morning and about 30 minutes later he had a little bit of diarhea, nothing like what he had with Eagle. He does seem to like the Blue. I think that I am going to continue with the Science Diet and just put a little of the Blue in with it. He seems to eat just a little bit in the morning and then in the evening he will finish up. Is this normal? The total that he is eating in a day is about 1 1/2 cups. I don't think that I worried as much about my boys when they were babies as I do about this puppy.

Thanks again for your reply. I so bad want to feed him something better than Science Diet but I just need to wait until he matures a little bit.