posted 03-11-2004 09:26 AM         

Got a question for everyone... I am changing Milo's Pet food. I found a good one, i think it was called natures choice or something along those lines. Its a great dog food. Everything in it is natural, the protein level is 23% there isn't any animal bi-products... but Milo hates it. Naturally of course. I just bought it yesterday and am determined that milo is going to eat it, therefore i just leave it for him to eat and when he is hungry he can eat that. I tried putting egg in it to give it something that Milo would like. Do you think there is anything wrong with this? Should i be giving him something that he dosn't like? Won't after time he start to enjoy eating it? Maybe?? Anyways hopefully someone will respond. Thanks all.

posted 03-11-2004 02:49 PM         

Is it Natural Balance?

Is Milo a picky dog or does he usually seem to enjoy his meals? If he normally enjoys his meals I would probably consider trying another brand....you could probably get samples first to make sure he likes it before you buy a larger bag.
IMO, I would'nt add things to his food because you might cause him to become really picky about eating....he may eventually never accept kibble unless its dressed up.

posted 03-12-2004 04:16 PM         

MyBabyShihPoo, is there a reason for your experimenting with different foods? Do you slowly add the new feed or just make a switch? The reason I ask is because I really do want to try the Nutro's brand but I'm worried about how Precious would react. I've heard that changing food can be hard on their system. Have you found any truth in that statement? I have no experience in changing food.

Milo, I'm interested in hearing how your doing with the switch. How's it going?

posted 03-12-2004 08:06 PM         

First of all, when I say rotate, it is not like one day they are on one brand and the next they are on another. Like you said, switching from one brand to another really isn't a good idea if it is done drastically. Done gradually *most* dogs will not have any problems. I actually take about a month to switch from one brand to another. To make the gradual change from one brand to another, to begin, I mix in a LITLLE bit of the next brand I will be using into the current brand they are on. I slowly increase the amount of the new brand that I mix in with the old, and eventually, after about a month of making the transition, they are eating 100% of the new brand. The reason I switch between brands is simply because I, and other professionals I have spoken with, feel as though my dogs will receive the most nutritionally balanced diet this way.

I don't consider what I do experimenting only because I have specifically chosen the three brands I use based on scientific evidence, numerous veterinarian opinions, breeder opinions, my personal research, and other's experiences. Now if I went from brand, to brand, to brand, to brand, etc. that would definitely be experimenting and not to mention unhealthy. When I feed my dogs with whatever the current food that they are on (right now it happens to be Nutro) I am not looking for their reaction to see whether they like it or not. Don't get me wrong though, if I noticed they were having problems with a certain brand I surely wouldn't continue to use it. Luckily, such has not been the case thus far.

I just read the above paragraph and I noticed that it may sound like I am flaming you for what you said, and by no means is that what I am trying to do, so please don't think I am!

Anyhow, I don't know if what I just explained sufficiently answers your questions or not, but if it does not please do let me know ane I will try and better clarify.

All the best!!!

*Disclaimer: Please do note that the method I described above is what I do with my dogs based solely upon information and recommendations that I have gathered in regards to my dog's needs, and I don't necessarily recommend such a method with every dog. Each dog has their own nutritional needs and to find out what those are and how best to feed your dog please consult your veterinarian (or whomever you feel would provide you with the best info. concerning your dog's diet).

posted 03-13-2004 06:32 PM         

I rotate between these three dog food brands only due to the fact that I feel as though they will receive the most nutritionally balanced diet and prevent other possible problems from arising. Based upon my research and those who I have spoken with I have come up with a general consensus concerning this issue. If I were to feed my dogs the same food for years and years (their whole life), I take the risk of a couple of things happening:

~Nutritional imbalance.

Say I were to feed my dogs only one brand of dog food for the rest of their lives. Doing so they will be eating the same ingredients and amounts of those ingredients for as long as they are on that brand. The ingredients and the percentages associated with them will remain the same in every bag of that brand I buy. Therefore, they will receive A LOT of those particular ingredients and amounts. The nutrients and their levels will remain the same by sticking with just one brand.

Now if I rotate brands, there will be a change in some ingredients and a definite change in ingredient percentages. Such a change caused by rotating brands leads to my dogs receiving different nutrients and amounts of nutrients. This would not happen if I were to stick with one brand. That is precisely why I feel rotating brands will provide them with a well-rounded, nutritionally balanced diet. (Or as a local breeder once told me, "Filling in nutritional gaps caused by only using one brand.")

The paragraph above may be very confusing to you, therfore I will try and equate it to a situation that humans are aware of. I eat broccoli. Why? Because it is superior in essential vitamins and minerals. Do I only eat broccoli since it is superior in the nutrients that it provides me? No, I eat other foods as well because other foods provide me with different nutrients leading to a well balanced diet.

~Boredom. Some dogs get quite bored when fed the same food for long periods of time (for many dogs it is their whole life). Rotating brands allows for a difference in taste since no two brands taste identical. Some people might say such a technique may cause your dog to become a finicky eater, and that is very true. Fortunately, I have not had that problem with my dogs (and cats whom I fed using this same method).

~Development of ingredient sensitivity (and/or allergies). Some dogs after years of eating the same brand of food become sensitive to those ingredients found in that particular brand of food.

In summary, am I saying that dogs fed the same food for their whole life will not live long, are being deprived, are unhappy, etc.? No, not all! I chose this method based upon my convictions and research. Everyone should do what they feel is best for their dog, and this is what I feel is best for my dogs. I don't claim to be an expert in this area, nor will ever, but I have done my "homework" on this issue and feel as though I am making a well-informed decision.

Sorry to be so longwinded, some things just take bit of explaining in order to be adequately understood.

Kind Regards,
Kristi

*You asked about websites, are you looking for web sites that talk about this mehtod or web sites for the brand of foods I use?

posted 03-13-2004 08:35 PM         

Dogs are routine creatures. They live and die by routines. When you change your dogs food.....it confuses him and he most likely is just going to refuse it for a few days. You should switch the food very slowly by mixing the old brand with the new brand and if you do it slow enough (over period of a week to two weeks) your dog will never know/not complain. If you are already out of the old brand just get a can of wet food and mix a spoonful of it in with the dry food and a little hot water. The dog will think its a special treat and take to the food eventually.

The rotation idea is a newer idea that is based on the principle that most major commercial dog food brands are lacking in certain areas and are not nutritionally balanced. The average dog owner feeds their dog something overly commercialized and cheap that is drastically sub par to what they should be eating. By rotating these an owner hopes to compensate for something that was lacking in one brand but not in another. I think the best solution would be to do the research and find a top of the line brand from the beginning.

He will like it eventually...I can almost assure you that in a week or two you will forget he even didn't want to eat it. Ever had a kid? Does the kid want to eat ice cream or broccoli? If you had to choose would you give your kid ice cream for the rest of his life or broccoli?
http://www.phouka.com/dogs/dog_food.html

Thats a useful page. Lists the top three ingredients of many major brands of dog food. Avoid any food that contains by products or does not list any sort of meat in the top three ingredients. I also will not feed my dog any food that contains BHA or BHT which are chemical preservatives that are outlawed in many countries for use in any foods made for human consumption. I'm not going to get into it again with ShihPoo but for her the rotation is a very intelligent idea since she insists on feeding science diet. I know that 2/3rds of the time her dogs are eating a proper diet and making up for time spent eating SD. So the rotation thing is working for her.

posted 03-13-2004 09:46 PM         

I can no longer bite my tongue in an effort to hold back from saying what I have wanted to say for some time now:

Through my reading of your posts on this particular board and the "All Dog Types" board, it has become quite clear to me that you enjoy instigating arguments/fights and you obviously thrive on that. I find such a behavior to be grossly immature, but obviously it is your prerogative and I can't imagine you caring much about it. I don't believe I am alone in how I feel about many of your posting for I have read the reactions of many concerning your rude and baseless comments.

Judge my decisions as you please, but do be aware that I am not the least bit interested in whether you approve of my decisions or not, for I am not seeking your satisfaction. You are SURELY not a professional by any means in the area of dog nutrition, therefore you have no ground in acting as if you are all knowing in this area. (That would be precisely why I claim not to be an expert)

It is my sincere hope that you realize how many people you turn off through your utterly contemptuous comments. You are highly combative in almost all you say which exhibits the undeniable fact that you lack in proper, polite, and respectful communication skills. If you don't agree with what someone says there is absolutely no reason to verbally attack that person, simply state what you believe, agree to disagree if needed, and move on...it's very simple. I encourage you to give that a try sometime...you just might like it!

Please do understand that I am not offended by the fact that you disagree with me, that truly is not the case since I respect the fact that not everyone agrees with my personal opinion(s). What I am offended by is your outright disrespect, incivility, and ignorance.

Thank you, and with all due respect, I wish you the best!