I have 4 dogs. I have tried almost every type of high-end food available. ?

coolgirl · 30-01-09, 11:09

I have done this over the years. The problem I have is at least 1 of my dogs gets sick from the food. I have slowly mixed it in with their old food, but it doesn't matter. Raw is not something that I really want to venture into. I have tried everything from Canidae to Instinct to Chicken soup for the dog lovers soul. As well as many other high-quality brands. The only food I have been able to give all 4 of my dogs that doesn't make any of them sick is pro plan and iams. It keeps all of their stools firm and none of my dogs throw up after eating. Why is this? Personally I can not afford to feed all 4 large breed dogs their own choice of food, plus they tend to share food bowls. Why is it that the cheap food does well with them? I almost feel guilty, yet I know it doesn't make them sick. Does anyone else have this problem?

glitter · 15-02-09, 01:10

I wouldn't feel guilty about feeding them cheap food. Perhaps it is because cheap kibble is less complex and bland?
If you really feel bad, I suggest giving them each different canned dog food to mix in with the kibble. Or, feed them separately.

Estephany · 17-02-09, 21:30

why dont you go to to see the vet maybe they have a stomach problem like my dogs no matter what food I gave them they got sick and it was in their genes to be like that maybe the mother was too unstrong to have puppies

DogDog · 12-03-09, 10:25

First solution - go to a pet store - probably something smaller and independent - that guarantees their food. This means if it makes your dog ill for any reason, or they simply don't like it, you can return it for a refund. At least this way you'll stop wasting money!
It's really important to start isolating what is making your dogs sick. Likely at least one of them has an allergy that you can't feed. If you can specifically isolate those, then you can find a food without it.
Another problem might not be with the food at all. One of my Golden's has really bad allergies, and not just to food. I may be something else entirely that is setting off the illness, but it's impossible to tell with so much switching around. I went through at least 7 different foods before I found one Maggie liked and didn't make her sick. I currently feed her Acana, in the large blue bag, it's a chicken meal type food, with no fish (Which she can't handle) and she seems to have settled into it. Remember the premium brands tend to have a lot of variety and different diets for that reason. I used to really like Nutro, until their started price gouging. Maggie does well on the Acana, and seems to like the taste of it too. Also remember that in some cases, it can take up to a month for a dog to entirely adjust to the food, and maybe you are switching too soon?

Kate C *Attackofthebear* · 15-03-09, 18:53

Well, if you are feeding too much it can cause loose stools. Typically the recommended amounts are too much of the better foods. I am guilty of feeding too much innova, I fed 6 cups because thats what we fed of Pukeanuba and yogi needed only 4 cups max based on the recommended amount for innova. I would've fed him 3 1/2 instead had I known better.

A side note: Canidae changed their formulas and since then everyone I know that fed it to any large/giant breed dogs switched off of it. They went with Taste of the Wild(TOTW). Instinct is also a good brand you may want to try.

How come you dont want to look into raw? Do you think its expensive, time-consuming, etc? As a raw feeder I will let you know, it is the best diet I have put my dogs on and will never go back to kibble feeding. The time-convenience does not out weight the benefits of raw feeding.

How long did you give each food before switching? It is best to give each food at least 8 weeks, but preferably 12 weeks before another change. And did you change slowly(I figure you did, but just making sure). Try switching slower when you do switch again.

$%#*@ · 16-03-09, 08:15

I feed my dogs a dog food called Nutro. That is what I have fed them most of their lives and I have not had problems like the ones you described

legendary colector · 16-03-09, 09:57

take to vet

Moondog · 19-03-09, 12:11

The best food for your dogs is the food they do best on and if that happens to be Pro Plan then that's the food for them.
Don't feel guilty by doing what is best for them.

Kelley · 14-04-09, 18:21

We have the same problem with our Cocker Spaniels..We ended up by having to get a prescription food and they seem to all tolerate it well.

babyblues30_1968 · 24-04-09, 06:20

I don't have this problem, but when I first got my pug I was informed that he had some sensativities to suspected corn and wheat that was in most of the products so I feed him Avoderm.

Avoderm is a low cost and an avacado based formula and is made for dogs with sensativities to other formula.

Have you tried this?

I have also pet sitted for one dog that was literally a vegaterian...Iwould feed him sweet potatoes and carrots every evening for dinner. This was the first time that I had heard of a dog being a raw vegeterian but it worked for him...although it made his doodles orange...he was fine.

Best of luck trying to find a resonable solution.

Rosalie · 09-05-09, 16:18

If your dogs do fine on those two brands, why not just feed them that.
The big bag brands are just fine for a lot of dogs whose GI tracts adapted to it while they were in the womb. It's most likely what their mothers ate.

i know a lot of dogs that simply cannot handle the designer dog foods - so why should anyone try and cram it down them? Feed your dogs what they can digest. What you feed them is between the fornt end and the back end of your dog, and nobody else. Period.

I know three vets who feed their own dogs Pro plan - and they can feed them anything they like. They don't feel guilty either - neither should you.

30-01-09, 11:09	#1
coolgirl Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 4	I have 4 dogs. I have tried almost every type of high-end food available. ? I have done this over the years. The problem I have is at least 1 of my dogs gets sick from the food. I have slowly mixed it in with their old food, but it doesn't matter. Raw is not something that I really want to venture into. I have tried everything from Canidae to Instinct to Chicken soup for the dog lovers soul. As well as many other high-quality brands. The only food I have been able to give all 4 of my dogs that doesn't make any of them sick is pro plan and iams. It keeps all of their stools firm and none of my dogs throw up after eating. Why is this? Personally I can not afford to feed all 4 large breed dogs their own choice of food, plus they tend to share food bowls. Why is it that the cheap food does well with them? I almost feel guilty, yet I know it doesn't make them sick. Does anyone else have this problem?

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15-02-09, 01:10	#2
glitter Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3	I wouldn't feel guilty about feeding them cheap food. Perhaps it is because cheap kibble is less complex and bland? If you really feel bad, I suggest giving them each different canned dog food to mix in with the kibble. Or, feed them separately.

17-02-09, 21:30	#3
Estephany Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1	why dont you go to to see the vet maybe they have a stomach problem like my dogs no matter what food I gave them they got sick and it was in their genes to be like that maybe the mother was too unstrong to have puppies

12-03-09, 10:25	#4
DogDog Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2	First solution - go to a pet store - probably something smaller and independent - that guarantees their food. This means if it makes your dog ill for any reason, or they simply don't like it, you can return it for a refund. At least this way you'll stop wasting money! It's really important to start isolating what is making your dogs sick. Likely at least one of them has an allergy that you can't feed. If you can specifically isolate those, then you can find a food without it. Another problem might not be with the food at all. One of my Golden's has really bad allergies, and not just to food. I may be something else entirely that is setting off the illness, but it's impossible to tell with so much switching around. I went through at least 7 different foods before I found one Maggie liked and didn't make her sick. I currently feed her Acana, in the large blue bag, it's a chicken meal type food, with no fish (Which she can't handle) and she seems to have settled into it. Remember the premium brands tend to have a lot of variety and different diets for that reason. I used to really like Nutro, until their started price gouging. Maggie does well on the Acana, and seems to like the taste of it too. Also remember that in some cases, it can take up to a month for a dog to entirely adjust to the food, and maybe you are switching too soon?

15-03-09, 18:53	#5
Kate C Attackofthebear Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 38	Well, if you are feeding too much it can cause loose stools. Typically the recommended amounts are too much of the better foods. I am guilty of feeding too much innova, I fed 6 cups because thats what we fed of Pukeanuba and yogi needed only 4 cups max based on the recommended amount for innova. I would've fed him 3 1/2 instead had I known better. A side note: Canidae changed their formulas and since then everyone I know that fed it to any large/giant breed dogs switched off of it. They went with Taste of the Wild(TOTW). Instinct is also a good brand you may want to try. How come you dont want to look into raw? Do you think its expensive, time-consuming, etc? As a raw feeder I will let you know, it is the best diet I have put my dogs on and will never go back to kibble feeding. The time-convenience does not out weight the benefits of raw feeding. How long did you give each food before switching? It is best to give each food at least 8 weeks, but preferably 12 weeks before another change. And did you change slowly(I figure you did, but just making sure). Try switching slower when you do switch again.

16-03-09, 08:15	#6
$%#*@ Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 6	I feed my dogs a dog food called Nutro. That is what I have fed them most of their lives and I have not had problems like the ones you described

16-03-09, 09:57	#7
legendary colector Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1	take to vet

19-03-09, 12:11	#8
Moondog Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 45	The best food for your dogs is the food they do best on and if that happens to be Pro Plan then that's the food for them. Don't feel guilty by doing what is best for them.

14-04-09, 18:21	#9
Kelley Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 11	We have the same problem with our Cocker Spaniels..We ended up by having to get a prescription food and they seem to all tolerate it well.

24-04-09, 06:20	#10
babyblues30_1968 Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1	I don't have this problem, but when I first got my pug I was informed that he had some sensativities to suspected corn and wheat that was in most of the products so I feed him Avoderm. Avoderm is a low cost and an avacado based formula and is made for dogs with sensativities to other formula. Have you tried this? I have also pet sitted for one dog that was literally a vegaterian...Iwould feed him sweet potatoes and carrots every evening for dinner. This was the first time that I had heard of a dog being a raw vegeterian but it worked for him...although it made his doodles orange...he was fine. Best of luck trying to find a resonable solution.

09-05-09, 16:18	#11
Rosalie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 173	If your dogs do fine on those two brands, why not just feed them that. The big bag brands are just fine for a lot of dogs whose GI tracts adapted to it while they were in the womb. It's most likely what their mothers ate. i know a lot of dogs that simply cannot handle the designer dog foods - so why should anyone try and cram it down them? Feed your dogs what they can digest. What you feed them is between the fornt end and the back end of your dog, and nobody else. Period. I know three vets who feed their own dogs Pro plan - and they can feed them anything they like. They don't feel guilty either - neither should you.