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#1
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Alternating Food
My dogs have been on Merrick for several months now. Panna and Cannelle get various canned food mixed in with dry Wilderness Blend while Mocha just gets dry (she doesn't like any moisture in her food ). They're doing very well and the change has been incredible. Anyways, when I was looking for better quality food before I found Merrick I looked at Solid Gold products, but I could only find the Hund-n-Flocken and neither Mocha nor Panna were interested in it (we didn't have Cannelle at that time). Anyways, I was out and about today and found a sample of the "Just a Wee Bit" so I figured I would try a little bit of it (I couldn't resist ). Mocha didn't touch it, but Panna and Cannelle INHALED it. I was wondering if I could try alternating the food with Panna and Cannelle whenever I bought a new bag if they continue to like it? I'd probably stick with the Merrick canned, but alternate the dry and just keep Mocha on the Merrick. I've heard that alternating food is good in case one food isn't fulfilling 100% of the dog's nutritional needs and to give the dog some variety, but then I've heard that you don't need to alternate it and it's just hard on the dog's stomach ("if it ain't broke, don't fix it"). Should I alternate, or just stick with one food?
Here's the Merrick Wilderness Blend ingredients: Quote:
Quote:
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Last edited by chocolatecoffee; April 10th, 2006 at 04:07 PM. |
#2
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I don't really believe in switching to balance out a doggy. You're already supplementing it with canned, and if they are doing well, I don't see the need to switch (especially if one doesn't like it). Instead of switching, you could just add the wee bit as a treat every now and then maybe?
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#3
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I used to believe you shouldn't alternate a dogs food. But in all the books I've been reading on dog nutrition (and there have been alot!!) they ALL say you should alternate the food if you're going to feed kibble.
Basically they say it's up to you how often, some say 3 months is good, some say have 2 bags and switch every couple of days back and forth. This way your dog is less likely to have a deficiency in his diet. You wouldn't necessarily see I problem with him and he might look like he's doing great on the one diet but he could still be lacking something or getting too much of something else so switching back and forth can help eliminate that. Of course, when I asked my vet about it she said you should never switch a dog's diet and that Hills was a great food to keep them on Yikes!! It's funny how they really don't seem to have much knowledge on pet nutrition! |
#4
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I just started feeding Timberwolf Organics to my boys and, so far, am really pleased with it.
Their website ( www.timberwolforganics.com ) says to rotate among their different dry formulas. I`m still undecided as whether to do so, or not. I`d appreciate everyones`s opinions. |
#5
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I think I said my opinion already, but for my dogs, I won't switch unless I have to. It took us a lonnnng time to get Boo to stop throwing up, and I just can't risk that again. He's been on this food for over a year now, and he has thrown up maybe twice in that time. On other foods, he threw up all night EVERY night.
All my dogs have been very sensitive to food changes, so it's always been more about finding one that works above everything else. Personally, I think supplementing it with different canned foods and other things is enough. Plus every now and then, I give them the Seameal supplement (makes Boo itchy a bit, so I limit it). All in all, I think they're getting everything they need. |
#6
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At the moment, I don't switch foods... I've been sticking with Canidae... but I've been thinking about doing a rotation. (Pragmatically speaking, the vendor has me hooked in to a 'buy 9 bags get the 10th free promotion and I'm on the 8th bag... hehe)... Anyway, I also have heard that alternating kibbles is a good thing to do. I supplement with raw, and I don't really think my guys are missing anything, but I do see how novelty gets them into their food again.
Then again, if I had dogs (like Prin) who have struggled with food/tummies etc, then I would NEVER switch if they were doing fine. My Sam, at least, appears to have a stomach of iron. |
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