Feeding less with better foods

[KC]

I was thinking about how when I first came to these boards trying to find a solution for Milo's chronic diarrhea, there was such a wealth of information that it was almost overwhelming. One of the comments I kept hearing was, with the better foods, you fed less, so the price difference was not as much as you thought by just comparing labels. I know that each doodle is different, but I thought if I posted our experience, it might help someone trying to understand that statement. Milo started out at the breeders on Royal Canin. I wasn't too impressed, and wanted to move him to a corn and wheat free food. My initial research left me very confused, and when a boutique natural food pet store recommended Prairie (her reasons were that too high a protein content was not good for a rapidly growing pup and so some whole grain would be better). Then the whole giardia/coccidia thing happened, and Milo never recovered from that, having diarrhea for nearly 3 months.

Then we moved to Acana (Grasslands). In a few days we were at perfect stools, which touch wood, has continued through our second bag. But I also feel that he is scratching less, and his ears are less yeasty.

But the point of this post was to quantify our food amounts. On Prairie he was eating three cups (I just measured the serving cup with a baking cup to make sure I was as accurate as possible) twice a day. On Acana he eats 1 and a quarter cups twice a day. Other factors that may contribute: On Prairie he was at his rapid growth phase, from 2 to 5 months, and he moved to Acana at 5 to 6 months, which the vet said was also a rapid growth phase, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

That said, looks like we may be increasing the Acana to 1.5 cups at least at one meal. Although this may just be our silly doodle, I thought it might help someone to have the reduction in amounts quantified.

[Linda Lynch]

We have been lucky with Lizzy - no chronic anything just a little looseness when we first got her a year ago.  Of course, she was on Junk food when we got her(Benefil).  But, we were on Evo (until P & G got involved)  and went to Grain free Orijen and at 53 lbs and holding, she has been fine.  We feed 1 cup twice per day.   Experience has taught us(with the help at our local Pet People store and this site), they might still act hungry...so we put a tablespoon of pumpkin, wellness chicken or turkey or cottage cheese and that has solved the problem of the kid feeling full!  Hope this helps.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks so much for starting this discussion. It really does help to hear the specifics of people's experiences with one food versus another.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you for posting.  We switched to high quality food a while ago and feel that while we may be paying a bit more overall, it really is not as much as one might think. Plus we do know our guys are eating healthy food which we hope transfers to a longer and healthier life.

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

Hi KC.  Can you clarify in regards to the 'Prarie' that Milo was on prior to the ACANA Grasslands?  There are several brands who have a prarie type name formula and I think it would be helpful to many to know which you used.  It was not the ACANA Prarie was it?   

[KC]

Oh good point. Sorry, I should have been more specific. He began with Nature's Variety, Prairie Chicken Mean and Brown Rice, and then I tried the Salmon meal and brown rice, but the diarrhea remained constant. The Acana we moved him to was Acana Grasslands. which despite its name smells like it is all fish. There is a large amount of fish in it, but boy, the difference in smell! Prairie chicken meal used to smell like cheerios, this smells like fish!

That said, he had runny poop today. I am hoping it was the teeny tiny dog biscuit they gave him at the pet store, but have to admit, secretly, I am really worried.

KC