Fromm Vs. Acana and does size (of kibbles) matter?

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

*note this discussion has been amended from the original for privacy issues*

A Fromm rep tried really hard to get me to switch my own dogs from Acana, which I have been feeding for a while now because the price point is better for my budget and the doodles do really well on it. She whipped out a bag of Acana chicken and burbank potatos and Fromm Gold and tried to show me that Fromm has better nutritional qualities. I wasn't buying it although there were some good qualities in the Fromm, I'm not sure it would be worth the switch. I think it would actually cost more because with Fromm I have to feed more (although she tried to tell me I'd be feeding less and they'd be satisfied on smaller portions, which I don't think is true based on my quick read of the recommended serving sizes...)

I told her I don't like how small the kibbles are in Fromm and she said that it is better for their digestion because they don't expand as much in the gut- I'm not sure I believe this... does size matter?

The protein levels in the Fromm are less and the omega 3 and 6 is more or less the same.  The price point on the least expensive Fromm formulas with the discount will be slightly less than what I pay now but on the most expensive Fromm formulas it would still be more with the discount applied. I'm not sure this lady knew what she was talking about, or purposefully tried to mislead into me into thinking Fromm is better than Acana (although I know both are good foods).  I know a lot of people are happy with Fromm but I'm hesitant to switch as I see little point. 

Sorry to bombard you with two discussions in one day...

Here is the Fromm we were looking at (not the same as the bag in my trunk for Sam): http://frommfamily.com/products/gold/dog/dry/adult-gold

and here is the Acana I'm feeding: http://www.acana.com/products/classics/chicken-burbank-potato/

[Brittney & Cally]

Although I am a huge advocate of Fromm and that is what I feed my crew I really do not see a need to switch your crew from Acana to Fromm. I know Karen will step in here and help a little more but that is my opinion! I believe Acana and Orejien are from Champion foods and they are the top of the line in my opinion! I personally feel no need for you to switch but maybe for the future of you helping in this rescue maybe just feed the rescues Fromm, I know it will probably be a pain as I have two dogs on completely different types of Fromm and it is a pain to make sure they do not get into each others food (one reduced activity senior and one on large breed puppy food. I hope I understood that correctly and could be of some help! Oh also I do not think the size matters except for when they are puppies.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

thanks for your thoughts. I'm sorry I do recognize this was hard to understand, I'm tired and the post was rambling on and on.

I probably can't go wrong with either food, I think I'm just being stubborn and not wanting to introduce any change right now.

[Brittney & Cally]

No need to apologize I kept getting distracted by three wrestling dogs! You definitely could not go wrong with either food but I agree with your stubbornness (not sure if that is a real word lol) and there has been a lot going on in your house so I agree that there is no need for any more changes!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Somebody doesn't have very good math or reading skills here, and it's not me, lol. 

Here's the Fromm Gold nutritional info:

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein	24% Min
Crude Fat	16% Min
Crude Fiber	3.5% Max
Moisture	10% Max
Omega 3 Fatty Acids	0.5% Min
Omega 6 Fatty Acids	2.5% Min

And here's the Acana chicken/potato info:

Crude protein (min.)28%

Crude fat (min.)17%

Crude fiber (max.)4%

Moisture (max.)10%

Calcium (min.)1.3 %Phosphorus (min.)1.1%

Calcium: Phosphorus Ratio1.2:1

Omega-6 (min.) 2.5%
LA (min.)2.4%

Omega 3 (min.) 0.7%
EPA (min.)0.3%
DHA (min.)0.3%
Omega 6:Omega 3 ratio 3.6:1

4% may not seem like a big difference in protein content, but when the numbers are this low, it's a BIG deal. If we were talking about 34% versus 38%, no biggy. But 24% protein is very low IMO. And it's too low for a puppy. 

And an Omega 6:3 ratio of 5:1 is not even close to an Omega 6:3 ratio of 3.6:1 Plus, the Omega fatty acids in the Acana formula are specified, DHA and EPA, which are the ones you want for dogs. We don't know what they are in the Fromm formula, but you can bet there isn't as much EPA or DHA as in the Acana. 

There are Fromm formulas with better nutritional profiles than the Gold in their Four Star line. Acana also makes grain-free formulas with much higher protein contents, so it's kind of ridiculous to arbitrarily compare two random formulas and argue about which is better. It's really apples and oranges. A more apt comparison would have been Acana Pacifica versus Fromm's Grain-free Salmon Tunalini. 

Fromm is an excellent company, and they make excellent dog food. I was feeding JD Fromm's Salmon a la Veg and was happy with it. But his dermatologist wanted him on Orijen. 

But there is no dry dog food sold that is higher quality than Orijen & Acana. Period. Only for medical reasons would i ever encourage anyone to switch from a Champion food to one from any other company. It broke my heart when I had to switch JD after his IBD was diagnosed. 

I don't mean to criticize any rescue group, but I think it is wrong, and very unfair of the rescue to put any kind of pressure on you to switch your dogs' food. Fosters are the life blood of a rescue group and should be treated with kid gloves. I understand that they are thrilled to have a quality dog food company donating food, as that's a huge expense, and they must all be thrilled to get the added perks of getting their own dogs' food at a bargain price, but it's a lot of nerve to try to pressure a foster to switch her own dogs' food. 

I have a feeling that some of these rescue people are feeding their own dogs and fosters cheap crappy food and their viewpoint of this is different from yours. 

Bottom line: Blame it on Winston's allergies if you have to, but hold your ground and do NOT switch your dogs' food. You will have to decide what to do with any fosters in the future. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Amen Karen. Without any nutritional analysis the pressure is just plain wrong. I had my dogs on Fromm before Acana and now were I to get completely free dog food I would not switch them without a compelling health reason.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's a very compelling endorsement, IMO.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

that's how I feel. I would rather feed my fosters on my dime then switch my own dogs or have to feed multiple foods and risk them getting into each others food all the time.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks Karen, I kind of didn't want to make a fuss, but I did feel like she was wrong in her comparison, so I politely suggested that I would think about it. 

I don't so much fee pressured as I feel like I might be disappointing some. I think it's more my issue. If I explained how I felt I'm sure they'd all understand.

I think the pressure was really coming from the Fromm rep and the unfair part was that I was subject to the awkward encounter.

[BG and Gavin]

Even if they were exactly the same, I would still support Champion, only because it is Canadian :;)

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna has been through Blue Buffalo, Taste of the Wild and now Acana... She does the best on Acana by far!  

I also like to support Champion foods because they're Canadian :)

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Yes I do like that part too :)

[Donna K & Quincy]

Sherri, there is no way I would change foods unless I wanted to. I feed Fromm and have no issue with it but if I was already feeding the best food why would I change. Now that I've typed that maybe I should change to Acana. :>)

I think it's great that Fromm is supporting rescue but the rescue should be happy to have your time and effort and not try to influence your choice of food, unless of course you were feeding Purina. :>)