Inconsistent bags of Fromm Game Bird

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Lucy has been on Fromm's Game Bird recipe for many years and has always done well with eating it and liking it (she's extremely un food motivated so finding a food she would consistently eat was a frustrating and expensive challenge until trying this food). Something changed last Spring when after opening a new bag of food she turned her nose up at it. Just wouldn't eat it. I called Chewy and reported the problem and they sent out a new bag of food, no charge. That bag she immediately ate, no problem. Then, I'm not sure if it was the next shipment or the one after that, the same thing happened again. She turned her nose up at the new bag. I called Chewy and they sent a new bag, again no charge, which Lucy once again ate, no problem. I opened a new bag 2 nights ago and this is the 3rd bag she simply will not eat. This time Chewy is charging me for a replacement bag. I did ask the rep if they were reporting the problem to Fromm and she said yes, but they hadn't heard anything back from them. I did learn something interesting, however. The new bags are now coming from a US manufacturing plant where they'd previously come from Canada. It seems obvious to me that it's that change that has something to do with the inconsistency in bags/batches of food. With Chewy now charging me for replacement bags of food, I have no choice but to start a quest on finding a new food for Lucy. Has anyone else noticed any changes at all in Fromm's food recently?

[Stella]

Is she getting her brands confused? Champion petfoods (Acana and Orijen) recently opened a USA manufacturing plant so their foods are switching from being Canadian made to USA made for their American customers.

......... Although this still doesn't help you with your problem!!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Probably. Which blows my theory out of the water!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, I'm very confused. Fromm is an American company and from what their website states, all of their food is made in the U.S., mostly in WI, and some of the canned food in S. Dak. No mention of Canada. 

https://frommfamily.com/about/question-and-answer/company/where-is-...

I personally would contact Fromm instead of Chewy to get info on this. Did you actually see something on any bags stating "made in Canada", or is that just what the Chewy rep said?

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

It sounds like the Chewy rep was confused. I'd never noticed or even thought about earlier bags' country of manufacture, but this current bag clearly states Wisconsin. I will contact Fromm's with this dilemma. At this point it's really not worth me sticking with Fromm's if every other 26lb. bag is a total waste of money. And you're right, there's probably nothing they can do about it. I only keep the current codes from the bags, unfortunately so that won't help. I just went out today and bought a 5lb. bag of Acana Duck and Pear. I know Lucy prefers poultry, we'll see how she likes this. The Chewy rep also mentioned that Lucy might be getting tired of the same recipe, but if that's true then why is it only when she starts a brand new bag (not every brand new bag, either)? I don't know, she's a goofy doodle and super sensitive in every sense of the word. My thinking is there's some lazy dog food plant worker who's throwing in ingredients without measuring them... PRECISELY, and Lucy, with her ultra sensitives knows something is just not exactly right with that particular batch, and she will have nothing to do with it. Gotta love her!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think all the measuring, adding and mixing of ingredients is done by machine. :)

Let us know how she likes the Acana Duck, that's an excellent choice.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Maybe there's a malfunction in the machinery where it spits out too much or too little of 1 ingredient every few batches. If so, Lucy would detect it!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You could also ask Fromm about the issue with Lucy not liking some of the bags, although I doubt they will have an answer for you. If there had been a formula change, she wouldn;t like any of the bags, lol. Have you checked or kept track of the dating on the bags, that's what they will need in order to look into it. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think it's possible that Lucy is just tired of the same formula. You might consider trying one of the other Fromm Four Star grain free formulas, they are all made to be rotated. 

[Helen]

At the beginning of this month, my dog, Coco, got sick (throwing up multiple times over several days) a few days after we started a new bag of Fromm Pork and Peas.  Coco had been eating Fromm for years and never had a problem.  Coco stopped eating, and we eventually had to hospitalize her overnight at the vet.  (Tests ruled out an obstruction, and Coco's bloodwork was normal.)  Coco is fine now but still refuses to eat the Fromm dog food.  We switched to Acana. 

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Wow, that's interesting and scary! Glad to hear Coco is okay.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Update: Initial results with Acana Duck and Pear formula. Not unexpectedly, Lucy gave it a resounding, NO! Wouldn't touch it. $20 for a 4.5 lb bag down the drain. At least Oscar will eat it so it's not a total loss. I'm trying Zignature Turkey formula next. Wish me luck! I'll need it.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Just asking for clarification. Is Lucy unhealthy? Is the vet concerned about her weight?    Even unmotivated (but healthy) dogs will eat when they are truly hungry. Have you tried out-waiting her? I think she would eventually eat what you provide unless you are also giving lots of yummy treats.