OK for puppy to eat adult food for a couple of weeks?

[Jenny Barnes]

I am a new member and am the human of a 21 week old medium GD named Sulley.  He is my first GD and I am so in love with him,  He weighs 21 pounds at last check.

I got him from the breeder when he was 8 weeks and at that time he was on Iams puppy.  I slowly changed him over to Wellness SuperPuppy Mix by the time he was 10 weeks.  He did well on that until about 2 weeks ago and then he began turning his nose up at it.  I added some FF plain Greek yogurt and he did better.  He is gaining well, his poop ok and he's very active and smart.

Here is my issue right now.  He will be attending puppy day care during the day and boarding at night for a week at the end of the month while we take vacation. The facility feeds Science Diet Sensitive stomach food 3 times a day.  I was wondering about Sulley.  Since he is so picky about the Wellness and have to add the yogurt, I just don't think the technicians will take time to fool with it. 

Would it hurt to switch him temporarily to the SD?  After we return, I would slowly wean him off that and am thinking about trying him on something else besides the Wellness.

Thanks for any suggestions.  I will try to figure out how to post some picture of my sweet little man.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Can you ask if they will feed the food you are currently feeding? I am sure they have had dogs in the past that required a specific food to be fed. I have never heard of a boarding facility that only feeds one type of food.  Science diet is a very poor quality food, and the ingredients are all outsourced.

[Jenny Barnes]

Thanks for the reply.  The facility said that I could bring his food, but I just don't think that they will take the time to add the yogurt and it would just simplify things to use their food for just a week.  I was going to change anyway because he is just not eating the Wellness and a couple of times he has heaved it up and it would be undigested.  I wouldn't keep him on the SD because it's not a high quality food.

[Joan Bollaert]

I would bring his own food and plenty of it.  Specify to them that he is not to be fed anything else.   You can ask about the yogurt but wouldn't worry about them giving it to him.  If he's hungry, he'll eat his own food without the yogurt.   

I'v always been able to feed my dogs what I always feed them when brought for boarding.  Never heard of any facility requireing dogs to eat what they have.  Don't do it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would absolutely not let him eat Science Diet for even a day, let alone two weeks. It's garbage. Bring his food and insist that this is what he is to be fed. This boarding is also going to be very stressful for him, and the last thing he would need is a major diet change at a stressful time. 

Maybe I'm not understanding this, but  even if you let them give him the Science Diet, they aren't going to add yogurt to the Science Diet, so why would he be more likely to eat that than to eat his own food without yogurt? 

[Jenny Barnes]

Thanks everyone.  I was planning to run by the facility and get some SD(small amount) and see if he liked it.  I guess I'm just hesitant to just take a bag of Wellness and he doesn't eat all week.  I've been having some issues with it.

Maybe tomorrow I can get another premium brand and start switching him over before the boarding.  Any recommendations?  Lately, the Wellness seems to be causing GI issues.

The facility does not require that you pet has to eat SD.  That's just what they offer if you don't bring your own.

[Joan Bollaert]

I wouldn't start experimenting now before you're ready to leave for vacation.   As long as he's not getting sick on what you've been feeding him, just send him to boarding with that.  If he's just snubbing his food....he'll eat when he's hungry enough.

And, it's not unusual for dogs to lose some weight while being boarded.  It's stressful.   Someone suggested to me to send along some canned food in the same brand of what I'm feeding and they could add a couple of TBLS. to his food to entice him if he's not eating.  OR  send a couple of cans of tuna because they will be attracted to that and the smell of it in their own food.  ?   I never did, but would have if necessary.

[Jenny Barnes]

Guess I will continue the Wellness for a few more weeks.  Thanks for insights.  Wish us luck.  This is his first boarding!  If this vacation wasn't a family one with my children and grandchildren, I wouldn't go!!

[Joan Bollaert]

I know how you feel.   As a matter of fact, I backed out of a trip to Maine this week for my brothers birthday not only because it was a last minute decision on my part to go but also I had to board my dogs in a facility that wasn't my first choice.  I brought them there, and then picked them up after only one hour.  I stayed home!!  LOL

[Jenny Barnes]

I just figured out how to download a picture!  Here is my doddle buddy, Sulley.  Wish us luck with his first boarding! 

[Joan Bollaert]

He is adorable!!!   What a sweetie!

[Jenny Barnes]

Thank you!  This picture was a month ago.  He has grown a lot and grows before my eyes.

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

Cute little fluff ball!