Switching to a better food and have a few questions

[Bronwen Watts]

Thanks in large part to this discussion group, I have decided to try switching Tyson's food. I am leaning towards Acana's Pacifica, but I am wondering if anyone here has tried it and how it has worked for their dog(s). More importantly, is anyone purchasing it online, and if so, from where? The only place that sells it around me is 2 hours away, so if I could find a place online to buy it from that would be great. Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Bronwen, we love Acana and highly recommend it! Many people here are using it and I haven't heard about any problems. It is made by Champion Foods of Canada, who also makes Orijen. Their ingredients and company ethics are top-notch. If you do a search for "Acana" in the FG discussions, you will find a lot of info.
To find a dealer on-line, just do a Google search for "Acana Pacifica" and you'll get lots of options. You can compare prices, shipping rates, etc., and choose the best company for you.
Have you checked the Champion website's store locator? Sometimes, people are surprised to find a small place, often a feedstore or farm & garden center rather than a pet supply store, that carries a particular premium food and is located nearby.

[Bronwen Watts]

Thanks, Karen. I did look online and found some places that sell it, but also wodnered if anyone used any specific online retailer or store. I found a wesbite called only4pets.com that sells the Pacifica at what looks to be a good price, but I just want to check that it is a reputable company before giving my creidt card information!

I did look at Acana's website, which is how I found that it appears only 3 stores in Virginia sell Acana, and all those stores are in Northern Virginia which is between 2-3 hours from me.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have heard good things about "Only Natural Pets". I haven't heard of "Only 4 Pets", but I looked at their site, and they seem to carry a very limited and high quality line of products. Maybe someone else here will know about them.
One thing you might try to check the reliability of the company is to do a search for them, and see if any customer reviews come up on an independent wensite. Sometimes you can get good feedback that way. Please let us know what you find out if you do.

[Bronwen Watts]

I also meant to mention that Tyson has had some stomach issues in the past from certain food sensitivity (he's had problems with diarrhea and skin irritations), and I am hoping the Acana will be a good switch for him. If anyone has had a dog with similar issues and has successfully switched to Acana, that would be great to know!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Grain-free, high-protein foods will usually help with those issues, at least the skin sensitivity. Diarrhea can be caused by lots of different things, but most people here who've used the Orijen & Acana products are happy with their dogs stool consistency, too.
If Tyson has a sensitive tummy, be sure to switch him slowly; let the Acana make up a quarter of his meal at first, and then gradually increase it while decreasing the current food. What is he eating currently?

[Bronwen Watts]

I do know about the need to switch gradually (25% new food, then 50%, then 75%, then 100%, over about 2 weeks). He has been eating Royal Canin's Potato & Venison for 5 months, which is working for him but I have never been crazy about it, and after a recent discussion thread in here where I was trying to get advice about switching foods, I have decided to try the Acana.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, now I remember! My mind is going. Sorry, Bronwen, I did remember you, but not the specific discussion. I should follow my own advice and do a search first!

[Bronwen Watts]

No problem Karen, you respond to so many of these discussions and are helping so many people it makes sense not to remember the specifics of every conversation! Thanks for all your help with all these things, your knowledge is greatly appreciated!

[Bronwen Watts]

Thanks for the link! Do you switch between Orijen and Acana or do your dogs eat different foods from each other?

[Bronwen Watts]

I may have to do the same for Tyson; it seems when he eats only dry food, he tends to get bored with it sometimes. We’ll see. How are your dogs doing on the Orijen, and do they like it? Were you feeding them anything different before that?

[Bronwen Watts]

Thanks, I did look into Orijen and was interested, but for a few reasons decided to go with the Acana. How does your dog like the Orijen, and is it working well? Did you switch to Orijen from a different food?

I appreciate all the links, and will look into them to see which one has the better deal once shipping is taken into account!

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

Just wanted to add that we do in fact switch back and forth between the Orijen and ACANA formulas with no issue what so ever. This is a very good idea not just for flavor variety, but also for different protein sources as well as other nutritional sources. It helps you to build a plan B because you have experimented with other formulas, if your dood only would eat Grasslands and suddenly there became an issue with the export of New Zealand lamb then what? The same holds true if heaven forbid there were any company issues in the future, always know before you need to what you would move to next.

Frequently the Canadian shipments get hung up excessively in red tape, I have some thoughts on this but they lead way off this path. For this reason I also suggest having a backup brand. Personally I am quite fond of several of the Canadian foods, about every 5th or 6th bag we toss in perhaps a Petcurean bag (GO! and NOW!), Fromm (grain free formulas) and EVO. There is another I have been looking at and will likely try soon, it is Horizon Foods Legacy formulas ~ another Canadian company.

Please share what you decide on and how it works out for you and your dood, there is much for all of us to learn in each others experiences.