Food, Poop and Transition Questions

[Shannon]

Hi all! I have a few questions and am not sure where to head next for my pups. I have two goldendoodles, both around 3 years old. They both, but in particular one of them, have sensitive stomachs. One is a very picky eater as well but she's gotten A LOT better.

So, per advice in this group, we've been feeding Orijen Adult Dog for the past 8 months. It was going amazingly! Both dogs ate right when I put food in their bowls and had solid poops for that entire 8 months (after the most horrible transition period). When the formula changed, all of that changed. Both dogs refused to eat and got horrible diarrhea. It was New Year's Eve and we were headed to a wedding so in a panic, searched on here and bought Zignature Turkey Formula. They gobbled it up and we're still feeding that. It was a super easy transition!

Their poops now are mushy, not bad but not as solid as they used to be on Orijen. My biggest issue is that they are pooping A LOT, as in I can't pick it all up in one poop bag. It is ridiculous. They are also putting up a stink about eating again, although end up eating most meals. 

I don't think I'm feeding too much (although maybe I am?) because I'm feeding the same amounts I fed Orijen even though the feeding recommendations are more than that of Orijen. 

To be honest, I don't really want to feed some of those crazy expensive other Orijen formulas because they just seem so expensive but I don't know what to do next! I'm a crazy dog mom about their food and hate the idea of switching again!

I'd appreciate any advice or thoughts? Try Orijen again? Acana? Stay on Zignature?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Switching from a higher protein formula to one with a lower protein content will usually result in higher stool volume and/or softer stool, because lower protein = more carbs, and dogs don;t utilize carbs as well as protein, so you have more waste material. 

Zignature is a good brand, but I think your dogs would do better with a higher protein content as well as a better Omega 6:3 ratio than the Zignature turkey formula. I'd try Acana Regionals. The protein content is a little higher and the Omega 3 content is better. Start with the Meadowland formula. After the first bag, if all goes well, you can rotate formulas to prevent them from getting bored with the food and "putting up a stink", lol. The pricing is lower than Orijen, so that should work for you. 

[Shannon]

You are amazing. Just bought a bag of that to start mixing in and hopefully we will like this more! Thanks so much! The price point is perfect and I like that it's more like Orijen. Thanks again!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

My pleasure. Pleases let us know how they do with the Acana. :)