Help Karen, what am I doing wrong!!

[Amy and Annabelle]

So my husband and I had a discussion over Champion dog food and the recent issue. We decided to switch from Orijen to the Fromm grain free chicken. Especially since there was a big price increase at the place I get her food. Annabelle has been on Orijen since I switched her off of the breeders Purina crap. She has never been one to love her food. When I first bring in a new bag, she will go and sniff it, that is about as much interest in food she has ever shown. So I thought it would be easy to switch her over. I was wrong. My plan was to do half 1/4 new/3/4 old, then new/half old, then 3/4 new/1/4 old over the course of 4-5 days. But she won't eat the new. She eats the old and leaves the new in the bowl. Next meal I try to give her the new she left. She walks away. I tried to give it to her the next day. I could tell she was really hungry, but wanted nothing to do with the new. I tried hand feeding her the new, she turned her nose up. My granddaughter who Annabelle adores and would eat anything she gave her, tried hand feeding her the new, she wanted nothing to do with it. I finally broke down and gave her the old after about 30 hours of not eating anything. She of course gobbled it up and begged for more. I am now out of the old. What should I do? 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

The places Haley pees in are small yellowish spots surounded by lush dark green fast growing grass.  lol

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yep. That lush part is the part that only gets a little of the pee, lol.
In my neighborhood, the grass around the lightpoles, mailbox posts, and parkway trees is always the longest and greenest. :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is purely anecdotal, but JD was on fish based formulas for the last 10 years of his life, and despite all of his health issues, his blood work was always perfect. 

[Amy and Annabelle]

That's encouraging. She has her annual check-up this month, I may have some testing done to see if has higher levels of arsenic and murcury.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That might be a good idea, just to put your mind at ease.
I'd be willing to bet her blood chemistry will be perfect.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Ordinary blood work does not test for heavy metals. Often in humans these tests are done on hair or nails.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Special blood panels are available.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks for this info, F. 

Do you know what kinds of symptoms would prompt a vet (or doctor) to order that type of panel? 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Here is what I found.

http://www.diamondbackdrugs.com/heavy-metal-poisoning-in-dogs-and-e...

I doubt most vets would order tests unless there was an ingestion of something containing heavy metals the vet knew about.

i am still feeding Acana. I suspect we all are getting heavy metals from fish. I do hope someone 

trustworthy analyzes the levels in more brands of dog foods and can give us more scientific information on all of this.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I second that hope.

[Amy and Annabelle]

When you see what the symptoms of heavy metal poisoning are, I don't wouldn't want it to get that far. I'm with you, I would like to see a trustworthy lab, do some testing with more scientific info.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

From the comments on this article:

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/lawsuit-filed-against-champion-pet-fo...

It also looks like the heavy metal testing was done from U.S. Champion products which is produced using different standards than the ones sold in Canada/Europe.  Some of the comments said that Europe's standards are more strict so the Canadian-produced food is more carefully regulated to meet those standards.  Interesting if true (and slightly alarming for U.S. doggies in general) but who knows if there's any truth to it.