Fromm changed Daily Feeding Recommendations

[Josh Adams]

I noticed Fromm recently changed the format of their Daily Feeding Recommendations for the Large Breed Puppy Gold formula (not sure about their other formulas). Previously, the recommendation was the puppy's current weight, grouped by current age (in multiples of 10). Their new recommendation is by the puppy's "Expected Mature Weight", grouped by current age (in multiples of 20). Does anyone have any knowledge on why they changed it?

Comparing the two, there's a discrepancy on how much we should feed our 7-month, 53lb puppy. On the old method (still listed on their bag), he should get 3 7/8 cups a day (7-month puppy/50lb group). The new method recommends 2 3/4 to 3 1/3 cups a day. 

I haven't called Fromm yet. I find it confusing that a company would use an expected mature weight method for a puppy formula for owners of non-purebred dogs. I think I know how much our GD will weigh as an adult but that's a just an educated guess. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have no idea why the feeding recommendations were changed. Do you know if the calories per cup have changed? That's going to make a big difference in how much you feed. If the calories per cup are the same, I'd say that if the amount you've been feeding seemed right in terms of satisfying him, stay with that. When in doubt with feeding amounts, I usually go with calorie requirements. That's easier with adult dogs than with puppies, though, especially with mixed breed puppies, as you pointed out. I think you may have call Fromm and ask about if anything about the formula has changed, including calorie content. 

What do you think he will weigh as an adult?  

 

[Josh Adams]

The calorie per cup did change just slightly. Our current bag is 389/cup. Per their website, it's now 384/cup. So we'll have to check the next bag we purchase.

Even though our bag suggests 3 7/8, we've stuck with 3 1/4 the last month and that satisfies him. Sometimes we'll give a little more if he's had a busier day. 

In terms of his expected adult size, I would say 65-70lb. Both his parents were about that size so I suppose that's a good indicator. 

I'll call Fromm on Monday and report back. I know a lot of owners on this forum feed this formula. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

5 calories less per cup is nothing, really. I'd continue to feed the same amount you have been.
Iwonder though if there has been some small change in the formula. Even though the calorie change is tiny, something has to have caused it. Coupled with new feeding recommendations, I think a call is a good idea.

[Josh Adams]

I just spoke with a representative. They changed the recipe on 7/18/18. All ingredients are the same; however, they moved duck much further down the line. It was previously listed as the first ingredient, it's now 19th on the list! I was told they did this because they felt people were overfeeding based on the old recipe and feeding recommendation. They're "now using the NRC book" when it comes to feeding recommendations. This only applies to the Gold line. 

I find this a little odd. But, we'll give the new recipe a try when it hits the stores and go from there ... 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I find it odd too, and the explanation doesn't make much sense to me. But I agree that all you can do it continue using it and see how it goes. 

[Tracey & Spike]

I need to stay in the loop on this one as well. I’m feeding Spike Fromm Weight Control. He was doing great on it. However now he is packing on the pounds again. We haven’t changed how much we feed him and we also aren’t giving him any other treats except green beans and one old mother Hubbard mini cookie per day. I just don’t get it. Nothing’s changed. Maybe the food has (side note... Karen just so you know Spikes timbit days are long over... we took your advice!)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, we all gain weight as we get older. Is he getting less exercise? Maybe due to weather being too hot, too rainy, etc? 
I'm glad to hear the Timbits days are over, lol. Jasper has a littermate whose mom keeps posting photos of the puppy getting ice cream and puppacinos at drive throughs, and I have to bite my tongue every time I see one, lol. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

My neighbor buys their pug a timbit almost every day and who knows what other treats he gets... he is a very overweight dog :/

I've only ever seen one trim-looking pug though and she was VERY active!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My dogs don't even know what a Timbit is.  They asked me to google it and get them whatever it is because it sounds like something they MUST have.  :-}

(I googled it.  They will never know what a timbit is! I think they were hoping it was steak! LOL)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I didn't know what it was when it was first mentioned here, either. And Jasper will never know what it is either, lol. Or a puppucino. 

[Andrea, Belle and Honey]

I have misinformed Belle that a "timbit" is a little round ball of 2% cottage cheese that she only gets on special occasions, and she loves it.  By the way, when I started looking carefully at the ingredients in cottage cheese to make sure I wasn't giving Belle any noxious additives, I was astounded to discover all the garbage in the supposedly healthy, common brands of cottage cheese I have been eating all my life.  I have now found only one (very expensive, of course) brand called "Good Culture" that has only milk, cream, celtic sea salt, and live and active cultures. Because of the salt, she only gets this delicious treat once a week, which hopefully will keep it "special."

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's a great idea.

Another great special treat is a tablespoon or two of plain unflavored nonfat yogurt (I use Fage Total 0%) with some fresh fruit. Jasper likes berries and melon.