Switching brands and I am a tad overwhelmed.....

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Hi All :-) I know there is so much to read about when selecting a dry food. I currently feed Hunter Eagle Pack Holistic and only because that is what the breeder fed. She is 7 months old now and I would like to switch her food because in reading the Eagle lable I am certain there are "better" foods with the first ingrediants being better. Can anyone give me a "condensed" version of what a maybe a top few brands I should consider? I read through a ton of postings and frankly got overwhelmed! LOL I would really appreciate it :-) Denise

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Orijen, Acana, Fromm's, Innova, EVO, California Naturals, Canidae, Solid Gold, Blue Buffalo, Nature's Variety
These are the top brands currently used by the majority of Food Group members.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Thank you for the condensed list! I have about 3/4 of a 25lb bag of the Eagle Pack left and wanted to start switching before I had to buy anymore of the Eagle. I am going to go to the pet store today and check out all of the brands and see what they have. Thank you soooo much for your help! Wish me LUCK!!

[Lori]

Thanks for the info...I was wondering the same thing myself! I will get my pup in a few weeks and I am going to be feeding him dry food. I guess when I switch him from what the breeder feeds him I should do a 3/4 her food to 1/4 new food to start?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Wait at least a week before starting the switch, if possible. Then use the proportions you posted, gradually increasing new food & decreasing old food over a week's time.

[s a r a h&h a r p e r]

Hi! when we got Harper, she was on Purina (yuck), but we still waited about 3 weeks before switching her over. We figured she had had enough change to last her! We ended up going from the Purina to Nutro Ultra Puppy, and weren't completely thrilled, so just this week we have started switching her over to Fromm, and she LOVES it. I love their variety of flavors-i figure, we get to switch up what we eat every once in awhile, so why should she? Her stools are a little looser than before, but she seems to really enjoy it.

We also got her a pacer ball, which I think also really has helped with the switch, and just her eating in general. she actually chews her food now as opposed to digesting it kibble-whole!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with not having too many changes in their lives right away. three weeks on the breeder's food will not kill them, the only problem is that you usually have to buy some more of the not-so-great food to last three weeks, and that's not fun to do.
I'm glad you got off the Nutro. Very bad company with very deceptive practices.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Can anyone who is feeding Canidae tell me what formula you prefer? I am looking at their website and I don't see a puppy formula and Hunter is 7 months old..... any thoughts?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

All of the Canidae kibble formulas are "All Life Stages" except for the senior formula. The basic differences between the formulas are the main proteins used, and the grain-free line versus the regular line which contains healthy grains. I would start with whichever one most closely matches the ingredients in the Eagle pack formula you're currently using; for example, if it's mainly chicken based and contains rice, you could try the Canidae Chicken & Rice formula. But there are really no rules, as long as you switch over a week's time by decreasing the amount of Eagle and increasing the new food.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Thank you! I am going to go compare the two right now and see which formula and switch her. Hopefully everything will go smooth :-)

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Thank you for all of the input on Canidae, she has been on it for 2 weeks now and I am really happy with it. She seems to like it a lot more and goes to the bathroom a lot less, which Ilike! Hopefully, it will continue to work out. :-)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Great news!

[PB]

I know what you mean about feeling overwhelmed with the choices out there. I have found that the vet I had been going to (I have since switched) was also not helpful. They recommended Purina Pro Plan. I did that for 6 months. My pup liked it and seemed to do well with it but the more I read the more I began to think that there is something better out there for her. My older dog who has a number of health problems, is on Innova Eva but this is more difficult to get. I was thinking of switching to Blue, which is sold at the local PetSmart. Even deciding on the brand, there are too many choices to pick. My, now one year old doodle (mini--about 19 lbs) seems to eat almost anything I give her. Do I switch to the dry food for small breeds (is 19 lbs considered small?) or go with the adult formula? Her older sister, with the health problems is suppose to be on a high protein diet. If I got the high protein Blue (Wilderness) for her, would this work for the 19 lb one yr. old doodle? Thanks for any feedback.