Need low caloric density food suggestions?

[StaceyW]

I will go check out the food group but was hoping to get a quick suggestions for an adult food that is good but has low kcals per cup. Ollie has major hip issues and Dr said we need to skinny him up. He currently eats Taste of the Wild. Thanks

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The problem with reduced calorie foods is that they are usually senior formulas that are not nutritionally appropriate for young adult dogs. You can try researching "less active" or "lite" formulas among the premium foods; offhand, nothing comes to my mind, but they may be out there.
In TFG, we have discussed trying to reduce our doodles' caloric intake by other means, i.e., staying with your same kibble but reducing the amount and adding lower calorie fillers such as carrots, green beans, etc. And don't forget the treats...some treats pack more caloric punch than others.

[StaceyW]

Our vet is reccommending switching him to a lower caloric density than he is currently on. I think TOTW is on the high side so maybe I can find one in the middle?

[Adina P]

I've wondered about this. Since part of "nutritionally complete" is based on volume given...wouldn't reducing volume by mixing in veggies do the same thing as using a senior food? I supposed you'd have to compare in DETAIL...but both reduce the total amount of nutrients given at one time.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The senior formulas also have reduced minerals and different macronutrient proportions, though. (Much lower protein percentage in relation to the carbs, and surprisingly, most of them have a higher fat percentage, too). I'm pretty sure a slightly smaller amount of regular adult kibble still has more protein than a larger amount of senior formula. I'd have to do the calculations to be sure, though.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Wow- that was fast! I just did a search and found that EVO has a grain-free reduced fat food:
http://www.evopet.com/products/default.asp?id=1492

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Wellness Core has one, too:
http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog_wellness_grain_reduced.html

[StaceyW]

Thanks - my vet is looking at those two and will give me opinion (he does a nutritional analysis)

[Ginny Nightingale]

I found that California naturals lamb and rice has 430 kcal per cup, which is less than others. Venison is also a good lean choice.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I bought for Samantha "Natural Plantic Organics" - 320 kcal/cup.
She only gets about 1 1/2 at dinner in addition to my homecooking. Her weight has stayed the same for the past 4 months AFTER she lost a few pounds since Mickey and Charli entered our lives.
I will be very interested in what your vet tells you about the different kibbles. Samantha needs to be on a lower calorie food since she has a tendency to get that Lab roll.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Adie, a cup and a half in addition to homecooked? Is she just eating one meal a day? That sounds like an awful lot of food. Jack is too heavy, also, (82 lbs, should be 75) and he only gets a cup & a half if he's not getting anything else at a meal.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Stacey, I was just skimming through the calorie counts on most of the premium foods, and you're not going to find anything much lower than the TOTW. I don't know which formula you're using, but the High Prairie formula has only 370 k/cal per cup. That's really low, especially for a grain-free food. I'm assuming you want to stay with grain-free.
The Wellness I mentioned above has 350, and the EVO has a whopping 458.
You could also check Nature's Variety Instinct, that runs a little lower, I think.