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dog food and a thin dog

by , Posted to on 10/21/2009 08:17 AM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
i got one for ya. i have 2 black labs which some of you already know. i switched from pedigree puppy to nutrisource dog food labor day weekend. the drop in quantity was dramatic. i was feeding the 2 dogs a total of 16 cups of pedigree puppy a day because according to their weight and age, thats what they were supposed to be getting.

switched to nutrisource and we went from 16 cups a day down to 5. 3 for duke and 2 for molly a day. its great stuff. the dogs love it, its good for them, and less food equals less mess.

the problem that i have is that both dogs are thin. molly isn't so bad, but duke is too thin in my book. and they eat it fast. i was giving them half in the morning, 5 am, and the other half in the afternoon when i got home from work 6 pm. i also tried feeding them seperately so that i knew each dog was getting what they needed. well, duke had 1.5 cups gone in about 20 seconds. so, then i started giving them all of it in the morning. they still wolf it down. then i started giving them all of it in the morning plus an extra cup each in the afternoon to tie them over til the next morning.

it doesn't matter. they eat it all immediately and then act like you haven't fed them in a week. they even hear my alarm go off at 4am every morning and immediately start whining because they know its time to eat. i know this, because i have layed there awake for half an hour listening for it, as soon as the alarm goes off, boom.

i guess what i am getting at, should i go by what the bag says or give them a little extra? winter is approaching and i would think they would need to put on a couple of pounds to stay warm. what are everybody's thoughts.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 08:23 AM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/16/2004
Location: ND

Their stomachs most likely got used to the much larger volume of the other food.  Maybe try to do 1/2 and 1/2 of the new and the old slowly decreasing the volume of food given to the dogs.  It may allow their stomachs to shrink a bit, thus not making them always feel hungry even though they may be getting the nutrition they need. 

The extra food thought isnt a bad thing in the fall/early winter IMHO.  Especially for those dogs that are hunters and more active this time of the year.

YES, I am that foolish!

Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 08:28 AM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/25/2002
Location: ND
This time of year my lab eats way more than he does usually! Burning calories out hunting takes it's toll so I up his food intake, but I don't overdo it either.
The kill is the satisfying, indeed essential, conclusion to a successful hunt. But, I take no pleasure in the act itself. One does not hunt in order to kill, but kills in order to have hunted. Then why do I hunt? I hunt for the same reason my well-fed cat hunts...because I must, because it is in the blood, because I am the decendent of a thousand generations of hunters. I hunt because I am a hunter.- Finn Aagard
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 08:38 AM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
i agree with both of you that they should be eating more. like i said, i switched almost 2 months ago. i asked the kennel where i got the food how i should go about weening them off the old stuff. he said, first day, 75% old-25% new, then 50-50, then 25% old-75% new, then all new. so, 3 days and it was "done".

i guess  i was worried about how the change would affect their bodies. i know its hard on them to go back and forth between brands. and i was worried that maybe they wouldn't eat it. thats not the case.

duke is very high strung. if i can get my video off the phone to upload i will post it. i had people ask where i got that german shorthair. they couldn't believe it was my 75lb lab.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 08:41 AM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/16/2004
Location: ND
Sounds like you had the right idea.  I probably would have made the change over a longer period of time to allow their stomachs to adjust over a few weeks vs a few days.  I agree food switches can lead to issues with dogs guts (whick often leads to new flooring etc).

YES, I am that foolish!

Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 08:44 AM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
oh, they have already helped me out with that. so here's the deal. i am out of the pedigree puppy and don't intend on buying anymore. should i just keep giving them a little more than what they are supposed to get and just wait for their stomach's to shrink? i know i could triple their "daily allowance" and they would sit there with an empty bowl and whine because they want more.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 08:56 AM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/16/2004
Location: ND
I know what you mean...  I get home from work and my dog is NUTS!!!!!!!!!  His belly is on a strict schedule and he lets you know it.  For the record he is a worthless, retarded non-hunting Lab.

YES, I am that foolish!

Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 08:58 AM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
yeah, but you have to love those dogs don't ya? mine are turning into something good, i think. they both retrieved their first ducks from the water this year. the only pheasant i have shot so far fell out of the tree and landed right at my feet. so, no pheasant retrieves yet.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 09:12 AM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/23/2009
Location: ND
Have you dewormed your dogs? I usually do mine twice a year, in the spring and fall.
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 09:13 AM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
they got heartworm pills a couple times this summer. gf takes care of all that. is there another kind i should be worried about?
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 09:15 AM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/16/2001
Location: ND
I've never rationed my dogs food.  They always have had more food than they eat and I've never had a problem with them eating too much.  They eat a little more in the fall and winter and less in the summer.  But I've always let them eat as much as they want and have never had a problem with them getting over weight or under weight.
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 09:19 AM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/29/2009
Location: SD
I got this info from a kennel on line. Kind of interesting, and I am thinking of trying it.

Over the past 9 years we have fed many brands of dog food.  We have found what we think is the best product on the market to feed our Spaniels.  Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete and Diamond Naturals Puppy food.  First I want to make it clear that we are not compensated for this endorsement and no claims, comparisons or statements made here are being made by Diamond or Iams.  We honestly believe that Diamond has the best product on the market today and we think you will agree when all the cards have been put on the table.

 

 First and foremost is the subject of fillers in dog food.  Fillers add little nutritional value and are mainly used to add mass to the dog food cheaply (corn, soy, wheat or by-products).  This means that in some cases as much as 40 - 50% of your dog food cannot be digested by your dog and thusly it is passed through as waste.  You paid for it, your dog ate it and much of it did nothing for your dog except keep him regular, that's all.  A number of people that feed dog food with huge amounts of fillers seem to notice that their dogs are always hungry...  why is this?  Well, adjust your diet so that nearly half of what you eat is of little nutritional or caloric value. Don't change the amount you consume to compensate for that fact.  You are going to be hungry most of the time as well since you didn't get enough what you needed in the first place.  Pet owners then compensate by puttng more product in the bowl...  money out the door.   

Diamond Naturals HAS NO FILLERS!  That's correct, no fillers of any kind. 

Secondly is the matter of vitamin and mineral supplements.  I know a good many owners and breeders alike that supplement their pet's diet with vitamins and mineral tablets.  I was guilty of this as well.  It pretty much means that after  you have paid for the dog food you need to go and spend, in some cases, nearly as much or more on the supplements that you add for the benefit of your dog.  Why is this?  Well, my guess is that many pet owners worry that their pet isn't getting what it needs out of the dog food that they feed.

Diamond Naturals IS NUTRITIONALLY COMPLETE!  Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acids, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Vitamin E & Selenium are in this product already.  For me this means that the very same supplements that I take a pile of every morning (for my health) are included in the food that I feed my dogs.  What's more these vitamins and minerals are chelated to insure that your pet will easily be able to digest them.  These things can't help you if you can't break down internally what the vitamin or mineral is actually contained in.  Goes in one end, comes out the other.

Now comes the best part...  Diamond is UNBELIEVABLY affordable.  I pay about $29.00 for a 40lb. bag (Diamond Extreme Athlete) and the protein/fat content is 32/25.  The colorie count in one cup of this food is 470 calories per 8 oz. cup.  Now, go and grab your current bag of dog food and see what the calorie count is.  My guess is that your food will be about 100 calories, or more, less than the Diamond Extreme Athlete.  What does that mean to you?  The higher the calorie count in the food, the less you have to feed daily. So, you are probably paying a little less, maybe the same or even a little more for what you feed but you have to feed a good bit more to get the same calorie count as Diamond.  Just over 2 oz. at every feeding to be exact (if your food is 370/cup).  

This is hypothetical and it is based on your dog food having 426 calories/cup.

            YOU  (just an example)            ME

            Iams Pro Active Health             Diamond Naturals

            587.5 calories/per day             587.5 calories per day

            11 Oz. per day                       10 oz. per day

            12.5 bags per year                  11.4 bags per year

            Cost per bag $36.88                Cost per bag $29.32             (price at Wal-Mart)                 (price at Tractor Supply)    

            $461.00 per year                     $334.25 per year

            Fillers - yes                            Fillers - no             #2 Corn Meal                                              #3 Ground Sorgum             

            Supplements - Chelated - NO    Supplements - Chelated - YES              Omega 3                                Omega 3                                        Omega 6                                Omega 6                  Vitamin E                                Vitamin E                                                                  Glucosamine                                                                             Chondroitin                                                                Selenium                                        

 

The above comparison only shows that you pay more per year ($126.75) for a lesser product (marketed as premium).  About half of the Iams is filler and so you will have more waste in the yard or kennel and you are paying more for that waste with lessor overall supplement values and or calories.  Give it a try and see for yourselves.  A pup from us comes with 6 ounces of Diamond Naturals Puppy Small Breed for you to try at home.  If you don't wish to feed what we recommend then at the very least it will help make the transition over to whatever you feed a little easier on the pup.

Sounds like a good deal!

Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 10:54 AM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
gonefshn Said:
I've never rationed my dogs food.  They always have had more food than they eat and I've never had a problem with them eating too much.  They eat a little more in the fall and winter and less in the summer.  But I've always let them eat as much as they want and have never had a problem with them getting over weight or under weight.


thats how it used to be. i would fill the bowl to the top. some days it would be gone right away. other times, it would sit that way for 2 days or until it got soggy. not with this stuff. don't know what it is. i even tried filling the bowl the other day and they wolfed it all down.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 11:02 AM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/10/2009
Location: nd
sounds to me like they are starving..haha..i have a plastic coffe cup and my gsp get 2 scoops with few dog bones in the morning and supper time. so i'm guessing about 24oz each time which would make 3 cups if i am correct that would be 6 cups for the day plus few dog treats to keep him happy.:P. Not sure the age of your dogs though...mine is about 5 years and 80 lbs and i been feeding him like this since he was a pup and his weight seems to be the same except in summer seems he thins down a bit. When it's colder out i believe they burn more energy like we do to keep warm. If they are young i would beef em up..if older and lazy i would probably portion there food if looks like they getting fat. I just feed my dog purina, i have tried more expensive before..yes it makes there coats a little better and maybe shed less but whatever...never had a problem with a brand of food that's been around for a long long time. This is my opinion and take it as u like...happy birdin
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 11:16 AM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/27/2002
Location: ND
Another thing that I do with my dog that may be helpful for your dog is a product made by Retrieve Health.  It is probiotics and digestive enzymes. You basically top off their food with this for about a week or so at a time, a couple times a year and this helps their stomach absorb and break down all the essential nutrients that they need to remain healthy and get the most out of their food.  It help with a lot of other things too.  If you think about this first thing a coyote generally eats on an animal, it is the stomach and entrails.  They do this because the stomach on wild animals holds the digestive enzymes and they eat this to help digest what they are taking in.  If a coyote ate any other parts prior to eating the stomach they would become sick.  Check out the website at www.retrievehealth.com   If you have any questions I would be happy to chat. 

"Skokie"

Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 12:37 PM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
the GF was giving them some stuff from Scheels that is supposed to help their coats shine and keep them from shedding. its like the texture of coffee grounds. they seem to like it, but the dog food we are using is supposed to have the same stuff in it, so i don't see the need to keep spending 20 dollars a tub for this stuff.

i guess i just want to make sure that the dogs are getting enough food and nutrients. but i don't want to over feed them either.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 12:42 PM | Reply #16 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 10/10/2002
Location: ND
how old are your dogs?
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 12:45 PM | Reply #17 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/29/2009
Location: ND
catmechanic Said:
gonefshn Said:
I've never rationed my dogs food.  They always have had more food than they eat and I've never had a problem with them eating too much.  They eat a little more in the fall and winter and less in the summer.  But I've always let them eat as much as they want and have never had a problem with them getting over weight or under weight.


thats how it used to be. i would fill the bowl to the top. some days it would be gone right away. other times, it would sit that way for 2 days or until it got soggy. not with this stuff. don't know what it is. i even tried filling the bowl the other day and they wolfed it all down.
Some breeds you don't have to ration their food, they will only eat as much as they need.  Other breeds you have to ration the food or they will eat like little pigs.  I don't know which breeds but I'm sure you can find out easily.
"Lifes tough pilgrim, and it's even tougher if you're stupid"  --John Wayne
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 12:55 PM | Reply #18 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
my female is just shy of a year and the male is almost 2. being as they are labs, i would think that they would eat til they couldn't move.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 1:20 PM | Reply #19 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/16/2001
Location: ND
Is the new chow a high protein chow or regular large dog maintenance chow?  I changed my dog over to a lower protein maintenance chow after he became full grown, the change was amazing.  You couldn't fill him up and the piles in the yard were almost scarey.  I never knew a dog could poop so much.  I changed him back to a high protein chow and the problem was over.
Re: dog food and a thin dog
by on 10/21/2009 1:27 PM | Reply #20 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
i am pretty sure this is high protein. thats why the recommended quantities are so low, there is plenty of nutrients in it so you shouldn't have to give them as much food. problem is, they are always hungry and the male looks too skinny.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
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Posted On: 10/21/2009 08:17 AM
931 Views, 29 Comments

Tags: dog, food, day, dogs, thin, switched, puppy, nutrisource, feeding, pedigree
More Tags: labor day, dog food, nutrisource dog food labor day weekend, less food, Human Interest Hospitality_Recreation
Region: North Dakota

Categories: Hunting > Hunting Dogs
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