Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
 |
| 05/12/2007 5:54 AM |
|
Ok, there's a place down by the beach that sells Canidae (my second choice after Natural Balance) for food. I'm switching them from Nutro just in case the sell-out to Mars changes their ingredients. I've got a bag of Natural Balance Ultra Weight Control ordered so I'll be using that up first but I have a question for any who feed Canidae (or Ski!!).
I almost bought a bag of it but most of the choices had this list of (what sounds like) bacterium added?? Lactobacillus, etc. What do these do and why are they in there? did your dogs have changes in bowl habit after switching to Canidae? Is everything all-good with your dogs with this food? Is anyone feeding any other Canidae than the puppy variety? It looks like mostly meat in it - do you supplement a lot with veggies?
My NB is a 30 lb. bag but I'm thinking ahead. Problem is I've got 3 dogs (the ratties) who gain weight easily BUT 2 dogs (Mitzy, Loco) who will puke bile if they don't get fed a small amount in the morning...so I can't just cut the amount I feed....which is why I'm trying the weight control variety. But of course I have a whippet who is thin no matter what so I don't know what weight control food is going to do to her!
I need to hire a freakin' dog nutrionist! |
|
Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
Check out our ratties at www.newrattitude.org |
|
|
Mia and Zinnia
Ratastic
|
| 05/12/2007 8:44 AM |
|
MB,
I had been giving Zinnia a couple tablespoons of Nutro canned food with her kibble. I decided to change canned food because some varieties of Nutro canned food were in the recall. I bought Canidae canned food for Zinnia, and she loves it! When I opened the can, the food actually smelled good, just like people food! It was lamb and rice, and I could see the grains of rice in it!
But that's neither here nor there, as it does not answer any of your questions.  
Lactobacillus is a bacterium. It is the bug that turns milk into yoghurt. I wouldn't worry about it. It's probably a good thing.
That's all I know about that......
Mia |
|
|
|
|
swatson6
Attention Starved
|
| 05/12/2007 9:47 AM |
|
Yes, Mia is right about the bacteria....the are all good gut bacteria that help with a healthy digestive system . Jack did have a little runny stool the first day h e switched. I tried to switch him slow, but he picked all the canidae out!! He LOVES it, tolerates it well, and eats very little of it compared to the old food. There is no puppy variety if Canidae, it is called "all life stages" and besides senior, is good for all ages. I don't know about weight control.......can you just cutt the amount of food they eat each time down so they still get the same total amount all day? As far as having extra meat, it is a very well balanced total food with no supplements needed, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt if you wanted to! Good Luck MB!! |
|
Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
|
|
|
Ski
Ratastic
|
| 05/12/2007 11:03 AM |
|
| The lactobacillus,etc are probiotics that are added to the food, as you've been told. Canidae All Life Stages is fine for just that, puppies to seniors. I think they also make a Platinum variety for older dogs because people think they need to feed their older dog a special food. I disagree, older dogs still need protein and fat, which are reduced in the senior formula food. It also gives companies products more visibility on the shelves.
When feeding the weight control formula, I'd supplement with bits of meat or eggs for more protein and perhaps squirt a fish oil cap or two into the food for the omega 3 fatty acids. Actually, I supplement with fish oil twice a day. |
|
|
|
|
Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
|
| 05/12/2007 2:17 PM |
|
Thanks guys! Yes, I do add extra meat and eggs because of the weight control food having less protein. And I thought the lactobacillis, etc. were harmless but just wanted to check.
Sarah - I wouldn't add meat to the Canidae because it sounds like it is mostly meat. I was thinking of adding more veggies, beans, etc. to their diet because the Canidae is so "meaty".
I'll see how the NB weight control goes and decide on switching after that. Canidae does sound like a very good food. |
|
Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
Check out our ratties at www.newrattitude.org |
|
|
Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
|
| 05/12/2007 2:19 PM |
|
Ah ha! Brainstorm! I can feed the Canidae dry at night and then give Mitzy and Loco a tiny bit of the canned Canidae in the mornings because they will eat that right away! (They like to pick at the dry food all day.) |
|
Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
Check out our ratties at www.newrattitude.org |
|
|
JRT_Rattie_Mom
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
|
| 05/13/2007 5:46 AM |
|
| MB ~ I feed Canidae (all life stages) kibble most of the time and my dogs have done really well on it. I've switched foster dogs to it "cold turkey" because the foods they were on were not quality food, so didn't want to give it to them anymore, even mixed, and they did great with the cold turkey switch.. with no diarrhea/stomach upsets I do alternate every 3 or 5 bags with other kibble.... any of the "top quality" brands. We now have a new local pet store that sells Orijen http://www.championpetfoods.com/orijen/about/ so I'm going to try this the next time I alternate. |
|
Karen G.
Lucy (JRT) & Holly (Rat Terrier)
Blind Dog Resources & Adoptions
|
|
|
Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
|
| 05/13/2007 6:24 AM |
|
| I may alternate between Natural Balance and Canidae. I really like the NB, too...but the Canidae sounds good and I've heard good reports from all the ones on here who feed it. |
|
Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
Check out our ratties at www.newrattitude.org |
|
|
Izzy's mom
Ratastic
|
| 05/22/2007 9:30 AM |
|
| I just switched Izzy over to canidae and she likes it and eats it well. I did notice her poo was runnier then normal. But that only lasted for about 1 day. Each day got better. But i can tell a huge difference in her coat and how soft she is now! |
|
|
|
|
swatson6
Attention Starved
|
| 05/22/2007 9:36 AM |
|
Posted By Izzy's mom on 05/22/2007 9:30 AM
I just switched Izzy over to canidae and she likes it and eats it well. I did notice her poo was runnier then normal. But that only lasted for about 1 day. Each day got better. But i can tell a huge difference in her coat and how soft she is now!
Jack did the same exact this with his stools for a day or so when I switched him. I think it may just be their bodies adjusting. But there was a big difference with his coat and breath too!
|
|
Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
|
|
|
Apollo's Mommy
Feisty
|
| 05/22/2007 9:39 AM |
|
When I was feeding Apollo the Nutro I would have to soak it for a little while to get him to eat it because he was used to the mixture of dry food and canned food. Then the recalls came out and I took him off the canned food and he wouldn't eat just the dry Nutro. And then the whole can of worms about what companies supported Menu and would stick by them and all that. So I decided that it was best to switch his food all together. I chose Canidae because it had no wheat or corn at all. Well, from the first time I gave it to him he's eaten it dry. Only a few times did I have to soak it. But now he and Emma both love it. Here where I live a 5 lbs bag is also cheaper than the 5 lbs bag of Nutro... not that cost matters especially now with two dogs. But I feel like I'm getting more for my money especially since I'm now buying for two doggies!
In Tennesee Shannon had mixed some of Apollo's Canidae with Mario's Nutro and she said that he picked out all the Canidae. I think she's also began to feed Mario Canidae. |
|
"You can't fix stupid." - Ron White
~ Jolene ~
Mommy to Apollo, Emma, & Indie
|
|
|
Izzy's mom
Ratastic
|
| 05/22/2007 9:44 AM |
|
| I'm also noticing with with the Canidae that Izzy is eating less then she did with the purina! So that saves money too! Izzy was also very very skinny when she was found. Boy in the three weeks we have had her alone what a difference. Not sure how much she has gained but you can no longer see her ribs as before. She is much healthier now! |
|
|
|
|
Ski
Ratastic
|
| 05/22/2007 2:20 PM |
|
Posted By swatson6 on 05/22/2007 9:36 AM
Posted By Izzy's mom on 05/22/2007 9:30 AM
I just switched Izzy over to canidae and she likes it and eats it well. I did notice her poo was runnier then normal. But that only lasted for about 1 day. Each day got better. But i can tell a huge difference in her coat and how soft she is now!
Jack did the same exact this with his stools for a day or so when I switched him. I think it may just be their bodies adjusting. But there was a big difference with his coat and breath too!
You are correct, the stools can be loose while they adjust. If it continues, that's an indication that you're feeding too much.
|
|
|
|
|
Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
|
| 05/22/2007 2:56 PM |
|
Oh! So mine are probably pooping more on NB because I'm feeding too much?
See, it's weight control food so I've been feeding more 'cause I feel bad for them.....yep I have allowed them to con me! LOL! |
|
Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
Check out our ratties at www.newrattitude.org |
|
|