Apollo's Mommy
Feisty
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| 05/17/2007 9:57 AM |
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| Izzy's Mom~ Since the food recalls I won't buy any food that has any type of wheat or corn gluten or wheat or corn products period! I also won't buy anything that has chicken by products in it. But I also will not buy any food that continues to do business with or that supports Menu Foods. Now that may be another can of worms but it's just me. |
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"You can't fix stupid." - Ron White
~ Jolene ~
Mommy to Apollo, Emma, & Indie
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 05/17/2007 10:15 AM |
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For sure - I've never asked my vet about what to feed either my horses or my dogs! My vet sells the usual Science Diet stuff but he doesn't push it. There is a BIG difference in the quality of foods and those with corn filler, etc. are not good for dogs. It will certainly keep them from starving and dog usually like them - just as kids will like junk food!
"well enough" or "good enough" is not good enough for my ratties! LOL
Table scraps - we probably all do some of that. As long as it isn't food that is bad for them (sugary, fatty or toxic) it's fine within reason. I often give mine some of the veggies I'm eating. And since mine are on the Natural Balance weight loss formula I cooked a chicken on Sunday so I could mix shreds of that in with their food during the week. |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
at www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/willow
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 05/17/2007 10:30 AM |
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That's the only thing that makes me wary of Innova/California Natural, etc. is that Menu foods does process their canned food for them... Though they are supposed to be in the process of changing that.
Thanks for responding, everyone! I think I will keep him on dry (I mix it with lean ground turkey or chicken, carrots and sweet potatoes and hot water otherwise he won't eat it) and then just rotate between maybe California Natural, Canidae (which I've heard really good things about) Natural Balance seems like a popular choice, Merrick, etc. |
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Apollo's Mommy
Feisty
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| 05/17/2007 10:33 AM |
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Posted By NellBell25 on 05/17/2007 10:30 AM
That's the only thing that makes me wary of Innova/California Natural, etc. is that Menu foods does process their canned food for them... Though they are supposed to be in the process of changing that.
Thanks for responding, everyone! I think I will keep him on dry (I mix it with lean ground turkey or chicken, carrots and sweet potatoes and hot water otherwise he won't eat it) and then just rotate between maybe California Natural, Canidae (which I've heard really good things about) Natural Balance seems like a popular choice, Merrick, etc.
Yeah, that what Apollo and Emma eat. I hope I didn't confuse you. I know how scary it is out there with all the recalled foods. |
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"You can't fix stupid." - Ron White
~ Jolene ~
Mommy to Apollo, Emma, & Indie
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Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 05/17/2007 10:38 AM |
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| Being a new dog owner and not knowing what is recalled and not is hard. I walked into petco and was amazed at all the diffent foods? I think we will try the canidae though. Looks like there are several dealers in my area. Thanks for the info! |
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my saving grace
Rattie
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| 05/17/2007 11:44 AM |
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I found this site to be the most helpful when deciding on food for Gracie. I also went by what I could get locally here and get locally when I move down to Bloomington in August.
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/ |
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Gracie my love
Manda |
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 05/17/2007 11:46 AM |
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Posted By my saving grace on 05/17/2007 11:44 AM
I found this site to be the most helpful when deciding on food for Gracie. I also went by what I could get locally here and get locally when I move down to Bloomington in August.
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/
Good website! How is Gracie doing? |
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Jenny - Max's sister
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my saving grace
Rattie
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| 05/17/2007 11:59 AM |
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Posted By JenMax on 05/17/2007 11:46 AM
Posted By my saving grace on 05/17/2007 11:44 AM
I found this site to be the most helpful when deciding on food for Gracie. I also went by what I could get locally here and get locally when I move down to Bloomington in August.
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/ Good website! How is Gracie doing?
She is good thanks for asking  She is actually at the vets right now getting spayed, it is very quiet around here lol. I can go get her tomorrow morning between 9 and 10 and I already can't wait. |
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Gracie my love
Manda |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 05/17/2007 12:04 PM |
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| That IS a good website, thanks! |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
at www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/willow
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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spence9118
Terrier Terror
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| 05/17/2007 12:38 PM |
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| Does any one know of a website where you can find stores in your area that sell Canidae? I cant find anything like that. Or mabey I will get Kayla some of the low-cal Natural Balance. She is getting kind of chunky! |
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Erica- Charlie and Tucker's Mommy
www.myspace.com/ricka9118
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 05/17/2007 12:42 PM |
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Posted By spence9118 on 05/17/2007 12:38 PM
Does any one know of a website where you can find stores in your area that sell Canidae? I cant find anything like that. Or mabey I will get Kayla some of the low-cal Natural Balance. She is getting kind of chunky!
canidae.com They have a store locator  |
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Jenny - Max's sister
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Caesar & Julia's mom
Alpha Feist
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| 05/17/2007 12:45 PM |
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Posted By DaisysMom on 05/17/2007 9:43 AM
No offense to anyone's vet - really! But I think vet's often recommend certain pet foods because of "incentives" from company's to do so, and not because they are better or even as good as other brands. JMO!
I'm curious what he meant by "will work as well as" - I mean any brand of dog food technically will keep a dog from starving, but that certainly doesn't mean that quality isn't or shouldn't be a factor.
Ratties are know for their thinner coats, and are often predisposed to skin itchiness/dryness and sometimes allergies to the cheap "fillers" like corn and by-products used in certain dog foods.
Yeah, I don't know either...I didn't feed it to my ratties  . They seem to love the Nutro and haven't had any problems with it. And I don't like to give my dogs corn and Purina Pro Plan has CORN in it. Probably just trying to "push" the other brand of dog food. It's a mess out there with all the different kinds of food and recalls. |
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Diane~ loved by Caesar and Julia
"Don't count the days, make the days count..."
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 05/17/2007 12:54 PM |
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| Erica - if you can't find a store with Canidae in your area and you go with the Natural Balance Premium weight control it should help with keeping her weight down (it does with mine) but they don't get as much protein. That's why I add the chicken to their diet and also the usual eggs on the weekend. |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
at www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/willow
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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spence9118
Terrier Terror
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| 05/17/2007 12:54 PM |
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| I guess Im lucky! My vet looked at me like I was crazy when I told her we were feeding Charlie Iams at his first vet appointment! She reccomended Nutro even though they sell SCience Diet there. |
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Erica- Charlie and Tucker's Mommy
www.myspace.com/ricka9118
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spence9118
Terrier Terror
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| 05/17/2007 12:59 PM |
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| Woohoo! I found a few places near by that sell Canidae! I wish I would have done this before I bought a bag of NAtural Balance! Oh well I will just have to switch them after this bag is gone! |
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Erica- Charlie and Tucker's Mommy
www.myspace.com/ricka9118
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 05/17/2007 1:03 PM |
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Posted By Mitzy's Mom on 05/17/2007 12:54 PM
Erica - if you can't find a store with Canidae in your area and you go with the Natural Balance Premium weight control it should help with keeping her weight down (it does with mine) but they don't get as much protein. That's why I add the chicken to their diet and also the usual eggs on the weekend.
The problem that we are having is alot of them are higher in protein and higher in fat.
Max probably needs the protein (even if he is older) but the fat isn't good for his liver.
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Jenny - Max's sister
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 05/17/2007 1:08 PM |
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| Jenny,would the raw stuff (that Nora gets) be lower in fat? I don't know, never fed raw... |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
at www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/willow
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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Ski
Ratastic
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| 05/17/2007 1:10 PM |
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Posted By spence9118 on 05/17/2007 12:38 PM
Does any one know of a website where you can find stores in your area that sell Canidae? I cant find anything like that. Or mabey I will get Kayla some of the low-cal Natural Balance. She is getting kind of chunky!
If you want a weight control food, you might look into Innova EVO reduced fat. It has no grains so it's very low in carbs. The fat is "reduced" to 15%, which is about what regular food has, but the protein level is 52%. Lucky went from 28 to 22 pounds when I started him on it and he feels alot more solid.(he carried most of his fat on his neck, shoulders and back) Of course I also upped his walking from 2 1/2 to 5 miles a day. Just make sure not to overfeed, which is a common mistake. Lucky got a quarter cup, mixed with no-salt-added green beans twice a day along with a couple of small spoonfuls of canned food. |
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 05/17/2007 1:10 PM |
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| That's the same as with Yogi, he needs protein but not the fat as he's actually a little overweight... That's why we chose California Natural, I was looking at EVO but it was like 22% fat! California Natural is 11% and 21% protein if I remember correctly... I will have to check out Canidae and see, too. |
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 05/17/2007 1:12 PM |
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Posted By Mitzy's Mom on 05/17/2007 1:08 PM
Jenny,would the raw stuff (that Nora gets) be lower in fat? I don't know, never fed raw...
Yes it is . We got him some of that , canned too but we want to give him some dry for his teeth . He always got dry in the past. |
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Jenny - Max's sister
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 05/17/2007 1:23 PM |
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Well I have never fed raw (have a bag of premade in the freezer) but all the raw food enthusiasts are always saying how great their dogs teeth are, better then those on dry and much better than canned. Not sure if this is true, I think someone here stated they feed raw, maybe they could add some insight teeth-wise?
I just haven't got up the nerve, there's still people saying that they can get e-coli and such or salmonella and I've heard those stories... The main thing that's stopped me though, is that someone warned me they may vomit at first and then eat their vomit, and that just worries me... |
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Ski
Ratastic
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| 05/17/2007 1:37 PM |
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Posted By JenMax on 05/17/2007 1:12 PM Posted By Mitzy's Mom on 05/17/2007 1:08 PM
Jenny,would the raw stuff (that Nora gets) be lower in fat? I don't know, never fed raw... Yes it is . We got him some of that , canned too but we want to give him some dry for his teeth . He always got dry in the past.
You have to calculate the fat content of canned and moist food on a dry matter basis to compare it to dry food. On that basis, the Nature's Variety premade raw beef is 40.6% protein and 25% fat. The chicken/turkey also is 40.6% protein but 18.75% fat. That's why I chose the reduced fat EVO, since Lucky is not real active I preferrred the 15% fat but I liked the 52% protein. |
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 05/17/2007 1:45 PM |
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I am totally confused now. Ski ( I am going to send you a pm).
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Jenny - Max's sister
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Ski
Ratastic
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| 05/17/2007 2:03 PM |
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Posted By NellBell25 on 05/17/2007 1:23 PM
Well I have never fed raw (have a bag of premade in the freezer) but all the raw food enthusiasts are always saying how great their dogs teeth are, better then those on dry and much better than canned. Not sure if this is true, I think someone here stated they feed raw, maybe they could add some insight teeth-wise?
I just haven't got up the nerve, there's still people saying that they can get e-coli and such or salmonella and I've heard those stories... The main thing that's stopped me though, is that someone warned me they may vomit at first and then eat their vomit, and that just worries me...
A dogs digestive tract is shorter than a humans so they're less susceptible to salmonella, etc. You've probably seen dogs eat some nasty stuff with no ill effects. It's a myth that dry foods clean their teeth, just try to clean your teeth by eating cereal. I think there are enzymes in raw meat that help clean teeth, plus the gnawing on raw bones. I give my two boys raw soup bones from the meat department at the grocery store. I had to search several stores, but found the bones at a Kroger. I can get two big pieces for about a dollar. They usually last a few days if I take them away from them after a few hours. Too much at one time and they get constipated. I did notice cleaner teeth when I first started feeding canned tripe. If you're going to feed raw it might help to give them tripe too, at least at first, as it contains digestive enzymes that help aid digestion. Also, gradually get them used to raw so it's not such a shock to their system. I'd rather have them eat their own puke than clean it up.  |
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 05/17/2007 2:11 PM |
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Thanks SKi you've been a big help, maybe I will give it a go with the tripe as suggested...
I guess I'm applying human logic too much, that if something makes you puke you shouldn't eat/drink it! |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 05/17/2007 2:22 PM |
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Well, I dont' feed raw because I don't want to deal with raw meat (even if dogs can't get the e-coli, salmonella humans still can from the food bowls, etc.) plus adding extra things to make sure they get all the vitamins, etc. they need. Those that are willing to do all that - great - I just don't want to.
As for teeth - no, of course dry food doesn't "clean" teeth...how could it? It just sticks less to teeth than moist or wet so shorter time of potential decay, that's all. And I used to get my dogs marrow bones for their teeth...they love to gnaw on them but they never cleaned their back teeth much.
Also, another thought, wet food can make the stool so consistently soft that dogs are more likely to need their anal glands expressed....as the stool is not firm enough to do that as it passes out. (Sorry for the grossness!) |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
at www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/willow
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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Ski
Ratastic
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| 05/17/2007 3:39 PM |
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Posted By Mitzy's Mom on 05/17/2007 2:22 PM
Well, I dont' feed raw because I don't want to deal with raw meat (even if dogs can't get the e-coli, salmonella humans still can from the food bowls, etc.) plus adding extra things to make sure they get all the vitamins, etc. they need. Those that are willing to do all that - great - I just don't want to.
As for teeth - no, of course dry food doesn't "clean" teeth...how could it? It just sticks less to teeth than moist or wet so shorter time of potential decay, that's all. And I used to get my dogs marrow bones for their teeth...they love to gnaw on them but they never cleaned their back teeth much.
Also, another thought, wet food can make the stool so consistently soft that dogs are more likely to need their anal glands expressed....as the stool is not firm enough to do that as it passes out. (Sorry for the grossness!)
I feel the exact same way about feeding raw.
I think the raw bones clean the back teeth somewhat because they do grind the bones down and eat them but I've never really checked. My two guys aren't real keen on chew toys so it feels good to give them something they enjoy so much. The fact that they are cheap feels good too.
I guess I always felt the same way about canned food but it has the same amount, or more, of fiber than dry food so it shouldn't affect the stools. I read that stools are soft because people feed too much and that is usually the problem with canned food.
I think this is the one place where you don't have to apologize for talking about poop. |
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Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 05/17/2007 3:42 PM |
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| I haven't feed Izzy any soft food yet but am being told it would be a good idea to help her put some weight on since she is so skinny. But I am worried about how it would affect her poop!! |
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 05/17/2007 3:50 PM |
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Max is still getting mostly dry, little canned wet with his milk thistle twice a day (powder for his liver), and has 1oz raw for lunch
He eats 3 times per day again for his liver so it is hard to figure things out. We don't want to be giving him more than he was getting . |
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Jenny - Max's sister
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Ski
Ratastic
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| 05/17/2007 4:01 PM |
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| Just increase her dry food to put weight on her. Or add a little canned to her dry. Calories are calories whether they come from dry or canned food. I think people tend to overfeed canned food and then when their dog gains weight, blame the food. Loose stools come from overfeeding too. |
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