Switching Food-do i need to add bulk??

[Boutros]

Hello All,

Our new rescue girl Libby is settling in nicely. At her foster's she was on Pedigree adult small bites. I had started out trying to switch her over to Nutro Large breed. But for less money was able to get "Natural Balance". Which from my reading is supposed to be a whole-dog journal top ten food. So we are now in the process of switching over to this food.

According to her fosters they were giving her a "gallon" scoop of the pedigree. Surely that couldn't be right. Because although she is a good sized girl at 93 lbs, the vet said she was not overweight and looked good. Anyway, i was unsure of the "Gallon" serving size so i started out giving her 6 cups: 3 x 2daily. the natural balance suggests a feeding portion of 3.5 to 4 cups. Well she already seems hungry and ready to snatch any crumb that falls after dropping to the 5.5 to 6 cups of pedigree. Now we need to drop at least 1.5 to 2 more cups, down to 3.5 to 4 cup serving???

I am not sure how to do this without her being hungry all the time. I had searched and found some posts suggesting adding bulk to the food w/ items such as carrots and apples. So what should i do. Let her start out hungry and get used to it over time? Add fruits and vege's or what? i would greatly appreciate your incite into this matter.

Thanks so much,
Boutros

[spidey]

Remember that the suggested feeding amounts are just that: suggestions. They're usually on the high side, but every dog is different, some have low metabolisms and need less than suggested, some have high metabolisms and need more food to maintain weight (sounds like your girl may be one of these). You don't say how long you've been feeding her the Natural Balance, but if it's been a few weeks and she's maintaining a healthy weight (and not gaining) on the higher amount, why feed her less? I'd make sure that she actually needed to go to a lower amount of food before I worried about adding bulk to the diet, but carrots are a good bulky, low cal item to feed (there are loads of threads about which veggies to feed in the nutrition forum). Enjoy your dog, and good for you for rescuing her! :)

[Boutros]

Hi Spidey,

We are still in the changeover process. She is eating about2/3 pedigree and 1/3 Natural Balance. She should be fully switched over next week. So her current intake is about 5.25 cups a day and she seems really hungry. Although she is maintaining weight. My concern is that i don't want her to blimp up on the new food.:)

Thanks,
Jon

[qhawkins]

It has been my experience that dogs feel full when they have had enough calories not bulk. Thor ate ~5 cups of Science Diet (I didn't know any better) and was content with that. But on the 1-2 occasions that we were stuck feeding grocery store food, he would eat half of a 5 lb bag of Dog Chow and still not be satisfied. Idun went from 3 cups of Iams to 2 cups of Innova without the least complaint, she still occasionally skips a meal and never seems to feel like she's starving. I would not worry about adding bulk unless she really seems to need it to feel full.

[mmgy]

Do just one thing at a time. You're doing two---changing foods and cutting back. I'd stick with your original estimate of six cups for a couple of weeks, or at least until she's switched over. She's still eating mostly filler food, but yet you've already cut her down, that's why she's hungry. Also, consider the stress of new living arrangements...food may be of some comfort to her.

By the way, my vet says when you're adjusting food amounts, change in 1/4 cup increments every two weeks.

M2

[Carina43]

Originally posted by mmgy
Do just one thing at a time. You're doing two---changing foods and cutting back. I'd stick with your original estimate of six cups for a couple of weeks, or at least until she's switched over. She's still eating mostly filler food, but yet you've already cut her down, that's why she's hungry. Also, consider the stress of new living arrangements...food may be of some comfort to her.

By the way, my vet says when you're adjusting food amounts, change in 1/4 cup increments every two weeks.

M2

I agree with this...also, some dogs ALWAYS seem hungry, no matter how much they eat! I have a small female who was absolutely emaciated when we got her...I believe she would eat herself into a coma if I let her! I feed her enough to maintain her weight nicely, and ignore the pleading eyes...

If Libby were mine, I'd monitor her weight and overall condition for a while to settle at what seems to be a healthy weight + feeding schedule....and like Spidey says, the RAs are just suggestions. My 70lb Daphne eats more than my 110lb Cooper, because they have quite different metabolic rates and hyperness levels.

If it helps, I know someone with a show Mal...she feeds him green beans as lo-cal filler foods to keep him both feeling satisfied and at peak condition. She says this is not an uncommon practice amongst other people who show dogs.

[brunie's mom]

I have had about 12 fosters in the last 18 months and have never had a chance to change their food slowly. Most Rottweilers have very strong stomachs and I have had no problems changing them onto a new and better food.
If the dog is on crappy food, change the food right away, there is no need to do is slowly..... this should only be done for dogs with very sensitive stomachs.

If you want to add bulk to a dogs diet if you think he is still hungry give the dog some steamed or canned grean beans, carrots, or canned pumkin.

The better the quality of the dog food ... the less that needs to be fed... and the less that comes out the other end.:D

Gina