turkey

[Beckysmom]

I stuffed some cooked turkey meat into my dog's kong. He happily ate it, then went into overdrive mode for about an hour, then went to sleep...soundly for hours, as if drugged by tryptophan perhaps. He was so sleepy that when I tried to wake him up I found myself holding up a snoring head. I tried shaking him a little and he opened his eyes looked at me and then went back to sleep. I suggested a walk which usually gets him highly interested even if he just had one, but nothing doing. I had some of the turkey too and there was nothing unusual about its effect on me.

This was the most extreme that he has been in acting like this, though it was milder versions of this sort of behaviour that also at one point fit into my wondering if he was deaf--which he is not.

He is awake now and back to "normal" for him.

Anyone else experience anything like this?

He has been on part Canidae part raw. I am now wondering about his Canidae since it contains turkey. He does not like Healthwise or California Natural, but may have to cope with a change to them to see if it seems better for him behaviourally.

Or does anyone know of equally high quality foods that are free of: anything sweet/sugar based like beets or mollasses, corn, wheat, soy, by-products, artifial junk etc., and also free of turkey, but that might be more palatable to him than the Natura foods?

[mmgy]

Timberwolf Organics and Nature's Variety both won high marks for palatability at my house. Wellness did not. Barking Bison did as well, although I'm not sure of its meat content. Since you're also feeding raw, I'd consider Evolve and Back to Basics.

[Rott-Wiley]

Yes, Steve's Real Food. It comes in 3 different flavors; Chicken, Beef, and Turkey. I feed it (all 3 flavors) along with Innova and a raw diet. The Steve's is a really good food but it has to be kept in the freezer.

[Beckysmom]

Steve's is local to me and I think it's great, but very unfortunately makes my guy sick to his stomach for some reason. I'll look for Timberwolf. Nature's Variety I take it is different than Nature's recipe?

[mmgy]

Yes, it's way different. www.naturesvariety.com If there isn't a retailer listed call them. Their retailer listings are a bit behind.

NV is somewhat similar to Innova, but only has one meat in the bag. It comes in chicken, lamb, or beef. My guys really think it's special, but 2 of my dogs gained weight eating it exclusively. I don't believe that would have happened had they been eating it in combination with raw.

We currently use it in combo with Canidae. It's definitely getting popular around here.

[fbkeays]

I think my dog has an allergy to turkey so I went away from both Canide and Innova. The only food I liked that didn't have turkey was Natural Balance Duck and Potato. My dog loves the stuff. They also make a cracker that I use for training treats.

[Beckysmom]

Looks like Naturalbalance is available at Petco in town, and Nature's Variety via SitStay.com so I think we'll do some taste testing and see once again what seems to agree with him in terms of taste buds and poop quality -- and if no turkey is better.

On the Nature's variety do you rotate the foods as suggested? And is there any flavor that seems to be the one your dogs like best?

[mmgy]

We haven't gotten around to trying the beef kibble yet. I think the lamb was most exciting, because it was the first time ever that I've fed a lamb-based food. The frozen is very popular with my crowd, as is the canned (95% meat, NO grain).

I'm currently expanding my inventory (this is my living), so we're trying lots of new things. So, no, I didn't follow the suggested protocol with just their products, but essentially that's what I'm doing with lots of different products right now.

[LynnS]

I am feeding the 50% natures Variety raw frozen and 50% Timberwolf organics kibble (both lamb based formulas). I have used the Natures Variety kibble as well (and may have to switch backif Timberwolf is not easier to find next time). VERY PLEASED with results....

[Beckysmom]

Originally posted by mmgy
I'm currently expanding my inventory (this is my living), so we're trying lots of new things.

If in a mail order sort of way, PM me with website or whatever.

He's off Canidae for a few days now--coping with the natura till we get some of these others. He is grumpy about it. Otherwise I haven't noticed anything, but it still isn't long enough fo it to clear system.

I think the rotation idea is interesting. Part of why I am mixing raw and commercial (beside convenience) is that I am concerned that nothing but commercial, despite testing for completeness, might miss something essential. Rotating besides being more interesting for the dogs might also help get around that problem.

The raw Nature's variety is tempting to try but he got so sick on Steves I am somewhat loathe to have that happen again. I don't know if it was a single bad batch or him or what.