How to change over food?

[Rottierule]

Was just wondering if there was any special way I need to change over I'm feeding Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy switching to Caindae since its higher in Cal etc wasnt sure if I could get away with doing it red way without over doing it Thanks!


John

[Rottierule]

bump

[RottnByrd]

I feed Flint River Ranch which Dakota has done better on than Canidae. It is shipped to my house (free). Look it up on the net, just as good quality as Canidae and you dont have to leave your house to get it! It isnt sold in any stores because it is shipped fresh directly from the warehouse so that it is never sitting on a store shelf.

[Wookie'sMom]

I think that the answer you are looking for is something along the lines of:

You should look at both of the bags and see how much of each is listed for your dog's age/weight and using the ratio slowly start mixing the new food in with the old till you are just feeding the new food.

Example:
We are switching Wookie from Nutro Large Breed Puppy to Canidae. She would get around 5 1/2 cups of Nutro or 3-4 cups of Canidae. So we started out giving her something like 2 cups of Nutro and 1/2 cup Canidae twice a day (I think my math is off, but it's too early in the morning to care). From there you would just keep increasing the Canidae and decreasing the Nutro. Just make the change gradual.

[sophie's-mom]

John, I don't think the calcium content should make a difference, but I'm not an expert.

I have never had to mix foods to ease my dogs into changing, maybe we were just lucky.

WMs feeding schedule is good if you want to do the gradual change.......otherwise, just switch.

[Rottierule]

Well right now he is getting about a cup and a half 3 times a day of the nutro just wasn't sure since cainde was higher in calories etc didn't wanna over do it

[sophie's-mom]

AH!!!! CALORIES......I thought you meant CALCIUM.....by Cal!

:D

Just follow the feeding guide on the bag, I think that will be your best bet.

:)

[Rott-Wiley]

Originally posted by sophies-mom
AH!!!! CALORIES......I thought you meant CALCIUM.....by Cal!

:D

Just follow the feeding guide on the bag, I think that will be your best bet.

:)

Yeah, I was confused on that one also. . . .

Some people, when switching foods, just stop feeding one and start feeding the next and see no problems at all. Give it a try if you want and see how things go.

[mmgy]

How many cups are you feeding now? Compare that to what's on the bag as a guideline, and average the two. That should be appropriate till you get switched over. Which, by the way, shouldn't take more than a week or so.

This sounds close to what Wookie's Mom is doing. Once you get him switched, adjust according to how he looks.

[RottnByrd]

I just realized how off topic I was!!! I swear when I put that response in I was responding to a different question!!!! I'm sorry guys!! Losing my mind....:D

[Rottierule]

Well finally got the CANIDAE and on there site it says

10-25 lbs.
1 1/2-2 Cups
170 - 225 Grams


Now my question is do I feed him 2 cups 3Xs a day or 2/3 3xs a day to = 2 cups?

[Rottierule]

oops make that

25-50 lbs.
2-4 Cups
225-450 Grams


I am guessin since there supposed to eat less should be a 1 1/2 3xs a day right?

[Carina43]

That sounds about right...but there is so much variablity in how a dog metabolises food, you really need to just monitor your pup as you go. Tjose guidelines on dog food bags are only a rough guide.

Back when I was feeding Canidae, my last 115lb Rottie (he was rather elderly at the time) was getting 2-3 cups per day split into two feedings. If he got leftovers or anything, I cut back his kibble to compensate. I can't remember the recommended amount of Canidae, but as I recall he got way less than recommended.