California Natural Herring and Sweet Potato?

[Bucky's Mom]

Went looking up different Premium Foods now that Canidae is changed - came across this:

"California Natural Herring & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food

California Natural Herring & Sweet Potato Formula dog food has been formulated based on our time-honored pure & simple philosophy: less is more! What makes California Natural products so special is not only what we put into the formula, it's also what we leave out that can make the difference to your special dog.

Rather, our singular attention to unique ingredient selection assures a simple and uncomplicated formula for your special dog. Our customers continue to request that we make diets using alternative protein sources. California Natural Herring & Sweet Potato Formula provides another pure & simple choice.

Important Information:
Herring and Herring Meal are used as the only animal protein source in California Natural. Herring is highly digestible and an excellent source of Omega 3 essential fatty acids.

Sweet potato is not only a source of energy; it supplies important nutrients and is a natural source of dietary fiber. Wholesome barley and oatmeal are also efficient sources of energy that help support exercise, endurance and a healthy skin and coat. The California Natural Herring & Sweet Potato Formula contains no rice.

Fatty acid content and balance are critical factors in achieving optimum skin & coat condition. As such, California Natural Herring & Sweet Potato Formula uses a precise balance of herring oil and sunflower oil to deliver optimum ratios of linoleic and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Ingredients:
Herring, Barley, Oatmeal, Herring Meal, Herring Oil, Sunflower Oil, Sweet Potatos, Natural Flavors, Dicalcium Phospate, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins/Minerals, Potassium Chloride, Rosemary Extract

Guaranteed Analysis %:
Protein 21
Fat 11
Moisture 10
Fiber 4

Calories 3474 Kcal/Kg
Calories 419 KCals/Cup"

Anyone have any experience with this?

Edited to add I see it caused some problems:
http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/nut...red-coats.html

[hokisteph5]

I fed it about 2 months ago. My two ate it, but they'll eat anything. I didn't like how their stools were on it.

I tried it because we had some rain here in mid May and Samson started licking his front paw raw. I took him to the vet to verify it was a possibly allergy to the grass/damp weather. At the time he was eating Evo which he's had before and I was fairly certain it wasn't a food allergy.

After the bag of California Natural was done I bought a bag of Healthwise's Chicken & Oatmeal. They're now eating regular Innova, but when this small bag's done I think I'm switching back to Healthwise. They do well on it and the price is pretty cheap ($32.95 for a 40 lb bag).

[MarleysMama]

LOL, I got a kick out of the link you provided...Marley was switched from Canidae to this particular Ca Nat and just yesterday I was outside with him and pointed out the red! LOL

Now I know what it is! I have noticed quite a few members use this in their rotation

[Cdn1050]

Earlier this year, my dog ran a fever and had really bad diarrhea. The vet on top of meds tried to talk me into feeding her Medical for firmer stools. I told her that my dog most likely wouldn't eat it, but if I could get my money back for the cans she did not eat, I would consider it. Neyla wouldn't even touch half the can I gave her. I got my money back and went out and bought Cal Nat Herring and Sweet Potato, and got firmer stools and she loved it. Every so many months, I rotate between the Cal Nat protein formulas (herring, chicken, and lamb).

[brunie's mom]

I like all of the California Natural foods....and if I had a dog that needed to eat a simple food it would be at the top of my list. My dogs can eat anything...have stomachs of steel.

I did have a long term boarding dog that had been eating canned I/D diet for years (very expensive and the cans are pain) and I changed the dog onto CN kibble. He did great on all 3 flavors. The owner did say that when he eats the Herring & Sweet Potato he starts smelling fishy. I did not notice that when I fed him that...but she did.

Gina

[Ayoka]

I have given it to Bear but it didn't seem to agree with his tummy, mind you it was a small sample bag and I didn't give it a good week-long try but I wasn't up to cleaning up poop with a hose for much longer.

That being said, I love the cal natural products (for dogs AND cats) and use the chicken and lamb in our food rotation.

[frontierrots]

This food is the ONLY food my sister's Golden can eat that does not give him ear infections. Before I got her to try this she fed different foods and spent several hundred a year on meds and treatments!

She ran out of this food a month ago and got the cal nat chick and ear infections again, back on the fish and he's fine. She did try some other brand (don't know what) of a fish based food (my guess is wellness) and he still got ear infections. Go figure, hopefully this food will be around his entire life!

[fbkeays]

I tried it for about 3 weeks a few months ago, but my dogs' stool wasn't very firm on it. I generally don't do gradual switch overs, but did for this switchover and it didn't help. Even with the switch over and then three solid weeks of the food, and nothing but slumpy stools, I went back to what I was feeding before, which was Orijen Fish.

[Katoman]

My rottie has been on Cal Natural Herring and Sweet Potato for about 1.5 years now. It is the ONLY food he has done well on because he has many food allergies. His stools are firm and his skin is no longer itchy and irritated. It has been a life saver for us!