gracegirl Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I have been feeding Fenway Nutro Venision and Brown Rice for about 4 years now. I always had a hard time finding a food that would work for both Grace and Fen, this one was magic. There have been several times before that I have tried to switch and the results were "squishy". I'd ideally love to have him on the same food as Jackson, which is currently Blue Buffalo Lamb. Is it a good idea to switch up foods (proteins) every few years? Or should I just stick with what's working and be happy I have good poops? Quote Poppy the lurcher 11/24/23 Gabby the Airedale 7/1/18 Forever missing Grace (RT's Grace), Fenway (not registered, def a greyhound), Jackson (airedale terrier, honorary greyhound), and Tessie (PK's Cat Island) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I wouldn't switch if the dog is doing well. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 ditto, if they are doing well- why fix something if it ain't broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Giselle Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 The more we as a scientific community learn about the gut microbiome, the more I'm convinced that omnivorous creatures (humans, especially) need to eat a diverse and variable diet to support a diverse microbiome. For example, several high profile studies have tied low gut microbiome diversity with chronic diseases and metabolic dysfunction. It's more complicated than that, of course, but it's an important concept. Now, whether or not this translates directly to domestic dogs... I'm not so sure. I do, however, understand that dogs are omnivorous creatures and have developed a remarkable ability to digest and obtain nutrients from a wide range of foodstuffs. So, my intuitive inclination is to believe that dogs, like people, will benefit from a diverse and frequently changing diet to best support health. IF your dog can tolerate it, I think there is certainly a benefit to periodically changing foods, whether it be changing formulas or brands or whatever. I also think it's best to include frequent fresh add-ins, like fresh meat, eggs, fish, and the like. That said, dogs who struggle to produce normal firm poops may not benefit from frequent switching of foods... Or maybe they will? Maybe they would do well with a varied fresh-ingredients based diet (i.e. homecooked)? Who knows. This is a seriously under-studied arena of animal health, and it is unfortunately funded mostly by big companies whose goals are to produce one-formula-bags of kibble so their philosophy is fundamentally different. But my opinion is that dogs would probably benefit from a varied and diverse diet. I rotate my dog's food. We change between several different brands and several different formulas. Her poops stay pretty consistent throughout it all, so I figure this works for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracegirl Posted October 14, 2013 Author Share Posted October 14, 2013 Thanks Giselle. I had "heard somewhere" you should switch up their protein source, but of course wasn't sure where it came from or if it is true. It's been so long since I tried switching things up that I can't recall how the output was last time. I know that was before Grace passed, so I can't remember if it was her or Fen that made me decide to stick with the "purple bag". Quote Poppy the lurcher 11/24/23 Gabby the Airedale 7/1/18 Forever missing Grace (RT's Grace), Fenway (not registered, def a greyhound), Jackson (airedale terrier, honorary greyhound), and Tessie (PK's Cat Island) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobesmom Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 I do switch kibbles. I just can't fathom that anyone has patented the "perfect" blend - so I switch every few months between a few trusted brands, with a different main protein. I also supplement with the occasional raw, occasional sardines, occasional Jack-Mack, occasional leftovers - etc. I just try to switch it up to "hopefully" cover all the nutritional bases - without getting rocket-scientist about it. That said - I've never had a grey with digestive issues - so that's not something I know much about first-hand. I've read a lot of posts from people who couldn't do what I do - because they're dog's tummy would be a wreck. I also know - a lot of greys could eat roadkill or flat tires and never have an issue. I guess I just get the rot-gut ones! LOL! My greys also have a fenced yard for "out's" so I'm probably not as cognizant of every little shift in poo quality as someone that picks it up on a walk. I WILL tell you that when I picked a BAD food - one that didn't agree - I KNEW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 If you wanted to foster diversity in gut bacteria, changing the protein source among different meats probably wouldn't buy you much. What you'd want to change would be the types of carbohydrates and fibers you gave. Note, though, that diversity isn't necessarily a more wonderful thing than what you have. AFAIK we don't know what the ideal dog gut looks like, assuming there is such a thing. Feeding something different now and then won't do much, if anything, for the bacterial communities in the gut. If your dog is doing well -- healthy, hearty, no ongoing digestive distress -- that would be a sign that his/her gut bacteria is doing just fine, and there would be no reason to change. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KennelMom Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sirsmom Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 I would keep feeding nutro venison dry and maybe change protein source in canned foods or human food as a mix in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracegirl Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 Thanks guys. The Airedale is currently eating Blue Buffalo lamb and brown rice. Apparently it's more delicious than venison since Fenway's refusing his food, but will eat it with a little Blue Buffalo added in. So I guess were changing it up slightly due to pickiness. I know some people won't give in to pickiness, but if Fenway doesn't eat every meal his tummy gets gurgly and we'll often have big D as a result. Quote Poppy the lurcher 11/24/23 Gabby the Airedale 7/1/18 Forever missing Grace (RT's Grace), Fenway (not registered, def a greyhound), Jackson (airedale terrier, honorary greyhound), and Tessie (PK's Cat Island) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 For what it's worth, George has a cast iron gut, and Blue Buffalo gave him the runs!!! I'm glad your Airedale is doing well on it, but I wouldn't switch Fenny if you have no other reason to. Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracegirl Posted November 3, 2013 Author Share Posted November 3, 2013 Fen has been refusing his food lately. I grabbed a small bad oh Iams healthy something-or-other lamb today (not the green bag). I'm going to slowly add it in, very slowly, to see if it encourages better eating. Maybe if this woks for Fen we can switch Jackson to the same thing. Why can't it be easier? These sensitive tummy greys sure give their momma's extra worry! Quote Poppy the lurcher 11/24/23 Gabby the Airedale 7/1/18 Forever missing Grace (RT's Grace), Fenway (not registered, def a greyhound), Jackson (airedale terrier, honorary greyhound), and Tessie (PK's Cat Island) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FreeholdHound Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 I do switch up Harry's food. I believe rotating between brands brings variety in the vitamin/mineral formulas. I change about every 3rd bag. Hary has multiple "avoid" ingredients so that eliminates 90% of kibbles available. I've only been able to find 2 different brands. But his PM meal is usually a raw grind, or raw chopped meat w/ a premix added. Every dog is different - it took 1 1/2 yrs to find anything that worked with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracegirl Posted November 26, 2013 Author Share Posted November 26, 2013 The Iams Lamb Healthy Naturals seems to be doing the trick. I've mixed the old and new 50/50 with lots of the old food left so we'll keep the mix as is for the next few weeks. Output is great so that makes me happy. And he's mostly finishing his meals now too. Quote Poppy the lurcher 11/24/23 Gabby the Airedale 7/1/18 Forever missing Grace (RT's Grace), Fenway (not registered, def a greyhound), Jackson (airedale terrier, honorary greyhound), and Tessie (PK's Cat Island) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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