I ran out of food, but want to change...or do I?

[Anthony8858]

I started Kira at 10 weeks on Purina Pro Plan. She's soing OK, with solid stools, and a healthy appetite.

However, the internet tells me that I could be giving her "something better".

I'm OK with the Pro Plan, and it's readily available, but I also feel that I want the best for my dog.

I don't want this to be another "what do I feed my puppy" thread, but if I wanted the absolute best for Kira, what should I consider?

And since I'm out of food, should I buy another bag of Pro Plan, just to mix it with the new, and gradually wean onto something new?

[Stosh]

I would get another small bag of it and mix it in gradually to transition to whatever food you choose to try. If she's doing well on it you might not want to switch until she's a few months older- up to you. What's 'better' for one dog isn't for another

[Emoore]

Yes, buy a 5 or 8lb bag of Pro Plan, and gradually wean her over to the new food. 1/8 new, 7/8 old for a few days, then 1/4 new and 3/4 old. . . etc.

I don't think it's a good idea to jump directly from Pro Plan to something very rich and grain-free like Orijen LBP. I'd go with a good All Life Stages or Large Breed Puppy Food that's readily available in your area. I have no idea what that would be where you live.

[s14roller]

Originally Posted by Anthony8858

I started Kira at 10 weeks on Purina Pro Plan. She's soing OK, with solid stools, and a healthy appetite.

However, the internet tells me that I could be giving her "something better".

I'm OK with the Pro Plan, and it's readily available, but I also feel that I want the best for my dog.

I don't want this to be another "what do I feed my puppy" thread, but if I wanted the absolute best for Kira, what should I consider?

And since I'm out of food, should I buy another bag of Pro Plan, just to mix it with the new, and gradually wean onto something new?

Definitely get a small bag of the Proplan if you are thinking of transitioning. As for the food, there are better foods, but it all depends on what will get along with your dog.

I had my dog on Wellness LBP then Innova and she wasn't consistent on either of them. After months of dealing with stool issues, the vet wanted to try the IAMs low-residue ("bad" ingredients if you look at the back) but it worked for her. We are in the process of switching her off to something a bit better (Proplan Sensitive skin and stomach) since it looks to be a bit better than the IAMS but not as rich as the other stuff we tried before. If she does well on the Proplan, I may try a fish formula with a better company but at this point, I just want her to do well on something.

[Anthony8858]

OK, so this could be a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" thread.

I'm reading about how people don't want their dogs to have anything with grain or corn in it.

Never heard any of this before.

[Girth]

Who cares what the internet says...If you are happy and the dog is happy and healthy with what you are feeding why do you feel the need to switch?

[suzzyq01]

Pro Plan has grains in it. It is not the best food. If you can buy it at the grocery store, Wal-Mart, Target, etc then it is not something that you want to feed your dog. Is she going to die from eating it, unlikely, is she going to poop more often and larger amount, yes. Is she going to shed more, yes. etc. etc.. I would suggest bumping up to a better food. Something available at Petco or Petsmart is just fine. Always look for the first 5-6 ingredients, those make up the MOST of the food. I have underlined them. A couple of comparably priced foods at both these stores are:

Purina Pro Plan Puppy 34lbs bag 33.99
Ingredients:
Chicken, brewers rice, poultry by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat, beef tallow preserved with mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E), whole grain corn, corn bran, natural flavors, egg product, hydrolyzed sunflower oil, dicalcium phosphate, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, l-lysine monohydrochloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, vitamin supplements (E, A, B12, D3), riboflavin supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, biotin, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, copper sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, sodium selenite.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude protein (min.) 28%, crude fat (min.) 18%, crude fiber (max.) 3%, moisture (max.) 12%, linoleic acid (min.) 1.6%, calcium (Ca) (min.) 1.1%, phosphorus (P) (min.) 0.8%, vitamin A (min.) 15,000 iu/kg.




Wellness Super5Mix Puppy 30lbs -50.99
Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Salmon Meal (a natural source of DHA - Docosahexaenoic Acid), Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a natural source of Vitamin E), Ground Brown Rice, Tomato Pomace, Rice Bran, Tomatoes, Natural Chicken Flavor, Rye Flour, Carrots, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Blueberries, Ground Millet, Ground Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Vitamins [Beta-Carotene, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement], Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols (a natural preservative), Chicory Root Extract, Garlic, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Green Tea Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation products.
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (Not Less Than) 28.0%, Crude Fat (Not Less Than) 17.0%, Crude Fiber (Not More Than) 5.0%, Moisture (Not More Than) 11.0%, Calcium (Not Less Than) 1.3%, Phosphorus (Not Less Than) 1.0%, Vitamin E (Not Less Than) 150 IU/kg, Omega 6 Fatty Acids* (Not Less Than) 3.0%, Omega 3 Fatty Acids* (Not Less Than) 1.0%, Beta Carotene* (Not Less Than) 5 mg/kg, DHA* (Not Less Than) 0.13%, Lycopene* (Not Less Than) 0.25 mg/kg, Taurine* (Not Less Than) 0.09%, Total Micro-organisms (Not Less Than) 20,000,000 CFU/lb.





Blue Buffalo Puppy 30lbs - 48.99
Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (naturally preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Rye, Tomato Pomace (natural source of Lycopene), Menhaden Fish Meal (natural source of DHA-Docosahexaneoic Acid), Natural Chicken Flavor, Whole Potatoes, Peas, Whole Carrots, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Dried Egg, Blueberries, Cranberries, Flaxseed (natural source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Barley Grass, Dried Parsley, Garlic, Alfalfa Meal, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, Turmeric, Sunflower Oil (natural source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Fish Oil (natural source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Dried Chicory Root, Oil of Rosemary, Beta Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3), d-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Choline Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Caramel, Potassium Chloride, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium.
Guaranteed Analysis: CrudeProtein 27.0% min,Crude Fat 16.0% min, Crude Fiber 4.0% max, Moisture 10.0% max, Calcium 1.3% min, Phosphorus 1.0% min, DHA* 0.1% min, Omega 3 Fatty Acids* 0.4% min, Omega 6 Fatty Acids* 3.5% min

Keep in mind the higher quality food the less you feed. I use Blue Buffalo Widlerness. The 24lbs bag for two dogs 75lbs (4 cups a day) and 65lbs (2 cups a day) last me a little less than a month. So I budget about $50 a month for dog food. It's worth the little extra money for the extra perks like healthy skin and coat with less fur to clean up on my floor, smaller poops in my yard, no grass burns from acidic urine, and happy & healthy doggies!

$10-15 more a month is just a couple fewer iced coffees or meal out to eat with friends. Your pup is worth going the extra mile for his/her health. Just my 2 cents.

[gsdraven]

Originally Posted by Anthony8858

OK, so this could be a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" thread.

If that's how you feel, then don't switch. Do your own research (in places other than this site) and decide for yourself. We share what we've learned and what our preferences are but they don't work for everyone. If you do switch, people are responded to that part and gave you good suggestions about how to do that.

[Anthony8858]

Originally Posted by suzzyq01

Pro Plan has grains in it. It is not the best food. If you can buy it at the grocery store, Wal-Mart, Target, etc then it is not something that you want to feed your dog. Is she going to die from eating it, unlikely, is she going to poop more often and larger amount, yes. Is she going to shed more, yes. etc. etc.. I would suggest bumping up to a better food. Something available at Petco or Petsmart is just fine. Always look for the first 5-6 ingredients, those make up the MOST of the food. I have underlined them. A couple of comparably priced foods at both these stores are:

Purina Pro Plan Puppy 34lbs bag 33.99
Ingredients:
Chicken, brewers rice, poultry by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat, beef tallow preserved with mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E), whole grain corn, corn bran, natural flavors, egg product, hydrolyzed sunflower oil, dicalcium phosphate, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, l-lysine monohydrochloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, vitamin supplements (E, A, B12, D3), riboflavin supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, biotin, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, copper sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, sodium selenite.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude protein (min.) 28%, crude fat (min.) 18%, crude fiber (max.) 3%, moisture (max.) 12%, linoleic acid (min.) 1.6%, calcium (Ca) (min.) 1.1%, phosphorus (P) (min.) 0.8%, vitamin A (min.) 15,000 iu/kg.




Wellness Super5Mix Puppy 30lbs -50.99
Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Salmon Meal (a natural source of DHA - Docosahexaenoic Acid), Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a natural source of Vitamin E), Ground Brown Rice, Tomato Pomace, Rice Bran, Tomatoes, Natural Chicken Flavor, Rye Flour, Carrots, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Blueberries, Ground Millet, Ground Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Vitamins [Beta-Carotene, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement], Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols (a natural preservative), Chicory Root Extract, Garlic, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Green Tea Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation products.
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (Not Less Than) 28.0%, Crude Fat (Not Less Than) 17.0%, Crude Fiber (Not More Than) 5.0%, Moisture (Not More Than) 11.0%, Calcium (Not Less Than) 1.3%, Phosphorus (Not Less Than) 1.0%, Vitamin E (Not Less Than) 150 IU/kg, Omega 6 Fatty Acids* (Not Less Than) 3.0%, Omega 3 Fatty Acids* (Not Less Than) 1.0%, Beta Carotene* (Not Less Than) 5 mg/kg, DHA* (Not Less Than) 0.13%, Lycopene* (Not Less Than) 0.25 mg/kg, Taurine* (Not Less Than) 0.09%, Total Micro-organisms (Not Less Than) 20,000,000 CFU/lb.





Blue Buffalo Puppy 30lbs - 48.99
Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (naturally preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Rye, Tomato Pomace (natural source of Lycopene), Menhaden Fish Meal (natural source of DHA-Docosahexaneoic Acid), Natural Chicken Flavor, Whole Potatoes, Peas, Whole Carrots, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Dried Egg, Blueberries, Cranberries, Flaxseed (natural source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Barley Grass, Dried Parsley, Garlic, Alfalfa Meal, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, Turmeric, Sunflower Oil (natural source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Fish Oil (natural source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Dried Chicory Root, Oil of Rosemary, Beta Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3), d-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Choline Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Caramel, Potassium Chloride, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium.
Guaranteed Analysis: CrudeProtein 27.0% min,Crude Fat 16.0% min, Crude Fiber 4.0% max, Moisture 10.0% max, Calcium 1.3% min, Phosphorus 1.0% min, DHA* 0.1% min, Omega 3 Fatty Acids* 0.4% min, Omega 6 Fatty Acids* 3.5% min

Keep in mind the higher quality food the less you feed. I use Blue Buffalo Widlerness. The 24lbs bag for two dogs 75lbs (4 cups a day) and 65lbs (2 cups a day) last me a little less than a month. So I budget about $50 a month for dog food. It's worth the little extra money for the extra perks like healthy skin and coat with less fur to clean up on my floor, smaller poops in my yard, no grass burns from acidic urine, and happy & healthy doggies!

$10-15 more a month is just a couple fewer iced coffees or meal out to eat with friends. Your pup is worth going the extra mile for his/her health. Just my 2 cents.

Thank you for the very informative response.

[CarrieJ]

Definitely transition slowly. GSDs have notoriously weird/sensitive digestive tracks.

I'm transitioning from Innova Red Meat to Orijin Red and am not sure if it's too rich and need to transition more slowly. Zoey (the little weasel terrier) is a garbage gut. No problem I could probably switch without transitioning her....Alice....hm, however she stole butter off the counter last night so that didn't help my experiment. (she's a Butterton)

I think the website is Dogfood Advisor/Dog food Ratings. Search that and please for the love of everything that's holy do not feed Purina Beneful.

*Cause friends don't let friends feed Beneful*