Innova Large Breed Puppy - Page 2

I had my dog on Royal Canin...he had very course fur, skinny hated the food.. Switched to Innova and he has gained weight and his fur is very soft..no eye boogies either.. I do think it varies from dog to dog tho. Oh and Innova has helped our rescue who has food allergies.

Can't say anything on Inova, but my Vet who has extensive expierience with GSD's recomend to switch the pups to adult food at latest 4 months. He says the large breeed puppy foods are suppose to be like switching them but does not work for all pups like it is suppose to, so he recomends adult food at least by 4 months. Plus it is alot easier to only have the adult food to feed all pups and big dogs.

I always use adult dog food for pups,I would never use puppy food

I think I switched my boy to adult at 5 months...he did way better on it..

Thanks GSDLVR ... I have three GSD 1. Male grandson of Orry Antwerpa x von der Urbercke. Half working and half show. He is ten years old and beginning to show the mild hip dysplasia on his right side only, confirmed by OFA (don't worry pumpkin he is fixed). He is fed California Natural Lamb and he is doing good with it. 2. Female pure working line out of Von der Bildsaule x Arolser Holz. She is 6 years old and no health or genetic problem except the whining part. She is fed California Natural Chicken. 3. Male pup grandson of Yasko vom Farbenspiel x Von Butjenter Land.Pure west german line. This is a pretty pup heavy bone and nice pigment. Nice head and facial expression and a lot of prey drive. Will chase anything that moves including birds. He is kenneled 5 x 14ft cement floor and has a lot of food drive. He even eats 1 baby carrot without hesitation. He finishes his dish in less than 5 minutes with ethusiasm. I will soon be switching him to Innova Adult coz it has cottage cheese which will help in bone development and ear cartilage. I went to retail store and got a sample of Innova Adult and gave him only 8 kibbles and he ate it with wagging tails. Now the sad part. At what point do you think I have to put down my 1st dog. I know this is very diffifult for GSD owners but I want dignity for him coz I do not want to see him suffer. He just got his teeth cleaned at the vet yesterday. I am beginning to prepare myself for the worst and there are times I look in his eyes and say " I am sorry for controlling what you eat and how much you eat. I am sorry for controlling your behavior by choking your neck. I am sorry for kenneling you for than 8 hours like a prisoner. And if my time comes and we meet again please reverse the situation so I know not "aware" how it really feels.

Hi, I have tried Innova more than once to my dogs and they just didnt like the flavor. Nor could I maintain any body weight. I have found this to be true with a lot of the holistic foods. I guess because the companys think animal fat is a bad thing. I end up having to add fat myself. I personally dont feed puppy food and never have. But while we are talking about food. Why is it when I feed raw meat to my dogs they grow at half the rate as when I feed commercial food? Everyone compares high growth rate with protein but if that were true then it would be wise to assume that the dogs would grow faster on a raw diet than on bagged food which in the cases I have seen isnt true. Has anyone tried Barking at the Moon?

Bhaugh, There is a HUGE difference in feeding raw (when done properly) and the protein sources they put in kibble! Raw diets (when fed properly) are probably the best for your dog, but this is often very difficult to feed, for those of us who have more than a couple of dogs. I would constantly be preparing to feed or feeding them, and buying the pre-packaged BARF diets isn't exactly cost effective for multiple dog households/kennels. The way the body digests the bones/raw meat/veggie parts is completely different than how it digests a pre-cooked, different protein/fat source kibble. Let's just say it takes more effort on the body's part to digest that raw diet and therefor, less fat to store as a result. Hope this helps. :)

You asked..."Now the sad part. At what point do you think I have to put down my 1st dog. I know this is very diffifult for GSD owners but I want dignity for him coz I do not want to see him suffer...." If your guy is just starting to show signs of HD you could have many happy years left. My very old rescue poorly bred GSD has happily hopped along for about 4 years now and is still smiling, most of the time. Start giving him glucosomine if you haven't already. It does take some time for it to start working. If you live in the US near a Costco, get the human grade, I've found it's cheaper then the animal supplements. When is it time? He will let you know. When he doesn't want to get up, when he doesn't want to "run" around, when he looks and and his eyes tell you so. Just be glad you can give hime the dignity he deserves when the time comes and he doesn't have to suffer.

Duke, Ask your vet for Adequan. It is an injectable equine formula similar to Cosequin. However it is considerably more effective. It is not cheap, but once or twice a month makes a HUGE difference. I had a vet years ago who took it himself when HIS arthritis acted up. You might well have another 3 or 4 years with him. Enjoy them. Jonah

Yes give him the glucosimine chrondrontin, MSM and Ester C...it will help alot...you will have many years left with your boy.. Treat him like a king for the years you have left...spoil him. Maybe it will make you feel better for the way he has been treated. (the kenneling, choking, etc.)