Puppy Food - Page 3

My young male loves Taste of the Wild High Prairie...but he developed a zinc deficiency. Found that out the expensive way at the vets. My vet told me to check foods for whether they are "formulated in accordance with AAFCO" or "tested on dogs and found to be in accordance with AAFCO" or words to that effect. "Tested" is better than "formulated" because dogs ate it and didn't test out with any deficiencies. With "formulated" you don't know when they put in vitamins in and whether they got destroyed in cooking. So now he takes vitamins and is switching to Evo Red Meat formula which is "tested". Sigh. Feeding dogs sure was easier when they ate butcher's scraps. But that was long ago.

Perhaps the Salmon TOTW is better than the one my boy likes. Watch your dogs' coat and ear condition, KCzaja...

Call Natures Farmacy and tell them about your dog and ask them what they think would help you can find a food he likes dont have to be the best and add their products to it and then you will be feeding him every thing he needs plus this is what i do and all my dogs look great and are healthy the Natures Farmacy people are very nice and helpful they will put you on the right path good luck

I know that cheap corn-based dog foods are crap...I know of a GSD fed on Walmart's dog food that nearly starved to death...Did great on Kibbles N Bits.

Corn is a filler, not really digestible to dogs (or humans, for that matter) and it's used for bulk, as is cellulose fiber, in cheap foods.  Cellulose fiber, by the way, is essentially sawdust.

What's the opinion on here of the Kirkland Signatures Lamb and Rice formula dog food sold at Costco?  When I'm ready to bring a GSD pup into my family, I want to have some idea what the general feeling is on some of these other foods, since I shop at Costco sometimes.  Some of those mentioned above aren't available anywhere near where I live.  Of course, it depends on the dog.

I do know that any corn based dog food isn't worth the bag it's packaged in.

Crys

I was feeding 30% more of the Canidae at the end of the trial period. Dogs were still skinny.

I guess it all boils down to what works best for your dog.  The gentleman (and his wife) that I buy from is very helpful and knows their foods.  Their business is 90% dogs and mostly foods some holistic.  He told me when I was fussing over my pup's diet that everyone of his customers are loyal to different foods and swear by them.  He also told me that he sees dogs coming in that are doing great on all the brands he carries...just depends on the dog.  So far we are happy with the results of Canidae.  Who knows, her requirements may change as she grows but right now my 6mo GSD is actually pooping less, nice firm stools, awesome coat, very very little shedding, lots of energy and seems to be structurally sound but too young to x-ray.  She is maintaining her girlish figure, trim but not skinny, solid not fat...just right.  Take a look at my girl on the avatar and you can see the shine.  So to each his own as long as it works for the dog.
Deb

I was feeding 30% more of the Canidae at the end of the trial period. Dogs were still skinny.


I'm sorry to hear that.
Some dogs do better on different sources of protein.  Sometimes you have to play with it a little.
When I still fed kibble, I tried a couple of different brands, and the one my dog did best on was Timberwolf Organics.  They've change their formulation since then, so I wouldn't recommend it.

Prior to my current dog, I fed AvoDerm with some success, but they've also changed their formulation over the years, and are now full of fillers that they never contained in past years.

Actually, an adult food is allowed to have higher calcium concentration than puppy food. Adults can regular calcium absorption better than pups.

On the other hand, few foods are designated for adults only. Even those that don't say "for puppies" are mostly for "all life stages."

I would always ask for the as fed calcium concentration and Ca/P ratio.

I checked the Kirkland Brand Lamb formula; it has 1.7% calcium and only about 23% protein. I wouldn't fed this food to GSD pups. 1.2 % calcium for their  "chicken" formula; 26% protein, not bad.

In general, a food that is based on "Chicken meal" or "Chicken by-product meal" as virutally all protein sources would not be very high in calcium, although it can be somewhat high. All the major bones of a chicken are packaged for human chicken consumption. The calcium concentration in the bones of the "Chicken meal" is not much variable. There is no large bone that can be removed cost-effectively. This is not true for beef (cattle) or lamb etc.

If a kibble food has "chicken meal" or "chicken by-product meal" as nearly all the protein source, than the calcium content would likely be about 1.2% to 1.5% , corresponding to about 24 to 30% protein respectively.

1.1%  percent calcium for pups (for large breed may well be even lower) is said to be the standard target for pups. I am feeding about 1.3%, with some fat added so that the actual amount taken in by my pup is a little less.

The calcium content of kibbles tends to be higher than ideal. This is particular true for pups. Bones are ground up; this is unnatural. If a food is calcorie dense, than the amount of calcium taken would be less because less food is needed. Of course, one never feeds free choice.

I feed Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy food and have been very satisfied with it, except it, like all decent foods, is expensive. I will switch to an adult food later.

If you want to waste 20 minutes of your day (but learn something in the process) compare Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Kibble to Royal Canin Mini Puppy kibble.

"To be perfectly honest, I am not sure anybody knows for sure what level of protein is best for GSD pups."

I read that at least for Great Dane pups, protein level of about 24% is said to enough.

A key question is high much food is fed. A pup can eat 3 cups of food with 30% protein or 3.5 cups with 26% protein. You generally do not feed a pup until it won't eat anymore.