[mfulton7]

Ok makes sense. We definitely can’t see her ribs or hip bones. I’m assuming we’ve been over feeding. I have no doubt in my mind that she would eat until she exploded. No matter how much we fee her she still acts hungry. I guess I’ll continue to feed her as the bag suggests and adjust her amounts if I notice she’s losing weight etc. Thanks so much theBCnut!

[mfulton7]

Hello again! Our dobie Gemma is a few days shy of 7months we have been feeding her the Fromm Four Star and only feed the flavor suggested on this list. She’s been on this for over 6weeks now and she looks gorgeous. I hadn’t realized until a week ago I had been feeding her to much per day and noticed she has been eating my other dogs portion as well. I cut her back all this week to the amount recommended and started feeding my other dog his food in his crate so she can’t steal it. The bag recommends for a dog that will be 60-80lbs eat 3-3 5/8 cups per day. Now we also had her spayed 2 weeks ago. Someone told me spayed dogs are supposed to eat less so they don’t put on extra weight is that true? I’ve been trying to feed her right at 3 cups or a little over that. Does that seem right? I split it up into 2 cups in the morning and then 1 cup in the evening or 1 1/2 twice a day. She still seems hungry after. Any thoughts, opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[mfulton7]

Also would it be best to start with a pea based LID since the food she’s on now has peas or should we stop the foods that have peas in them and try potatoes instead?

[mfulton7]

I am curious about this as well. Have any of you tried Simply Nourish? Our vet wants her back on a LID. We tried the NB in the past and she liked it, switched to Zignature Trout & Salmon and she liked that also. Seemed to do ok also. I currently have her on EB Coastal Catch and now she itchy and has a rash. Vet does think its bacterial but with all of her skin issues and the autoimmune disease wants her back on a LID. I bought the NB in Salmon and Sweet Potato and she will hardly eat any of it but she gobbles down the EB. Any opinions on the Simply Nourish? or any other LID foods?

• This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by mfulton7.

[mfulton7]

kms- sorry for cutting in here. My opinion is that your dog hasn’t been on the new food long enough. If a dog food isn’t working for your dog it takes a few weeks to figure it out. My vet recommends at least 6 weeks, I can usually tell if it is working by 4 weeks with my dogs. That being said my dogs have been on quite a few different types of food. Most recently we had brought a dobie home and she hadn’t had firm stools. We tried 2 different foods with her and she still had runny stools. Now she’s been on the new food EB meadowfeast for 3 wks and her stools have finally started to firm up. In my opinion you need to wait it out a little longer. If you really want I’d have the stool tested but if it comes up neg then stick with the food a little longer at least 4 weeks. I hope this helps!

[mfulton7]

Since I switched my pup off of EB Coastal Catch she is doing great! She’s on the meadowfeast formula. I’m assuming the issue was with fish and not the peas. I’m also happy to report they transitioned just fine. So now I can start rotating foods 🙂 I’m so thankful for everyone’s help its truly appreciated!

[mfulton7]

I need y’alls help again. As you remember I’ve been on here lately asking about possible food intolerance and a recommended food. She had been on EB Coastal catch for 5 weeks and her stools were soft she was gassy. So on the zignature review I commented that a worker at the local pet food store advised me to try the turkey formula. I bought that formula got home did some research and realized it wasn’t on HDM’s list. I asked a few questions around this site did some more research and decided to try EB again but this time try the meadowfeast formula. I ordered the coastal catch for the transition and the meadowfeast from chewy on Tuesday (still waiting on the order). Now that my dogs have been on the zig for a few days they seem fine. No vomiting, diarrhea or other transitioning issues. That being said what should I do when I get the order? Mix the meadowfeast with the coastal catch or should I send the coastal catch back since they are transitioning with no problems.

[mfulton7]

Thank you!

[mfulton7]

I’ve been reading all the posts and was curious about the brand of pumpkin you all are using? Excuse me if this sounds ignorant but is this something you buy at the grocery store in a can?

[mfulton7]

That is exactly what I was talking about Parr! Thank you so much. All of the researching I’ve been doing on this site lately has me forgetting where I read what. I’m so glad that you found and posted that list for me. I really appreciate it!

[mfulton7]

I couldn’t remember who it was. The ingredient lists overwhelm me also. There are so many different brands and types of foods plus a lot of the online websites don’t give you the option to search for foods without peas. I will keep searching and use that formula also. I had been looking at just the minimum percentages rather than the maximum. I’m so glad that you pointed that out to me. Thanks so much for thehelpful info 🙂

[mfulton7]

Oh wow that’s overwhelming! So I’m assuming the Fromm isn’t going to be a good choice. I can’t remember what pea free foods you recommended to me already but are there any that come to your mind at the moment? Also would you consider a doberman a large breed? I’ve read some people classify them as a medium breed. Thanks so much for all your help it very helpful 🙂

[mfulton7]

Forgive my blank mind at the moment how would I calculate this?

[mfulton7]

Does anyone know why the fromm nutritionals grain inclusive whitefish flavor and the salmon flavors are not included on the list? I’ve checked the calcium levels and they seem to be okay. Am I missing something?

[mfulton7]

Not sure if this has been addressed yet but I’m thinking about trying Fromm Four Star grain inclusive whitefish and potato or the salmon flavor. I noticed both of these flavors meet the calcium limits and are rated 4 star. Am I overlooking something else?

[mfulton7]

Thank you pattyvaughn my research begins, ha ha!

[mfulton7]

Ok. So my dog is having skin issues that we suspect is from the peas. Would it be best for us to stick with grain free?

[mfulton7]

I’ve been searching for affordably priced dog food which brings me to the question, does the dog food have to be grain free? I’m really confused about the grain inclusive and the grain free foods.

[mfulton7]

I’m curious if the NB is still working for your pup? I’m pretty sure my pup is allergic to peas. So I am now searching for the pea free foods also. Any other advice is welcome also 🙂

[mfulton7]

Pattyvaughn should I try a L.I.D. food or just try something with completely different ingredients? I also remember our vet telling us that we need to wait 6 weeks to see if the food is working or not. Does that seem accurate based on your experiences?

[mfulton7]

Just what I was afraid of, ha ha!

[mfulton7]

Thank you rescuedanemom. I’m thinking peas are the problem. However I did notice that the earthborn holistic coastal catch contains peas, potatoes and sweet potatoes BUT the potaoes were further down on the list. Peas were the first few ingredients in coastal catch and the zignature. A food without peas is what I’m thinking we should try but the searching is exhausting! I guess I will go back through the list and read through the ingredients.

[mfulton7]

Thanks!

[mfulton7]

Vahl- we actually went with Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch because it was better for our budget. She seemed to be okay with it until 2 weeks ago and she started having bad gas and loose stools again. Now I’m not sure what we will try. I ordered the big bag of earthborn holistic through wag.com and got a really good deal. Maybe try that if you haven’t found a food yet.

[mfulton7]

Okay so this isn’t allergies its more than likely a food intolerance. I did notice that the earthborn holistic amd zignature are both pea based. I wonder if that is the trigger. If not maybe fish? Would you happen to know what the most common dog food intolerances are?
I do have a probiotic for her/them but I will definitely check into getting the enzyme as well. Thanks!

[mfulton7]

I have been feeding my pups Earthborn Hollistic Coastal Catch for about 4 weeks or so now. I have the Doberman pup (14wks), shihpoo pup (9 mth), and Chihuahua (2 yr). Since the dogs have been on it the dobie and shihpoo have really bad room clearing gas and the dobie has loose stools every other day or so. Another food they’ve been on was the Zignature Trout and the dobie had loose stools with that also. Should I try another food or another flavor of the Earthborn Hollistic? Weve also been noticing the dobie seems itchy a lot. Bites at her paws, scratches her backside Im thinking she scratched so much she caused scabbing on the backs of her front legs. I was thinking most dogs don’t develop allergies until theyre older? I know that the fawn dobies are more prone to skin issues so maybe that is causing it?

[mfulton7]

Nutrisource is a good food and reasonably priced. It is a family owned company similar to Fromm with no recalls and I believe they’ve been in business for 50+ years. I was going to fees my dogs the nutrisource seafood select, I belive that’s the name, however my large breed dog is only 9 weeks and the calcium content was 1.9 which was way to high for her. I definitely wouldn’t rule that food out for the future though.

[mfulton7]

OT but I need some advice. I switched the dogs to Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch from Zignature Trout & Salmon on Sunday. I’ve been use 3/4 cup of zignature to 1/4 cup of the earthborn plus I’ve been adding a probiotic to it and 2 of them are having runny stools still. Is there anything else I should or could be doing for them to make the transition easier?

[mfulton7]

Brown rice, dried tomato pomace, brewers yeast. I’m thinking maybe that’s why its only a 4 star food. I’ve also been researching this site for weeks and days. Its so overwhelming! I have a doberman puppy and wanted the best food for the best value for her. I chose Earthborn Hollistic coastal catch to start with. I was going to go with fromm 4 star grain free but I felt it was to pricey for the quality of food.

[mfulton7]

Maybe because it has 3 questionable ingredients?

[mfulton7]

I believe the fromms gold is grain inclusive and its not all life stages.

[mfulton7]

I can’t find a store anywhere around me that carries that food and I was going to go with Nutrisource but the calcium is way to high for my dobie. They said its a 1.9. This is so frustrating. If price didn’t matter ud have have no problem but unfortunately it is. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks all!

[mfulton7]

Well that’s a really good price. I’m going to check into that food also. I’m in Missouri so I will have to find a store that carries that brand. Thanks so much!

[mfulton7]

Are the foods on the list the only foods that are of good quality and nutritional value for large breed dogs? I’m driving myself crazy trying to decide on a food. I have a fawn dobie puppy as I mentioned above earlier and I’ve read this list dozens of times and still can’t decide! She is currently on the Zignature and is doing well now that she is used to it. I was hoping to find a food that is a little cheaper. Hopefully around $45 for a 30lb bag. Some I’ve looked at are Nutrisource, Rachael Rays’s and the 4health but I’ve read the 4health is made by Diamond which scares the crap out of me. I also would like to keep feeding them something that is fish base since fawn dobie’s are prone to skin issues and I think the nurish only comes in turkey or chicken. Also is it really true that dogs tend to eat less of the grain free foods? I’m trying to estimate how long a 30lb bag would last my 3 dogs. The dobie and 2 smaller breed dogs that weigh 10lbs each. Are there any articles that help with the breakdown?

[mfulton7]

Pattyvaughn you’re right they both say fromm four star but certain flavors say grain free that’s what is confusing me. Some better brand dog foods do have higher fiber I’ve noticed it seems like the ones that have more pea ingredients are that way.

[mfulton7]

Pattyvaughn- would you happen to know the difference between the fromm nutritionals and fromm 4 star nutritionals? I know the 4 star is grain free but the the nutritionals say no wheat, no corn, no soy therefore wouldn’t that mean they are close to the same? Also are they both all life stages?

[mfulton7]

Its at 6% fiber. I’ve noticed some foods have that much and more. I guess we may just have to stay away from the higher fiber foods.

[mfulton7]

We noticed that also. Zignature’s fiber level is double what Fromm’s is….

[mfulton7]

Okay maybe its a combo of her being so young and the dobie breed 🙂 Thanks for the advice everyone .

[mfulton7]

Is the natures variety your referring to the instinct or prairie?

[mfulton7]

Yeah the couple were country folk and older so they probably didn’t know about the laws. Yes we do already have her not much I can change about that…..I do appreciate the concern though….I myself thought she was a little too young but hubby felt it was fine since the pup had been weaned and she checked out health wise with the breeders vet and with ours. I did call the vets office this afternoon to ask their opinion about the pooping they said it depends how she’s eating her food and how much. So they recommended purina pro plan, go figure ha!
My whole point in posting this was to find out if the fromm nutritionals are the same as the grain free version. Theres quite a bit of price difference there so I just wasnt sure. All the dog foods/reviews/opinions have me confused.

[mfulton7]

Not sure why my husband did that. Maybe because the breeder said she was already weened and ready to go???

[mfulton7]

I think pedigree can’t remember though. We got her on Tuesday. Maybe she hasn’t had enough time to adjust?

[mfulton7]

A day short of one week

[mfulton7]

That’s what’s my husband and I are thinking. None if our puppies ever pooed this much. Its insane! I was always leary about the chicken but I will have to remember that. Weve been sticking to fish based foods because I thought those were better for allergies. Also when can I start rotating bags of food? My 2 other dogs are used to it but with the puppy being so young will it hurt her tummy if I start now? Also how often is it recommeded to rotate? Weekly, monthly? Should I mix foods? I’ve read about people doing that too.

[mfulton7]

I read through it the other day but will read it again. I’ve been reading so much about different foods I’m having trouble remembering all the info.

[mfulton7]

Also is chicken a trigger for allergies?

[mfulton7]

I have a 7 week old doberman pup who is currently on zignature trout & salmon. She has been pooin a lot and she been on it for a week. No diarrhea these are normal stools, no parasites etc she just poos 6-10 times a day. Shes eating a total of 2 cups a day sometimes a little less. I feed her 3 times a day. I also have 2 other small dogs. One of them may have allergies not completely sure though. She cannot eat totw wild it makes her vomit horribly. The 2 dogs have been on natural balance lid, zig, nutrisource. Is there a dog food that would be good for all 3 of my dogs? I like fromm but the price of the grain free is on the pricey side. What about nutritionals? I know it doesn’t say grain free BUT it does say no wheat, corn, soy does this mean its similar to grain free? Other brands I’ve been looking into are merrick, wellness core, halo, castor & pollux ultramix, avoderm, natures variety prairie, whole earth. Would any of those work for a dobie, shihtzu mix and a chihuahua?

[mfulton7]

So both of the fromm’s are grain free just not all stages?
Yes 2 cups a day is what I offer the puppy. I don’t think she ate quite that much yesterday though. So far this morning the puppy has pooed 4 times and she’s been up 2 hrs and ate a 3/4-1 cup of food already. That just seems like a lot for a puppy. I noticed zignature seems high in fiber its double what fromm is.
Yep somebodysme its me again HA HA. I did check out the large breed thread just wasn’t sure if I should post there or not but I am going to now.

[mfulton7]

other brands Im considering are whole earth, halo, avoderm, rotations, natures variety prairie, castor & pollux ultramix.

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