[Molly F]

I feel like too much crap has gone down with Blue Buffalo to feed their food.
If he likes Wellness and does well on it, I’d keep that going!
Also check out the Large Breed puppy article and thread to make sure you’ve got safe calcium levels.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 5 months ago by Molly F.

[Molly F]

The Ca/P ratio is important, but I think mostly we are looking for a food that’s 3-4g Ca/1000 kcal.
Also, the “too high protein” thing, I think, has been proven to not actually be the issue; it’s more about too much calcium.

[Molly F]

Does anybody know a way to actually calculate how many calories a puppy needs? All I seem to find online either doesn’t go old enough or is for “ideal weight”, probably adult dogs. I know about checking BCS, but that’s a bit subjective.
I also have a homemade dog food book that gives a recipe for puppy food that has a nice growth chart, in about three month blocks, with how much of that recipe they should eat, so I could use that to figure calories.
If I’m using an “all life stages” food, is there any math to just adjust the serving recommended on the bag? I don’t know who closely to follow those numbers anyway since my last dog, the bag said 4-5cups and he was healthy weight on 2. I get that puppies have different needs though, what with all the growing 🙂

[Molly F]

She did say that on an as fed basis, they would be at the minimum, which is the 3.2.

[Molly F]

And I don’t think those numbers really put it out of LBP range, though, does it?

[Molly F]

I got a response from Earthborn (less than 24 hrs, nice); they have the minimums listed on the bag and online and the formulas can vary by .2%, but it’s usually at the minimum. So that put Coastal Catch at 3.2-3.8(at the very highest, not likely), which is still a safe range for a LBP. Also, Freya is 8.1mo, so I feel like even the high range is probably safe for her.

[Molly F]

Thanks for the info on yeast, pitluv!
I just started the switch, so I’ll be sure to write them tonight.

[Molly F]

Yeah, I know, hence the switch to Earthborn.

[Molly F]

It’s also very possible the Nexguard is causing dry skin and itching….

[Molly F]

Her current food has brewer’s rice, whole grain corn, whole grain wheat, poultry by-product mral, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, so I’m wondering if any of those are feeding the yeast. Her itchies are paws, groin and elbows, and somewhat ears.
The food I was going to switch her to has peas and potatoes…..

[Molly F]

I’m also going to try giving her baths with an oatmeal based shampoo, but I’m hoping the fish based food will help with the itchiness and slight dandruff.

[Molly F]

Hey there, back again!
This is slightly off topic, but you all have been so helpful, thought I’d ask.
After we switched from Purina One LBP (chicken based) to Lamb and Rice, Freya’s itching did seem to decrease. I made the misteak of getting excited about home cooking and tried multiple new proteins (beef, pork, tuna) and she’s super itchy again. It’s been almost two weeks since she’s had anything but her kibble though, with the exception of some beef liver treats I made, and she’s still itchy. She did eat some chicken based cat food (in the form of cat vomit :/) and I noticed that the lamb and rice has “poultry by product meal” and I wonder if she’s sensitive the that.
She’s not really itching or chewing holes in herself and her poops seem good,so I’m aware it’s possibly not a food thing at all, but I’m going to switch her to EBH Coastal Catch, just to see if maybe she does better without grains. I don’t really have anything against grains, and I don’t really think it’s terrible for dogs to have them, but her current food has multiple and I want to figure out if maybe it’s one of those, as her symptoms seem slightly closer to a yeast issue.
Thoughts?

[Molly F]

Thanks Aimee and Pitluv, you made me feel so much better!!!!
I know Purina doesn’t get a lot of love in many circles, but I’ve had and known dogs who were very healthy and lived long lives on it and I generally trust the company.

[Molly F]

Ok, I’ve gone and gotten myself all worried and worked up now!
Here’s the story: I have an 8mo old female GSD who came from pretty large stock. She was on LBP food until about 6mo when I switched her over to Purina One Lamb and Rice, partly because I had read it was recommended to switch large breeds earlier (old info, I know) and partly because she was SOOOO itchy on a chicken based food. The switch to lamb did seem to help with the itchy skin, but now I’m all stressed out that I’ve messed up her growth by taking her off puppy food too soon. I’m thinking of doing her half and half on the Purina and TOTW puppy.
I guess my questions are:
Will it help/make any difference to add puppy food back in at this point? Should I switch her back to all puppy?
I know TOTW isn’t the very best, but it’s pretty good for my price range. I’m not really anti-grain and still make some toppers/treats with cooked grains.
I guess I just need some more input…..

[Molly F]

Hey all!
Brand new to the site and to raw feeding!
I am probably going to be working off Dr. Pitcairn’s recipes, and I had a question about supplements. I’d prefer whole food ingredients, so I’m probably going to use eggshell for calcium. I’m wondering if eggs themselves could provide enough vitamin A? I’m thinking of doing an egg based meal in the morning and meat and grain in the evening, using whole sardines for the omegas. I’m going to check with some local meat producers to get the healthiest meat available and will probably add bones at some point. I read that turkey leg bones aren’t really safe (feel free to add your experience) but what about raw chicken legs?
My puppy is a 7 1/2 mo old German Shepherd from fairly beefy stock (dad was 110lbs, mom was 80!!!), so of course I’ve gotten myself all scared about proper calcium ratios. If I give her whole sardines, those bones shouldn’t throw off the ratios too much, right?

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