[Tigerlily]

Very interesting and good to know! Thanks for clarifying!!!

[Tigerlily]

Hi all! I am looking for some information to help assist a puppy buyer of mine. She has a 4.5 month old standard poodle puppy that I bred. I sent puppies home on Wellness Large Breed Puppy because the calcium levels are at least somewhat moderate and advised her to be careful about feeding foods with excessive levels of calcium. (I realize the levels are still higher than the foods on HDM’s list, but because a standard poodle is in all actuality a medium sized dog, I don’t feel that it is as necessary to be as strict – just to choose a moderate food). Anyway, she told me she switched her pup to Orijen Large Breed Puppy. I suggested to her that the calcium levels in that particular food really are quite excessive and that I would recommend Acana instead. She told me that she consulted with a canine nutritionist before switching her pup and that they advised her that Orijen it was a more “premium” food than Acana. She mentioned that the calcium percent in Orijen LBP is no less than 1.2% and no more than 1.5% and Wellness min/max 1.1/1.5%. I explained that that is true, but that the total mg of calcium per kcal in Orijen is quite a bit higher. I just wanted to double check my facts here! Also, did Orijen LBP change their formula? Because what I have seen in the past was 1.5/1.7 for min/max.

[Tigerlily]

Well geesh! That’s not very nice or helpful to someone who is reaching out. Kobe – the list is around page 15. 🙂

[Tigerlily]

Yes, he is one of my poodles. 🙂 Thank you, he is a very special boy.

[Tigerlily]

I apologize if someone has already asked this, but I haven’t found a search function, has anyone tried Dr. Becker’s SpiruGreen?

ETA: Oh shoot, hold the phone, did I post this in the wrong section? Well, I’ll attempt to right my wrong by also asking about Dr. Becker’s probiotics. I generally use Proviable DC in times of need, but was thinking of trying Dr. Becker’s probiotics and making it an everyday thing. I am not sure how her product compares to, say, Proviable.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 10 months ago by Tigerlily.
• This reply was modified 11 years, 10 months ago by Tigerlily.

[Tigerlily]

Thanks!

[Tigerlily]

Well that is quite frustrating that I was given incorrect information.

I am quite familiar with standard poodles and all too aware and educated on the genetic predispositions in my breed. Also, in general, those of us who are knowledgeable and involved in the breed consider them to be a “medium to large breed” and we are careful to promote slow and steady growth to avoid orthopedic issues. I have always been careful to feed foods with moderate calcium levels to my puppies. That said, because poodles are closer to the “medium” end of the spectrum (or should be, in my opinion), I am sure that my precautions are just that – precautions.

I am not going to entirely rule out the two Acana formulas, but I am pretty happy with Dr. Tim’s at the moment so I may consider the grain inclusive version of Kinesis for the puppies. If puppy owners are reluctant to order online, I can suggest they feed Fromm Chicken a la Veg. Or, heck, maybe I’ll just raise the puppies on the Fromm. 🙂 A large percentage of my of my poodles’ diet is raw, but at this point I do plan to raise the litter on kibble.

On another note, does anyone know how to add a photo above my name?

[Tigerlily]

I’ve always understood that an expected mature weight of 50 lbs. or more falls under the large breed puppy category. Std. Poodles are a medium to large breed and can be prone to issues such as hip dysplasia and other orthopedic issues so avoiding excessive calcium content is important with a puppy.

Like I said, I spoke directly with an Acana representative on the phone and was specifically told, when I asked, that the “minimum” calcium actually IS the “as fed” because of the EU requirements. The values are the same. So unless she gave me incorrect information, the as fed IS 1.3%.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 10 months ago by Tigerlily.

[Tigerlily]

That’s my thought process, but just the same, slow and steady growth is important to avoid orthopedic issues.

I actually called Champion Petfoods a month or so back and spoke with a representative on the phone who told me that the “minimum” was the same as the “as fed” due to the fact that the food is sold in the EU where labeling requirements are very particular, or something to the effect of that.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 10 months ago by Tigerlily.

[Tigerlily]

What is the formula for calculating the mg. ca per 1,000 calories? I would like to see exactly how much calcium is in the food. At 1.3% calcium and a cal:phos ratio of 1.2:1 I am not sure that I need necessarily discount Acana Chicken and Burbank Potato for my future litter of poodle puppies whom I expect to mature in the 40-50 lb range (medium to large breed).

My other choices are Dr. Tim’s Kinesis (grain inclusive) or Fromm, though for a few reasons they are not my top choices.

Thanks! 🙂

• This reply was modified 11 years, 10 months ago by Tigerlily.

[Tigerlily]

Well, clearly! 🙂 I am curious as to how they deviate. I know quite a few breeders who consider these to be very appropriate foods for large breed puppies so am surprised to see them not included on the list of appropriate foods.

[Tigerlily]

I am wondering why Acana Duck and Bartlett Pear and Acana Chicken and Burbank potato were not included on the list of grain inclusive foods that are appropriate for large breed puppies?

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