New Dog How to change the food

[yuckaduck]

As many have been told already I have rescued a 2 year old german shepherd dog. She was feed a mixture of Alpho and Science Diet + 1/2 can of canned food. Now she has been living at the kennel and they fed whatever is cheapest at the time, and her original owner says she is sick from the food all the time. How do I adjust her to my food? Should I buy a bag of Alpho and mix it even though for the past 2 weeks she has been fed who knows what?

I fed kirkland signatures, chicken and rice adult to Yukon and would like to stay on the same food with Dallas. So hopefully the new food will digest well with her. Any advice would be appreciated. Mordy I think this is a good one for you, because you seem to have a load of knowledge here.

 

[Renee750il]

Since you're upgrading her food by a significant margin, just go ahead and do it. Keep some pumpkin handy (I'd just give her a big spoonful of it everyday for awhile just to help get her regulated). You'd also probably find yourself way ahead of the game to give her some probiotics right off the bat as well. She's going to need help to get that stuff out of her system . . .

Yoghurt should help settle any tummy problems.

 

[Mordy]

i agree with renee. in such cases, just switch cold turkey and keep the pumpkin on hand, and if things get too bad, add a good probiotic if you don't give it on a daily basis already.

 

[yuckaduck]

i agree with renee. in such cases, just switch cold turkey and keep the pumpkin on hand, and if things get too bad, add a good probiotic if you don't give it on a daily basis already.

Nope I do not give it, of course I don't even know what it is so maybe I do and do not know it.

I come from the lifestyle that what ever is cheap is good and have just since we good Yukon started actually paying attention to what he is fed. So really my knowledge is very limitted. I will do that and see how it goes and if any problems arise I can always ask you too. You are so willing to help so I do not think it will be a big thing. I am so thankful to learn more from you and everyone here. Poor Yukon was basically fed garbage by us until now. I really wish I could afford the Solid Gold because I found a place that sells it. $70 for a 16kg bag, youch, and the amount fed is the same as the KS and it is $20/18.4kg bag. Just can't justify it to hubby.

 

[Mordy]

yuck, how is the availability of meat scraps where you are? you could save quite a bit by just buying a dry food premix and adding fresh meat, either raw or cooked if you prefer.

i know of a number of canadian companies making these premixes, so it shouldn't be hard to get a hold of them. i buy meat scraps for around 50 cents to a dollar per pound for my dog from a small processing plant, i'm sure you could find something like that too. beef heart for example is generally cheap and very, very healthy to feed.

 

[yuckaduck]

yuck, how is the availability of meat scraps where you are? you could save quite a bit by just buying a dry food premix and adding fresh meat, either raw or cooked if you prefer.

i know of a number of canadian companies making these premixes, so it shouldn't be hard to get a hold of them. i buy meat scraps for around 50 cents to a dollar per pound for my dog from a small processing plant, i'm sure you could find something like that too. beef heart for example is generally cheap and very, very healthy to feed.

I'll do some snooping around to see what I can come up with. I really just have no clue about these things. I guess ignorance is no excuse but thank you for taking the time to educate me because I really appreciate it and need it.

 

[LorriF]

i agree with renee. in such cases, just switch cold turkey and keep the pumpkin on hand, and if things get too bad, add a good probiotic if you don't give it on a daily basis already.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the pumpkin for? Jake has a really sensitive tummy, and tends to get the runs easily from different treats etc, would yoghurt or something help? (sorry to hijack your thread, yuck )

 

[yuckaduck]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the pumpkin for? Jake has a really sensitive tummy, and tends to get the runs easily from different treats etc, would yoghurt or something help? (sorry to hijack your thread, yuck )

You are not hijacking we are all here to learn and share. I really have no clue about the pumpkin thing either so it will be good to know. I do not know much about food and what I share on other forums is strictly what I have learned here.

 

[Renee750il]

The pumpkin (plain canned - not pumpkin pie filling) will do a great job of clearing up bowel irregularities. If your dog has the runs, it will firm things up; if constipation is the problem, it will move things

 

[Renee750il]

Here's a link to information on probiotics on Mordy's site: http://www.mordanna.com/dogfood/index.php?page=probiotics

 

[yuckaduck]

Thank you very much that is helpful. I will look at getting some Pumpkin for sure and adding it to Dallas' dinner for a little while.

I had a peak at the link and sounds good but what can I buy that will be suitable as a supplement? Sorry I just have no clue.

 

[Renee750il]

You can get good probiotic supplements at a reasonable price at vitamin stores like GNC. The human grade supplements are better and are usually less expensive than the ones packaged for animals.

 

[yuckaduck]

You can get good probiotic supplements at a reasonable price at vitamin stores like GNC. The human grade supplements are better and are usually less expensive than the ones packaged for animals.

Excellent thank you I will snoop around tomorrow for that.

 

[Mordy]

one good, reasonably priced probiotic supplement is the NOW brand 4x6 acidophilus powder. the powder form makes it easier to divide up and it is more economical to use.

when shopping for probiotics, you need to make sure that one daily serving (as recommended for humans) contains several billions of colony forming units (CFU) that are guaranteed throughout the shelf life of the product, not just "at time of manufacture", otherwise you are throwing money out the window for a low potency product that possibly deteriorates even when unopened.

i know some people who have used the fastrack horse supplement for their dogs, but it's not very stable at all, especially in warm temperatures.

yuck, anytime you have questions, don't hesitate to contact me, and if i'm not around on the board, my email inbox is always open.

 

[LorriF]

The pumpkin (plain canned - not pumpkin pie filling) will do a great job of clearing up bowel irregularities. If your dog has the runs, it will firm things up; if constipation is the problem, it will move things

Awesome....I know he likes pumpkin, since he just about assaulted me when I made muffins....Jake tends to get the runs every once in a while, so I will try that next time--thanks!

 

[yuckaduck]

Well we are ready now, 2 bags of dog food, a case of canned pumpkin and we bought three things $$$$youch of the probiotic. So we are just waiting for the dog now.

 

[Renee750il]

Awesome....I know he likes pumpkin, since he just about assaulted me when I made muffins....Jake tends to get the runs every once in a while, so I will try that next time--thanks!

It will work on Andrew too

 

[yuckaduck]

I forgot to ask do I continue with the vitamin C with Dallas? I give Yukon vitamin C everyday so do I do the same with Dallas?

 

[Mordy]

vitamin C is generally a good thing, but keep in mind that it also functions as a natural laxative - so if things are already a bit iffy with the food change, it might make things worse initially.

i'd recommend waiting with the vitamin C until the food transition has worked out without issues, and then start her on 1/4 of the dose you'd give, slowly building up. if she gets loose stools, cut back a little and give it a bit more time.

 

[yuckaduck]

vitamin C is generally a good thing, but keep in mind that it also functions as a natural laxative - so if things are already a bit iffy with the food change, it might make things worse initially.

i'd recommend waiting with the vitamin C until the food transition has worked out without issues, and then start her on 1/4 of the dose you'd give, slowly building up. if she gets loose stools, cut back a little and give it a bit more time.

Ok right now Yukon 500 mg three times a day to make a total of 1500mg a day. Is that acceptable or is that too much? What is an appropriate amount? My vet said after his injury to give three times a day but now that he is feeling better, do I cut back?

I am sorry to be so clueless but nutrition is something I know nothing about. Thank you for the help, I really appreciate and be assured you are not wasting your time I am following your advice.