Stogie's not enjoying his Innova (EVO/RM or Puppy) Now what?

[Toaster]

Stogie, my Miniature Dachshund has been eating Innova EVO RM for a while... When I started him on it, he seemed to eat it and enjoy it. I switched him from a Grocery store brand before that (Beneful), and he ate less of the Innova vs the other stuff, but his transition was excellent.

Initially the place I get the Innova from only had 6.6lbs bags of EVO, and thats what he ate... The regular EVO smells like FISH by the way - BIG TIME. And I asked them to get some RM in for me in smaller bags, which they did... Stogie is only 8.5 lbs - so a 6.6lbs bag lasts nearly 2 months.

Anyway, he seemed to stop enjoying the RM, so as a matter of variety - This last time I got him the RED (purple?) bag of Innova Puppy food... The only other 6.6lbs bag the store had in the Innova line. Well, its pretty easy to figure out while watching him he DOESNT like the puppy food.... He eats it when he's STARVING... I've switched him each time cold-turkey.... (ie: 1 day EVO, the next day EVO RM... 1 day EVO RM, the next day Innova Puppy) and again, his transition or switch has been fine.

So now I'm at the point, if he's not enjoying the Innova's, why bother getting it for him? I've seen some other Holistic foods at places like Costco, Sam's club and even Wal-Mart that are MUCH cheaper, easier for me to get, as those places are closer and more accessible in short time frames vs the feed store I get his Innova at... Should I try him on something else or just force him to eat the Innova?

Costco has something called Natural something or another...

Sams has something called Gold'N Paw (www.biobiscuit.com) which read fine, and is 30lbs for $30

and WalMart has California Natural I think it was...


Advice please.

 

[BostonBanker]

Meg's not normally that picky about her food, but I have to say, California Natural is the only food I've found that she won't eat at all. She'll walk away from the bowl. I think it is actually a good food - I believe it's made by the same people as Innova. I'm a bit surprised Wal-Mart would carry it.

I just tried a sample of Nature's Variety Raw Instinct for Meg, and she adored it. She'd work for it like it was meat. I think the protein/fat levels are pretty similar to EVO.

 

[Toaster]

I'll have to make a run to Walmart later and verify it was California Natural I saw there... I think it was? I'll check and post back.

I wanted to clearify... I'm not considering changing his food based on cost, but rather the fact that he seems to NOT eat, or not enjoy the foods. As Boston said above - Stogie will walk away from the bowl - and then go back when he's starved to eat, that doesn't seem like the way he should be eating.

I guess my state of mind right now is, Let's say Salmon and Broccoli was your meal - and it was good for you - but you hated Salmon & Broccoli... Even though its good for you, would you want to be forced to eat it if you hated it? I feel thats kind of whats happening with Stogie. I know the food I'm getting him is excellent quality food, but he's not eating it the way I hoped he would. And I'm at the point of why go out of my way to get him food he can't stand... I'm sure you owners understand where I'm coming from.

 

[Herschel]

Toaster, welcome back!

Herschel likes the taste of the EVO so we use it as treats, but he didn't really like the Innova Regular and it gave him stool issues. We switched back to Canidae All Life Stages and he's been doing great on it for the last two months. As an added benefit, Canidae is half the cost of Innova!

Certain foods work better for some dogs than others. A lot of people here have reported their dogs not liking EVO or having some sort of GI distress with it. If you aren't comfortable feeding it, then switch.

Another high protein/low carb food that you could try is Solid Gold "Barking at the Moon". http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products/showproduct.php?id=81&code=120

There are plenty of great foods out there and you could definitely switch to a food from Costco, Sam's Club, or Walmart. Costco's "Kirkland Signature" food is actually pretty decent, but still a huge step down from something like Innova EVO. As far as I know, Sam's Club and Walmart only sell poor quality foods. (I don't support either so I haven't been to one in years.)

 

[sam]

I doubt Naturapet would be willing to have their products sold at Walmart so I kind of doubt that's what that was.It's a really simple, plain food and I think dogs often find it bland so it wouldn't be my choice unless I needed to feed it due to intolerances / allergies.

Sometimes dogs just get bored of their food. Lots of people feed a rotation and like that. Some dogs are also quiet good at training their owners to feed them better by refusing their food which gets their owners to add things or offer somthing else.
You could go to whatever place sells a variety of high end foods and ask for a bunch of samples. A sample bag is probably more than a meal for your little guy so you could see what he likes that way.

Raw Instinct is a good one, Orijen they're both grainfree, high protein.

I like feeding 1/2 and 1/2 canned food and kibble - dogs seem to like it too plus it gives them much needed moisture so you could try that too. Evo's canned is a huge hit with my two. Canned tripe too.

 

[Herschel]

I doubt Naturapet would be willing to have their products sold at Walmart so I kind of doubt that's what that was.It's a really simple, plain food and I think dogs often find it bland so it wouldn't be my choice unless I needed to feed it due to intolerances / allergies.

Sometimes dogs just get bored of their food. Lots of people feed a rotation and like that. Some dogs are also quiet good at training their owners to feed them better by refusing their food which gets their owners to add things or offer somthing else.
You could go to whatever place sells a variety of high end foods and ask for a bunch of samples. A sample bag is probably more than a meal for your little guy so you could see what he likes that way.

Raw Instinct is a good one, Orijen they're both grainfree, high protein.

I like feeding 1/2 and 1/2 canned food and kibble - dogs seem to like it too plus it gives them much needed moisture so you could try that too. Evo's canned is a huge hit with my two. Canned tripe too.

Unfortunately, you're one of the very few that can get Orijen!!

 

[Buddy'sParents]

They sell it in USA now...

USA Store listings

ONLY4PETS (Online store)

124 Romney Marsh Road

Longwood, FL32779

Phone: (321) 206-8718

Website: www.only4pets.com

 

[Bobsk8]

I bought one super premium food after another when I got Smokey and most wound up in the garbage can. As soon as I switched to Natural Balance, all the throwing food out stopped. She just loves it, no matter which one I feed her.

 

[deb27]

I bought one super premium food after another when I got Smokey and most wound up in the garbage can. As soon as I switched to Natural Balance, all the throwing food out stopped. She just loves it, no matter which one I feed her.

I had the opposite problem, mine wouldn't touch any of them.

I have had good Luck with Eagle pack my picky chi loves it and it is not to expensive.

 

[Red_ACD_for_me]

Hey Toaster! Where the heck you been ??? I would try some canned food with the evo before you just give up totally. I think I would get sick of eating the samething everyday over and over again to I give my boy canned and wet also. Though he is a chow hound and will eat anything I put in his bowl dry or wet. Hows things going with stogie anyway? Did you ever get him fixed :yikes: ?

 

[Toaster]

A big HI YA to everyone... And thanks for the warm welcome backs.

Foods:
Stogie seemed to enjoy the Evo's in the beginning, it just seems like he got bored of it honestly. I did try mixing in some canned (also Innova) with the Dry... He loved it - but it didn't seem to agree with him. The canned foods seem to give him a bit of diarrhea :yikes: Originally I was mixing in some canned for his evening (dinner) meal only, and serving him Dry only in the mornings.

As for his food selections (by me)... I decided to feed him the Innova Evo/RM ONLY because of this forum. It seemed everyone's opinion of Innova was very high, and the EVO line seemed to be the top shelf - premium stuff... and my little guy is so small, that price is not a big factor like it might be if he were a 100lbs, and eating a 40 lb bag a week or something. His little $15.49, 6.6 lb bag lasts at least 45 days no problem. Usually closer to 2 months, so its no big deal really... I can spring for $10/mo to feed my dog! :lol-sign:

What I don't like about the Innova is I pass 2 or 3 other places that sell pet food while going to the place I buy his Innova!! And Stogie hardly ever eats his food in the bowl if we're eating dinner in the kitchen (where his bowls are, and where he eats). He'd sooner wait under the table for something to fall off the table. I'm sure thats more of a Doggie behavior thing but - that drives me nuts.

And since I got him this puppy food by Innova (around Christmas time), he's been eating it like he can't stand it.. obviously I don't know for sure... And my wife keeps telling me stuff like "Why buy him that stuff if he hates it?" and I've been thinking - Yeah!? Why am I buying this if he hates it.

As for the EVO line specifically... Originally I noticed him being much more tired/lazy after meals until he fully adjusted to it. I likened it to eating a big holiday meal, and going to pass out on the couch while watching TV He'd eat and then sleep for a while... that went on for at least a week or so, then he got "normal" after eating it. He eats less of the Evo, even now - he eats more of this puppy food vs the EVO.

I guess I need to try some other samples... and see what he'll eat... either that or go get him the EVO again and see what he does... I guess I get confused too... We've been spending some time at Petsmart (my wife has a Turtle - so we stay in the Aquarium area a lot) - anyway, I always go in the food area and see these people buying Iams, Purina, Science Diet and NutroMax, etc... and think to myself - maybe I'm wrong for buying him Innova?


As for Stogie's manhood... I never 'fixed' him, He's still intact.