I will try to make this short. "Try" being the important word there.
Six month old English Mastiff puppy. Was on Acana Large Breed Puppy since we brought her home in June. Was doing fine, maybe a bit leaner than I like, but energetic and shiny, stools fairly firm. About a month ago, I guess, she started having diarrhea. No blood in it but some mucous. Woke up one morning with a huge...for lack of a better description...cow patty on my kitchen floor. Fasted her for 24 hours, then started her on smushy rice. She was drinking and peeing normally--and very energetic throughout the whole ordeal. When her stools didn't start firming up even with the fast/rice I took a stool sample to the vet who found the clostridium bacteria in it. (Still not sure, and probably never will be sure, where she picked this up. We did uncover some nasty garbage left buried in the yard by the disgusting people who rented our acreage before we bought it, that's a possibility.) She was prescribed a week's worth of antibiotics (amoxi) and within two days her stools started firming up. At the end of the seven days she was fine...then three days later diarrhea again. Before I knew about the diarrhea (I noticed it just after this next incident) I offered her a bowl of food and she refused it. Wouldn't even touch it. (She did try to steal a different brand from a visiting dog's dish so it wasn't that she was too sick to eat.) I am returning the half eaten bag of Acana for a refund...if my dog won't even go near her bowl, to me, that's a sign that there's something wrong.
I have emailed Champion Pet Foods, twice, asking if there has been a formula change or any quality issues. I have not had a reply. :frown: Very disappointing because I have always thought highly of them and their customer service. I recommended this food to anyone and everyone. Even if it's not their "fault" that my dog is not as healthy as she should be I have lost faith that they care at all about the wellbeing of my dear puppy.
So...here we are. Food change time. Based on ingredients and ratings and cost and feeding amounts--hour upon hour of research--I think I've narrowed it down to two strong possibilities:
Innova Adult Large Bites. A 29 pound bag costs $63.00 + tax. As a puppy at 80 pounds the website suggests a feeding amount of about 4 1/2 cups per day. (Yes, I am aware that is just a suggestion and it will vary for each dog taking into account many variables...but to make this decision easier I'm going to pretend that is what I will have to feed.) At 150 pounds it is suggested that she will eat about the same. Healthy Cat Food and Dog Food Feeding Amount Calculator - Innova Holistic Pet Food
Canadian Naturals. A 35 pound bag costs $60.00 + tax. As a puppy the rep said she'd need between 4 and 6 cups per day. At 160 pounds it is suggested she will need 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 cups per day.
(There was a website but I can't find it now???)
Other possibilities??
Canidae. Waiting for email back from this company regarding feeding amounts.
Solid Gold. Also waiting for email back from them regarding feeding amounts.
I don't want to go raw and I no longer want to feed a Large Breed food or a Puppy formula. I just want an adult formula suited to a giant breed puppy.
Suggestions/opinions welcome!
Six month old English Mastiff puppy. Was on Acana Large Breed Puppy since we brought her home in June. Was doing fine, maybe a bit leaner than I like, but energetic and shiny, stools fairly firm. About a month ago, I guess, she started having diarrhea. No blood in it but some mucous. Woke up one morning with a huge...for lack of a better description...cow patty on my kitchen floor. Fasted her for 24 hours, then started her on smushy rice. She was drinking and peeing normally--and very energetic throughout the whole ordeal. When her stools didn't start firming up even with the fast/rice I took a stool sample to the vet who found the clostridium bacteria in it. (Still not sure, and probably never will be sure, where she picked this up. We did uncover some nasty garbage left buried in the yard by the disgusting people who rented our acreage before we bought it, that's a possibility.) She was prescribed a week's worth of antibiotics (amoxi) and within two days her stools started firming up. At the end of the seven days she was fine...then three days later diarrhea again. Before I knew about the diarrhea (I noticed it just after this next incident) I offered her a bowl of food and she refused it. Wouldn't even touch it. (She did try to steal a different brand from a visiting dog's dish so it wasn't that she was too sick to eat.) I am returning the half eaten bag of Acana for a refund...if my dog won't even go near her bowl, to me, that's a sign that there's something wrong.
I have emailed Champion Pet Foods, twice, asking if there has been a formula change or any quality issues. I have not had a reply. :frown: Very disappointing because I have always thought highly of them and their customer service. I recommended this food to anyone and everyone. Even if it's not their "fault" that my dog is not as healthy as she should be I have lost faith that they care at all about the wellbeing of my dear puppy.
So...here we are. Food change time. Based on ingredients and ratings and cost and feeding amounts--hour upon hour of research--I think I've narrowed it down to two strong possibilities:
Innova Adult Large Bites. A 29 pound bag costs $63.00 + tax. As a puppy at 80 pounds the website suggests a feeding amount of about 4 1/2 cups per day. (Yes, I am aware that is just a suggestion and it will vary for each dog taking into account many variables...but to make this decision easier I'm going to pretend that is what I will have to feed.) At 150 pounds it is suggested that she will eat about the same. Healthy Cat Food and Dog Food Feeding Amount Calculator - Innova Holistic Pet Food
Canadian Naturals. A 35 pound bag costs $60.00 + tax. As a puppy the rep said she'd need between 4 and 6 cups per day. At 160 pounds it is suggested she will need 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 cups per day.
(There was a website but I can't find it now???)
Other possibilities??
Canidae. Waiting for email back from this company regarding feeding amounts.
Solid Gold. Also waiting for email back from them regarding feeding amounts.
I don't want to go raw and I no longer want to feed a Large Breed food or a Puppy formula. I just want an adult formula suited to a giant breed puppy.
Suggestions/opinions welcome!