[pitlove]

Yes you can mix Trippett with dry.

I find Orijen to be too expensive. I think there are better foods out there that are much cheaper. I think my two personal favorites at this time are Dr. Tim’s Kinesis and NutriSource Large Breed Puppy.

[Triet S]

I want to try Orijen LBPs. How do you think ? or any recommended ?

[anonymously]

Keep the dog active, a 1 hour or at least a 20 minute brisk walk every day will do wonders to keep a dog fit.
Choose a quality kibble, check the calories, Orijen is a good food but is higher in calories, so you would feed less and maybe add a topper (a spoonful of cooked ground turkey or something lean).
Nutrisca is a decent food and is a little lower in calories. Feed measured amounts twice a day and add a splash of water….especially if the dog is not a water drinker.
Do not free feed.

[anonymously]

What about sodium? Orijen has less sodium than other commercial brands, Orijen has larger kibble and tends to be higher in calories so you use less of it, just add a topper.

I don’t know much about this large breed calcium thing. We had a large mixed breed years ago that lived to be 18 on one can of Calo a day. I can count on one hand the times he went to the vet…..however, I know that things are different now.

PS: I would find a veterinarian that you like and trust and see what he recommends. I have learned that this is important.
There is a lot of misinformation on the internet.

[Wabi S]

Hello,

First post, but I’ve been reading here a few days.

I have a 12 week old purebred Saint Bernard puppy. She’s currently on Eagle Pack but I’d like to switch her to something else, I’m thinking either Orijen if I can afford it on a regular basis (I heard their prices went up and their bag size is going down) or Fromm Gold Holistic Large Breed Puppy. $50 or under is ideal, but I can probably budget a little more if the food is worth it. Any suggestions? Also, how long should I be feeding puppy food?

An as aside, if it helps anyone, I contacted Taste of the Wild and they got back to me today. Here’s what they said about their food:

“Below are the calcium and phosphorous levels for all of our dry formulas. The levels below are based on an as fed basis of a typical analysis of the formula.

High Prairie Canine with Roasted Venison & Roasted Bison

Calcium: 2.1%

Phosphorus: 1.4%

Pacific Stream Canine with Smoked Salmon

Calcium: 1.9%

Phosphorus: 1.1%

Wetlands Canine with Roasted Wild Fowl

Calcium: 2.1%

Phosphorus: 1.4%

Sierra Mountain Canine with Roasted Lamb

Calcium: 1.6%

Phosphorus: 1.0%

Southwest Canine with Wild Boar

Calcium: 1.9%

Phosphorus: 1.1%

Pine Forest Canine with Venison & Legumes

Calcium: 1.4%

Phosphorus: 0.9%

Appalachian Valley Small Breed Canine with Venison & Garbanzo Beans

Calcium: 1.8%

Phosphorus: 1.2%

High Prairie Puppy with Roasted Venison & Roasted Bison

Calcium: 1.4%

Phosphorus: 1.0%

Pacific Stream Puppy with Smoked Salmon

Calcium: 1.3%

Phosphorus: 1.0%”

Hope this helps someone.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 5 months ago by Wabi S.

[pitlove]

Hi Sally-

Yes the calcium to phosphorus ratio for Stella & Chewy’s seem to be fine, however you also have to be concerned with the calcium to calorie ratio. If that is too high, the food is not LBP safe dispite having an appropriate calcium to phos ratio.

To Jacob-

Rotating diets is not a bad thing. If you feel better switching from grain inclusive to grain free that is fine as well. I wouldn’t go overboard personally. I would pick 2-3 brands that have LBP safe foods and you could rotate those and then build more variety once you see the eating habits of the dog.

If I had to pick 3 grain free LBP foods Nulo Puppy would be my first choice since Nulo is one of the few companies that staff a full time veterinary nutritionist, second choice would be Fromm Prairie Gold Large Breed Puppy and lastly would be Orijen Large Breed Puppy.

I used to be very swayed by the grain free trend. I firmly believed that if you fed your dogs grain you were a terrible pet parent. Then I got a grip on reality. My dogs (even the one with allergies) do much better on a grain inclusive food. I also have a Chocolate Lab, who was found as a stray. No allergy issues at all. I think there is a place for grain free diets and they are beneficial to those dogs that need them, but I find that the vast majority of pet owners who want to feed grain free don’t even really know why they want to. They have just “heard” it was better and didn’t stop to question that authority.

[Salz]

Cannoli- thank you so much for your input. I’ve fed Orijen for a long time and really do trust their product. But I also am keen on understanding that some foods just aren’t right for certain dogs.

I went ahead and contacted Stella and Chewys to get the Calcium and Phosphorous percentages for each formula AS FED. Once I calculated the ratios, I concluded that every formula except the Turkey had a Calcium to Phosphorous ratio of 1.5 to 1 or lower which to my knowledge is safe for large breed puppies (The Turkey is 1.9 to 1). The S&C rep also helped me calculate some basic feeding guidelines for my puppy which I thought was very thorough and considerate of her! I picked up 2 packages of S&C yesterday and switched Jax over cold turkey from his turkey and rice. He’s had completely solid stools for the first time in weeks and has already began to act like himself. It could be coincidence or it could be the food but either way, I’m glad I did the research and will continue him on this food!

[Cannoli]

First of all my pup had two months of loose stools and some diarrhea on Orijen. It takes a while for a pup’s buddy to handle that rich protein. Took about 6 months for him to handle all that protein. Now that his 18 months he has no issues with solely a protein diet. He stools are firm. Orijen is considered low protein for my pup nowadays.

So while his buddy got adjusted I gave him pumpkin and little steel cut oatmeal to form it up

Secondly since you are new to raw feed him kibble until he is grown. I personally don’t trust commercial raw dog food. Way too many recalls which tells me that their manafacturing and sanitizion process is lacking.

I don’t feed raw meat fom the grocery store unless it’s the grass fed hormone free meat. My store rarely carries this type of meat. I prefer to shop online for my grass fed hormone free meat sources at online meat stores that are FDA inspected and fit for human consumption. Commercial raw dog food are not federally inspected hence any joe blow can open up a shop in his garage.

Good luck it ain’t cheap

• This reply was modified 8 years, 5 months ago by Cannoli.

[Jennifer M]

Hi, I feed my two Shih tzu ‘s the Orijen Tundra and the both love it. Which says a lot as our one is four years old and extremely picky, she is also very small at 5lbs so it’s very important to me that what little food she does eat is high in protein and nutritional value. Our other pup is more than willing to eat anything given to her, so we have to monitor that she she only eating from her own bowl. Lol I do find the Tundra to be a bit more expensive than the other Orijen varieties but since our girls are small we don’t go through it that fast, plus it’s grain free and chicken free ( chicken always ends up making the one pup’s eyes tear & stain). I am a big fan of both Orijen and Acana products and have always stayed with choosing a variety from their lines.

[Salz]

Hello! I am a long time reader of DFA Forums but this is the first time I’ve actually posted anything. I have two dogs; a 4 year old minpin tripawd (Bean) and now a 4 month old Doberman/Rottweiler x puppy (Jax). Bean has done great on all and any premium food (wet, raw, kibble, he’s been on it all) but the more I read the more I want to just bite the bullet and switch fully to raw. Jax on the other hand, has had quite the hard time with kibble. I got Jax about two months ago and immediately put him on Orijen Large Breed Puppy. He’s had on and off diarrhea since I’ve had him. I figured the Orijen may have just been too much for his digestive system so I transitioned him (VERY) slowly to Natures Instinct Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy Kibble. His stools were firm for about three days until the diarrhea started again. I’ve had him tested for parasites and every malady under the sun with only negative results. Right now I just have him on cooked turkey and rice to settle his tummy until I decide on what to try next. I was hoping for some input from all of you lovely people!

I am concerned about putting a large breed puppy on raw so young, simply because I lack all of the knowledge about his nutritional needs. But so far, here are the options I’ve come up with.

Honest Kitchen Preference Base Mix mixed with a rotation of raw grinds/meats primarily from Primal and EcoPawz Raw (a local raw company in my area)

Stella and Chewy’s Frozen Raw (rotation of proteins)

Darwin’s Zoologics Line (a little out of my budget but they are sounding better and better)

No matter which I choose, I will definitely supplement with raw goat milk, yogurt, etc. I would also like some input on what kinds of meat I can buy at the grocery store. I’ve only ever bought dog raw from PFE. Sorry for the long post and I’m really looking forward to any and all input. You all rule!

Sally, Jax & Bean

[Jeff L]

Just over a week of changing his for from Carn4 to Orijen, his stool has firmed up nicely with no undigested kibble. I have added back the coconut oil and had no ill effects. I’m happy with the results of the change plus I still feel the CO has some benefits.

[anonymously]

Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea has no chicken, no grains, no potato.
It is the best food for my small breed that has a sensitive stomach, we always return to it. I use it as a base with a variety of toppers.
She has no anal gland issues, but she did (briefly) years ago before she received treatment by a dermatologist for environmental allergies.
See the reviews: https://www.chewy.com/dogswell-nutrisca-grain-free-salmon/dp/35033

My youngest dog is doing well on Orijen 6 Fish, I have noticed his stools are firmer.
However, keep in mind this food is richer and higher in calories, so you need to use less. Orijen didn’t agree with my sensitive stomach dog.

[anonymously]

I would never give a dog apple cider, it’s acid….It gives me heartburn, lol.
I presoak my senior’s kibble in tap water and this seems to work for him as he doesn’t have much left for teeth.

My dog with the sensitive stomach does well on the Nutrisca because it is a limited ingredient food and has small kibble.
I recently tried her on Orijen and she vomited a little up, I suspect because it is larger kibble, higher in calories and has more ingredients. So, back to the Nutrisca for her. My youngest dog likes the Orijen, I may keep him on it (as a base).
I add a splash of water to their meals and a topper.

PS: Ask your vet if Pepcid would be helpful 1/2 hour before a meal once a day.

[Shawna]

Orijen is a great food, Jeff!! I use it in my rotation with my crew and foster dogs.

[Jeff L]

So far he is firming up on just Orijen so I will keep him on this unless things change. Plus he likes it.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 5 months ago by Jeff L.

[Jeff L]

I haven’t given him any oils for 2 days and his poop was very firm today. Not sure if that is a good thing or not. I will try to add some CO back not his diet in a few days. With either Carna4 or Orijen he has tons of energy and his coat is beautiful even in his ugly phase, but I’m sure CO has something to do with that. I was probably giving him 2 TBSP. between Flax and CO which was probably too much.

As far as raw goes, I really don’t want to do it just because it much harder to travel while feeding raw and I’m pretty lazy. As far as eating poop, that only happens at my parents when I’m not picking up right after him like I would be at my apt.

[anonymously]

What foods did your vet recommend? I have two seniors that have been doing well on Nutrisca dry as a base, both recently had senior workups, lab work came back normal.
One of them (peke) will turn 16 next month.

I have recently added Orijen, more for my youngest dog, Orijen has a senior kibble but I haven’t checked it out.

[Jeff L]

Its usually 1-2 pieces a day. He does eat fast sometimes. I have also been giving him flax oil and coconut oil so I’m going to stop that and see if that firms up his poop and helps his digestion. There doesn’t seem to be any medical issues. He has never thrown up or had diarrhea just softer poop sometimes, but not all the time. I have been brushing his teeth since the day I brought him home even when he had puppy teeth. I’m not overly concerned, but I would like the poop slightly firmer and maybe that will come with age. Thanks for the responses. As far as the poop eating, that is only at my parents when he goes back outside. I’m assuming because he isn’t digesting the food completely that is why he likes to eat it. He won’t touch other dogs poop though. He has only been on Orijen for about a week so I will see how he responds without the extra oils.

[anonymously]

/forums/search/Coprophagia/

I have had a dog or two over the years that was a feces eater (coprophagia)

The only thing I found that worked, was to follow them around with a pooper scooper when you think they are due for a bowel movement, scoop and discard immediately, out of sight out of mind. After awhile they stop turning around to look for it. In my experience, it doesn’t matter what you feed them. Sometimes puppies will out grow this nasty habit as they mature. It is what it is. You cannot let these dogs alone with their feces.

Has the vet ruled out medical issues?
http://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/behavior-training/behavior-problems/coprophagia-in-dogs

PS: Do not free feed. Feed at the same time, twice a day and you will be able to predict when the dog will have a BM.
If he doesn’t finish after 10 minutes pick up the food, store in the fridg, and offer at the next mealtime.

Regarding the undigested kibble, is he wolfing down his food? Eating too fast? Get him one of those stainless steel dome bowls that are designed to slow him down, you could find one online, most pet supply stores carry them. Are you mixing with a soft food? Maybe that would help. Or a topper like a little scrambled egg or chopped up cooked lean chicken/meat, ground turkey…mixed in. Then you could just use the kibble as a base and use a little less of it.

You could pre-soak the kibble a little, hard kibble doesn’t clean teeth, brushing the teeth every day does, now would be a good time to start, YouTube has some “how to” videos.
Most dogs don’t drink enough water anyway, so I would add a splash.

Orijen is my current favorite, it does have hard solid kibble and keep in mind it is higher in calories than some other brands. I also like Nutrisca which has smaller kibble, I’ve been mixing them together with good results and may continue to do so.
My neighbor’s dog does well on Fromm, medium sized kibble.

[Jeff L]

I have a 5 month old Australian Shepard puppy. I started him on Carna4 and he has zero gas, but did have soft poop with undigested kibble. He also will eat his own poop if left alone. One last week I decided to try Orijen Puppy and he loves it, but I’m still seeing undigested kibble. I don’t mind spending money on top foods, but I have never seen this in any other dog I have had with some awful brands. Any thoughts??

[Rick S]

Deboned chicken, deboned turkey,yellowtail flounder, whole eggs, whole Atlantic mackerel, chicken liver, turkey heart, whole Atlantic herring, dehydrated chicken, dehydrated turkey, dehydrated mackerel, dehydrated chicken liver, dehydrated turkey liver, whole green peas, whole navy beans, red lentils, chicken necks, chicken kidney, chicken fat, pinto beans, chickpeas, green lentils, alfalfa, natural chicken flavor, lentil fiber, herring oil, ground chicken bone, chicken cartilage, turkey cartilage, dried kelp, freeze dried chicken liver, freeze dried turkey liver, whole pumpkin, whole butternut squash, kale, spinach, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, whole carrots, apples, pears, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, zinc proteinate, mixed Tocopherols (preservative), chicory root, turmeric, sarsaparilla root, Althea root, rose hips, juniper berries, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animal is fermentation product, dried lactobacillus cases fermentation product.

[anonymously]

I am impressed with Orijen 6 Fish as a base, I am finding I can use less kibble because it is higher in calories and solid.
I mix Nutrisca with it because my dog with allergies has done well on this food. I use the fish and chicken flavors. I may use Orijen for the morning meal and Nutrisca for evenings…or I may just continue to mix them, the Nutrisca has smaller kibble.
My neighbor’s dog does well on Fromm.

[Pjmaxwellian]

95% sure my pup is a Black Mouth Cur, adopted in Nov. at 10 mos., now 17 mos., about 55 lbs. Had her on Blue Wilderness, first puppy then adult. She’s a pretty high energy pooch, good thing we have a fairly large fenced yard.

I’m done with Blue anything. A short while ago, she seemed to be moving at a slower pace, turning her nose up at food, then became lethargic, had diarrhea, slept all day. Went 24 hrs. without food, then gave her rice and chicken. She seemed like herself again within another 24 hrs. Decided to change her food sooner than planned. Was going to anyway, had one more bag to buy to get my freebie. My head was spinning after all the dog food research. So, I bit the bullet and bought a bag of Orijen Regional Red (still Canada.) She went nuts over it. Even the cat wanted it. I have the food and water bowls raised (plant stands are perfect) and although the cat does drink out of the water bowl, I’ve never seen her race to the dog food bowl at feeding time.

Anyway, she’s been on the food for nearly a week. Her energy level is off the charts, and she seems hungry a lot of the time, comes inside and first points to the food bowl, then the treat cabinet. Stools are just right. I was giving her 1 cup of the Red twice a day, but I think I have to increase it.

The main reason I’m posting, is that I love Orijen Red, hope they take a long while before it comes out of Kentucky. But, I can’t really afford it all the time. I’d like to alternate, maybe every 2 bags of something else, with a bag of Red. Does that seem like a good or bad idea?

I’m just buying 5 lb bags now, until I’m sure the new foods fit her. I like grain-free, no GMOs, human-grade quality, at a reasonable price if possible. I’m OK ordering online, but would be nice to find something also available locally. I’m not sure about Acana yet, would like to see more reviews/results on the Kentucky food. Castor and Pollux Organix was a possibility (I actually bought a bag of Salmon and Peas but haven’t tried it) until I became aware of the Purina connection.

I’ve been looking at Petcurian food, Now Fresh and Go! Not sure if I can get it locally, I’ll have to check. I do like the ingredient info on their website, especially their statement on human-grade ingredients.

There’s always Taste of the Wild. Could probably alternate every bag (of Red) instead of every 2 with the price of this one.

Guess I’m looking for something between TOTW and Orijen Red in price.

I could use some other opinions on my thoughts here, both on the rotation idea and a new brand.

Thank you.

• This topic was modified 8 years, 6 months ago by Pjmaxwellian.

[anonymously]

Orijen and Nutrisca for dry food are my favorites, check Chewy.com. For a reasonably priced wet food/topper, check out Newman Organics.
Your dog is a senior and therefore prone to developing bladder stones (breed) so I would soak her kibble in water prior to serving and maybe add a splash of water especially if she is not a water drinker. Make sure she gets out for frequent bathroom breaks/opportunities to urinate.
Also, check her teeth and get a cleaning and extractions if needed. Brush her teeth daily (see YouTube for how to videos)

PS: I just reread your post, if you want to feed only dry, presoak the kibble in water overnight, it will be soft, easy to chew and digest. If the food you are using agrees with her, then stick with it. You can always add a bit of scrambled egg or cooked chopped up lean meat/chicken (no bones)
Has she had a senior workup? Ask the vet that examines her what he recommends.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 6 months ago by anonymously.

[Mick M]

I thought about adding Colostrum to my 8 month old GSD. She has been having trouble with stools and allergies. Has anyone used it. I’m feeding brothers complete. I’ve tried orijen,acana singles,nutrisource and fromms. It’s been hard to find a good food that helps her with normal stools.

[anonymously]

I just started my dogs on Orijen (Canada) as a base and so far I am pleased with the product. I find I can use less kibble because it is solid and higher in calories.
I hope things don’t change.

[Pjmaxwellian]

Are all 7 dogs the same breed? Did you contact the company? I would think if there is an issue with the food, the company (given their perceived reputation,) might respond sooner than the FDA. Facebook is another option.

As Susan said above, might be an issue where the dogs can’t handle this type of food, but if they are different breeds and haven’t had this problem before, it’s scary. That along with the plastic found in bags from the new plant.

Just started my dog on Orijen, still from the Canada plant, but I’m nervous about the transition to Kentucky.

[Mick M]

I’ve been having trouble with my GSD Heidi she is 8 months old. Is started her out on orijen LBP but her stools was to soft. Then I went to nutrisource same problem. Then acana singles she wouldn’t eat it and stools were still loose. I’m feeding her brothers complete she eats some times. her stools are better on this. Has anyone else fed there dog brothers complete.

[Kelly P]

Your situation sounds very similar to mine. I have a 13 yr old mini Schnauzer and had heard several bad things about the food I was feeding her. Always dry food, no table scraps, etc. I finally got that smack in the face that your dog is getting old when she started collapsing if she got wound up. Sure enough, she’s got an enlarged heart and nothing we can do other than a few meds to stave it off as long as possible. My first Schnauzer suffered from the same thing.

But, the news about the other brand, her prognosis and her age made me think it was time to switch. I went with Wellness Core small breed and she ate it at first as I was mixing it up with her old food so as to ease the transition. That was fine but once I got to 100% Wellness she would sniff it and walk away. I even pulled the Nick Nolte “Doen and Out in Beverly Hills” trick where I stuck my face in the bowl. It actually works, but I can’t do that every meal.

Eventually at some point during the day, she would eat it. I suppose she was just hungry! Kind of like when you’re on a road trip and you stop at a place you’d usually speed up to get past.

Anyway, I made my decisions based on the recommendations here, I just recently tried Orijen Senior Formula. It’s not a small breed food, so the kibble is bigger. I put the Wellness in 1/2 the bowl and Orijen on the other side. She was all over the Orijen and left an almost perfect line where the Wellness was. I also bought a little 4 lb bag of Merrick Grain Free Real Buffalo & Sweet Potato if the Orijen didn’t work.

Like you, I think she likes bigger chunks and that Wellness was pretty small. Unfortunately, I don’t have any other data or info to share. The Orijen is not cheap by a long shot, but the people on this forum aren’t here because we value savings over health and well being of our dogs.

[Pjmaxwellian]

Here’s my Blue Wilderness experience:

Adopted a 10 month old Black Mouth Cur in November. Started her on Blue Wilderness Chicken Puppy, end of January changed to adult formula. Started researching dog food, and had my concerns about Blue Wilderness. Continued with it because my local pet store has a buy 10 get one free thing. I would have qualified for my free bag next trip. With the last bag I purchased, Gracie started turning her nose up at the food bowl, then a few days ago, diarrhea and lethargy set in. I could hear her stomach rumbling from the next room, sounded like a volcano. Noticed one odd thing about the food, there seemed to be an excess amount of the little bits, (Lifesource Bits?) It wasn’t like that in any previous bags. Anyway, didn’t feed her for 24-hours (breakfast to breakfast,) and gave her 1/2 pepto bismol tablet. The next morning, she was herself again, and she almost inhaled her rice and chicken breakfast. Her illness could be due to something she ate in the yard, of course, but the food is still suspect, and I was thinking of changing anyway, never did get my freebie.

More research, and my head is spinning. Lots of reports similar to my experience. Merrick seemed like a good choice at first, but a lot if folks unhappy with the formula change after the Purina acquisition. My cat eats Instinct and has been doing great on it, so that was a consideration. Orijen looked like the best option, if one can afford the Whole Foods dog food equivalent, crazy expensive. Well, bit the bullet and just picked up my first bag of Orijen Regional Red (made in Canada.) They only had the 5 lb bags which is fine to start with, but I asked if they had the larger bags. I was told, since the factory change from Canada to US, the new bags (formulas) are slowly arriving. Just when ya think you’ve made a decision, something else comes along to question it.

Going to stick with the rice and chicken for a few days, then start adding the Red and see how she does.

I’ve had 3 Rottweilers, wonderful dogs. Last one died last fall, along with our German Shepherd Mix. Both Humane Society adoptees, lived long lives. I’m getting older, and when the hips started to go on the 100+ pounders, got to be a little hard to help them get up and out. Downsized a bit with this pup, she’s about 55 lbs now, which I’m happy about.

Good luck with your Rottie!

[Linda H]

My 9 month old gets 2 and 1/2 cups a day. I use part orijen and part taste of the wild.
Also she likes a dab of cottage cheese for treat and also apple and cooked or raw carrots.

[anonymously]

My current favorite foods are Nutrisca or Orijen kibble as a base, I lean toward the fish, and I add a topper. I recommend Chewy.com

[Sam R]

Thank you for your response, I am trying to figure out if the protein thing is myth or fact-

in human nutrition there is a lot of myth propagated and I just wonder if the difference between the protein in a 5 star vs a 4 star- is actually meaningful or not-

the price difference between fromm and orijen is significant- I am tempted to go for Orijen- because I want my pup to have the best. But at the same time I don’t want to be a sucker for the marketing and propaganda – (which is what my vet tells me it is)

[pugmomsandy]

Sam R,

Fromm Large Breed Puppy doesn’t have the high amount of protein that Orijen and Instinct contain.

This article might help:

/frequently-asked-questions/rate-dog-food/

For a rotational feeder like me, I mainly choose 3.5 stars and higher in all forms of foods with few red colored ingredients. For instance, I use Pro Pac Ultimates Grain Free and also feed raw meat with no veggies and everything in between.

[Sam R]

Can you explain why Fromm Large Breed Puppy gets 4 stars when Orijen and Instinct get 5?
I read all three reviews and don’t really see an explanation to distinguish between 4 and 5 stars. Can you point out the deficiency that makes Fromm lose a star?
Thanks

[zcRiley]

A food can’t be too rich; however, your pup has an intolerance to one or several of its ingredients.

Glacierpeakholistics.com is a great allergy testing panel. Both my pups had to get off of Orijens due to chicken allergies and a slew of other ingredients. It changed their lives!

[Jodi O]

Hello everyone,
I have an 11 week old black lab puppy that came home on Purina Pro Plan and was doing great. Last week we decided to switch to the large breed puppy Orijen kibble. Right now we are on a 60/40 split of Purina Proplan/ Orijen. He has had really runny poops basically since the switch. I know the Orijen is really rich but I thought it was the better kibble. Suggestions? Do I go back to the Purina Proplan solely? I would appreciate any insight. thanks!

[Tim S]

We have been feeding our latest puppy the Farmina Natural & Delicious Chicken Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food for about ten months after transitioning from another highly rated food (Orijen). We are quite happy with the results, the puppy loves the food and the kibble size is relatively large (works well as a training treat).

I am not familiar with Farmina’s marketing strategy in the U.S. although I would guess that their market penetration efforts are regional in scope … beyond the existing nationwide Chewy.com distribution channel.

[Hannah Y]

I have a very persnickety 16 yr old Maltese Poodle mix male with various health issues. So far, he’s been on Orijen, Acana, Blue Buffalo, etc etc. Even if I add boiled chicken or other snacks as toppings he is able to smell the kibbles right out of it and won’t touch the bowl.

He does like Tiki Dog canned food, but due to his sensitive stomach, he always gets the runs and terrible gas, even after gradually introducing it to him.

So I decided to give Freshpet Nature’s Fresh rolls and so far, he’s been doing pretty well. I would recommend you pick a few products she likes and mix it up and add some toppers to it. I add crushed lamb lungs which seems to help.

[anonymously]

Orijen Adult Dry Dog Food

This protein packed dog food is formulated to best match the natural needs of your dog.

“The recipe contains well balanced meats, vegetables, and fruits—even deemed fit for human consumption. It is also grain free with limited, specially selected carbohydrates. The Omega 3 fatty acids support a sleek coat and healthy skin. The botanicals were selected by veterinarians to help support the organs, cleanse the body of toxins, and maintain a healthy metabolism. It is also a low sodium dog food with a sodium content listed at 0.3%.”

“The top listed ingredients include boneless chicken, chicken meal, chicken liver, whole herring, and boneless turkey. Some of the other fruits and vegetables include red lentils, green peas, green lentils, cranberries, and blueberries. Customers who purchase Orijen say it may be a bit expensive, but it does not make any compromises when it comes to the health of pets. Many say it is likely the best low sodium dog food out there and reflects the natural, ancestral diet of their pets”.

Above is an excerpt from: https://www.munch.zone/best-low-sodium-dog-food/

Check with your vet, he may suggest a prescription diet.

[anonymously]

You could try a little homemade chicken broth, nothing added (not the store bought crap). He either got into something or picked up a virus. IMO (I am not a vet)
When he is on his feet you may want to consider whatever additional testing your vet recommends. I know, ($) but these things happen and once they stabilize you may get lucky and get a 5 year run with him needing nothing but an annual/routine care/heartworm check etc.

I recommend Nutrisca dry, soaked in water for a dog with a sensitive stomach, just tried Orijen, it’s quality stuff but I think it might be too rich for 2 out of 3 of my dogs. I will continue to use it however as a base, maybe I’ll mix it with the Nutrisca.

[anonymously]

I would rule out medical causes for the change in appetite, at the age of 11 a senior workup (lab work etc) may be a good idea.
If you are not brushing their teeth daily, they may very well need professional cleanings and extractions.
After medical clearance, I would consider Nutrisca dry foods as a base, my senior dog and my dog with allergies do well on this product. I recently tried Orijen and I am impressed with it for my younger dog, it may be too rich for a senior. Check Chewy.com and compare prices.
Can you take them out for a leisurely 10 or 20 minute walk twice a day? It makes a difference (in my experience).
PS: Add a splash of water to the kibble, don’t free feed, and take out for frequent bathroom breaks, every 2 hours or at least every 4 hours.

[zcRiley]

If you haven’t already, do a full panel blood test and fecal test, and abdominal/intestinal X-ray for any blockages. Check his coat for fleas/ticks. And trash that Purina like immediately. Do Orijen dry puppy food and Esbilac powder milk formula four times a day, no free feeding. And lotsa fresh water available, one inside and one outside the home, change daily. Watch the poop.

[anonymously]

Orijen is the best (imo) Check Chewy.com. I would add a topper such as scrambled egg, lean cooked chopped chicken breast, broiled chopped chicken liver, a spoonful of tuna, cooked lean meat, etc. instead of the canned food and add a splash of warm water prior to serving.

Store the Orijen in the freezer or fridg as it has no preservatives. Nutrisca is good as a base too.
Try not to worry so much, he’s a puppy, they fill out more at 1 to 1 1/2 years old.

PS: Do not free feed, not a good idea. Good info over here: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

Also, use the search button at this site for more info. But, take it with a grain of salt.
Dr Google is not always accurate. Another thing, some dogs are just naturally lean. I have a 10 pound dog that eats as much as my 20 pound dog, they are both healthy, active and fit.

[John K]

Sorry to hear about all your dogs. My 8 year old shep mix went through this 6 years ago. She went blind in a week and gained weight. Unfortunately it turned out to be tumors. It’s a horrible disease and leaves you feeling hopeless. Vet bills were in the thousands. I feel for you and your dog and all other owners who are going through this. I really believe it was because of her diet.

I rescued 2 dogs 5 years ago and had them on a raw diet. 1 chicken leg and thigh in the am and again in the pm bones and all. They thrived on this diet. However I had to travel a lot and my family didn’t share my affinity for raw chicken. So I was thrilled when I found this site which guided me to an acceptable diet of Fresh Pet rolls and Orijen senior kibbles. I also mix this with raw pumpkin, organic chia seeds, and organic raw dried cranberries.

[anonymously]

I am very impressed with Orijen as a base, so far. I am storing it in the freezer once opened (no preservatives) I just add a splash of warm water prior to serving.

I may still use Nutrisca too.

[anonymously]

I have a dog with environmental allergies and she has been doing very well since starting allergen specific immunotherapy four years ago. Her diet is varied, a quality kibble with a bit of cooked meat, chicken, egg or turkey as a topper.
We just started Orijen 6 fish, but she also does well on Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea as a base.

The dermatologist told me her diet has nothing to do with her allergies, she does have a sensitive stomach however. I add a little water to her meals also.

I would be careful about making dramatic changes to a senior dog’s diet, maybe check with your vet as there are prescription dog foods specially formulated for specific conditions.
I might be concerned about the possibility of diarrhea with all those veggies mentioned in your diet, I’ve never heard of DH Hash.

How about Malaseb shampoo? Weekly bathing might help. My dog gets bathed twice a week with Malaseb.

[Michael C]

I have read a few articles saying dry food is harmful to your pet (whether dog or cat) and recommend adding moisture to it of some type. I have never heard about goat’s milk. I use some unsalted chicken cooking stock (Swanson’s) with water (about 3 parts water to 1 part chicken stock). I think dry dog food is hard on the kidneys if it doesn’t have any added moisture. A dry dog food with a higher carb content than Orijen would probably swell up with added moisture, so perhaps the pet food store was not familiar with Orijen. Here’s an article I just received today that talks about the dangers of dry dog food without any added moisture. http://products.mercola.com/healthypets/bladder-health-for-pets/?utm_source=petsnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20160512Z1&et_cid=DM105047&et_rid=1479439814

[Debbie G]

After reading Dogfoodadvisor, I now have my 11 yr old 91 lb lab on Orijen senior food and my 12 week old 15 lb puppy (have no idea what breed) on the Orijen puppy food. I was in a pet store and the were trying sell me on feeding them raw food and said that dry kibble is hard on the dog’s kidneys and actually worse for their teeth since the starch turns to sugar on their teeth and that’s what creates plaque! Since I wasn’t sold on switching food brands again, they convinced me to buy a carton of raw goat’s milk to add to their dry food. They said dry food should be soaked in a liquid (even if it’s only water) because then it’ll expand the food before the dogs ingest it. I saw that the Orijen dry food didnt expand at all (which I’m thinking is good?) I’t’s expensive and I want to know if this is just a new thing to sell to customers.

[anonymously]

Best of luck. I tend to lean toward science based veterinary medicine.
I hope you will continue to post here, maybe we can all learn from each other.

PS: I understand why you prefer a homemade diet. I use a quality kibble as a base only. Canned food just doesn’t smell or look right to me. Just received a bag of Orijen from chewy.com that I ordered, I have to use up something else before I try it, but I am already impressed, the bag was air vacuumed…