senior food vs "weight control" formula

[k9Karen]

Is there really much difference in 'senior' and 'weight control' formulas of dog food? Foxy was on Iam's weight control when we got her, and frankly, she doesn't like it. She keeps trying to steal the other dog's food even though her bowl is full. I'm now mixing the two, and she eats the other before she eats the Iam's. I have both Angel and Allie on Nutro Natural Senior food (chicken and rice based; the Iam's is also chicken based, but the main ingredient is corn meal - ugh). Allie isn't a senior dog, but if I give her regular food, she gets too fat. Both Allie and Angel also get lean meats and vegetables added to their kibble. When I first started Allie on the senior food, I was mixing 'regular' Nutro Natural Chicken and Rice with the senior. I eventually went to only the senior formula because it was easier - at the time both Angel and Mickey were on it and that way I only had to buy one kind of food. I'm also able to give her more so she doesn't act hungry like she did with the regular food. (The lower calorie Nutro Natural food contains lamb, and lamb makes her VERY gasy - can't use it).

Foxy definitely needs to lose some weight, so I need to reduce the number of calories she eats. I'd like to switch Foxy to the Nutro Senior, that way they'll all be on the same food, but she isn't even 3 years old yet. (Allie is 5 1/2, Angel is probably 10). Looking at the bags, the amount of protein is 20% in both, and the fat is 4% in the 'weight control' and 5% in the senior. The Nutro has more vitamins and minerals. Will a 'senior' formula hurt a dog as young as Foxy? She will also get the lean meats and vegetables I feed the others.

I'm probably going to make this change until she loses the weight, but I'm curious what everyone else thinks.

[davet]

i don't think so called senior diets will hurt pups or seniors, the dog can assimilate what ever it needs from what ever diet and weight loss is like peoplel. strictly calories in vrs calories out....

[momPaws]

k9k- hOPE fOXY IS doing well - would love to see pics of all your crew!

[Traci]

Since Davet and I don't always agree (yeah, that's right), I'm going to add that I wouldn't feed Foxy senior food. While it's going to be tough to keep her from eating the senior formula from the other dogs and while nibbling on occasion isn't going to hurt her, I would choose a control diet instead, at least temporarily. The best option of course, is exercise and activity.

[k9Karen]

Traci - what is the difference in the 'weight control' formula and the 'senior' formula? On the ingredient list (on the bags) they look virtually the same except for the corn meal vs rice and the VERY large list of vitamins in the Nutro. I've already run out of the Iam's and Foxy is eating the Nutro Senior. Should I add something to it? Maybe some fish oil or flax seed oil or maybe an egg twice a week? She was hardly eating the Iam's at all - I'd think eating the Senior formula would be better than not eating anything.

[Traci]

Weight Control or Light diets contain high quality protein, are lower in calories, lower in fat, higher in fiber...these diets are usually used to maintain the ideal weight (either after a controlled and successful weight management program prior, or, to maintain the ideal weight for an obesity-prone pet)

Senior diets contain high quality protein but at lower levels, are designed for easier digestibility (carbohydrate sources) and usually contain controlled levels of phosphorus and sodium.

Supplementing a weight control or light or less active diet is not necessary (depending on the brand and formulation).....all of these diets contain the necessary vitamin/nutrient formulation, and include fatty acids and antioxidants. It is during times of illness or that a sufficient diet for a health purpose isn't being met that would require supplementation.

If Foxy doesn't like Iams, choose another brand that is either 1) within her life stage group for adult dogs and supplement it only with exercise and activity or 2) choose a weight control diet and supplement with exercise and activity. It largely depends on just how overweight you percieve her to be and based on your vet's health assessment for her.

I'm not fond of Nutro products so I won't comment on their tendency to load their products with vitamins and oversupplementation (oops, there I go, I commented). If your older girls are doing fine on the Nutro Senior, don't change their diet, but I would simply not feed it to Foxy.

[davet]

OK Traci, that's Two..

[Traci]

Hee hee....at least we disagree nicely

[Doglady]

I agree with Traci, and would not feed a senior food to Foxy, even though it may be more convenient to feed the same food to all your dogs.

If she doesn't like the Iams, then choose another food. Also, how much extra weight is Foxy carrying? How much are you feeding? All dogs have different requirements as to how much food they actually need, so I would also try cutting back on the amount fed. What kind of treats are you feeding, and how many per day? Any table food? Treats have to be counted as part of the dog's daily intake of food. If you are giving biscuits, give pieces of fruit or veggies instead, and combine all of this with a good amout of exercise each day.

If cutting back etc., plus good daily exercise doesn't do it, then I would consider thyroid testing.

[k9Karen]

Doglady - Foxy is new to us - we've only had her 10 days. She was free feeding before with another dog (a lab), and her previous owners really had no idea how much she was eating. She was also being given Milk Bones as treats by them. I rarely give treats (all here are prone to weight problems), but if I do it is usually ice cubes or carrots. Foxy weighed in at 40 lbs, and even though she is a very large sheltie, my best guess at the moment is that she is at least 10 lbs overweight - possibly more. (I won't really know until she slims down). So, I'm pretty much playing it by ear trying to figure out how to make this work.

Traci - the amount of protein in the Iam's weight control and the senior is exactly the same - 20%. I do add meat to their diet, so this is not the only protein they eat. You say you don't care for the Nutro products - Have you looked at the Nutro Natural line? I don't like the ingredients in the Nutro Max, but the Natural line has very high quality ingredients and all my dogs and my daughter's dog have done extremely well on it. I looked at several weight control formulas at Pet SuperMarket, and I really didn't like the ingredients. I didn't have time to check out everything though. I prefer a chicken-based food - just seems to work better in my shelties for some reason; can't tell you why. I do not want a lamb-based food - gives them gas. Foxy had that problem when we got her - not too bad, but bad enough. Right now Foxy is on the senior formula and she appears to have already lost weight. I don't intend to keep her on it, just to use it temporarily until the weight comes off. I'm not really sure what I'll use after that, but probably the Nutro Natural Chicken and Rice if it works for her. I'm open to suggestions.