senior food vs "weight control" formula

[Traci]

Karen, this is where I will leave off on this post for the following reasons:

Your perception and my perception of "quality ingredients" differ, in that you have chosen what ingredients in particular you feel is best for them.

For that reason, it is up to you to choose the brand of dog food for Foxy. I could offer suggestions for you, but I won't because we both know we don't agree with those choices. Nothing personal at all, K?

Beyond that, I would suggest you speak to your vet about it, about your choices, and about Foxy's weight and health status in general, since your vet has evaluated her and knows her much better than I.

[Doglady]

Hi Karen,

The free feeding by the former owner, means you have your work cut out for you. There's no way the owner would have known exactly how much Foxy was eating. This also encourages a dog to eat when they feel like it, which means it will take time for you to figure out how much she really needs each day, and also to get her to eat when you put the food down, and not expect it to be there for her all day.

If she's getting into your other dog's food, then feed her separately, maybe even in a crate if necessary. Give her 20 minutes to eat her food, if she balks and eats little or nothing, pull up the bowl. After that, all she gets is water until the next feeding...she will get the message. Start out giving her what you think is appropriate for her size, and then gradually adjust the amount downward, if she's not losing. Once she gets down to a proper weight, keep feeding the same amount, unless she drops down too much. You will have to play with it and make adjustments up or down, until you find the correct amount to feed that will maintain her proper weight.

As far as the brand of food, whatever works, works. I fed Nutro's for years, and when they changed the formula in their Max line, (I was feeding the senior) my dogs had trouble with it. I then swtiched to Nutro's Natural Choice Senior. That worked for quite awhile, until Nutro's had to screw with the formula with that food and both my girls had stomach upsets. Now I am feeding my new girl Wellness Fish and Sweet Potato kibble, by Old Mother Hubbard, which she's doing very well on. Her coat is no longer dry, feels nice, also has a nice sheen to it. I don't have to feed her very much of it either, as she utilizes a good deal of it. I have no idea what her former owner was feeding. He couldn't remember the name of it, and said it was a lamb/rice food.

[k9Karen]

So far, Foxy is adjusting well to being fed only twice a day. It took about a week, but she's getting the hang of it. I have to watch them - Allie will try to get their food if she can, so it's not only Foxy that I have to worry about. Angel eats the slowest, and both Foxy and and Allie have tried to get her food (and unfortunately, she lets them). I haven't seen the Wellness/Mother Hubbard lines sold around us. Foxy seems satisfied with the amount I'm giving her. She kept trying to get the other dogs' food when they were getting something different than she was. Now that they are almost the same, she has stopped that.

Traci - thanks for your help and all the information you provided. I'm not trying to be difficult, I guess I really don't understand the difference between the specific 2 foods I asked about except that one is lamb based and the other is chicken based. I am interested in what you would recommend and the reasons why.

[Amandasmom]

Just my 2 cents, I was surprised that the weight control and senior had the same protein. I thought senior ment less protein. I was told by BMD breeders not to switch to senior until blood test indicated it. (their words; if it's not broke, don't fix it.) I feed regular food in small amounts with lots of string beans and carrots. This way I can use one food for all dogs. Pete has a little weight problem. My dogs would be considered seniors but so far thier blood work is fine.

[k9Karen]

I was surprised too - that's what prompted my question. They really do look to be the same (or so close that you can't tell the difference). I think the older dogs are getting the same nutrition they would get with a smaller amount of regular food and added fillers because I can feed more. They just didn't feel full with the regular food and always wanted to be fed. The senior lets me give them more so they don't feel hungry and don't bug me so much .

[Amandasmom]

That's why I do the carrots and string beans. It's a big bowl of food and they leave me alone for about 10 minutes. My 80 pound dogs get 1 cup of food and the 60 pound gets 1/2 a cup twice a day. It looks like such a small amount of food in the bowl. I have to do something. Maybe I should get smaller bowls.

[Doglady]

The senior lets me give them more so they don't feel hungry and don't bug me so much .

Some dogs are pigs, and are never satisfied, or they are simply bored and turn their attention to food.

I never let any of my dogs become a pain in the *beep*, by nagging me for anything....food or otherwise...that becomes a training issue, not a food issue. Some of mine tried, but got nowhere. If they nagged, they were put on a lengthy down/stay and ignored..they got over it and themselves. They got what I put down for them to eat, (which was sufficient) and that was it..no nagging for anything else. They get their treats when *I* decide to give them, and treats are green beans or other veggies (good for helping build/maintain muscle mass) and pieces of fruit. I gave all my dogs, and current one plenty of exercise and playtime, so my new girl is sufficiently tired (she has a lot of energy) and then it's "down time" for her, and she knows it.

Sometimes you have to put your foot down so you are in control, and the dog/s are not..the way it's supposed to be.