Food

So do you remember the good ole' days when you brought home a puppy you would just stopped at the local grocery store and pick up a bag of puppy chow? Well, I do and believe me, sometimes I wish it were still that simple.  It was almost that simple 16 years ago when we got Winston. At that time it was  Science Diet.  It was the most highly recommended dog food by veterinarians and breeders and quite frankly at the time, it was the very best dog food available.

Now a days, there's as many different methods of feeding, formulas and brands of dog food as there are, well, Dogs.  It can get very confusing.

So, I have this puppy.  She came to me with a couple of cans of puppy food (Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover's Soul) and a bag of dry. When I decided to keep her as my own I had some decisions to make and 3 1/2 weeks later, I'm still at it.

Bowie has a sensitive stomach.  When we first got her she would throw-up, oh 4-6 times per day.  At first, I thought it was volume.  She was eating more than her little puppy stomach could hold. And that was probably part of the equation.  But even as I feed her smaller, more frequent meals she was throwing up. Only now she was throwing up 1 1/2-3 hours after eating.

So what was I going to do?

So, my Winston is still on Science Diet.  He's on the canned senior formula. I've tried to switch him to "better" brands, but I think he was on Science Diet for so long, his system just cannot take the change...That may be why dog food companies used to tell us to NEVER switch there food if they are doing well...That advise was an insurance policy for the future.  Arrow eat raw.  He's been on raw since March of this year and is doing great!!! No problems, no issue.  I will put this pup on raw, but I'm really nervous about feeding raw to a puppy.  They have so many more nutritional needs.  But she throws up.  So I already knew I wanted her on a grain-free formula.

This is what I believe about grains in dog food.

*I don't think dogs need grain. It is not a natural part of a canine diet. It's a cheap filler in dog food that provides little nutritional value.

*If a dog is going to have a problem (allergy, sensitivity), I know it will probably be from a grain.

*Today's grains (especially those found in dog food) are almost always GMO's and are toxic from all the pesticides sprayed on them.

So hey, I don't want that for my dogs!

I also knew I wanted to give her canned food.  Canned food is less processed and provides more nutrition and adequate moisture. Although, I do like giving interactive toys filled with kibble. So, I would probably do an occasional dry kibble meal for the sake of learning and training.

So, I couldn't find a canned grain free puppy formula locally that I could actually afford, so I ordered on line.  Bowing has been on this for almost a week.  3 small meals (about 1/2 can each) and one dry meal in a toy in her kennel when I need her to be occupied.

Well, she still throws up sometimes.  Not as much. But sometimes. I cannot let her drink too much water or she pukes.  If she chews up a stick outside, she pukes.  This puking happens almost immediately after the ingestion, so I have a pretty good idea of cause and effect.

But today, I had been to the pet store and I was giving her dry kibble as a treat and when I got home...She threw up and it was mostly kibble.  Now I didn't see her eat anything else, but I guess she could have while we were in the store.

So, I guess we will stick to the status-quo.

And maybe, I might just have to start feeding her raw...It's the final destination anyway!