Puppy food?

[hoosier]

I've got a new puppy do you guys recommend puppy food or is a quality adult food with water just as good?

[mcbosco]

this thread is going to be long i can just tell...lol...personally i think puppy food is kind of a gimmick but i can see why people would feed it, less waste in theory, in theory

you would be better off feeding the best all stage food rather than feeding an average or below average puppy food

what was the pup eating when you picked him/her up?

i am a big believer in a fresh/raw component, at the very least a very good canned to mix in when they are little.

all depends on what you can get where you live and what you want to spend but the better foods actually dont cost more if you really analyze it.

probiotics are especially useful when they are young

i have never fed puppy food if that helps

[3Britts]

Nope, don't feed my litters puppy food. A good adult dog food, I use Kirtland chicken and rice for my pups, will do the job
and maintain a good growth rate. I stop adding water to the mix when the pups start chewing the niblets well. If the pups is over that 4 week mark, stick with dry.

Oh, and enjoy your new pup. They grow up too fast.

[ezzy333]

Nothing but dry after the first couple of weeks at the best. I use Diamond Premium and it works very well. I don't like to wet food for any dog as it just gums up their teeth and does nothing for them. I also do not use kind of supplement or treats to get them to eat as I do not want them becoming picky about their food and if you are feeding a good dry feed there is no need for anything more. Just don't let them overeat as you want them lean, mean, and a little hungry. With just dry feed it is much easier to control with less waste and mess.

Good luck with your puppy.

Ezzy

[mcbosco]

boy you guys are heartless...a teaspoon of goats milks yogurt and a couple teaspoons of Core canned with dry never hurt anyone.....jeesh

[ezzy333]

boy you guys are heartless...a teaspoon of goats milks yogurt and a couple teaspoons of Core canned with dry never hurt anyone.....jeesh

I think you are right but absolutely no need for it plus you do stand the chance of upsetting the balance of the diet. And I sure don't want to teach a dog that if it waits long enough I will bring out something better than their regular dogfood. I see way too many problem eaters just reading on this forum and I think 95% are created and not born that way. If they are then we need to start culling a lot of dogs from the gene pool. I just don't see good feeding management as being heartless.

Ezzy

[hoosier]

I always fed my pups the same food the older dog get. Just seeing what different opinion are out there.

[mcbosco]

ezzy i totally agree if you are always switching and tinkering but some variety and some fresh additions are consistent with "good feeding management"

most pups don't nurse long enough to begin with, so adding some foods that are fresh and natural (and in the fridge usually) is totally reasonable

the whole concept of a "complete and balanced diet" as described by the commercial producers is fatally flawed because foods from different makers all claim to be "complete and balanced" but have different ingredients and different levels and proportions of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals.

so which one is "complete and balanced"?

Probably none.

[ezzy333]

ezzy i totally agree if you are always switching and tinkering but some variety and some fresh additions are consistent with "good feeding management"

most pups don't nurse long enough to begin with, so adding some foods that are fresh and natural (and in the fridge usually) is totally reasonable

the whole concept of a "complete and balanced diet" as described by the commercial producers is fatally flawed because foods from different makers all claim to be "complete and balanced" but have different ingredients and different levels and proportions of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals.

so which one is "complete and balanced"?

Probably none.

Complete and balanced does not in any way mean exactly alike. For some reason you have this idea that every company is out to screw you and that isn't what successful companies are about. They are in existence because they provide a service and/or product that the customer needs or wants. That is how they get repeat business that they must have if they are going to stay profitable and in business. This may be a whole different concept out here in the sticks where our friends and neighbors work for these companies, use their products, invest in them and are part owners that understand how important their customers satisfaction is to the health and longevity of these companies that are part of our comunities.

Ezzy

[3Britts]

Complete and Balanced really means = complete the sale and balance our budget.
Companies are in business to make money.

Back to the original post please.
I think most have already agreed, same food as you are feeding the adult dogs in you care.

[bossman]

Well..Just call me naive (well actually, please don't). Have always fed my pups "puppy" food. Picking up a new pup in two weeks. Litter is being raised by a veterinarian I have the greatest respect for. Obviously the vet has access to and can afford any dog food. They also raise dogs that are actively trialed and hunted. They are feeding the pups Pro Plan Puppy.. Good enough for the vet...good enough for me . Anyway..Just my opinion.

[snips]

We have raised our last several litters on Exceed food and they have done great, and love it...

[Ayres]

I've heard it advocated both ways and I don't really know if feeding a special "puppy" food is required for good nutrition, but right now I'm feeding Nutrisource Adult to Justus and Belle, and Nutrisource Puppy to Tux. I'll continue feeding Tux the Puppy food until he's about 6 months old, and then switch over to the Adult stuff. The Puppy food is basically the same, with a few minor tweaks, except that it's also much smaller in physical size.

I've fed dry food, and also have put water over the food too. I initially fed wet food but switched to feeding dry because I thought the wet food was gumming up their teeth, like Ezzy said. But I really didn't notice any difference after feeding dry. I went back to feeding wet and still haven't noticed any difference in their teeth (in fact, my dogs eat the food before it has time to really soak up any of the water, so it doesn't get soft or gummy anyway). The dogs seem to like the food better with water poured over it - they start eating it faster and finish it off faster.

As always, though, your dog may vary. They all do!

[gspkimber]

I feed my GSP "Nutro Max Puppy (Large Breed)". She is now four months old and likes this food. I first bought "Chicken Soup" (feed store recommended); she did not eat this at all. She actually went two days without eating. This forum is very helpful so always check back if you have any questions.

[tommyboy72]

I was just at the vets office yesterday and was told to feed my preganant female pointer puppy food because it contains more calcium than an adult dog food and helps with milk production and also helps pups with producing healthy bones. I never take anyones word for it so I went to Tractor Supply, the local feed store, and just sort of started reading the nutritional tables and they do contain more calcium and some of them contain more protein and fat such as Diamond puppy that is a 31/20 blend but some are the same blend as what I feed my adult dogs. 31/20 sounded a bit high for pups, like it might give them diarrhea so you might also consider that when feeding pups. I opted to just give my female calcium supplement pills since she is already doing just fine on the food she is eating.

[mcbosco]

or you can give her a raw egg and let her eat the shell, they love it


sal

[tommyboy72]

Ya I thought about that too but 60 days worth of calcium supplement pills was only 10 bucks and she is do sometime between the 17th and 20th of this month so I figured I would give her the supplements till they are gone and see how she is producing then and if she is good to go then she won't need them anymore and if she is having trouble producing milk or it is a large litter then I will continue to give them to her and perhaps supplement with eggs as well, by then she could probably use the extra fat in the eggs anyway.

[nanney1]

Before you give your pregnant bitch any more calcium, Google this phrase: giving calcium supplements to pregnant dog

[tommyboy72]

Thanks nanney, calium supplements stopped after only 2 days. Puppy food it is. The old dog could use the calcium supplements anyway.

[mcbosco]

actually there is some good research that a little extra carbs is good for milk production as well, and there is no downside to that at all.