Converting to a new Kibble

[johnbasl]

Hey all,

I'm hoping to switch Arya to a new kibble soon. I'm hoping to move to something grain free and with higher quality ingredients. Her current food isn't causing any problems except she seems get yeast infections in her ears fairly frequently. The main reason I want to switch is that we currently supplement her kibble with canned meat. I'd like to use a better kibble and feed just that, so I had a few questions.

1. Do people feed a diet that is primarily kibble or do people typically mix the kibble with raw or some form of canned protein? I'm hoping to switch to something like Orijen adult and have that (plus some vitamins) be her main food.

2. Any issues I should look out for with the switch? I know it should be gradual.

3. Any thoughts on what a rough conversion would be? Arya weighs typically between 135lb and 140lbs. That's a healthy range for her build and we try to keep her right in there. She currently gets:
3 cups/daily of Purina Pro Plan Performance (divided over two meals)
A small scoop of Wilderness canned meat of some variety
A tiny spoonful of yogurt
Supplements (Vitamin C, E, Glucosamine, and a probiotic)

The Kcal/cup for Orijen is about the same as the Pro Plan. Does that mean I can go for roughly similar amounts of each (adjusting for the fact that I'll be cutting out the canned meat.

Any other comments on switching or on amounts are very welcome.

Thanks so much for all the help. I love being able to come here and get help from the community.

 

[johnbasl]

I should have mentioned, I'd also love to hear if people prefer other brands. I'm not committed to Orijen. So, if people think another is better or prefer a particular kind of Orijen, I'd love to hear. Thanks.

 

[dreamchaser456]

I feed 4Health from Tractor Supply as it's a quality food without the high price (4 out of 5 stars). The only thing I add to the food is turmeric and coconut oil. My 140 lb male that's almost 3 eats about 3-4 cups a day split between to meals. I am not currently feeding grain free but they have that also, but the only grain in what I give is rice. All 3 newfs have done great on the food, 11.5 yo, 4 yo and almost 3 yo.
If the kcals/cup are about the same you should be good giving the same amount, just beware that even the same kcal can give different results if the food is more fully digested.
Gradual switching is best to avoid loose stool so you are good doing it that way.

 

[johnbasl]

Thanks, Paula. That's very helpful. I was considering the Costco brand (3.5 stars and well priced), but I'd like to get something I can count on being able to find while traveling (just in case). I'll take a look at 4health.

Some of my searching on the forums showed threads where feeding grain free made the pups hungrier. I'm a bit conflicted.

 

[mrs big dogs]

I buy TOTW, its grain free plus they get coconut oil with each meal, I feed 1 and 1/2 c in the AM and Pm, once a week they get raw egg just the yoke, they love this food and its 4 and 1/2 stars

 

[johnbasl]

Thank you!

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

We had good luck with TOTW, Acana, and Orijen until Maggie developed allergies to all of them in turn. We added fish oil supplement to all except the Orijen 6 Fish.

 

[lmfoltyn]

Didn't one of the breeders on NN use ProPlan?

 

[MC Sullivan]

We use TOTW. The dogs really like it. I also will make bone broth and add that or some fish oil.

 

[Angela]

I feed Owain Proplan Select Turkey and Barley and Evan has been on Eagle Pack L amb and Rice for several years. I did feed him and my previous Newfs Origen for a while but they all got horrendous diarrhoea so I went back to the Eagle Pack.

 

[victoria1140]

Acana may be easier to tolerate.slightly lower protein but still good food and made by same people who do Orijen

 

[johnbasl]

Great. Thanks for all the replies. She is currently on ProPlan. I think we'll try the Orijen and then maybe Acana if issues arise. Worst case, we go back to ProPlan.