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  1. #1
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    Puppy food suggestions pleaseˇˇ

    My puppy is 4 months old is my very first puppy so im super new to this....we are currently feeding him Wellness core puppy formula (grain-free) (dry food)... i think i need to change his food because he has itchy skin, his coat is dry and his belly is getting darker (vet says it is normal pigmentation but i also read the it may be a reaction to the food).

    I dont know what to do, like i said is my first puppy and im kind of lost do you have any recommendations??

  2. #2
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Hi and welcome!

    There are many things that may contribute to what you're seeing. Tell us a little more about your pup so that maybe we can offer some helpful suggestions, things like how long you've had him, how long he's been on his current food, how often you bathe him or brush him. If you changed food when you got him, what was he eating before? Does he have any hives or bumps on his skin that make you think he's got an allergy or some sort of dermatitis? Could he be starting to go from a puppy coat to a more adult coat? Is he a full lab?

    If you've had a vet take a look at him and the vet says it looks normal, remember this is your first puppy and the vet has probably seen hundreds or thousands of pups so I'd start out trusting the vet, who has actually seen your pup, over something you're read online at this early stage. His current food seems to have plenty of fats in it, which help contribute to a healthy coat. Grain-free foods are not needed by most dogs, incidentally. Any carbohydrates not provided by grains are provided by some other starch, potatoes, peas, rice, etc.

    First puppy? Oh my! That's always an adventure! Come back and tell us more, and if you can get some photos on here, we love to see puppies!

  3. #3
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    It's funny but I hear of more puppies on the premium brands not doing well.

    I'd be curious about what the pup ate before you got it.

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to JenC For This Useful Post:

    windycanyon (04-12-2017)

  5. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by JenC View Post
    It's funny but I hear of more puppies on the premium brands not doing well.

    I'd be curious about what the pup ate before you got it.
    He was on purina puppy chow, i've been reading to try to figure out what brand should i get but as i read i just get confuse

    I got him when he was 8 weeks now he is 3 months i started introducing wellness core puppy formula as soon as i got it and was fully on this new one after 2 weeks (a little over a month now).
    He is a pure breed Labrador retriever, really active he is up to date in his shots not neutered yet.
    Last edited by buckys55; 04-10-2017 at 05:07 PM.

  6. #5
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    Take a look at Pro Plan Sport 30/20. It's a good ALS food that you can use through the puppy growing into an adult. After it's grown and you want to try a new food, then you can do it. I never mess with food during the puppy years, since their growth affects everything about them.

    And yes, at 4 months, I would expect him not to be neutered yet. Please plan on waiting until a year or older to do it.

  7. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by JenC View Post
    Take a look at Pro Plan Sport 30/20. It's a good ALS food that you can use through the puppy growing into an adult. After it's grown and you want to try a new food, then you can do it. I never mess with food during the puppy years, since their growth affects everything about them.

    And yes, at 4 months, I would expect him not to be neutered yet. Please plan on waiting until a year or older to do it.


    really?? the vet told me the after 4 months the sooner the better may i ask why you recommend to wait??

  8. #7
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Hi,

    I'll attach a link to one of the more popular threads on here that contains a number of articles discussing when/if to spay or neuter your dog.

    Neuter/Spay - Pros, Cons, Risks, Benefits - Research Article Links

    It is pretty common for vets to push for neutering at 4-6 months of age. Some of the articles give some pretty compelling information about the benefits of waiting, particularly to allow for the hormones to be there to allow for the best skeletal development before neutering occurs. For labs, it would influence how their heads, chests, and legs develop, if my memory is correct. The breeders from whom I got my labs (one male, one female) asked me to wait until the male was at least 2 years old and the female after at least one heat cycle. Since that was the recommendation of the breeders, that is what I did. For most people who are not showing or breeding their dogs, it's a matter of balancing when to do it for optimal development of your dog and doing it to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Read some of the articles and see what seems best for your dog and your situation. Some day cares and kennels require that dogs be neutered or spayed by a certain age, and in that case, you have to do what you have to do. If you do not have that requirement, you can decide what's best for you and your pup.

  9. #8
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    No, altering "the sooner the better" is VERY old school. Reputable breeders are asking puppy buyers to wait. Up to date vets are telling the same to their clients.
    Don't Make This Mistake When Scheduling Your Dog's Neutering Procedure
    https://www.caninesports.com/uploads/...tions_2013.pdf

    Basically with dogs that have high rates of joint issues (Labradors, larger dogs), it helps to have them fully develop before you remove the hormone producing glands.

  10. #9
    Puppy Abigails mom's Avatar
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    My puppy isn't far off age wise from your's Bucky55. The breeder was feeding Fromm Gold puppy - NOT the large breed. My vet pushed Science Diet large breed puppy. Through research on these boards and personal experience I ended up with Purina Pro Plan Focus large breed puppy. Abigail is doing great on it, none of the problems you are having.

    My vet also recommended spaying anytime, Abigail is 15 weeks. But I am not impressed with the idea for all the reasons mentioned above.

  11. #10
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    My pup was on Puppy chow (he is 12 weeks too). I tried to slowly transition him to Fromm gold l.b. puppy, but couldn't get over 1/8 of a cup or his stool got loose.

    So I started transitioning him to Pro Plan and he's doing great, so far.

 



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