loose stools

[Sue]

Some of those sites that rate dog food are just one person's opinion and you don't know where they got their information.

I like this site for learning about ingredients and making my own decision. Yes, it's still just one person's opinion but she gives her educational background and references to information sources. She admits a bias but provides information on commercial food ingredients for those who don't, won't or can't feed the same way she does. It's sure worth a look-see, I think.

The Dog Food Project - How does your Dog Food Brand compare?

The problem with this site listed, is that the nutrition and ingredient information on their product list is very out of date. Some listings are 11 years old! Companies change (cheapen) their products all the time. While there may be some good info on the rest of the site, a far far better place to learn about dog food is Susan Thixton's site, the Truth About Pet Food.

It may not have the ingredients list, but it definitely gives some eye opening information.

Truth about Pet Food

[JenC]

Definitely, places like Dogfoodadvisor.com is written by a dentist (human kind, not dog kind) and it bases its rating stricting on ingredients not the food itself. While I wouldn't choose Dog Chow, I know of a very famous lab breeder that feeds it. I personally always start with Pro Plan. And later if a dog has specific needs not addressed by that food, I look for something else.

[Snowshoe]

The problem with this site listed, is that the nutrition and ingredient information on their product list is very out of date. Some listings are 11 years old! Companies change (cheapen) their products all the time. While there may be some good info on the rest of the site, a far far better place to learn about dog food is Susan Thixton's site, the Truth About Pet Food.

It may not have the ingredients list, but it definitely gives some eye opening information.

Truth about Pet Food

Thanks Sue. Yep, usually I say to just read on the ingredients and not on the individual foods at The Dog Food Project. Yes, the foods are out of date, I don't know why she doens't take that section down.

I recommend researching each food on it's own manufacturer's website. Even then, I have found a food I use still had old data when the company changed ingredients. It was on the bag though, which I don't normally check each time I buy it but for some reason did then. I've had it go the other way too, the bag lists ingredients the food doesn't have (or so the company claimed) or doesn't list foods it does have. You do the best you can.

[Sue]

I recommend researching each food on it's own manufacturer's website. Even then, I have found a food I use still had old data when the company changed ingredients. It was on the bag though, which I don't normally check each time I buy it but for some reason did then. I've had it go the other way too, the bag lists ingredients the food doesn't have (or so the company claimed) or doesn't list foods it does have. You do the best you can.

Yeah. What happens is when the company changes its formula, they're still allowed to use up their old bags. So, you never ever know for sure what's in the bag. Very frustrating, at times. Particularly for those dogs that may be sensitive to one or more of the "new" ingredients.

[labby]

Generally rule of thumb is, 1 cup of food per month of life PER DAY. So if you have a 3 month old puppy you should be feeding 3 cups of food PER DAY, 3½ month old puppy 3½ cups of food PER DAY, etc. Keep an eye on the stools and the waistline and adjust by ½ cup accordingly.

Weight should be doubled the age in weeks. So a 15 week old puppy should weight approx. 30 pounds, give or take a couple of pounds.

[janika28]

Labby, what about as she gets older? I cant imagine giving her 5 cups a day when she is 5 months old. 10 cups when she is 10 months? No way!

[labby]

That's why you keep an eye on their stools and waistline. The demand for calories/food tends to level off as they mature. Depending on the food, I've fed 6+ cups of food to a growing puppy and they never got fat.

The formula above is a starting point. Right now my 4 month old puppy is getting 4 cups of food and maintaining body weight and condition very well. I check her daily and if she starts looking thin, I'll up her food by ½ cup and if she starts looking chunky, I'll back off by ½ cup and give her a few days and readjust if necessary.

[janika28]

She is not far off! She is 15 weeks and weighs 29 pounds.

[barry581]

Based on her size/weight I think you are feeding too much. Bruce is 17 weeks, 37 pounds and he's getting 4 cups per day, plus a plop of yogurt and training treats. Pretty much every time I've increased food amounts based on age, I've gotten loose poo's. I've learned to add a bit gradually as he gets bigger to alleviate the issue.

[labby]

Based on her size/weight I think you are feeding too much. Bruce is 17 weeks, 37 pounds and he's getting 4 cups per day, plus a plop of yogurt and training treats. Pretty much every time I've increased food amounts based on age, I've gotten loose poo's. I've learned to add a bit gradually as he gets bigger to alleviate the issue.

Be careful with yogurt. It contains calcium and you do not want to mess up the calcium/phosphorus levels of the food you are feeding, not even a little bit. I would never give yogurt on a regular basis to a growing puppy.