Natural Food Question

[paiger]

Well, we started leo on natural food last week (thanks for all the help I got from y'all on picking one out). Per the suggestion to the place that I went to get it, I am giving him California Natural Low Calorie Lamb and Rice. She suggested that one as it had the fewest ingredients, and because leo is a 18-20lb. non-sporting dog who doesn't get much excersise. She was afraid that he would gain weight as the Innova, Pinnacle and another one I had researched were high caloric.

Okay, so my question is about how much I'm supposed to be feeding him. She said to give him 1/3 cup in the morning and 1/3 cup at night.

I have been giving him the 1/3 cup when I get up and 1/3 cup around 8pm, and I think he's starving. He eats everything in his bowl in about 2.2 seconds and will look at me like 'where's the rest'. The bag says 1 3/4 - 2 1/4 cups in 1 day for a 20lb dog. I know that b/c natural food is more 'usable' in terms of less fillers, but I don't want leo to be hungry all the time.

How much do y'all feed your dog Natural Food and/or do you think this 1/3 cup 2xs per day sounds like enough?

[IrishMeg]

Our boys are on Merrick and they get a half a cup in the morning and a half a cup in the evening. They eat at about 8 am and then again at about 5-5:30p. Before they go to bed they get a "night night snack" which is actually all natural apple flavored cookies. I give them each two. They eat them before they go do bed. Kind of like a midnight snack, I guess. Just a little something to get them through the night. I have no idea if they actually need it but they love it so I keep doing it. ;)

They both weigh about 20 lbs and, because of their breed (Pug), they gain weight easily. They are pretty low energy compared to other dogs, so I don't think they burn off calories the way another breed may. They eat their food very enthusiastically but this breed eats anything enthusiastically so it's hard for me to judge if it's real hunger or just normal Pug behavior.

They have both maintained their current respective weights for over a year which is pretty rare with Pugs this age. The vet is thrilled and I'm happy that we've found a way to keep them happy and healthy.

[jesvet]

Why did she recommend giving 2/3 cup a day if the recommended amount is 1 3/4 to 2 cups? Are you trying to get him to lose weight? I wouldn't go more than 25% below the recommended amount, at least at first. If he is that obese he should be on a prescription weight loss diet.

[paiger]

Why did she recommend giving 2/3 cup a day if the recommended amount is 1 3/4 to 2 cups? Are you trying to get him to lose weight? I wouldn't go more than 25% below the recommended amount, at least at first. If he is that obese he should be on a prescription weight loss diet.

No, he is at his ideal weight!! I just don't want him to gain weight from here. Honestly, I didn't look at the bag recommendations until this morning when I decided for sure that I don't think he is getting enough. She didn't look at the bag, she just told me that about the 2/3 cup.

She also said that if I had decided to go with the high caloric Innova/Pinnacle that I would give him 1/4 a cup a day!!! Do you think this is right?

He seems to like this food, so I don't mind that she recommended it. I just wanted to make sure he was on a heathy food with the benefits of a Natural Dog Food. I am going to start giving him the 1 3/4-2 cups a day, and I'll just monitor him for 'weight gain' (by what I can tell by visual changes).

[paiger]

Our boys are on Merrick and they get a half a cup in the morning and a half a cup in the evening. They eat at about 8 am and then again at about 5-5:30p. Before they go to bed they get a "night night snack" which is actually all natural apple flavored cookies. I give them each two. They eat them before they go do bed. Kind of like a midnight snack, I guess. Just a little something to get them through the night. I have no idea if they actually need it but they love it so I keep doing it. ;)


One of the reasons that I am concerned about his needing more food is that he really likes to eat at night after we've gone to bed. Typically, he would eat just a little of his previous food around 7pm or so, then he'd eat the rest about an hour after we go to bed. Now, he is telling us he wants fed as soon as we get home, and he eats it up really fast!

[jesvet]

Go by the bag recommendations. Poor guy, no wonder he's hungry! I never tell people a volume without looking at the bag- each brand can have very different caloric densities.

I would say start with 1 cup in the am and pm.

[paiger]

Go by the bag recommendations. Poor guy, no wonder he's hungry! I never tell people a volume without looking at the bag- each brand can have very different caloric densities.

I would say start with 1 cup in the am and pm.

Thanks so much!!

[SingleWhiteFemale]

I am going to start giving him the 1 3/4-2 cups a day, and I'll just monitor him for 'weight gain' (by what I can tell by visual changes).I know this isn't for everyone, but how about letting him graze? Say, put down a cup of food in the morning, then when you get home from work, another cup, and maybe another right before bed time? My feeling is that when he's hungry, he'll eat. My pup likes his food, but doesn't gorge himself, so it's okay for him to have his food down throughout the day. He'll usually eat a couple bites in the late morning/afternoon, and then finish off the bowl around 8pm. That way I'm 100% positive he's had enough. Might not be a good solution if your dog will eat any and everything in front of him, regardless if he's hungry or not. :)

Have you gone to the manufacturer's website? They have a feeding wizard (http://www.naturapet.com/display.php?d=profile-wiz) where you can input weight, what you're feeding, etc and give you their recommendation. I put in my dog and the food that he likes by that company, and they're telling me 6-9 cups a day, so wow! He usually only eats around 4 :( (but we supplement with lean meats and some healthy human food so he's not starving)

[paiger]

I know this isn't for everyone, but how about letting him graze? Say, put down a cup of food in the morning, then when you get home from work, another cup, and maybe another right before bed time? My feeling is that when he's hungry, he'll eat. My pup likes his food, but doesn't gorge himself, so it's okay for him to have his food down throughout the day. He'll usually eat a couple bites in the late morning/afternoon, and then finish off the bowl around 8pm. That way I'm 100% positive he's had enough. Might not be a good solution if your dog will eat any and everything in front of him, regardless if he's hungry or not. :)

Actually, we do this. That's why I was concerned when he was eating it up like crazy. I know you are supposed to take it up, but he likes to have a little food while we are gone. I only have to feed him 2xs a day usually, and he still eats typically at the same times while his food is down. I didn't see that wizard when I was doing research, and I'll check it out!

[kanga1622]

I have an 8 lb. miniature poodle that eats between 1/2-1 cup of food a day. He's on a similar high nutrient food. I just followed the bag recommendation and he certainly lets us know when he's full.

Since your pup seems to be one that won't gorge himself, I'd give him a cup in the morning and a cup at night and let him decide how much he wants to eat a day. He may eat a lot at once since it is new to him but he should soon figure out how much it takes to keep him feeling comfortable and he'll leave the extra behind.

[sportyj]

Don't know if I am much help since my dog is high energy so I have her on Innova and feed the bag recommendations. She seems satisfied, and looks amazing IMHO.

3/4 in the morning and 3/4 at night she is 18 lbs. Sometimes 1/3 when I come home for lunch if we have had an active day.

What is the breed of your dog?

[paiger]

What is the breed of your dog?
He is a Lowchen by AKC standards. The actual word is German w/ the o having the two dots over it. It means 'Little Lion Dog' and is in the non-sporting breed. He likes to play and is hyper around new people, but does sleep alot. We really don't excersise him at all, and if we do take him on a walk, he is one to lay (er, lie) down in the grass. :D

[mjfish]

There are 2 things you need to consider -- 1st you make the switch to CA, which you will automatically feed less of than your previous brand, and 2nd, you chose a low calorie formula. If he is at his ideal weight now, you did not have to get the low calorie formula. If you had gotten the regular formula, then I may have suggested feeding a little less than the recommended amount. Since you do have the low calorie formula, then I would definitely feed the recommended amount and just watch for weight gain. You need to feed him enough to support his system, to give him the correct amount of nutrients, no matter which formula you choose.

Either way, gobbling the food down is a good sign that he likes the food! :)