Puppy food

[greekblue]

My puppy is coming soon. The cargo services will contact me next week to confirm that I will pick up my puppy (like I would not!? ).

The breeder told me she is on Pro-Plan for large breed puppies Kibble.
Do you know anything about this food and the quality?
When can I start slowly changing that puppy food for another one?
When do they stop eating puppy food and switch to adult?
Thank you!

[britishbandit]

I like Canidae, because it's all life stages. You don't have to switch from puppy to adult. And I'd definately switch to a better food than Pro-Plan, I personally wouldn't use anything made by Purina.

Check out this thread, it's very helpful and informative.
http://www.globalpaw.com/forum/dog-h...food-fido.html

[greekblue]

I did not even know is made by Purina, but that is what she is eating right now at the breeder's (in Russia), so I have to switch food slowly. Can I start switching her to the new food the first day she comes to me, or how long do I have to wait?

She will need a food less than 24%, so I am going to check quality foods around that.
I will try on her samples of Canidae, innova, or merrick, and maybe something else.

[britishbandit]

Well whatever you choose, switch gradually by mixing the two brands together. Maybe start with 1/3 of the new food for a couple of weeks, then go to 2/3........to full switch.

Is the breeder sending you some food along with the pup? If it isn't planned to do so, I'd ask about that, or it'll be a full switch from day one, and after the long journey to you, she might already be feeling a bit unsettled.

[greekblue]

No, food does not come with her. I was thinking to get sample food of her breeder's and mix that sample with the food I want to give her, so she can switch gradually without having to buy the whole bag of Pro-Plan.

[LilacDragon]

Foods often vary from country and I would imagine that the quality of the food in Russia is vasty different.

Personally, I think I would start the pup on the new food right away. You are probably going to have to deal with some tummy upset anyway so you might as well deal with it all at once.

[Kuchi]

I would definetly add gradually. A puppy being flown in doesn't need any more stomach upset than it already may have. It's a stressful day for the pup, I waited about a week after Kuchi was flown in to switch.
And I think its okay for breeders and owners to disagree with what to feed, you have to feed what you think is right. I was told to just feed pedigree and I decided against it.
And ask for some food, the puppy may have to be flown with food and water anyways.

[Kris]

I agree with the others, ask the breeder to send some food with the pup.

As a BRT is a giant breed, the most important thing you will be looking for in a food is that it inhibit, rather than encourage, growth. I went with Nutro's puppy food because they didn't add calcium (a huge no-no with giant breeds) and were pretty balanced. All giant breeds can develop horrible structural problems if given the wrong foods, additives, exercise during their first 9 months.

If you've already found a vet who is experienced in dealing with giant breeds (It will probably be close to impossible to find one with BRT experience) ask for specific recommendations from YOUR list of foods you are considering (being sure that your list doesn't contain whichever food s/he markets). If you haven't found a vet yet, do so immediately. It's important that you work with a vet that is both comfortable around very large dogs and knows the specific problems they may face.

Good luck and have fun!

[Ritz459]

Pro-Plan isn't a good food but it isn't a horrible food either. I'd put it as an "OK" food. That is what Sadie had to eat when she was with us and she did fine on it. That is actually what I fed Chloe to start off with, as it was the only food that didn't make her stomach upset. When I gradually switched to Blue Buffalo she had some runny stool, but now she is doing just great.

I've heard that switching a large breed puppy to adult food earlier helps slow their growth down...does anyone know if this is true? With Chloe, I'm planning to swith to adult food when she hits six months.

[greekblue]

Ritz that is exactly the info my breeder gave to the person he gets one of my puppy's littermates.
We are going to start with pro-plan and gradually switch to any super premium adult food (less than 24% protein) when the puppy reaches 3 or 4 months. Here is exactly what she wrote aboout adult food instead of puppy food:
"My recommendation is a SuperPremium
> > food with low protein (less than 24%) for large breed dogs, Adult
> > formula is more suitable for BRTs than Puppy formula because it makes
> > them grow slower and for a longer period of time that is safer for
> > their joints and ligaments that is the main health issue in the breed."


I have decided on a vet not in my area, but near me because a customer at my work happened to have a BRT, and she takes her dog to that vet for years!
I am going to have the same doctor her dog has; I think that would be very helpful. That woman she also has four other large breed dogs along with the BRT and they all see the same doctor.