It's a Husky Thing - Siberian Husky Forum
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.


A forum for owners of the Siberian Husky.
 
HomeSearchLatest imagesRegisterRegisterLog in
Congratulations Nikita, Archer, and Cheyanne!, our November HOTM winners! HOTM Will Be Taking An Indefinite Break!
Husky of the Month
Congrats Nikita, Archer, and Cheyanne,
our November HOTM Winners!
Husky Cuddles!





Thanks to all for this month's entries!
Forum Rules
1. Here we prefer clarity to agreement. Obviously not everyone is going to agree on a topic; here we prefer to talk out our differences in a respectful manner to ensure mutual understanding and respect.
2. Read the Stickies and Announcements. Each sub-forum may have specific rules which trump the Forum Rules in cases where there may be conflicting information. Read the rules of each board before you post so that you are clear on the expectations of the staff.
3. Respect ALL Staff and Admins. These people volunteer of their time and MUST be respected as well as their word adhered to. They are responsible for maintaining a free, open, clear and organized forum. Anyone found to be openly undermining any official ruling by a staff member will be warned.
4. Signatures: One picture only and no links. Images: To keep the forum looking neat and tidy, we ask that members insert just one picture only in their signatures. The picture should be no more than 200x500 pixels and should be of an appropriate subject, for example, your dogs and their names. Should you need assistance creating an appropriate signature, please PM an Admin and we would be happy to help! This is to ensure that signatures remain a welcome addition to our forum instead of a cumbersome distraction. Links: Hyperlinks in signatures--unless to a personal blog or photo stream of your dogs (like Flckr or Piscasa, for example)--are strictly prohibited. Please PM a staff member with any questions or concerns regarding this rule.
Rescue Spotlight
Our current rescue spotlight is:

Delaware Valley Siberian Husky Rescue!

Top Dog Website Award Winner!

Top Website
for
Siberian

Huskys


Share
 

 We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why

View previous topic View next topic Go down 
AuthorMessage
harrise
The Gentleman


Male Join date : 2009-06-16

We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why Empty
PostSubject: We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why   We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why EmptyThu Sep 03, 2009 8:53 pm

For the most part I stay out of the food topics because frankly, I'm suspect of every site and calculator that rates dog foods in any way shape or form. Really, with the way coffee, wine, sleep and vitamins are constantly changing in human studies, I have even less faith in dog nutrition studies. That's how I roll, with a trench coat of skepticism in a sailboat made of questions and doubt.

Going back to when Sioux was our only dog three years ago, I've been feeding every additional dog the same food after adoption. I really don't want to name brands here, past or current. I'm more interested in the things that made me switch.

As each dog integrated into the pack, one could visibly watch the transformation from rib and hip protruding shed bags into shiny coated muscle toned specimens of their respective breeds. All was well including poop scooping at a minimum. Through slow conditioning, each dog was brought up to the 4-8 mile endurance for our morning runs. This was really the only way I could manage any of them, let alone the combination of the whole. Never did anything signal to me that something was wrong in the dogs' diet. It was a pleasant two and a half years.

Then we hit this summer. After thinking back on it, things probably started changing around late March. But I attributed the increase in gas to an increase in treats and meats like steak from after dinner. It was also around that time that we began our extra hard runs to condition for hiking, and that's the part I had forgotten about. We had increased our activity level by around another 33%. 500 miles we did during that cold snap in March/April. Little did I realize how much more demanding the work we were to begin was. Three weekends in a row at elevation really changed things in all of them. There were several things I can recall from mid-July forward:

• The gas increased
• The packaging on the food changed
• The price went up by 40% Shocked
• The bag went from 40 to 35 pounds net weight
• The dogs were no longer active at all during the day
• Their teeth gradually had more buildup
• Their coats lost the sparkle that they had from the time I adopted each one
• The BM's had almost tripled in number
• The above were squishy and inconsistent
• Their ears became overly greasy and waxy
• There were gurgling sounds coming from their stomachs that I could hear from a distance.
• The. Gas. Got. Worse.

All of these things culminated in a decision last week. New food. After some research, the calorie burn at altitude and in the amounts we were doing called for a much more protein rich food. The "lower quality" food I was feeding did a great job for years. Until I actually started working my dogs hard. I suspect they also changed something in the recipe but there was no getting a straight answer on that. So, in frustration we went label reading one fine day. I also changed their diet cold turkey even though all I ever read on forums says to mix it. I tried that for one meal and they left the old kibble standing lonely and dejected. "Screw it", I thought. We only had one round of softies in the grass and after that everything is normal with FIVE (5) dogs. It appears as though I will be very pleased with this new food, supplemented by increasing amounts of raw meat.

That is my story.
Back to top Go down
Koda
Ms. Amicable
Koda

Female Join date : 2009-05-20
Location : Glenville, NY

We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why Empty
PostSubject: Re: We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why   We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why EmptyThu Sep 03, 2009 10:24 pm

Thanks for sharing Harrise Smile After what we went through with Koda, I can very much attest to your conclusion. I think the proper food really depends on the amount of work our dogs do on a daily basis and by their particular needs.

We went from low quality, to super high, then down one step and finally found the right food for him.

Glad to hear your dogs are doing better Smile

_________________
www.itsahuskything.com
It's a husky thing... you wouldn't understand.

We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why Hailey10
Back to top Go down
sunshinehuskies
Teenager
Teenager
sunshinehuskies

Female Join date : 2009-05-25
Location : Snellville, Georgia

We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why Empty
PostSubject: Re: We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why   We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why EmptyMon Sep 07, 2009 1:32 am

Thanks for sharing your story. I have been thinking about switching, but my main source of food for the kids in very close(2 miles round trip) my other option is like 30 miles round trip. Those thirty miles are in the opposite direction of where I work and I have no other reason to drive out there.
Back to top Go down
http://www.myspace.com/sunshinehuskies
Sponsored content




We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why Empty
PostSubject: Re: We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why   We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why Empty

Back to top Go down
 

We Have Switched Foods & Here Is Why

View previous topic View next topic Back to top 
Page 1 of 1

Permissions in this forum:You cannot reply to topics in this forum
It's a Husky Thing - Siberian Husky Forum :: Advice and Discussion Forums :: Nutrition and Feeding-