Jace
Posts:10
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| 09/19/2012 7:36 PM |
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My 3 are currently eating Iams ProActive health. I've been feeding Iams for years now but I'm tempted to switch to Blue Buffalo because I've heard good things about it.
I just wanted to hear your opinion on the brand, and which food you prefer.
Also are there any extra steps to take switching from Iams? I usually mix the foods with a decreasing percentage of the previous food each few days.
Thanks,
Jace |
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Binni
Pittsburgh, PA
MH
Posts:76
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| 09/19/2012 8:15 PM |
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I had Binni and Niko on Blue Buffalo for the first few months and they did horrible on it. Their stool was runny and mushy all of the time. Both had terrible gas. I think it is garbage. But I'm sure others will swear by it. You just have to find what works well for your dog. Good luck.
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kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
MH
Posts:998
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| 09/19/2012 8:24 PM |
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I know a lot of people that love Blue Buffalo. It is a fairly high calorie food so like many of those type foods, if you don't get the amount correct many dogs will have soft stools when even slightly overfed.
I don't use the food as none of the formulas work for my dog due to allergies |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7851
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| 09/19/2012 8:53 PM |
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I wouldn't switch foods unless you are having problems with your current food. I go by the old saying that if it isn't broke, don't fix it. All the brand dog foods typically have all the right nutrients and vary only with ingredients and percent fat and protein.
Also over the years I have become more of a believer in just switching the dog food and don't wean them on to a new food anymore. I rarely have any problems in doing the switch fast. Worst I have seen is maybe a little loose stool for the first day.
I switched about a year ago to Purina Pro Plan Performance because the food I had been using got too hard to find. I switched all 4 of my dogs cold turkey and had no problems.
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 09/19/2012 8:59 PM |
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| I switched from Iams ProActive Health to Taste of the Wild. Noticed a difference in improvement in the shine of his coat by switching and less stools per day. I agree with what has been said that you just need to find what works well for your particular dog. If they are doing fine on Iams, you may not even need to switch and can save about $25 per 30 pound bag. |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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Jena
SH
Posts:58
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| 09/20/2012 5:44 AM |
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There are so many different options it is hard to pick a good food for your pups. I had Stella on Eukanuba and heard it wasn't a good food. So I switched her to Taste of the Wild. Unfortunately, that didn't work for her. She would vomit everytime. So I went to a natural pet food store and they suggested Acana. So she has been on that ever since. She can only get 1 cup twice per day or else her stools are too soft. I think whatever agrees with your dog is what you should stick with.  |
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DLord
Holly Springs, NC
MH
Posts:89
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| 09/20/2012 5:58 AM |
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I tried Zoe on Blue Buffalo when she was younger and like Binni - she had soft stools and gas that would clear a room! I was using Nature's Variety but Zoe started turning her nose up at it so now they are on Acana Ranchlands and love it. Like Jena, I only feed her a cup in the morning & at night, if I go over that amount she gets soft stools. |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3136
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| 09/20/2012 6:57 AM |
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| I did try Blue Buffalo cuz it is suppose to be a very good dog food... however mine didn't do great on it, they had loose stools and gas... I think every food is hit or miss depending on the dog... blue buffalo is a more pricey brand too... I went for about a year or so trying different foods (about 4 different ones)... amazingly I have ended up with Purina Pro performance (I thats the one) would would have known mine would do so well on just purina... If Iams is working stick with it... Iams isn't known to be one of the top dog foods (not the worst either), but it is easy to find and not badly priced... |
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JMSGunner
Bucks County, PA
MH
Posts:785
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| 09/20/2012 7:43 AM |
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I have fed Blue Buffalo for almost 2 years. My dog does awesome on it and I don't have a problem from switching from one flavor to another within the brand. He maintains a healthy weight, he's bright and alert, and his coat is magnificently shiny!
I need a high caloric food or Gunner drops weight really fast. Never had loose stool issues and if there are gas issues I add yogurt. |
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Jackie & Gunner
Impressive Gewehr von Catskill 4/19/2010
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therozypozy
MH
Posts:470
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| 09/20/2012 8:28 AM |
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I have been feeding Evo Red Meat for years, but now have one dog that is not doing well on it (our border collie). So I have been trying different foods for him and have settled on the Blue Buffalo grain free. It is called Blue Buffalo Freedom. And since I hate buying two different kinds of food, I have been feeding a mix of it and the Evo to the GSPs over the last two weeks and they love it. Of course, I also buy the wet food int he cans and mix that in their meals at night.
The issue with the Evo it is very high in protien and fat and he was not tolerating that well at all. The Blue Buffalo Freedom is still grain free, but lower in protien and fat. It has sweet potato in it which my dogs LOVE.
Good luck on your search.
Roz
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tido12300
Posts:17
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| 09/20/2012 9:27 AM |
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I used Blue Buffalo on Oakley for the first 2 months and for the most part she liked it, however, she wouldn't scarf it down like she would my other dogs food (Natural Balance). About 3 weeks ago I took Oakley grouse hunting/camping for the first time and only brought her Blue Buffalo food with me. First day up there she didn't eat a single bite of it, and I thought it could have been just due to excitement of camping and hunting, but she didn't eat once in 3 days of that stuff. She would look at it and walk away, however she wanted to scarf down the other dogs foods so I knew she was hungry. Luckily my dad brought a little extra food to give her, but just in that weekend you could see how much weight she lost.
So right when I got home I got rid of that and switched her over to Natural Balance and she loves it! Hasn't had a single problem with it! Nothing against any type of food, like it has been said here, it all just depends on the dog and what works for them. My other dog was pretty picky too as far as what type of food he would eat and Natural Balance is the only one he really likes too, and of course, it has to be one of the more expensive brands... |
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Rose
MH
Posts:362
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| 09/20/2012 11:04 AM |
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We feed Orijen regional red, and may consider a switch to Purina Pro Plan Performance later on, mainly because of price.
I asked about Pro Plan in the dog food store, and the guy immediately said "You got hunting dogs?" Seems like a common choice for hunting breeds.
This is a great website that lists the ingredients of many dog foods: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ |
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cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 09/24/2012 12:02 PM |
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We switched to Blue Buffalo when Havoc was about 3 months old. Prior to that he was on what the breeders feed and he was not doing very well (loose stools, and really bad gas). We had bought a small bag of Blue Buffalo and were actually using it for training treats and he LOVED it. So when he started having problems with the Kirkland food we switched to Blue Buffalo. He is doing great on it. Coat looks healthy (when it's not covered in dirt! haha), and he is a healthy weight. Only thing I don't like about Blue Buffalo is the price- but we'll do whatever it takes to keep him happy and healthy.
Each dog/owner is different so I think it's a matter of what works well for you. |
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