Vanessa Vleck wrote 01/21/2010 09:32 AM When to switch to 2X feeding? #262854 - 01/21/2010 09:32 AM
Vanessa Vleck Webboard User Reg: 07-20-2009 Posts: 42 Loc: Offline	Hi Everyone, My 4 and 1/2 month old GSD has been eating three times a day since 9 weeks when we got him. He has a huge appetite. He eats Orijen Large Breed Puppy kibble mixed in with raw K-9 Kraving meat at 7AM, 11:30AM and then 4:30PM. I'd like to switch him to 2x a day feeding, but I'm not sure when to feed and how to make a smooth transition. Suggestions? Thanks, Vanessa
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Tracy Collins wrote 01/21/2010 10:07 AM Re: When to switch to 2X feeding? [Re: Vanessa Vleck ] #262858 - 01/21/2010 10:07 AM
Tracy Collins Webboard User Reg: 10-09-2008 Posts: 1917 Loc: St. Louis, Missouri Offline	Mine were all fed 2x from the get-go (we got each of our pups at different ages, but all in the 10-18 week age range), so I see no reason why you cannot switch at any time. I feed at roughly 12-hour intervals. 6 am/6 pm. I also feed a little bedtime snack which helps prevent the empty-stomach bile urps. If you want to make it a gradual transition then just start making the "lunch" meal smaller and smaller until it disappears--adding that food into slightly larger breakfast/dinners. Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon
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Anne Jones wrote 01/21/2010 11:03 AM Re: When to switch to 2X feeding? [Re: Tracy Collins ] #262862 - 01/21/2010 11:03 AM
Anne Jones Webboard User Reg: 04-29-2004 Posts: 3825 Loc: Northeast Offline	I have usually fed pups 3x a day until around 6 months or so, & then switch to 2x a day. I would stop feeding puppy food kibble at 6 months also & go to an adult formula at that time to keep the growth rate slower. (one of the benefits of feeding raw to pups is the slower growth rate which is better on the skelletal system) I also feed a snack at bedtime. ( to avoid the empty stomich bile vomits in the early am that had always been an ongoing, on & off, problem with my female until doing this) I usually feed about 10- 12 hours apart. I also feed a couple of hours before & after exercising. It is not recomended feeding kibble & raw at the same meal, although some people do & have no issue & others have found it to be the source of big problems. Since you are feeding raw, why not just switch to all raw? All JMO & the way that I do it. Good luck with your pup. MY DOGS...MY RULES
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Vanessa Vleck wrote 01/21/2010 01:00 PM Re: When to switch to 2X feeding? [Re: Anne Jones ] #262866 - 01/21/2010 01:00 PM
Vanessa Vleck Webboard User Reg: 07-20-2009 Posts: 42 Loc: Offline	Thanks for the advice. I had not heard that kibble and raw together can be a source of problems. I've been feeding my puppy this mix for about 2 months and he is fine with it. He started on just kibble and we added raw in a bit at a time. I assumed the kibble was a good mix because of the texture (for teeth). I'd love to hear more details if you can add them. Thanks.
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Connie Sutherland wrote 01/21/2010 01:07 PM Re: When to switch to 2X feeding? [Re: Vanessa Vleck ] #262869 - 01/21/2010 01:07 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Quote: Vanessa Vleck Thanks for the advice. I had not heard that kibble and raw together can be a source of problems. I've been feeding my puppy this mix for about 2 months and he is fine with it. He started on just kibble and we added raw in a bit at a time. I assumed the kibble was a good mix because of the texture (for teeth). I'd love to hear more details if you can add them. Thanks. http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=10&Number=235774&Searchpage=1&Main=22932&Words=pathogens+Connie+Sutherland&topic=0&Search=true#Post235774 http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=33&Number=248711&Searchpage=1&Main=23947&Words=kibble+Alyssa+Myracle&topic=0&Search=true#Post248711
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Anne Jones wrote 01/21/2010 02:24 PM Re: When to switch to 2X feeding? [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #262874 - 01/21/2010 02:24 PM
Anne Jones Webboard User Reg: 04-29-2004 Posts: 3825 Loc: Northeast Offline	I have heard of dogs bloating on the combination of the two, also. Although, the bloating my have had other contributing factors, as well. MY DOGS...MY RULES
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Jessica Pedicord wrote 01/21/2010 03:07 PM Re: When to switch to 2X feeding? [Re: Anne Jones ] #262878 - 01/21/2010 03:07 PM
Jessica Pedicord Webboard User Reg: 10-29-2009 Posts: 610 Loc: SouthWestern PA Offline	I wouldn't rely on kibble for dental benefits. I believe dog food companies made this up to sell more food. Open up your dog's mouth and take a look at their teeth after a meal of kibble. I bet you'll find kibble stuck all over the place. Its like eating a handful of pretzels or crackers then going to bed without brushing your teeth. But that's just IMO. Bones clean teeth. Watch how the dogs shear the meat off sideways, using all of the teeth on the sides of their mouth. Listen to the grinding- its what those teeth were made to do. Most dogs don't spend as much time chewing up kibble. At least mine didn't. You were lucky to hear barely any crunching at all.
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Vanessa Vleck wrote 01/21/2010 05:35 PM Re: When to switch to 2X feeding? [Re: Jessica Pedicord ] #262896 - 01/21/2010 05:35 PM
Vanessa Vleck Webboard User Reg: 07-20-2009 Posts: 42 Loc: Offline	Thanks for the links...a real eye-opener. Two quick questions for the more experienced people out there: - what is your take on K-9 Kraving? It's a raw dog food that is made with USDA approved meat and vegetables. You buy it in frozen patties or sausage type "chubs". My dig likes it very much and I admit I like the convenience of it. - lots of talk on the links about how much dogs love bones and how they are so good for their teeth. last vet visit my vet asked me to not give any more bones because my pup's teeth were being ground down to nothing (I was giving him beef bones to chew on). He LOVED the bones - what would be a better bone for him? I hated taking them away. Thanks again.
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leih merigian wrote 01/21/2010 05:47 PM Re: When to switch to 2X feeding? [Re: Vanessa Vleck ] #262898 - 01/21/2010 05:47 PM
leih merigian Webboard User Reg: 06-16-2008 Posts: 915 Loc: Central Virginia Offline	Quote: Vanessa Vleck last vet visit my vet asked me to not give any more bones because my pup's teeth were being ground down to nothing (I was giving him beef bones to chew on). He LOVED the bones - what would be a better bone for him? I hated taking them away. There are recreational bones and RMBs (raw meaty bones). Were you giving him large beef bones to chew on? Those would be the recreational bones, and yes, they can grind the teeth down. It all depends on how a given dog chews these bones, but many can't have them for this reason. RMBs are meat and bone pieces...like chicken quarters, backs, etc., which have bones the dogs can crunch up easily. Those are the bones that are good for their teeth. leih
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Anne Jones wrote 01/21/2010 06:07 PM Re: When to switch to 2X feeding? [Re: Vanessa Vleck ] #262900 - 01/21/2010 06:07 PM
Anne Jones Webboard User Reg: 04-29-2004 Posts: 3825 Loc: Northeast Offline	I know people that feed k9 kraving & are happy with it. I make my own raw diet, but have occasionally fed Bravo to pups. I used to feed recreational beef shin bones to younger dogs that would just work to get the marrow out & then loose interest with the bone or I would take it away at that point. I never had any issues with this. But I would be reluctant to feed them to adult dogs, due to the risk of tooth fracture from chewing on the bones. I never saw any ammount of waring on their teeth due to this or now eating their normal raw diet. Is it possible that your vet is saying this to discourage your feeding a raw diet to your dog. My vet over 6 years ago, told me that my 9 wk old puppy would not live very long or be healthy, would get samonella, broken teeth, etc, etc, etc on a raw diet. She is 6, is very healthy, has a nice healthy, glossy coat and has beautiful tarter fee white teeth. I would NEVER feed my dogs anything but raw for all of the above reasons & more. Vets often don't know of what they speak :-) MY DOGS...MY RULES
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