So the new pup is here. He's been named Rico by his new mom and dad. I'm fostering for the week while the move into the house happens.....

The shelter sent him home with Science Diet which he's been eatting there....

Now I thought we'd have some food issues since during BOTH original visits to the shelter there was a full bowl of food in his pen...completely untouched.

However...I'm wondering at this point if it's him at all....

I opened the bag of Science Diet for his meal tonight (as soon as he settles we'll transition him to the new food)....This food smells wrong, looks wrong, and tastes wrong (yes.....I tried a piece...it was sour...most kibble tastes pretty similar, lower quality tends to be more grainy....this stuff is sour and a little salty....)

This is Science Diet Fitness Formula (which he needs about as much as I need more brownies...he needs to shed a few pounds)....the food looks greasy, the bites are HUGE, they look like undersized slimy chicken nuggets and smell plasticy (that could be the bag though).....


Are these okay to feed? is this normally how this food is? Rico isn't eating it....I put the bowl in his crate and he pressed himself against the back (he's been accepting treats, etc...and he's must be hungry, his food bowl was full when we picked him up and he's only had a few treats to eat)....I offered a piece to Ryuk.....he wouldn't eat it either and he loves "junk food" for treats....

So anyone who's seen this type of food....is it supposed to look like this? O_o

Was it an open bag? Check the sell by date

We have science plan, almost same thing but uk specific... always seems very greasy to the touch to me.

it was sealed (brand new)...and I checked the date...according to that it's fine...

it's just everything about it looks...wrong....and Rico is clearly not going to be touching it anytime soon....

Assuming we have solid stool tommorrow (nervousness going away...we had a soft-ish log tonight...nothing concerning with the stress of the day though) I may start switching him a little earlier than intended...but I'm not sure how to do that if he won't eat the old food at all....

In that case you could just switch or alternatively put them on chick / rice for a few days and then switch him.

Do you know how long he was in the shelter, it's possible that he was on a different food until recently and with them both refusing it... probably not the best thing for them.

Sometimes shelters buy is bulk, so perhaps it is old.

I'd second the bland chicken and rice diet for a few days then slowly add in the new food.

Third the chicken/rice, then add in a yummy kibble!

Chicken and Rice it is! I'm sure Rico will be MUUUUUCH happier with that than um....greasy chicken nuggety looking sour things XD

seriously, I gave Ryuk one kibble and he ate it with a face...the second he laid down with his ears back and tail between his legs avoiding it XD looked like I was trying to give him some sort of horrible medication and he usually LOVES the junk food (highest value food treat is this thing call "Canine Carryout" from Walmart which I doubt actually has edible FOOD in it....forget meat....XD)

Edited by Jamie Craig (05/14/2011 10:58 PM)
Edit reason: somewhere between typing and hitting reply I forgot half a sentence...

Jamie, I forgot to add that I adore you. I LOVE the fact you tried Science Diet! I don't think I'm that brave. Ziwi Peak, organs, bone and all, maybe.... SD? No way. lol

The greasy chicken nugget apppearance is typical of some of the SD recipes particularly the ones that are trying to alter the calorie level of the food. Some also frequently smell kind of "sour" especially when the bag is first opened. I used to hold my breath when I was refilling the bulk bins at the kennel. Some of the recipes can be downright rank right out of the bag. I really don't understand how people can feed that crap to their dogs.