Christian Cruz Webboard User Reg: 04-20-2013
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Hello everyone,
I have a 4 month old GSD. Long story short I was given a bag of Evo salmon and herring and I started mixing it with the bag of Orijen Large puppy formula that I originally owned. Im feeding a cup of each formula twice a day which amounts to 4 cups of food a day. I can still feel her ribs and her body shape looks fine.
I was wondering if their are some things I should look out for and any cons to feeding GSD's a mix of kibbles.
Thanks in advance for the help!
SamanthaTopper Webboard User Reg: 03-24-2011
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Loc: Indianapolis
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There's absolutely nothing wrong with mixing kibble and the only thing I can think of from a breed specific standpoint is making sure her body is lean to keep stress off her joints. Is there any reason why you've decided to mix these two together besides 'I don't want it to go to waste'?
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Loc: North-Central coast of California
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"There's absolutely nothing wrong with mixing kibble"
I fully agree with Samantha, and would go further and say that only by alternating or combining different ones do you have a good chance of covering all nutritional bases. One kibble can't do it.
JMO!
If I fed kibble, it would definitely be two or more different ones.
Anne Jones Webboard User Reg: 04-29-2004
Posts: 3825
Loc: Northeast
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Variety of diet, especially protein sources, is the main key to good overall nutrition whether you are feeding raw (which I do) or feeding kibble.
Just be sure to only add one new thing at a time...so that should the pup have any reaction to something you know what it is. If changing or adding new kibble...buy the smallest bag the first time around...so if there is a problem you don't have a huge bag that you can't use.
Note: Very few dogs actually have food allergies....most allergies in dogs are environmental & flea.
Cathy Goessman Webboard User Reg: 12-03-2007
Posts: 1231
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Also nothing wrong with mixing in various things with kibble. I give Tanner canned fish(mostly salmon), canned vegetables, cooked sweet potato, pumpkin, left over hard boiled eggs, etc. He likes it and it's all good for him. Tanner was a bit picky at first but will at least try whatever I put in his dish now.
Just keep the additions to the point where they are a supplement especially with a growing pup.
I feed kibble, and I definitely rotate between four or five different "trusted" brands and formulas. AFCO standards aside, I wouldn't count on just one brand of kibble to provide the complete variety of nutrients that a dog needs over its lifetime.
When my dogs were younger, when I would be coming to the end of one bag and getting ready to start a new variety, I would mix the two for a week or so in between, to avoid any digestive system upsets, but I have found I no longer need to do that. With the age of your puppy, it would probably be wise to do so, though.
I also often add different things to the kibble, but again you need to be careful with your puppy and not overwhelm his young system. If he is getting a balanced formula, appropriate for his age, that should work fine.
Christian Cruz Webboard User Reg: 04-20-2013
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Thank you for all the replies, its all definitely reassuring. Besides the recent food recalls I've read and have been reccomended evos numerous times. As far as mixing it, I didn't want her to have any reaction to switching foods but for some reason I got the idea to keep feeding her both foods and see hows she does on it. So far she seems to be doing great and stools are normal. Her body is lean and you can feel her ribs when touching her.
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