Frank, the reason that most people here do not feed puppy food is because it is too easy to give the dog too much food, and cause the dog to grow too fast. Adult food helps the dog grow slower and more evenly, but the dog will grow to the same adult size. Some people switch to adult food as early as 4 months of age for this reason, so you shouldn't have a problem switching your dog. Adults foods are generally easier on the stomach.

Lois,
Thanks for the comment about the Foster & Smith food. I was wondering how good a job they did on it and I've been meaning to try it as a backup food.
I started my dogs on a BARF diet two months ago and I love the results, but I'd like to have an all natural dry food for travel to trials.

Lauren,

Perhaps you had better do a little more research on beet pulp and corn meal. I fear like so many here, you rely to much on what you hear. There is nothing in the 2000 formula that should cause excess gas. In fact, 2000 should help the problem, plus provide the other nutrients a growing Lab needs. I'll stand by my suggestion.

No John, I have personal experience with corn and it is IMO one of the first item that should be eliminated from a sensitive dog's diet (right up there with lactose and wheat). It bothers Auster no matter how it is cooked (grits, cornbread, canned corn, etc.) but she can handle rice and potato much better. I'll stand by my suggestion of a rice or potato based food as well.

If Frank is really curious, he can do an elimination diet and try adding corn after the dog has been on a special diet long enough to eliminate the problem. A few tablespoons of corn on top of the regular kibble should be very telling.

I'll also stand by my suggestion that the BARF (RAW, whatever you want to call it) diet is the best of all, so hopefully this is a moot point.

Frank, if you would like more information on a home cooked elimination diet PM or email me. I've been cooking for Auster and can give you some suggestions. Sensible Choice or California Natural are pretty good options for an elimination diet if you don't want to cook or feed raw all of the time.

Hi Frank, I am usually the one with all the questions. I too have a lab. I agree with feeding a home cooked diet if you can. However, if you are going to use a commercial food I do have a suggestion. Labs are one of the few breeds that that produce oil through the pores of the skin. With an improper diet they will develop a brittle and very dry coat in a short time. One important ingredient for a labs diet is the Linoleic acid group. These are fatty acids like fish oil, cp wheat germ oil and linseed oil. Labs do best with a poultry, lamb or fish. They don't digest beef well.

Also because the lab is so prone to CHD like large breeds are, there diet should contain Glucosamine (I think thats how you spell it). It helps promote healthy joints and cartilage.

If I am not mistaken Cal Natural is made by Nutra, which is a great food, however I don't believe that it contains Glucosamine and its percentage of protein is about 21-22% a lab should be at about 26 but no more that 28%. Also you might want to take into consideration how much you are feeding your dog. Labs are pigs in disguise when it comes to food. They will eat until they blow up!! You can feed them 5 cups of food in one sitting and they act like they have been starving all day 5 min. later. If you are using the feeding guide on the bag DONT. That just to sell you more dog food. Overfeeding will certainly cause gas and the runs. Also take into consideration how many treats a day he is getting. And any table scraps your feeding him.

My choice of bagged food for a lab would be Eukanuba Large breed lamb and rice. When you do change his food remember to do it over a period of a few days so you don't exagerate the problem more. After you change his food, I would cut out all treats (use part of his kibble as a treat) for a little while and see if it helps. Also, there are some websites, that have lab specific home diets if you choose to take that route. Different breeds will assimilate sources of vitamins and minerals in different ways, so if you do a home diet I would you use a lab specific. Although I have not seen the one posted at this site. PM me if I can help. Good Luck..

Why not just buy the best kibble you can find and then use a glucosamine supplement? Most foods don't contain very much anyway. Auster gets human glucosamine supplements, although I have considered buying a horse one because it is cheaper (but she doesn't get it very often, so the difference isn't that huge).

Hi Lauren,
Its proven that different breeds of dogs require different nutritional diets. When you decide what to feed a dog there are many factors involved. The General question "what should I feed my dog" involves more that just I feed my dog this brand. (Sex, activity level,minerals already in water supply, stress levels, etc.) I was being very general when I suggested Eukanuba. I feed my lab TLC but it is a mail order food. I should have mentioned that, but I got the impression that Frank was interested in something he could purchase from a feed store. Taking into consideration the labs MANY genetic health problems and improper breeding practices, The proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that match the labs nutritional requirements, AND it being a feed store kibble purchase-- Eukanuba Large breed Lamb and Rice, I think is the best of the worst.

Labs need a diet low in Carbs and High in fat. As far as the Glu. most large breed specific comm. kibble already contains it, and how much of a supplement to give I don't know. Again, it would depend on the size, etc. I do agree with you that you should find the best kibble and if necessary supplement, but if your going to by a comm. kibble then you should buy one that contains the basic requirements. The average person doesn't have the proper knowledge to know whats to little and whats to much to supplement (so they don't cause kidney or other problems). So I am sticking with my breed specific answer, and suggest from the feed store Euk. and internet TLC.

Just an interesting note, since corn was a topic here. A friend of mine had a lot of joint problems, always in pain. He came across a Chinese doctor who asked him if he ate corn. "Yes, his favorite vegetable!". He suggested he stopped eating it as it causes joint problems. He stopped eating it and his pain went away. Hmmmm... Anyone else hear about this and corn?