VENTING!! Canine Caviar!

[dottiesyrky]

I started my boy on CC over a week ago, having ordered it from my local Pets Plus. I wanted to also try the Synergy and canned CC food. I looked up the 'closest' store/ vendor on the CC web site and did not call as I assumed they would stock at least the Synergy. When I trekked there they said they stock NOTHING of CC!!! They could order it. I did not waste all this travel time and gas for that answer. I tried to call CC but no Sat. service. I tried to email my issue, but the mail would not SEND!! No reason given. There is no email address only a link. I guess I will have to wait until Monday to reach them. Just warning pet owners to call before wasting time going to the stores that CC give on their web site.
I already find it a pain having to order and not pick up locally, and now I feel that CC had better be very superior to other foods or I will not continue with it. Also my dog will not eat it unless I put something more tasty like treats or chicken in with it, and he still has allergic scratching! Sorry to vent but CC was not available to listen! Thanks YT for relieving the stress. AAAAH! LOL!

[mimimomo]

Well, you know now to call next time b4 u go. The list has vendors that sell CC, but not all have it in their stores, in that case, they can order it for you. This applies to all companies that sell to independent boutiques or feed stores. Sometimes ordering online is less than buying it directly from the store...free shipping too.
A week is too early to tell if the food is working, give it some more time & he can't have anything else, no treats, no chicken, nothing. What formula is he on?

[dottiesyrky]

Thank you for your reply, yes I do now know to call next time. I learned the hard way. There are many ( closer) stores that will order and I thought the very few mentioned on the web site actually stocked at least some of the CC product. That is why I went out of my way to go there. My bad.
I use so little that if I want to try some other product, I like to be able to go to a store and get it - with the ease of returning if it is not liked - especially with a new food product.
This particular store had many small, 'boutique' brands and I do wonder why CC is not favored by small stores?
I know that most here love CC, but so far my dog does not go for the odor/taste. Other kibble he has eaten, he gobbles it up without extras. I guess it is because CC is 'good food' with no useless additives to make it smell good?
I tried the Chicken ALS first as he usually eats chicken based foods. I know the other grain free foods are probably better for allergies, but CC does imply that the millet is ok for allergies too. I did read however that the canned chicken does have the dreaded Carrageenan (sorry for the spelling if I got it wrong!), and that is not good from what I have read here.
I wrote mainly to inform others who might make the same (silly) mistake as me and to call first.
I also understand that dogs are very different in their food tastes and that some of us are happy with mail ordering, so my comments are particular to me. It was a rant after all. LOL!
Thanks again for your helpful input.

[Ldyrev1]

I'm really sorry to hear about your debacle! I, like you, hate wasting time also!! I can't find CC anywhere in my area so I started off by ordering.

I also think that if you stay with it for a while you will see a wonderful benefit to your pup!! Give it a chance and you'll be glad you did!!

[dottiesyrky]

Thank you for your empathy. :-)). It is good to have a rant now and again to ease the frustration. I did order the first bag and I guess will do so again.
Of course I will stick with the food and hope my dog will too. LOL! He is taking it well so far, once he eats it. It is such a pain to change food and I do so want to find one that works in the long term. In the past, just when I thought I had it taped, either a recall or it did not agree with him after a while.
Thanks again and I hope your baby loves the CC, as many here do.

[mimimomo]

CC doesn't use carrageenan in their canned foods anymore! Instead, they use guar gum...good source of fiber. They need to update it on their site, not sure if they did yet? Another reason their email is not working, not sure why it's taking them so long to revamp it...I stopped emailing them, never heard a response.

Mine are eating grain free Wilderness venison (b4 they were eating Open Sky duck) for dinner only & they eat it w/out any toppers like they're starving loll. They don't get any kind of treats whatsoever, so they have a good appetite @ mealtimes. I do squirt a little bit of fish oil w/omega 3 on it. It stinks, but it has so many good benefits & they love it!

Just curious why you chose chicken, since chicken is not a novel protein & some dogs are allergic to it...if it is food related?

[lynzy420]

lol, I know your pain! Like everything else whats great for one is not for all! I've just completed a 1 month run with it and had no luck, they hated it and scratching is awful, albeit no rash just scratching...all night long waking me up...and like you I had to add something...we are back on prescription food and all is well...

[dottiesyrky]

Mimi: It is still on the web site, but glad to know it isn't being used any more.
I got the chicken to minimize changes. We believe the (relatively mild) allergies are environmental, so perhaps millet or any food would not help. I thought that feeding millet would be better than other grains anyway.
This food issue drives me nuts!!! Lets hope this CC is IT! Thanks again.

[Ellie May]

I think CC is known for not answering emails and being very slow updating their site.

It takes 8-12 weeks on a new food (exclusively) to see if allergies get better. It takes about three weeks to see if GI symptoms improve.

An antihistamine may help if it is envir. Atopica is a good drug if scratching is out of control. This woudn't be a true elimination diet, so I wouldn't expect too much.

I know CC is the food of the hour, but honestly it is just another food. Some dogs will thrive on it and soe won't (just like NB, Innova, Purina, SD, etc). CC probably works well for itchies in soe dogs because there aren't a ton of protein sources in each food, but it is still not a true aklergy diet. Any dog put on ths food could potentially do well if avoiding their trigger ingredients.

They have updated parts of their site and 'personally' I would not stress over it nt working bc I wouldn't be comfortable feeding it.

But for the itchies, to be fair you woud have to give it 12 weeks...

[dottiesyrky]

Ellie Mae
I am glad I am not alone re the web site. On the phone they are not too technically helpful either. As one cannot talk with a person in a store it is more important that e mail and phone are more available and efficient.
I agree foods and dogs differ and all do not do well on the same.
As for the allergies, I do have oral antihistamines, but do not like to use unless really needed. The main reason I got this food was that my dog went off the Blue Buffalo and Wellness (stale at the end of bag, and bag to bag variation) and I saw so many good reports here on the CC, and that it seemed that the quality control was better as it was a small company. Any other benefit was a happy bonus!
I do intend to keep him on this food to give it a good shot, but would prefer a food that I can buy locally.
Thank you for your comments and help. YT is great!

[Ellie May]

You're welcome. Nom not just you! I have heard they are fery helpful on the phone (when they are in that is). Not sure about quality control. Appears they don't do feeding trials, no phD nutritionist on staff, etc. So nothing special.

Dog food shopping is so much fun...not.

[dottiesyrky]

How right you are on the last point! It drives me nuts and is beyond logic! Oh how I wish our dogs could talk and tell us what they like and dislike. We can only do what we think is best for our fur babes.

[barkleylove]

I just ordered Canine Caviar puppy food on Amazon. I hope I made a wise decision. I just wanted to make sure they were getting the best food possible, so far they have no allergies or GI issues. Right now they're eating Royal Canin mini puppy. Do you think I should switch or just leave well enough alone?

[dottiesyrky]

I am sorry I cannot suggest what to do. But as your puppy has no issues at this time, thankfully, one could take the approach of ' if it works don't fix it'!
Royal Canin is a good food I believe, and so is CC. Each dog is different and has different likes and dislikes. Perhaps you could research comments on YT to help in your decision?
Personally, I usually do not change foods unless my dog has health issues or will not eat the current food.
I am so happy that your baby is healthy with no problems, and I pray she continues this way. Good luck with what ever you decide.

[107barney]

I would disagree that guar gum is a good source of fiber. While it is a form of soluble fiber, it is a bulk laxative type fiber and can expand and absorb water in the GI tract. It is commonly added to food as a (cheap) thickening agent and can be a gut irritant in some people. I would much prefer the addition of a natural carbohydrate as a fiber source for dogs, such as beet pulp, pumpkin or another low bulk forming carbohydrate. I also know how I feel when I have consumed guar gum, and it's horrible, so I wouldn't feel comfy with it in a dog food product.