Hello!! Just read through the thread and wanted to chime in to hopefully help your Hotty Rod!!! How sad, you must be so worried and not to mention exhausted!!! I feed Nature's Variety Raw as well as Evo and no, they are not the same. Evo is a dry kibble, which you already know of that does have high protein and is grainfree.
The raw I feed is a frozen, pre-made raw which you store in the freezer and defrost overnight and serve cold or room temp. They come in medallion sizes, so not much measuring is required. It is raw meat which is wet to the touch, so nothing like kibble at all. I can tell you, my Snickers was a pickybutt until the raw came along and now he is as happy as can be. If you go to the Nature's Variety website to try it (
Welcome to Nature's Variety | Nature's Variety) you can register for a buy one get one coupon, or you can find a store near you and just get 1 bag and see if Hot Rod will like it. I feed it in the morning so I know Snickers has some food in his belly all day. HE JUMPS UP FOR IT!! Then we feed the Evo from 3pm onward (free feed.) Snickers LOVES the chicken raw. Alot of people worry about the bacteria etc, but it's too easy, we love it. Snickers does amazing on the high protein, but I understand your concern. Sadly, not many vet's are for raw for many reasons. They just don't know about it and some people say that it keeps vet bills down so vet's don't recommend, but I'm not sure about that.....I can tell you Snickers' teeth, breathe, agility, energy, coat, and look amazing!!!
Good luck to you!!!! I hope you find something he will eat consistently!!