Question about switching to grain free
 

My girls have been on Fromm's Gold for probably the last 4 months and they have been doing great. However, I would like to switch them over to grain free. I was reading about the different foods and thought I would try them on Orijen...they liked it but with the higher protien level they both had diarrhea after just eating a few pieces for a snack. So, I bought a small bag of Wellness CORE but I'm not sure about that one either so I visited the Fromm's website (should have done that first :rolleyes: ) and I see they have a grain free kibble.

So, my question is this...since my girls are used to Fromm's foods, should I stick with their grain free kibble? Fromm's is also a little lower in protien and I think I'm more comfortable with that. Would the same brand name make the switch easier for them or will it matter since one is grain free and one isn't?

I know Wellness is an excellent food but it's 34% protien and they are used to 24%...the Fromm's grain free formula is 30%.

Any opinions or guidance?

If they're already eating Fromm and like it, I would think they wouldn't have such a hard time switching formulas. Plus, if you're more comfortable with the lower protein, I would definitely give it a try. And if you can, try to get some samples so you don't have to waste another bag if they don't like it. I am going to try the Fromm Surf & Turf (grain-free) formula in our rotation.

Hope that helps. :D

I feed my Winston the surf and turf. He adores the stuff. (I have to say though, it is one of the few dog foods I've ever smelled and literally though "hey, this stuff smells good!" Its the only fromm product I've used though, so perhaps the gold smells just as tasty.)

We ended up going with the Fromm partly by chance (I went in the store looking for candiae and he didn't like the fish grain free they carried, and they didn't carry the chicken at the time). I do like that its not super high in protein. From a personal standpoint I don't think a high protein count is a bad thing... but at the same time I like knowing that I am feeling him a good quality food that is still somewhat low of the protein scale - should a high protein count really be an issue proven years down the line.

The reaction to the Orijen somewhat concerns me (it may be a clear vote that hey "this doesn't agree with my system!") I've never been one for wellness, so I have to be honest and say I am bias. I have always felt that its overly recommended since it was one of the first holistic foods to really go mainstream (and there are many dogs that have issues with it, not counting the current class-action lawsuit.)

I would recommend giving the grain-free surf and turf a try, see if they (and their stomachs) like it. It also has many of the same ingredients (which also should be treated exactly the same way that those in the gold are treated) so you may not have such a rough time switching them over.

Thank you both. I mixed the small bag of Wellness in with the last of their Fromm's and they are doing o.k. However, I will be picking up a bag of the Fromm's grain free this weekend.

I had a thought too though. We were at a flea market over the weekend and I bought them 2 new rope toys...they got sick after chewing on the toys. I didn't even make the connection until we were talking about it today and I remember being worried about the toys because they sit out in those flea markets with who knows what landing on them and who knows who touching them. We took them away as soon as we got home...so...no more flea market toys either. I should have known better...

When I switched my Snickers from Merrick's Puppy Plate to Innova Evo, he had some interesting poop differences. It lasted about 3 days and then his poop was back to normal. He was pooping HUGE poops, I couldn't actually believe he was pooping so big. But like I said, after a few days, it cleared up. Since then, we have switched him to raw and leave Evo out all the time for snacking, so he is still on the grain-free kibble and we love it.

We are switching Sophie to the Orijen Six fish all stages formula and she's done great on it so far. Her poop has only come once or twice a day and they are big, firm poopies...for lack of a better way of describing. If you didn't like the Orijen, you could try Acana (which is made by the same company) or the Merricks Before Grain.

I did look for the Acana but couldn't find it within a reasonable driving distance. The store owner where I bought the Orijen said she couldn't get one bag at a time of the Acana...she had to order the whole line and so far I am the only person who has asked for it. Right now we are in Florida but when I get home I can find Fromm's close by.

Jackson absolutely is loving his Nature's Variety Instinct, Turkey & Duck flavor currently. It's grain-free
and 35% protein. We have tried a variety of kibbles (Wellness, Innova, Chicken Soup, Taste of the Wild).
He has NEVER loved a food as much as this. I love the fact that it's grain-free, I love the ingredients in it,
and he's satisfied with it so that's what matters, right? :thumbup: I just wanted to recommend the food
because my picky eater loves it sooo much.

I'd say go with what food works for your baby. I considered Acana but the lady at the food store said she feeds Orijen and most customers have preferred it or Merrick's foods. So I will probably always feed either Orijen/Acana or Merricks unless Sophie ends up not eating it!