Help! Changing Luma's food AGAIN.
 

Luma was being fed by her breeder Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover's Soul. She didn't seem to like it very much, so when the bag ran out we tried Taste of the Wild high prarie puppy. Then the Diamond recalls happened, so we tried Fromm Gold Holistic Puppy. I didn't want to admit it, because I really like Fromm as a company, but she didn't do well on it at all. Her belly is always red, she's always itching, and she has lots of scabs from biting at her skin. So now I'm looking at Mr. Chewy's, so I can order Acana, which we don't have locally.

I definitely think her troubles were with the grains in the Fromm food, as CSFTPLS and TOTW were both grain-free. I see Acana has multiple grain-free formulas, but was wondering which is best. Also, she is 7 months old. Can she start eating adult formulas now or should I still stick with puppy food?

One last thing. She has ALWAYS had horrible eye gunk. We give her filtered water. Her eyes have gotten worse with the Fromm though. Any tips on that? I actually have had to get a tear stain product because her eye goop is turning the hairs by her eyes pink-tinted. I think we should try the Gerber water, have read here on YT about it. Her Fromm is almost gone, so I need to order a new food now so I can switch her gradually.

Have any of y'all had success with Acana and it reducing itchy skin? I want to try the coconut oil as well. Poor baby is always scratching.

Before we went to raw, Gizmo was on ACANA Pacifica and seemed to like it. Eye gunk can be from a lot of things. Environmental allergies, food allergies, or genetic. Just a word of caution, don't switch too many foods too quickly it can cause a picky eater and tummy/allergy flare ups. Keep is updated!

My sister just switched her yorkie over to the Acana Wild Prairie last week and she is doing well on it! Obviously it'll take a couple months to see a noticeable difference but she has great stool and gobbles up her dinner.

Are you sure that Luma's allergies were from the grains and not the Brewer's yeast or a specific type of protein? Because you might even look into Acana's singles line with the one protein/one grain source if you suspect food sensitivities/allergies.

And it's fine to switch her from puppy food to a different formula like an All-Life Stages or just a formula with higher protein and fat content. As far as which GF Acana, I'd just rotate through the varieties, but maybe start with the Ranchlands or Grasslands since they have fish (herring) oil which might help with her skin condition (may or may not help, that would just be my logic haha). They switched the fish oil in the Pacifica to canola I believe and my personal preference is for oils in kibbles to be from animal sources.

And definitely look into the coconut oil! It is great to supplement in the diet and also to apply topically to soothe hot spots and irritated areas! Toki gets maybe 1/4 - 1/2 tsp a day and has soft silky hair! And coconut oil has helped my sister's yorkie with her dry flaky skin. Her yorkie's hair does look slightly greasy to me but I'm sure she could cut back on the coconut oil amount or switch to every other day and it'd be perfect (I'd rather she have slightly greasy hair than irritated, itchy, red skin though)

And if the coconut oil doesn't work out for your Luma, just use it for yourself! I am in love with it! Good luck! Let us know what you decide on!

You can research any brand of dog food at Dog Food Reviews and Ratings | Dog Food Advisor We had been using Royal Canine for years, until I researched it. All three of my Yorkies are on Blue Buffalo now. This is where we will stay from now on. Check out the site, and decide.

[I didn't want to admit it, because I really like Fromm as a company, but she didn't do well on it at all.]

Same Here!!!!!!! Riley did not do well with the Chicken A La Veg or the Pork & Applesauce.... I gave both bags to my sister... I took him to the vet who siad he was more than likely having a reaction to the grains.... I switched him back to Acana and he cleared up.... it took about a month or so though.

I LOVE ACANA!! I feed him Acana Wild Prairie or the Pacifica.... when I feed kibble... otherwise he gets Nature's Variety Frozen Premade raw... he really thrives on the Nature's Variety.

Fromm does have a grain free formula....both of mine are on the Salmon Tunalini, they love it!! Nice shiney coat and they dont itch at all. coconut oil is wonderful as well. Good Luck, keep us posted.

By the way, Chicken Soup is NOT grain free. In fact it has quite a few grains in it. I have not used the Fromm Gold, but have been using the Fromm 4-Star foods. We have been using the Duck & Sweet Potato lately. I'd also love to try Acana but due to cost I haven't tried it. Good luck with your baby. Let us know if you find something that works.

Awww, poor Luma! We have the pups on Blue buffalo and they love it :).

About the tear stains/goop.. try the gerber water!!! We always gave them filtered water and Sophia had some stains. We switched to the gerber water a few weeks ago and both of the eyes are crystal clear. No stains in sight :)

We are going to try acana pacifica. As far as her skin, I think I will take her in to the vet this week to see what he suggests.

Also, I love how fast Mr. Chewy's shipping is! Yay!

We have been looking for a new food since the TOTW mess. We tried the Earthborn Holistics- Now I have just gotten the fromm grainfree salmon tunalini. My little ones like it altho Ziva took a little getting used to the small round hard kibble (she seems better able to chew the flattened kibble) I make sure all foods I buy include probiotics, so I don't have to add it separately.

i sure hope the acana pacifica works for her.
yes, mr chewy.com is awesome.

I am the same -- REALLY wanted Fromm to work. So kept trying. To no avail. :( His poops always got softer, eye goop would get bad, and he'd eventually get itchy.

So anyways we've had fabulous luck with Acana, but we actually just bought a bag of Canine Caviar today because I had a coupon. I really like their low ash simple formulas, so we figured we'd give it a try. Also, modest protein/fat. But Jackson always has done very well on Acana, he does the best on their Singles line, but the grain-free gives good results too.

oh the canine caviar is awesome.
we got a small sample bag once and oscar did great on it.
problem was it was not available locally.
i prefer to buy in store if possible .
i switched to acana and he is doing great on it .

Good to know! Our local store carries it.

This is the formula we got:

Open Sky Grain Free ALS Dinner

Ingredients: Duck Meal, Chickpea, Duck Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Menhaden Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Sun-Cured Alfalfa, Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Culture, Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Culture, Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Culture, Sun-Cured Kelp, FOS (prebiotic), Calcium Proteinate, Sodium Chloride, Lecithin, Choline Chloride, Parsley, Fenugreek, Peppermint, Taurine, Selenium, Whole Clove Garlic, Vitamin E, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin C, Papaya, Rose Hips, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Niacin, Beta-Carotene, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin D3, Biotin, Vitamin A, Riboflavin, Vitamin B-12, Potassium Proteinate, Folic Acid.

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein 29.0 % min.
Crude Fat 15.0 % min.
Crude Fiber 3.3 % max.
**Omega 3 1.0 % min.
**Omega 6 2.3 % min
**Taurine 0.10 % min.
Moisture 8.0 % max.
Ash 5.7% max
Calcium 1.0%
Sodium
0.23% max
Phosphorus 0.8 % min.
Digestibility
91%-93% min.