Need Opinions on Food Brands
 

Hey all, I am just reaching out to see if any of you know these foods or if any of you are currently feeding them and what your opinions are on these brands. I have never heard of them before, but I was given some samples and thought I'd check them out first. They are….

Horizon Legacy

Zignature

Pulsar

All of these are grain free.

I am currently feeding my two girls Taste of the Wild. When I went to go buy a bag last week or so, I was also looking at some Alaska Salmon Oil because one of my girls' skin is really dry. I've tried adding olive oil, coconut oil, tried rubbing vitamin e on her skin, everything…and nothing seems to be helping. So when I was looking at the salmon oil, the worker came up to me and asked if I needed any help… I told her my situation and she recommended a food change up and these are the samples she gave me. Any advice, feedback, or opinions are greatly appreciated and welcome! Thank you so much :)

I have used Zignature briefly. I think it was too rich for my girls, they both had soft poopies the entire time I fed it to them. I think it's a good food but kind of high in protein.

All are above average dog foods. Horizon Legacy is given an edge on dog food analysis.com Just make sure you change over to a new food slowly. I mix 1/4 new to 3/4 old for a week, then 1/2 and 1/2 for a week, then 3/4 new with 1/4 old for a week, then finally all new. As another poster mentioned some work for some dogs and others work better. I have tried twice to change to Wellness and both times my dogs' digestive systems got very upset so I have given up. I have fed Taste of the Wild in the past. Currently feeding Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula, small breed. All of the foods you mentioned are higher rated.

What food did you switch to? And is that why you quit feeding that food, is because of the soft poop?

Also, how do you know how much is too much protein?

Thank you Lacy's Mom! Blue Buffalo Wilderness was the first food I fed them, and they just didn't seem to like it. They wouldn't eat the life source bits, so I switched them to Acana. They didn't seem to like that any better, so I then switched them to Taste of the Wild and they've been on this food for about a year now!

A great grain free food is Fromm . .

I would still add fish oil to the food. It is good for their inside and out

I am not overly familiar w/ any of these foods. Btw, does your girl have allergies...could that be what's bothering her skin perhaps?

They were just at the vet for a check up and I asked her about it and she said it's just really dry skin. She didn't even say anything about allergies :-/

Farmina would be my first choice and Fromm would be my second

I home cook so that's my first choice. My second choice would be royal Canin mini. I'm not comfy with small niche companies without vet nutritionists. No fat needs to be added but if you do it, please be careful as there are many Yorkies prone to pancreatitis which can become life threatening and cost an average of $800-2500 for a hospital stay.

I have a 9 month old yorkie with constant diarrhea. Wondering what you home cook for you or your key. I would seriously consider switching to that. I cannot get it under control. Right now she is on blue dry food and wellness canned food.

Thanks so much....so are you feeding your dog only dry food? I have a 9 month old yorkie and she has had diarrhea on and off for months. Can't seem to settle into a diet that works for her

High protein isn't bad unless you dog has kidney or liver problems. But for a healthy dog shouldn't be a problem. Ahhh dunno about kibble.....

I dunno about the dog food you feed. But imo if your dog has diarrhea?? It could be from feeding to much. They get soft stools from over eating. But if you dog is a good weight that shouldn't be the problem. But I would just feed only kibble and see . I feed homemade and kibble. But i would change untill I go the diarrhea under control first. Maybe a different kibble .

Royal Canin
 

Although it has some grain in it my Cooper loves it!!! They have one that is breed specific for Yorkie adults and puppies!! Cooper didn't like the blue buffalo either but he loves the Royal Canin!!! My vet sells it and she told me that it was a good brand!

Chronic Diarhhea..
 

Thanks Everyone !!! Maybe I am feeding her too much. I feed her twice a day. 1/8 cup of Blue ..Life Protection formula and 2 tsps WEllness puppy canned food. Then I add Home boiled chicken or chopped meat. she gets this 3 times a day at 9 mos. old. How much are you all feeding your Yorkies and how many times a day. She weighs 4 1/2 lbs and is VERY thin. But while she has this chronic diarhhea, she cant seem to keep the weight on..

Have you had stool tests for worms, coccidia, and giardia? I think I would want to try a round of antibiotics since the diarrhea has been long term with weight loss. I would feed only dry but it doesnt sound like you are doing very much canned to hurt but wellness is very rich. Whatever you feed be consistent not different meats everyday and never any lunchmeats.

I agree is you haven't done it. Have a stool sample for worms. Feed till they are not thin but still have a waist and you can still feel some bone on the ribs. A little thicker isn't bad but not so much that they are to heavy and it causes there problems. Search for a dog food calculator for a gauge for feedings.

Thank youl.. And I see above that I said I feed her twice a dayl. .. she actually eats 3 times a day. Thanks for all of the input...

And yes...we have already tested her stool and it shows nothing. Thats why he started her on the 10 days of Flagyl to control the diarhhea. I wish I could find a diet that works for her. Some people say no canned food, some say no home cooked... its all confusing.

Thanks Laceys mom..... I WAS switching her home cooked meat everyday... between chopped meat, salmon, chicken, beef. I have since cut down to just chopped meat or chicken. But shouldnt I be cutting out some of her "dog food " diet if I'm feeding home cooked?

Assuming she is about 4 1/2 pounds I would think 1/2 cup daily total (all additives included would be about right). Don't think it matters if you feed two meals a day or three meals, just divide equally. Just add a little chicken - white meat. no skin (dark meat and skin has too much fat), and skip the wellness canned and other meats at least until you get this under control. Flagyl was probably prescribed just in case of giardia since it is hard to test for, but worms or coccidia show up on fecal tests.

If this doesn't help after a week or two, then you need to talk to vet about withholding food for 24 hours to give the stomach a rest and maybe getting another round of antibiotics or a injection. I recently took mine to the vet and she got an injection to clear up very frequent watery diarrhea that was caused by me giving her a small piece of steak that was a little past expiration apparently. One injection and she cleared up immediately and it was pretty bad. I am on vacation right now so can't look at the bill to see what it was.

Another question, actual diarrhea is defined by frequency not consistency - are bowel movements frequent or just very loose when they occur?

yes.she is 4.5 lbs. Her diarhhea was watery, black and some blood and she was going 8 to 10 times a day. The flagly has gotten her to about 3 or 4 a day so far and its a much more formed diarhhea. I think I will discontinue the wellness and see if that helps her along. I have another 6 days on the flagyl. The probiotics are another 3 weeks..... Thanks so much for all of your input

IME home cooking properly is better. Just need to pin point the diarrhea before home cooking...Sometimes changing gives it to them. But it may not be any worst if you try now.