When to go to one meal a day

[debbiect]

Even though it's under "canned food" does it apply to the dry kibbles too?
And if so, then would it be alright for me to purchase a different "flavor" and see if he's just tired of the taste of the "puppy plate?"
ANother thing I have heard is that you don't want to feed them different "flavors," as with Natural Balance dry food (I was told the ones other than the "Ultra Premium Comlete and Balanced" were for dogs with allergies. Like Sparky liked the Venison and Brown RIce, and the Potato and Duck flavors, but was told by a vet tech not to feed him those. And he liked the Canidae Chicken and Rice Formular, but was told if I feed him Canidae it should be the Maintenance Formula because the Chicken and RIce were for allergies.
So, all that said, could I mix up the flavor varieties of Merrick's and see which one he likes best?

[debbiect]

I'm just wondering if maybe he's "bored" with the same ole taste at meal time and that's why he's not eating really well. I mean I love steak and baked potato, but I wouldn't want it at every meal.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by debbiect

Even though it's under "canned food" does it apply to the dry kibbles too?
And if so, then would it be alright for me to purchase a different "flavor" and see if he's just tired of the taste of the "puppy plate?"
ANother thing I have heard is that you don't want to feed them different "flavors," as with Natural Balance dry food (I was told the ones other than the "Ultra Premium Comlete and Balanced" were for dogs with allergies. Like Sparky liked the Venison and Brown RIce, and the Potato and Duck flavors, but was told by a vet tech not to feed him those. And he liked the Canidae Chicken and Rice Formular, but was told if I feed him Canidae it should be the Maintenance Formula because the Chicken and RIce were for allergies.
So, all that said, could I mix up the flavor varieties of Merrick's and see which one he likes best?

Yes, you can switch and try different varieties. He'll tell you which one's he likes best. I just cook chicken breast and feed that. Without the skin of course. Don't be afraid to try different stuff.

[Yorkieluv]

Yes, you can try all the different varieties that you want. If you have any lingering questions about how much to feed so that your pup gets the proper nutrition, I would just call them or email them
Also, there's no reason why you can't give the different flavored Natural Balance or Canidae...They're supposed to be good for dogs with allergies, but there's no reason to think that they're not good for all dogs. They're all very healthy foods.
Here's a website where you can look up the different foods:
www.dogfoodanalysis.com
It gives you a thorough review of each food.

[blksnowbunny]

Originally Posted by debbiect

Everyone here knows I and many others on this forum have little "brats," that go through stages of refusing anything and everything we give them. It's like a "fast" or something. Well Sparky has done this off and on since I got him in December. He is 19 weeks old, almost 5 months (the 12th of April). He weighed 7 lbs 10 ounces at the vet's last week, so he's not a "toy," by any means, and I realize he weighs more than AKC recognizes (so I'm told). But he's my lil bugger. He's not quite 10 inches tall at his shoulders. Now that you know his size, my question. When can I switch him to eating once a day? I keep Merrick's kibbles down all day, and twice a day he gets 1/4 cup of Merricks dry and I grate up a little bit of New Balance rolls on top of that. Plus I add a few pieces of chopped up chicken or beef, and maybe a grated baby carrot. I have to really baby him to get him to eat (hand feed him). I don't want to go through changing foods everytime he gets picky. Sometimes I'll give him a teaspoon of non-fat plain yogurt or a teaspoon of non-fat cottage cheese (usually between 11 - 2). He eats breakfast about 9 am and dinner about 5 - 6 pm. But he picks at his two meals, and doesn't really act interested. I even cut back on his quantity of breakfast, but still he never eats ALL of his food. (except yogurt, cottage cheese). He doesn't get alot of treats during the day, only a cheerio when he goes potty. I really need help as I am at my wits end. Also, I feed him seperate from my other dog (she's about 6-8 years old, coon hound and has eaten Purina Kibbles all her life), and he acts like he's starving if he can get to her bowl before I pick it up. He will gobble it. I got some samples several months ago and he gobbled Candidae. I started to change, but the tech at my vet's told me it wasn;t a good idea to change, it teaches them to be finicky.(She has several Yorkies)He gobbled Merrick's when I changed him over from Science Diet. Is this something I have to look forward to? HELLLLLPPPPPPP!@!@!!!!!!!@!!@@!

Wow, your dog eats more balanced and consistant meals than I do!!! LOL