Hi, we had been feeding our pup Marley eukanuba puppy food since we got him but he seemed to go off it, leaving it sitting out for hours. Some days not finishing any of his 3 portions. Today we bought some pedigree stuff and the portion size seemed very small compared to eukanuba, he wolfed the last two portions down and he definitely seems hungry still. I fed both types of food according to the feeding guides on the back but they seem hugely different? Has anyone else got any experience with pedigree dry puppy food? Should I give him more?
Hello and welcome to the forum! I wouldn't feed Pedigree, personally, but that aside, the differing volumes/weights between different foods isn't anything to think twice about - it's just because some foods are more nutritionally dense than others. Like how a spoonful of butter has more calories than a spoonful of lettuce. It seems in general that Labs usually need far less than what is stated on the pack's guidelines, and less than many other breeds, so I'd be surprised if he needs more. That said, it does vary from dog to dog. The best way to judge it is not from how hungry he seems, but by his body shape. Although if my dog seemed hungry even when being fed the right amount of food, I'd look at changing it. It's a bit like us; if we ate all our calories by eating sweets, we'd feel hungry all the time, even though we were getting our caloric quota.
The pedigree was just a test really, I just can't decide on another type to try. I don't want to waste money trying loads of different types. Ive read such good things about the eukanuba but he really isn't interested in it anymore.
Give some of the brands a call to discuss your needs. I've heard that they often send out free samples to try. I've not done it myself because of where I am normally based, but it might be worth a go?
Our local stores always have trial packs for free, especially of new foods. Alternatively, most stores will offer you a refund if your dog doesn't take to a food. How old is your dog? I've always fed exactly or below the bag recommendations to account for calories from treats. Many lower quality foods require higher volumes to be fed, so on some of the very high quality foods, the amount seems very small.
My dog also came home on eukanuba and wasn't very impressed with it either. She would often leave food uneaten and never really seemed eager to eat. She got switched for medical reasons to a prescription food that was highly palatable and has been a Hoover ever since. She is always acting like she's starving. For an hour before every meal, she paces around her food bowl with a pathetic look on her face. I've tried increasing it a bit and she still acts like that. Even on days when she seems to get a couple extra treats and kongs (seemed to happen a lot during the holidays), she still acted starving. Honestly, I think my dog could eat an entire bag and still want more. i wonder sometimes if she requires a lot more cause she's growing but I think she's just being a lab.
The pedigree is less volume and worse quality but it must have a higher calorie content somehow? He seems to love it though and I've been mixing it with the Eukanuba so I can get them both finished. Good poos and everything so not worried. His hunger crazies seemed to have calmed a bit.
The bad poos came and have stayed. I've stopped the pedigree the last couple days and just given him rice and chicken. Waiting on royal canine coming so hopefully can stop worrying.
