Hi all, just a bit of advice please....I've had my lab for just coming up to 10 weeks now & he's 15 months old. When I got him he was on Beta Purina large breed puppy complete (dry kibble) but because of his change of home etc I didn't want to switch food straight away. We're near the end of the bag now and he's settled well so it's time to move up to the adult stage. Do I just go for it or introduce it gradually by mixing it with the puppy food for a couple of days? Sorry if it sounds like I'm making a big deal out of nothing!!
Re: switching food I've always changed over food gradually which is why I've never understood people offering me food samples : but then Riley does have a slightly sensitive tum. He was also a bit itchy so we changed food a few times before finding something that suited him.
Re: switching food You aren't Kate....I've done exactly that this week starting Sunday.The receptionist at my vets told me it was ok as it was the same brand.....and it has been ok,and Dexter has a really sensitive tum.i didn't check this with the vet to be fair but his poop would tell me if it wasn't working in our case!!
Re: switching food Oh blimey.....as I said 'in our case!'....if there was a doggy social services here,dexter might not still be with us!
Re: switching food Thanks for the replies, got the new food yesterday so it's been mixed with the old this morning then will be for a couple of days till the ratio is mostly new (& I run out of the old)....will be on poop watch to make sure the switching goes ok! I don't think I was ever so observant with poo even when I was nappy changing my two children!!!!
Re: switching food Help again!!! I bought the new food in smaller bags, we finished the first which was a meaty flavour, now onto the second which is turkey & rice...all was going ok although he didn't gobble it like the other. Last night he wasn't really fussed but he did eat, this morning he turned his nose up. I gave it 5 minutes, then took it away. We've had our morning walk & got to the office, where I offered him a few bits of kibble that I brought with me from his breakfast - he's eaten it out of my hand. He seems fine, has moved his bowels on the walk as usual & raced about after his ball. I've checked his abdomen and he doesn't flinch at all. Fussy or poorly?!
Re: switching food Hopefully just fussy, although labs have a reputation for eating anything and everything I actually know quite a few fussy ones including Riley. He often leaves his breakfast til later in the morning or doesn't finish it completely. If I'm worried about his weight I add sardines which always ensures a rapid despatch! We used to take his meal away if he hadn't finished it but as he's generally on the lean side I leav it out now. I don't mind if he takes his time over it
Re: switching food Thanks Barbara, I hope so too. He's really not the doggy dustbin most make labs out to be, he's very gentle with his food, doesn't drool or beg & will wait his turn. I could leave a joint on the worktop & he wouldn't so much as look at it. But that's always the case. I'm thinking he's not working his tea off, so he's maybe not so hungry. In summer we'd be out walking till well after 9 at night, whereas now its cold & wet perhaps he doesn't need so much food to snooze on his rug. He's also lean, so I'll keep an eye on it.
