I Can't Believe I'm Asking This...Dog Care Advice Needed

[kyton]

Our dog breeder has previously said that if it’s the same manufacturer then you can switch as they tend to use the same standard ingredients. I had asked that question when our two went from puppy dry food to adult dry food - no transition required was the answer.

 

[ronandannette]

Ooh, I wanna see him! I tried my guy with the bag on the right, fussy **** and nope.
I am not a good one to respond, as I just switch, , although slowly. He eats the presidents choice chicken and rice for small breeds.

Like I said in my thread title...I can't believe I'm doing this. I'm on pins-and-needles waiting for @prairie_girl to roast me over all the shade I've thrown at dogs over the years.

 

[mumto3girls]

He is adorable! Name? Is he growing on you at all?

 

[ronandannette]

He is adorable! Name? Is he growing on you at all?

His name is Finnigan but I've always called him Stupidhead; Stup for short. It doesn't really matter though - he's a brat and rarely comes, no matter what name you use. Growing on me? Well, not actually, no, but if circumstances dictate that he ends up here permanently, I'm at peace with it. He doesn't bark much and barely sheds at all and my DS is completely responsible for his care. He absolutely ADORES the dog and seeing them together makes me feel a little sorry we didn't let him have the dog he always longed for during his childhood.

 

[DCLMP]

His name is Finnigan but I've always called him Stupidhead; Stup for short. It doesn't really matter though - he's a brat and rarely comes, no matter what name you use. Growing on me? Well, not actually, no, but if circumstances dictate that he ends up here permanently, I'm at peace with it. He doesn't bark much and barely sheds at all and my DS is completely responsible for his care. He absolutely ADORES the dog and seeing them together makes me feel a little sorry we didn't let him have the dog he always longed for during his childhood.

I think he might melt your heart of steal,

 

[PollyannaMom]

Oh my gosh, he's adorable!!!

Cat food says the same thing on it, but mine have always done fine switching flavors/types of the same brand when necessary. I think he'll manage OK.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

What a cutie little Mr. Finnegan is!! He’s going to turn you into a dog lover before you know it @ronandannette! Soon, you’ll be buying him new little sweaters to wear - one for every season and occasion, of course - and lots and lots of dog toys.

 

[prairie_girl]

Like I said in my thread title...I can't believe I'm doing this. I'm on pins-and-needles waiting for @prairie_girl to roast me over all the shade I've thrown at dogs over the years.

View attachment 770288

He is a cutie…..

I’m hardly in a place to roast you when I have let a dog into my heart when I never thought it would happen.

I don’t call mine stupidhead though..I go with DumDum or Dumbo for short lol

All kidding aside, I think we both have made huge progress on letting an animal share space with us.

 

[BrianL]

His name is Finnigan but I've always called him Stupidhead; Stup for short. It doesn't really matter though - he's a brat and rarely comes, no matter what name you use. Growing on me? Well, not actually, no, but if circumstances dictate that he ends up here permanently, I'm at peace with it. He doesn't bark much and barely sheds at all and my DS is completely responsible for his care. He absolutely ADORES the dog and seeing them together makes me feel a little sorry we didn't let him have the dog he always longed for during his childhood.

Hey, @ronandannette, I found a picture of you from a few months from now:

 

[mommasita]

Oh my he’s soo cute

 

[sheilafri]

This is what he used to have v.s. what I bought today. There is none of the old stuff left.
View attachment 770204View attachment 770205

So my (now retired) vet told me not to feed Beneful, that there is too much sugar and is pretty much like feeding your dog candy. You might consider transitioning to a higher quality food.

 

[ronandannette]

What a cutie little Mr. Finnegan is!! He’s going to turn you into a dog lover before you know it @ronandannette! Soon, you’ll be buying him new little sweaters to wear - one for every season and occasion, of course - and lots and lots of dog toys.

No need - he came with a full wardrobe. The sweater in the picture is from his holiday collection. The matching boots are a real pain though.

 

[mrsstats79]

So my (now retired) vet told me not to feed Beneful, that there is too much sugar and is pretty much like feeding your dog candy. You might consider transitioning to a higher quality food.

I fed my diabetic dog Beneful healthy weight and the vet was fine with that. I now feed my 2 dogs the same food. They are healthy and the vet is fine with the food.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

He’s a cutie. A smaller version of one of mine. (A Cairn.) He is probably already a little stressed out from the transition. Complete switching of food could cause more stomach upset, and you could wind up with diarrhea. If that happens, you have to let his gut rest, and start again slowly. With luck, it won’t be an issue. But monitor stool consistency for a few days (lol )

 

[ronandannette]

He’s a cutie. A smaller version of one of mine. (A Cairn.) He is probably already a little stressed out from the transition. Complete switching of food could cause more stomach upset, and you could wind up with diarrhea. If that happens, you have to let his gut rest, and start again slowly. With luck, it won’t be an issue. But monitor stool consistency for a few days (lol )

He's been here since February. It's just that he eats so very little of his dry food every day (maybe a scant 1/4 cup), the bag he came with lasted a very long time. As for checking his poop - well, no, I won't be doing that. I suppose DS will let me know if anything is too badly out of order. And it wouldn't be the end of the world to have to go back for a bag of the original stuff, if it comes to it.

 

[mommasita]

He is tiny, mine is a little bigger, and doesn’t eat much either. I remember in the beginning being worried over how little he ate, but the vet reassuring he required XX amount of calories per day.

 

[mjkacmom]

I have an 18 pound Jack Russell minpin mix (rescue), when we got her at 3 month we mixed wet and dry to get her to eat. After a couple of years we realized no need for wet, she literally inhales her dry food in 8 seconds (1/3 cup twice a day). I’ve switched up her food many times (purina one, but different types, based on what is available). Never had an issue (she’s 12).

 

[ronandannette]

He is tiny, mine is a little bigger, and doesn’t eat much either. I remember in the beginning being worried over how little he ate, but the vet reassuring he required XX amount of calories per day.

He's about 7 lbs. Apparently that's normal for his kind. The food is out all day long (canned and dry in separate bowls); there's always something in his bowls and he eats as much as he wants. He gets a fair amount of dog treats (I like to say the word Snausage ) but almost no people food, unless it falls on the floor in the kitchen.

 

[dvcgirl67]

So my (now retired) vet told me not to feed Beneful, that there is too much sugar and is pretty much like feeding your dog candy. You might consider transitioning to a higher quality food.

Agree, it's the fruit loops of dog food.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We’ve been having good luck with dog food from Aldi’s. Both dogs like it and gobble it all up - the salmon, especially. And stools are in really good shape. They weren’t eating some of the other canned brands we were buying.