Grain Free NOT Working For Bubba. Anyone Feed Acana?

[Lyn]

Here we go again! Shocking!

I switched Bubba to Orijen almost a year ago. The longer he's on it the more weight he seems to lose. From what I've read some dogs will gain weight on the stuff, and some lose. I was really hoping for the 'gain', but he's up to 7 cups a day now which is way more calories than he should need to maintain weight and he's not.

Looks like we are switching foods again. Which leads me to another question. Does anyone feed Acana? It's made by Champion pet foods which also makes Orijen.

Here's the analysis and ingredients. There are a few ingredients in it that I don't like but I'm super picky. LOL Since the foods I've picked in the past didn't work that well for him, I want to try something I wouldn't neccessarily pick.

Protein (min.) 27.0%     
Fat (min.) 15.0%         
Fiber (max.) 2.5 %     
Moisture (max.) 10.0%   
Calcium (min.) 1.1%     
Phosphorus (min.) 1.0 %
Glucosamine (min.) 450 mg/kg   
Chondroitin (min.) 75 mg/kg 
Lutein (min.) --- 10 mg/kg *
Vitamin E (min.) --- 250 IU/kg
L-carnitine (min.) --- 250 mg/kg 
Omega-6 (min.) --- 2.9 % *
Omega-3 (min.) --- 0.7 % *
ME --- 4,200 kcal/kg

Chicken meal (low ash), 50% according to their website.
steamed oatmeal,
ground whole rice,
chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, citric acid and rosemary),
rice bran,
ground flaxseed (source of Omega 3),
beet pulp,
herring oil (natural source of DHA and EPA),
chicken broth,
yeast extract (Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation solubles),
chicory root (FOS),
steamed sweet potato,
dried whole egg,
yucca shidigera,
glucosamine HCl (powdered lobster shell),
chondroitin sulfate (shark cartilage),
marigold extract (source of lutein),
L-carnitine supplement,
Atlantic kelp,
carrots,
tomatoes (natural source of lycopene),
apples,
whole garlic,
parsley,
rosemary extract,
cranberry,
sea salt,
potassium chloride,
choline chloride,
lysine,
vitamin A supplement,
dl alpha-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E),
methionine,
vitamin D3 supplement,
*iron Bioplex™,
*zinc Bioplex™,
*manganese Bioplex™,
biotin,
*copper Bioplex™,
niacin,
riboflavin,
thiamine mononitrate,
pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6),
vitamin B12,
folic acid.
*chelated minerals

[ptkennel]

WE fed ACANA to our dogs.   Its a good dog food, we liked it.  JOy was allergic to the egg in it though.  Amy and Tiny were fine on it.  But we have recently switched to Wellness.  It is super low in protein and the wolfhounds are doing great on it.  Our newf is on Origen 6 fish, due to allergies.
We plan on changing her to the Wellness too, there is no egg in it.  But we are waiting till after the next dog show, don't need any unforseen problems with her fur to arise.
Last time we switched dog foods she started to chew her fur off her feet.  NOt pretty on a newfy.
Here is the link to Wellness.
http://omhpet.com/wellness/dog_wellness_dry_super5mix_chicken.html
We are feeding the Super5mix.  They also have a food similar to Origen, called the COre.  Haven't tried it though.
Good luck.

[Lyn]

Thank all. I'll check out the Nature's Variety and Wellness Core.

The weight loss has been gradual, but he's litterally has no fat on his body that I can feel. His coat is amazingly soft and shiny.. but he looks like I starve him.

Bubba can get a bout of colitis in a heartbeat. For the longest time I thought he had was some sort of chicken allergy but after switching to Orijen that's definitely not the case. We did discover that he does in fact have grain allergies. Corn, wheat and barley.

Here's the list of foods we have tried him on in approximatly the correct order. He was on some of them longer than others depending on his reaction.

Science Diet large breed puppy - (Bubba was on this when we brought him home)
Solid Gold - Wolfcub, Wolfking, Mmillenia and hundenflocken.
Wellness - The Chicken one and the Lamb one.
Natural Balance - Duck and Potato and Venison and brown rice.
Purina ONE - Large breed puppy I believe.
Eukanuba - Large breed puppy
Pro Plan - Large breed puppy
Fromm - Salmon a la veg.
California Natural- Chicken meal and rice.
Eagle Pack Holistic - Anchovy, Sardine and Salmon.
Go Natural - Salmon and Oatmeal
Innova - Adult
Canidae - All Life Stages
Orijen - Adult and Large breed puppy since it contained more fat.

[Lyn]

NV does sound good, but we dont have a retailer here in Canada

Actually I used the store locator.. here's the list of store in ontario.

http://www.naturesvariety.com/where_can.lasso?-Token.prov=ON&r=110973

I can get it in Brantford.. about a 30 minute drive.

[People Whisperer]

I've heard good things about the rabbit and duck formulas but we've only tried the chicken.

Lily is on Rabbit formula now and she loves it! 

[Lyn]

Well I just talked to hubby he wants me try adding carbs to Bubba Orijen before we go switching to something else just yet.

He also mentioned Satin Balls. Does anyone have a satin ball recipe that doesn't contain wheat germ? Or can I just substitute something else in it's place?

[People Whisperer]

He also mentioned Satin Balls. Does anyone have a satin ball recipe that doesn't contain wheat germ? Or can I just substitute something else in it's place?

Check out Fat Balls #4

http://lowchensaustralia.com/health/diet4.htm

[Lyn]

Ok now hubby has changed his mind. He wants to try the Nature's Variety Instinct Chicken. The Satin balls would be a quick fix but we would need to continue feeding them to him. As much as I want Orijen to work for him it's just not. I really hoped this was the last food I had to switch him to.

I also remembered something which may coincide with the Bubba's issues. Orijen changed the formula slightly around September I believe. They added dulce and removed tapioca putting sweet potato in it's place, moved other ingredient around and added/removed some botanicals.

Bubba had diarrhea with the first new formula bag but then it stopped and I figured no big deal. I'm thinking now that it's related to him losing more weight since he did ok before that. He was still thinish but not like this and he was gaining slowly.

Plus for the past month or so he's had runny eyes and is shedding profusely. He's also been rubbing his face on the carpet and developed a good size pimple on his chin. But his poops and coat look great. LOL Mind you I still think Orijen an awesome food and thier customer service is excellent. But even Lola is getting runny eyes and that's never been an issue with her.

Julie, I'm not too worried about the gas.. Bubba and Lola are both gassy on Orijen too. I can't see the NV making it any worse. LOL

[Lyn]

I'm wondering if it was the addition of sweet potatoes? Or maybe the botanicals they added? There's quite a few so it could be any of them.

Here's the list of the stuff they added and removed..

ingredients removed:
flaxseed
yeast extract
tapioca

ingredients added:
sweet potato
dulse

The botanicals removed:
burdock and marshmallow root
stinging nettle
milk thistle
chickweed

botanicals added:
licorice root
turmeric root
fenugreek
cranberries
black currants
sweet fennel
zea mays (corn silk extract)
peppermint leaf
chamomile
dandelion root
summer savory

Crossing my fingers the NV works. We are going to go pick up a bag on Friday or Saturday after hubby's done work.

[Butts Mom]

Lyn, the Instinct is the one you want. The other's have grains. I can tell you that we have seriously smelly gas in the house now but they are healthy and happy.

I've heard good things about the rabbit and duck formulas but we've only tried the chicken.

Okay I don't think seriously smelly gas quite covers it.You need to put that in bold followed by lots of exclamation marks.I switched the boys to it and the other night I thought I should phone a friend and tell them if I didn't asnwer the phone in the am it was becuse Tub gassed me in my sleep