When is it safe to switch puppy to high protein food???

[Speardog]

I have a 5 month old female red. I eventually would like to switch her to blue wilderness but it has a 35% protein content which I have read may predispose her Wobblers later in life. So when can I safely make the switch??

[RKCM]

Do it slowly by mixing the food 1/2 old food and 1/2 new. You don't want the puppy on puppy food as you know. You could do 1/4 to 3/4 old and go from there. You don't want to upset their system and changing food too quickly can do that.

Let us know how it goes. Usually by 5 months, their system isn't so sensative but I would just switch all at once.

[Dobs4ever]

35% protein is very high. It can lead to kidney problems just like high protein diets in humans if not managed correctly. It is recommend that protein content usually be around 23% anything over that is usually added a lot of junk stuff that is not good for the dog but more a filler to increase protein content just like the melamine in the rice that China added a couple years ago. I prefer a lower protein content that does not burn up the kidneys

[niko]

I switched mine over at about 10 months old. Look into the taste of the wild food, it greatly improved our blue dobermans coat!

[Speardog]

35% protein is very high. It can lead to kidney problems just like high protein diets in humans if not managed correctly. It is recommend that protein content usually be around 23% anything over that is usually added a lot of junk stuff that is not good for the dog but more a filler to increase protein content just like the melamine in the rice that China added a couple years ago. I prefer a lower protein content that does not burn up the kidneys

High protein diet in humans causes a problem only if you do not hydrate properly.

So blue wilderness has a lot of junk in it??? i'm not being sarcastic, I just really want to know if that is true.

[RKCM]

I have heard some prefer this food. We use Diamond Natural and just keep them on it. It is 24% protein which we think it enough. The older dogs and puppies do just fine. We usually ween the pups on Iams and switch them to the adult food at about 8-10 weeks. I haven't had problems with this. When they are about 6 months, we add fresh veggies and meat to their food weekly. Works for us without problems actually.

What did you breeder suggest on feeding? I have heard this is a great food but not sure on that high of protein. Maybe someone else has experience with it.

[vivienne00]

According to Lew Olsen (K9Nutrition Yahoo Group), the studies on high protein causing issues for dogs was based on studies with rats and then applied to cover anything that has a kidney. My internist/specialist vet says he agrees that it doesn't apply to dogs. Dogs have a different way of digesting food and being carnivores, metabolize differently, even to producing their own vitC. I have a dog with atypical addison's and what I have to feed him is as high a protein level as I can of quality protein - no carbs. But he does get about 1 tablespoon of oatmeal each day, the rest is raw or cooked protein sources. He also eats 5 times a day.

[RKCM]

Viv, is there a reason you feed him 5 times a day?

[vivienne00]

Viv, is there a reason you feed him 5 times a day?

Yes, health reasons to help keep a steady flow of food in small portions that are easier to deal with, and a steady supply of protein to convert to glycogen to then build glucose.

He gets:
egg & yogurt & chicken
chicken & cottage cheese
raw meaty bone or cooked chicken (all chicken mentioned is quarters with bone, ground by us, with a little oatmeal added to absorb excess moisture & fat during cooking)
2-3oz of raw beef or veal
cottage cheese and 1 teaspoon of cooked oatmeal.

[Michael327]

http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/health/diet.htm

[RKCM]

Problems with Blue Buffalo sited:

http://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=16468

[von Cosack Dobermann]

Changing over should be done slowly I always start 75% old and drop that number down every 3 days by 10 to 15%. I will keep a 5 or 10% amount in the meals for 2 or 3 weeks just in case there is adjustment problems during the latter stages of switching.
As to age most pups are old enough between 4 and 5 months and by then I'm offering two meals a day.
In regards to protein I basicly stay with a kibble that doesn't exceed 26% because I do add a variety of muscle & organ meats and use cottage cheese and yogurts so I'm right around 30% at meal time. Now Viho is 30 months old, now as a pup up until 10 to 12 months I used a kibble that was 20% and did add more amounts of added ingredients that measured out to 24% approximately. Seems like this breed could eat sticks, rocks and dirt years ago and be as healthy as all hell, now with allergies and pano lurking everyone is in a panic about diets by the time you try all the food brands out there your dog will be 8 years old hahahaha. Like anything else with dogs a little common sense and awareness in reading your dogs coat and skin condition along with stool consistencies and exercise stamina can give you excellant insight as to their health and overall condition. Bon Appetite, Von

ps/ I'm in middle of switching Viho from PPP Selects Salmon & br. rice to Diamonds Naturals Chicken & Rice. He was on PPP S for a year and a half and did very well on it I highly suggest the PPP Selects for a one sourse fish kibble I think it's the best out there. The Selects is Purinas top shelf and is superior to many of the hollistic kibble out there.