Dog eating less higher quality food bad?

[cjjr82]

Hello
I recently (about 2-3 weeks ago) switched my slightly overweight dog from Purina One to Wellness Super 5 Mix healthy weight. I had been giving him 1 cup in the morning and 2 at night (of the purina) and he would devour it as soon as it hit the bowl. Once I switched I started giving him 1 cup in the morning and 1 3/4 cup at night, based on the bags recommendation for weight loss. He was eating the same until about 3 days ago. He now started leaving the morning food and not eating it at all. I added two cups at night and he ate but left about a cup and his eating has been close to that for the past couple days. Should I be worried about this and take him to the vet? I thought maybe since it's a higher quality food it might be filling him up with less food, but also didn't think he would eat less overnight.

Thanks for any feedback on the situation.

Chris

[skydnsr]

You know, there is a possibility, though, that he just doesn't like the Wellness as well as the Purina.  I think the only way you are going to be able to figure out what is going on is to weigh him regularly for a while.  Of those two foods, I prefer feeding my own dogs Wellness, but I don't think Purina is a horrible food.  You can do a lot, lot, worse than Purina One.  Whatever food you end up giving, you will manage the dog's weight the same way, by measuring the food every day and weighing the dog on a regular basis.  It's not necessary to use a "healthy weight" or weight loss-type food, either.  You can do that if you want to, and it's fine if the dog seems to do well on it, but I usually just use regular food and measure the amount.  It's like with us, we don't have to go on Slim Fast to lose weight; we can just eat a regular diet and not overeat.

[skydnsr]

Wellness Super 5 is a good food.  The calories per cup for both it and Purina One should be on the back of the respective packages.  You might have to look carefully to find that information, but it is something to consider.  If the Wellness has more calories per cup, then there's your answer for why your dog eats less of it.  Also, in my personal opinion, the Wellness ingredients are of higher quality, and perhaps the food is more satisfying to your dog than the Purina One.  

I would not take the dog to the vet unless he acts sick.  If he acts happy and well, then he probably is happy and well.  

For a dog that I thought was overweight, I would weigh him when I first changed his diet, and then I would weigh him once a week for the first few weeks that he was on the new food.  If his weight is staying the same on the new food, then he is regulating his caloric intake to maintain the same body weight, and you will need to reduce the amount of food just a bit and continue weighing him once a week.  Keep a written record, so you don't have to rely on your memory.  If his weight is going down, continue to weigh him weekly for a while to make sure the weight loss is not too rapid.  By weighing him and giving him a measured amount food, you should be able to gradually figure out how much food to give him to help him reach and maintain an optimal weight.  Once he is at his goal weight and no longer losing, you only need to weigh him about once a month, just to keep track.

[deadgamegrrl]

Generally speaking, you do feed less of the 'super-premium' foods due to exactly what you say. They are nutrient dense and without the empty fillers.

For some reason, some dogs just seem to not really like Wellness, even though its a good food. (I have one of those). You might try a different premium food, or a different protein source.

Good luck, and good for you getting off the Purina!

[BluCrystal]

Hi Chris.  I was a vet tech for 8 years.  But keep in mind that I am in no way a vet.  As far as pet food goes, you really do get what you pay for.  I have never heard of the brand you mentioned in your post.  Did your vet recommend it?  If not, see your vet, and feed the food and amount he recommends.  I feed my own dog Science Diet C/D: that is for bladder health, since he has bladder problems.  He completely refused to eat it at first.  I got worried after day two.  So I took his food bowl, put in the correct amount, and let it soak in some chicken broth (you want the broth to soak into the food so he doesn't just push the food aside to get to the broth at the bottom).  He wolfed it.  I continued to do this every feeding, using less and less broth each time.  He continued to eat well.  Now I only put a few drops of broth on top (he wont eat it if he doesnt smell the broth).  No probs since.  Science Diet makes prescription food for all sorts of dietary needs.  I suggest you go to your vet and ask, if you have not done so already. - Blu