Rouleaux

I couldn't find a thread through the DT search regarding FROMM 4 Star recipes specifically. I also have to bold my questions because I like to ramble... so sorry

Other than certain recipes from the 4 Star series being grain free while others contain grain, does anyone notice a nutritional difference in their dog when feeding different recipes? When feeding grain free FROMM 4 Star specifically here and there?

Rouleaux has been on the FROMM brand 4 Star recipes for about 2 months. He was started on the Grain free recipes, Surf and Turf and Salmon Tunalini.

Today I picked up Salmon a la Veg recipe which is not grain free, but I love that I can choose from different formulas to keep things new.

I plan on transitioning him onto the Salmon a la Veg recipe because he has been on the grain free recipes prior and was on Orijen LB Puppy since I brought him home in August ( I believe that brand to be grain free).

He has done great on the brand in the 2 months I have been feeding it. His coat is shiny, smooth and considerably softer, his stools normal, and he hasn't had any stomach upset on this brand- unfortunately, the Orijen was too rich for his stomach, irregular and soft stools, and his coat was rough, bristly and dry. Overall I am very pleased with him on this brand. I can't rave about it enough (unless I am at work, then I have to bite my tongue a bit).

Do you feel the ingredients (regardless of the grain free recipes and recipes containing grain) are fine enough to feed in rotation to keep tastes new? Do you recommend I stick to one or the other?

I understand that ultimately this is MY decision, but I would love to hear feedback.

Thanks

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TeachersPet

My dogs are currently on Fromm--the formulas with grain. I'm specifically feeding it because I wanted to try a food with grains in it as my Dobe is was not doing well on grain free food (Orijen, Taste of the Wild and Legacy) so I wanted to experiment and see what happened when I added grains to the mix. Yes, I'm happy with the food and feel that the formulas with grains are still good quality.

One thing to watch if you're switching between protein sources, is to keep an eye on the calorie content per cup (available on the website.) There is a huge variation between the proteins and their nutritional make up. If I feed the whitefish formula I need to feed upwards of 1.5 extra cups a day just to maintain the same caloric intake as when they're on the salmon. Just fyi.

Rouleaux

Thanks for your response. I was starting to think this would get no feedback!

I am SUPER impressed with how my boy has been doing on this brand.

Although I didn't think keeping him on the same protein source would be too much of a difference (Salmon), you bring up a valid point regarding their preparation and variation in the protein sources depending on where they may have come from, cooked, mixed,etc.

He hasn't been on a prolonged grain containing diet ever (However, he has been on Eukanuba Low Residue canned and Purina E/N canned both times for soft stools and an upset tummy thought to be caused by the richness in the Orijen brand, but in the two instances this was being fed, it never lasted past 3 days and the diets are easy on the stomach).

I have checked the website to see the differences in kcals/cup to feed him adequately. With the slightly lower caloric content, I shouldn't be adding very much if anything extra at all (He gets about 6-7 cups of the two salmon based grain-free diets daily because he is so active...). I just hope this change from grain free to containing grain doesn't ruin the wonderful progress he has been making.

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TeachersPet

Yeah, orijen wasn't Reno's friend, even though I wanted it to be. I admit to being a bit of a food snob--the higher end the better, but it really is true that you have to feed what works for your dog. Grain free isn't working well, and neither did raw, but I seem to be finding a happy medium with a mix of home cooked and kibble with grains.

My previous Doberman and my Labrador were both fed Fromm4Star with grains for a number of years, and both did very well on it. I never noticed any real difference when I rotated in bags of surf and turf (other than to my wallet!)

Rouleaux

I feel the same way. Here I am buying store brand food, but I am buying high end dog food for my puppy. They really don't realize how spoiled they are Orijen wanted to be Rou's friend too, but he wasn't doing NEARLY as well as he is now!

And I am blown away with how quickly we noticed results!

If you didn't have a problem mixing and matching recipes it puts my mind at ease. Hopefully things work the same for my guy.

But, yes... my wallet sheds a tear every time it is time to stock up on pet food - especially my dobie. I have two other dogs at home and they are on "come and get it". Usually nothing to the point of pedigree or the cheap brands you buy at the store, but not nearly as good as my spoiled dobie. Is that bad?

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Rosemary

Why not feed all of your dogs the "good stuff"? I've recently switched all three of mine to 4Health Salmon and Potato. I'm trying to eliminate chicken from their diet to see if it helps my girls to not be as itchy. They've both had mange (Ilka had demodex, and Leo had sarcoptic), and I get kinda frantic about any scratching (mainly Leo) or foot licking (Ilka). I've only found one food that Lucky didn't do well on, so he's just along for the ride.

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Rouleaux

The other two seem to do well on a combination of Instinct Raw Patties(which I feed to Rou every now and again)and kibble. But they generally more or less belong to my mother and sister- one each. Currently my mother's dog (a spaniel mix) is eating a veterinary dental formula and the pup (a pit pup) is on Eukanuba puppy. They foot the pick up and cost for their own respective dogs.

I picked up the dental formula food (which is just a bigger nugget of food) from work this time around and I have to say, the old spaniel mix loves the dental formula- and her teeth could sure use it! I have noticed a slight bit of improvement since starting it. She is much too old and easily scared (she is a rescue) to be put under the stress of cleaning her teeth.

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Adara

Will the older spaniel mix chew anything hard that you are comfortable giving? There aren't really any "dental benefits" of kibble - bigger or smaller. I give raw bones but not everyone is comfortable with that. anything that would get her to chew that is harder and might scrape would help though.

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Colleen
Flirt, ADAMAS All the Girls Do It, OA, NAJ, CL2-F, CL2-H
Gabby, Ch Gold Run's Token of Rumor, JH, NA, OAJ, NF, NJP, CL2,CL3-H, CL3-F Vizsla
Havoc, GCh HRQ Guess Who's In Trouble, JH, OA, OAJ, CL2-H, CL2-S, CL2-F Vizsla
Envy, Kizmar's Bailey HotShot of Adara, Vizsla

Rouleaux

The kibble size is considerably larger (about the size of a powerade or gatorade cap) She will chew no problem and she has an antler and a few other hard toys to chews on.

I just want to avoid anesthesia for cleaning those teeth. So far it has been working. Her breath has been bearable. No infected/cracked teeth that I can see BUT considerable tartar (as if she was part poodle or yorkie! Horrid old lady teeth).

Don't get me wrong, she is on decent quality food! It just so happens that she can be a finicky little thing. and being that she is a rescue, we feel pampering her with what she wants is only right!

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Anton-Caesar

I had Caesar on Orijen LB, it was a bit too much for him, switched him to Acana Wild Prairie and he is doing fine on it, havent noticed any difference in energy, still loves eating it, coat just as good, its nearly the same ingredients just 60/40 instead of 80/20

Rouleaux

I will still highly recommend the brand! Both Orijen and Acana are excellent (and being from the same company) and they have great ingredients!

It just didn't agree with Rouleaux's system (inside and out).

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Anton-Caesar

Ive noticed, like with Caes, when people say they didnt do well on Orijen they switched to Acana and it was a big improvement. Seems to be quite common.

I get some ribs from the butchers for 0.45p (50-60c?) with quite a bit of meat still on and give him one of them as a little dessert/treat after his dinner

Rouleaux

Rou gets raw patties here and there. I noticed a slight difference when I was feeding them with the Orijen, but once they ran out it was back to the same thing.

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chasroth

I switched Luca to the Fromm Gold large breed puppy. So far he is doing well. he was having troubles with kibble. I am hoping this works out. I like Fromm I have fed it before its a good food. I hear its never been recalled.

Rouleaux

What issues does he have with kibble?

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chasroth

It seems when I increase the kibble he gets diarrhea. I have been slowly increasing it. So far so good knock on wood.