CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Feeding => Topic started by: airyfairy76 on February 09, 2014, 01:28:09 PM
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Hey all - I posted this on the COFB page on Facebook, and thought I would get opinions here too :)
As of about a week ago, Lottie has completely gone off her Eden. It's got to the stage where she won't even touch her Eden. I normally mix it with a little wet food like Naturediet and even that doesn't make a difference. I've just given her half a tray of wet food on its own as she hasn't eaten anything today (and not very much for a few days now) and she wolfed it down, so it's definitely the Eden she objects too. She won't even pick the wet food off from around it, so it seems she hates the smell of it. I have tried playing hardball, but there's only so long you can do that - she's a little enough girl as it is at 9.2kg - although not underweight, she can't do with losing any.
So any similar experiences and/or recommendations for a grain free food would be most appreciated!
Now what to do with 10kg of Eden - any takers?! >:(
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I had exactly the same experience with Archie. The only difference being that in the end he refused the naturediet too. I tried various kibbles (you can get samples online from some of them) but he wouldn't touch it. That's when I switched to the Wainwrights wet, which he loved from the get go. Initially I tried mixing it with kibble but he sucked it off and spat the kibble out so I abandoned kibble completely. He would eat it now I think, but he loves his Wainwrights so I'm happy to stick with it.
Assuming there isn't a medical issue affecting Lottie (sorry, I can't remember if she is spayed, due a season etc?), then only you can decide if you want to persevere with Eden in the hope that she eats if she's hungry enough, or if you want to try a different kibble. I know there is a possibility of creating a fussy eater if you keep chopping and changing but my personal feelings with Archie were that I wanted to find something he was happy to eat and not just have him eating because if he didn't he would go hungry.
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She finished her first season a month and a half ago (will be spayed in April) - still eating her treats and nighttime Bonio. The only thing she won't touch is Eden - she will eat her doggy friends Science Plan kibble if she is allowed near it! Otherwise fine in herself - walk today was normal haring about with aforementioned doggy friend. She generally has a cast iron constitution - trying other foods (or eating rubbish!) has never upset her digestive system.
Good to know similar experience - wet food varies between NatureDiet, Natures Menu and Wainwright. Think I'll nip to Pets At Home at lunchtime tomorrow and grab a couple of small bags if they have them of Applaws and Wainwrights dry, at this stage just to see if she finds them more palatable.
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I can't help with a similar experience but Ellie has Simpsons 80/20 fish variety and seems to love it. We are still on our first bag so hope she stays loving it. Hope you find something that Lottie enjoys soon.
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That's good to know - Simpsons is one of the ones I've been looking at :)
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Hi there!
Exactly the same thing happened with Daisy a couple of weeks back..(she is 14 months and spayed)..she was on Pro Plan (normally mixed with a little bit of mackerel or Lily's Kitchen), and she just went off everything..it was really difficult..
Anyhow, the dog trainer said it was actually reasonably normal for a dog to do this at about Daisy's age..ironically, I have just changed her to Eden, and she is now loving her food.
You may find it's "just a phase"..
I feel your frustration though!!
Happy to buy your Eden off you though- (and happy to collect) - if you don't manage to get Lottie back on it :)
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Hi there!
Exactly the same thing happened with Daisy a couple of weeks back..(she is 14 months and spayed)..she was on Pro Plan (normally mixed with a little bit of mackerel or Lily's Kitchen), and she just went off everything..it was really difficult..
Anyhow, the dog trainer said it was actually reasonably normal for a dog to do this at about Daisy's age..ironically, I have just changed her to Eden, and she is now loving her food.
You may find it's "just a phase"..
I feel your frustration though!!
Happy to buy your Eden off you though- (and happy to collect) - if you don't manage to get Lottie back on it :)
From Milton Keynes? That would be fab lol.
First of all though, I have ordered some trial sizes of Simpsons 80/20 today, and will also grab a small bag of Wainwrights at lunchtime tomorrow from the P@H near work. Hopefully one of them will be favoured - the Simpsons looks close to the Eden ideology, so fingers crossed....
:)
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I did a really slow change over to Simpsons 80/20 and it went ok. So far so good. I do sometimes think she should have more food (not because she's hungry but because I think it's not a big amount of food) but everywhere I have read indicate that for this type of food, you feed lower amounts. Guessing you found that on Eden too.
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I did a really slow change over to Simpsons 80/20 and it went ok. So far so good. I do sometimes think she should have more food (not because she's hungry but because I think it's not a big amount of food) but everywhere I have read indicate that for this type of food, you feed lower amounts. Guessing you found that on Eden too.
Quantities look very similar. Think it would be more of a shock to change to a food where quantities were so much more, as have had her on Eden from just 13 weeks...
:005:
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Ah, that makes sense. :005:
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Hi- yes- I can collect if you do decide to get rid- I am just in Cambridge.. :)
(could have a joint dog walk as well possibly?!)
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Hi- yes- I can collect if you do decide to get rid- I am just in Cambridge.. :)
(could have a joint dog walk as well possibly?!)
Sounds fab! I'll let you know how it goes :)
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Thought I'd do an update - Monday I went to P@H at lunchtime, ostensibly to look for samples of Barking Heads and Wainwrights. Ended up speaking to the in house "nutritionist",who had never heard of Eden or Simpsons, but who from a behavioural point of view thought I should stick it out for another week or ten days (after one week already) being as strict as possible. I don't really put much faith in their "qualifications" but she seemed nice enough, and actually advised me not to spend money lol.
However, I HAD already ordered a trial size of Simpsons 80/20, so thought at least that was there if I caved in.
Since then - dinner last night she ate about two thirds, with me holding the bowl. Today she ate no breakfast (thoigh was trying desperately to see what I was eating) and then this evening ate two thirds straight off, and the rest I did as "find it's" around the house which encouraged her to eat it.
Additionally, the trial bags of Simpsons 80/20 arrived and she seems to love it. Used it as training treats, and she was actually harrumphing if I wasn't giving it to her quickly enough, which was encouraging. I did the "Whiskas test" as well - Simpsons in one Hand, Eden in the other. Derogatory sniff at Eden, went loopy over Simpsons. I was thinking I would persevere for moment with Eden as have so much of it, but the more I think about it, I can't help thinking she was never as enthusiastic about Eden as she is about this new one, and wouldn't it be better to give her something she actually wants? And I am encouraged now that my willpower can be greater than hers, and she will eat....eventually.
At least I know there's someone who'll take the Eden of my hands if I switch over now.... ;)
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I am never convinced of their qualifications either after a friend and I overheard a P@H "nutritionist" advising a lady to feed her dog slices of buttered toast for breakfast as part of a weight loss diet... :shades: :o
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Yup- will definitely take it off you- no worries :)
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It makes a nice change from them trying to encourage you to buy something they stock. When I moved to Simpsons I bought the 2kg bags to start with (not very cost effective) but I was worried that she would go off or it wouldn't agree with her tummy and if I'd bought a big bag I would've been gutted. Luckily when I took the plunge and bought the big bag she still loves it...I'm still working my way through the big bag.
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I think they may be a problem because buying a big bag means it lasts a long time with one little dog, and even attempting to keep it stored fairly well, it is bound to get a bit stale. Maybe the dogs know when it is getting rancid or whatever.
I hadn't thought of it before now, but maybe they should have 'eat by'dates once opened.
I am coming to the end of an Eden bag, and one of mine is less impressed. Putting a bit of cat food with it works !
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Ive never had any bother keeping it fresh, its exactly the same at the bottom of the bag as it is when its first opened.
I store mine in the bag in an airtight container , doesnt interfere with the quality whatsoever if its kept airtight.
It keeps fresh as its preserved with vitamin E.
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Wouldn't have been the case anyway, as I am less than a third down the supply. I do keep it in an airtight container as well.
Anyway, after a week of faddy eating and trying her on Simpsons, before I transferred over completely. I thought I would try a meal just of Eden (plus her normal bit of wet food).
Wouldn't you just know it, the whole lot demolished, and plate licked clean. And it has been pretty much that way for the last 4-5 days. I'm just glad I didn't go and order a bigger supply of the Simpsons!
:005:
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Wouldn't have been the case anyway, as I am less than a third down the supply. I do keep it in an airtight container as well.
Anyway, after a week of faddy eating and trying her on Simpsons, before I transferred over completely. I thought I would try a meal just of Eden (plus her normal bit of wet food).
Wouldn't you just know it, the whole lot demolished, and plate licked clean. And it has been pretty much that way for the last 4-5 days. I'm just glad I didn't go and order a bigger supply of the Simpsons!
:005:
Wow just shows sometimes they can have days where not even their regular food appeals, (some of them) not mine lol.
Glad Lottie is enthusiastic about her eden again.