Puppy Complete

[benji]

Hi All,

We've been advised by our puppy trainer (ex-vet nurse) that ideally we shouldn't be feeding Benji tinned food as it's full of additives etc and will make him poo more often as well as it being more smelly!

So we've recently started adding some Bakers Puppy Complete in order to get him on that solely in the next few days.
Bit worried that's a little boring so will probably add some ham or chicken to it eventually....

My Q is whether we should be adding some water to it so that it's a bit easier on his tummy?
We started adding the Complete about 3 days ago, gradually increasing that and reducing the tinned food and since last night he's had v runny No 2's and been going more often...

Any advice?

Thanks..

[*Jay*]

Sorry to have to tell you this but Bakers is also loaded with additives  There are some wet foods out there that are better than others such as Naturediet, Denes, Natures Menu etc etc. Some of the better dried foods include Burns, JAmes Wellbeloved, Arden Grange, Nutro etc.

To be honest, I don't think it will down to whether you have added water to the dried food or not that has caused the runny bum - its more likely that the new food doesn't agree with him especially as you are changing him over gradually.

[Sharon]

My pups always have Burns mini-bites, usually soaked but by the time they leave, only the tiniest amount of water is added, usually on dry by the time they are 10 weeks.

Thankfully we've never had a pup with an upset tummy!

[benji]

Well Benji is 14 weeks so should we still be moistening food?

[benji]

He's definitely got a bad tummy, just had another one (3rd today) and it's like 4 cow pats! (sorry).
Poor thing...seems fine in himself though and still scoffing food including training treats.

[benji]

Something else to add....I will shut up in a minute I promise!
Spoke to vet, said it's probably because we're changing his food (as we thought it might be) and recommended Hills.
Had a look at some search strings on here for some feedback and will carry on doing so.

But the breeder was only ever feeding him 2 meals a day when we picked him up at 12 weeks.
I'm pondering on putting him on 3 meals a day??  He scoffs his food within seconds of it going down which may not be helping...

[Rhona W]

I thought it was recommended to feed them 3 times a day until around 6 months old. 

Bakers (as well as being full of additives) can cause very runny poos. I'd change him to something different if I was you. 

[Mollie.Ladie]

I gave Mollie three meals a day until she was 6 months too. 

I've never heard of any of the foods you guys are talking about though because they don't sell it over here lol.  Good luck 

[*Jay*]

He should be on 3 meals a day at his age but i would take him off the bakers. I would just put him back onto the food that you were originally feeding and stop the bakers. Also, while he has the runs, I would cut out all treats too.

Some vets do recommend certain food brands as they make commision on them but thats doesn't mean that it will be right for your dog. The vets I take my gang too recommend JWB as thats what they sell.

[LurcherGirl]

Well Benji is 14 weeks so should we still be moistening food?

I always add quite a lot of water to our dogs' dry food and they are all fully grown. I just want to make sure that they take in enough fluids with dry food...

[Bluebell]

As well as all the excellent advice that you have been given, thought that you night like to read this link too - might help you make up your mind
http://www.buav.org/campaigns/petfood/companies.html

[Nicola]

As Gill has said, many vets are paid commission to recommend Hill's food so watch out for that one.

I would get him off the Bakers asap though, it really is full of cr@p. If you want to feed him wet food you could try one like Nature Diet or Nature's Menu which are both available in Pets at Home or good dry foods are Burns, Arden Grange, Nutro, James Wellbeloved or Autarky. Three meals a day is also the recommended norm for a puppy of his age.

[dexter and dillon's mum]

when we first picked up our two they were on Royal Cannin but Dillon didn't like it at all....we tried all sorts to get him to eat it but he was having none of it!! We tried the Pets and Home own brand (they do Chicken and Lamb flavour) and my two both love it!!!
Neither of them have had poorly tummies either since being on it (which they both did before we changed foods....especially Dillon).  We did moisten Dillons for a short time as he seemed to be struggling to chew the biscuits up but he eats his dinner as quickly as Dexter now....around 20 seconds!!

for a 10kg bag it costs £20 i think....cheaper than most of the more expensive brands but the ingredients were very similar (from what i can tell anyway!)

[phillyknickers]

Harry came to us on Bakers puppy too.  I must admit, I changed him onto JWB but he then started to have runny poos with it  .  We're in the process of changing to Purina Pro plan - apparently another premium dry feed.  There are lots of others on here that will be able to tell you so much more though........ Good luck 

[benji]

We've gone back onto tinned food and puppy mixer until we can grab enough information to make an informed decision on better food.
But the runs have stopped so it was obviously the Complete which was upsetting his tummy poor love!

Thanks for all the advice.