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Post by hooligan on Aug 24, 2012 9:20:18 GMT -5
Caught the mention of Acana's formula change on the N-litter thread. Does anyone know where to get info about the differences between the old Ranchlands formula and the new one? (I've checked the Champion Pet Foods website and can't find a comparison there.)
The reason I ask is because Jack started pooping puddles yesterday — and he just started into a new bag of food a couple of days ago. When we bought the latest bag, I noticed a difference in the packaging but figured that's all it was: a new design on the bag. Didn't realize that the formula had been changed.
So if the previous bag, which has gone out with the garbage so it can't be checked, was still the old formula, it's possible that he's reacting to the new formula.
Funny, I know another (non-Dobereich) Dobe who's also on Ranchlands. He's had diarrhea for the past 10 days or so, but I didn't think much about it because he tends to have a sensitive tummy. Now I'll ask his owners if they, too, recently started him on a new bag of food. But I'd like to have more info first.
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Post by Andreina on Aug 24, 2012 14:16:33 GMT -5
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Post by Dobereich on Aug 24, 2012 20:20:03 GMT -5
Considering what happened with Canidae, you'd think Champion Pet foods would have learned not to make the same mistake. Canidae changed their formula and dogs got sick, which resulted into a class action suit against them. Canidae's new ingredients were different enough that is was almost like switching brands. The company was faulted for not giving enough notice of the change, and not labeling the bags more prominently, etc.
Earlier this year I switched all the dogs from Canidae to Acana. Not because of what happened a couple years back when their formula changed. But because they ran out of food this year and I had decided that after trialing the Grasslands for 2 years that I would switch everyone over to the Acana. A few dogs are on the Grasslands.
It just so happened that I decided to look at the ingredients after hearing that they were running behind production with a sudden increase in demand (most likely due to Canidae's shortage). The ingredient change was pretty significant in my opinion. The first main fish ingredient was substituted for Duck, and there was the addition of red lentils and field beans.
Dyanne, many dogs have issues with pod vegetables. Large quantities can cause gas and/or diarrhea. Maxi and Indi couldn't tolerate peas and beans. So I know first hand what this diet change will do for some dogs, and I was pretty disappointed when I saw all the peas and beans added to this diet. Duck doesn't always agree with every dog either. Its a heavier meat and not anything like the fish it replaced.
So I think this formula change is significant, and that Champion Pet foods could be in some hot water with this sudden and unadvertised change. I've recommended Grasslands to many, however I think the benefits of this food has been countered by the new formula change. Take a look at the Sport and Agility formula for Jack as an alternative. I'm switching the dogs that I had on grasslands to it, so far so good.
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Post by dobermoms on Aug 24, 2012 22:11:27 GMT -5
Our dogs have been on Acana's Chicken and Burbank Potato for a year and thus far they haven't had any negative changes .....Just adding about this flavour
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Post by Dobereich on Aug 25, 2012 8:09:40 GMT -5
Most of my dogs are on the adult formula, chicken and burbank potato as well. I only have the dogs that need extra cals on the sport and agility formula. Since Jack is a working boy, and seems a little on the leaner side from the last pics, I was recommending the higher cal food.
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Post by Lisa on Aug 25, 2012 13:39:14 GMT -5
That's what happened to Gino and Asha. They got loose poop and gas they never had before. They also got bloody diarrhea fist time ever...
I don't feed kibble anymore and switched to raw completely. At least I can control what they eat and no dependency on dog food companies profit.
It's hard to believe how tiny their poop now...50% less. The dogs were fed only 20-30% kibble daily. What crap do they use to make kibble if it goes non-stop through the system?
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Post by hooligan on Aug 26, 2012 9:41:46 GMT -5
Thanks, all. Gary, too, PMed me and suggested that I do what he did and call Acana, which I did on Friday. The rep there told me that the Ranchlands formula was changed as follows:
• added lentils (reduced potato) • replaced herring meal with beef meal • added more fruit (a purée of apples and pears)
I told her about Jack's problems and my suspicions about what was causing them. She suggested that I do exactly what I was already doing — feeding him a mix of cooked rice and hamburger. As of yesterday, I started to gradually reintroduce some kibble to the mix.
The Acana rep also suggested reducing the amount of kibble in his meals by about 10 per cent, as the calorie count of the new formula is higher. (I didn't bother explaining that this really isn't an issue, as Jack is a crappy eater who rarely reaches our goal of 4 c. of kibble a day.)
So far, so good. No more puddle poops, but we'll monitor closely now that he's moving back to kibble.
I'm disappointed that I found out about the formula change only by chance. If I had known, I could have planned a transition from the old formula to the new. At the very least, I think the store where we bought the new bag should have mentioned something about the change when the bag was purchased (assuming they knew about it).
BTW, the owners of the other Dobe on Ranchlands, the one I mentioned in my first message, also ended up going the rice route for a while. Their guy seems to be fine now.
Monica, we will consider the agility formula. As I recall, we did try a small bag a couple of years ago when we were searching for a food that Jack would a) eat and b) do well on (i.e., no diarrhea). Jack turned his nose up at it completely. That's when we hit on Ranchlands. But maybe it's time to think about a change, especially if the transition off rice and hamburger doesn't go well.
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Post by ladydon on Aug 27, 2012 22:01:21 GMT -5
I've had Diesel on Prairie for a year and I recently changed to RanchlAnds since the global Pet food near my home for some reason ran out of Prarie. He liked RanchlAnds so I decided hey why not. I did notice the formula change since the kibble looked different the 3rd time I bought it but honestly I haven't had any problems with him having loose stools. It is good that you posted some info Dyanne.
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Post by hooligan on Aug 31, 2012 12:21:05 GMT -5
A quick update on Jack's poops (sigh -- who wouldda thunk I'd ever be doing this?).
After easing him off the hamburger-and-rice mixture and back onto the new-formula Ranchlands, everything seems to have returned to normal. The whole episode could have been coincidence, but I don't think so.
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Post by dobermoms on Aug 31, 2012 21:52:59 GMT -5
Glad that Jack is back to normal......seems like we don't just talk about loose stools with only puppies....lol
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dreambarks
Junior Member
Every Dobe has his day!
Posts: 66
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Post by dreambarks on Sept 1, 2012 13:47:41 GMT -5
Not sure if this is the right thread to post in, but thought I'd mention that we've been having problems with Acana as well. I think that Jack and Tyrion must be from the same litter: enjoying the action photos of Jack, I remember thinking he looked a lot like Tyrion, then--duh-- noticed the birth date!
I've been feeding Acana Adult and noticed that finishing his kibble he would always rush to rub his head on the carpet. I think that his soft palate was itching because he's allergic to something in the kibble. With so many ingredients it's impossible to know which is the culprit, so I've switched him to a simple formula. It's boring food but at least he doesn't rub his head after eating it.
We've been dealing with many allergic symptoms and it's been a very trying time. He's on antibiotics for staph and bandaged up for lick granulomas. The new food seems to be making him more comfortable so I hope to be able to eliminate the allergen now.
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Post by hooligan on Sept 1, 2012 21:23:53 GMT -5
Not sure if this is the right thread to post in, but thought I'd mention that we've been having problems with Acana as well. I think that Jack and Tyrion must be from the same litter: enjoying the action photos of Jack, I remember thinking he looked a lot like Tyrion, then--duh-- noticed the birth date! I've been feeding Acana Adult and noticed that finishing his kibble he would always rush to rub his head on the carpet. I think that his soft palate was itching because he's allergic to something in the kibble. With so many ingredients it's impossible to know which is the culprit, so I've switched him to a simple formula. It's boring food but at least he doesn't rub his head after eating it. We've been dealing with many allergic symptoms and it's been a very trying time. He's on antibiotics for staph and bandaged up for lick granulomas. The new food seems to be making him more comfortable so I hope to be able to eliminate the allergen now. Oh, I caught a reference in one of your earlier posts and wondered. I'm absolutely delighted to find another G-litter pup on the forum. (There are so relatively few of us.) I'll never forget visiting the litter at Monica's and being bowled over by the males, who just never ever stopped playing with one another. They were incredible! Which collar colour was Tyrion? Love his name, BTW. Very early on, Jack had allergy issues and ended up with puppy pyoderma. A course of antibiotics, bathing with Pyoben shampoo (I think that was the name of it), and a few months on a limited-ingredient food did the trick. We then made the switch to Acana, and except for this latest episode, he has done well on it. But we're careful about what he eats, including his treats. Are you coming to the meetup in Kitchener on Sept. 9? I hope so. I would look forward to comparing notes and having a grand old chat about our litter mates.
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Post by hooligan on Sept 1, 2012 22:37:22 GMT -5
Marion, ignore the question in my previous post about collar colour. I just went back and read your intro post -- and figured it out. I should have realized when I saw your mention of (Wrath-Liberator's) Jack as Tyrion's dad . . . but a little correction. Their mother is Tory, though Gosty is in their pedigree.
So glad that Tyrion/Hunter has found a good home. The G-litter males were (and are) an active (!) bunch. Hope you enjoy Tyrion as much as we enjoy our Jack. And also hope that we get a chance to compare notes.
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dreambarks
Junior Member
Every Dobe has his day!
Posts: 66
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Post by dreambarks on Sept 2, 2012 10:17:29 GMT -5
Hi Dyanne
Thanks for the correction--I didn't have the pedigree handy when I posted. I would like to attend the walk but I've been waiting to see how things go when the bandages come off--would love to compare notes!
Any hints about what Tyrion might be allergic to would be greatly helpful at this point. I doubt that it's something I'm adding to his diet and hoping that it's something rare in the kibble--maybe cranberries or some other thing easily avoided.
Tyrion doesn't seem very active for a three-year-old, but once we get the allergies sorted that may change. He weighed 95 pounds at the vet's the other day.
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Post by hooligan on Sept 3, 2012 9:55:16 GMT -5
Jack was very young when he had his encounter with pyoderma. Our vet, as well as Monica, put it down to an immature immune system that was reacting to either something in his environment or, more likely, something in his diet. Our vet said that we could run allergy tests to try to figure it out, but she also pointed out that the tests are expensive and going through the testing takes a while. By the time we identified the allergen(s), she said that Jack's immune system would probably have matured and everything would be fine.
We suspected that his allergy might be to chicken or corn (just because allergies to these things are apparently common in pups), but this really was pure speculation. Nevertheless, we put him on Natural Balance limited-ingredient duck and potato formula. He didn't love this food, but we had no more problems with allergies, so we were happy. And when we were fairly sure that he was past the allergies, we switched to Acana.
At 92 lbs., Tyrion is waaay bigger than Jack, who is tall but tends to be on the scrawny side. On our vet's scale, which may be slightly light, he hovers at around 82 lbs. I always think that Jack doesn't look like most of Monica's dogs. He seems to have inherited his father's physique, and he's also very active and very "busy," so putting even a bit of weight on him is tough.
I really hope that Tyrion is recovered enough to be at the meet. BTW, how do you pronounce his name? I looked it up and see that it's an Irish name, related to Tyrone. Do you pronounce it TIE-rone or Tee-ree-ON (or neither)?
We'll have to start our own G-litter thread. LOL.
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