Not Impressed With Canidae

RachelsPrime · #1 13th September 2006, 07:09 PM

I switched my pup from Natural Balance Duck/Potato to Canidae kibble/canned. He was eating NB to rule out a food allergy, which I believe was wheat...

Anyway, he has gone through one 20lb bag of Canidae and I have not been too impressed to say the least. His stools have been wonderful...small, compact, odor-less. But, his coat has gone downhill. It has lost is luster and shine that it had when he was on NB. Also, he has been a tad itchy...not too bad, but more. Not only that but his skin has taken on an odor and he also has eye boogers every now and then. I am assuming its food related because he was perfect on NB...coat was absolutely gorgeous! Anyhow, I am thinking I might stay away from Chicken based foods...My boy also has never been thrilled with the taste of Canidae...even the canned Canidae he is now turning his nose up to!

I believe my boy does better on foods with a fish oil v. sunflower oil. NB had salmon oil, canola oil, and flaxseed. Canidae has flaxseed and sunflower oil. I just recieved my Timberwolf Organics in the mail so I am so excited to see how he does on that...beings that it has fish oils and walnut oil. I would love to just stay within their "family" and rotate between their varieties.

Has anyone else had negative experiences with Canidae?

Hobart Ave. · #2 13th September 2006, 07:30 PM

Canidae has always been in my rotation and both Nestle and Hobart have done great on it. I've tried numerous foods with them and they definitely do better on some than others. It's really a matter of finding the foods that work for your individual dog. Hopefully yours does better on the Timberwolf foods

Pearlywhirly · #3 13th September 2006, 07:32 PM

You finally got it!! Yea! Maybe you should go ahead and order your next bag since it takes them so long to ship to you.

RachelsPrime · #4 13th September 2006, 07:46 PM

Thanks PearlyWhirly!!

That is exactly what I was going to do right now! Order up a big bag of Wilderness Elk. Since it took them 2 days to process and 5 days to ship...I am hoping I will get my bag by next Friday. Let me repeat that..."hoping!"

I really hope he does well on it!! I can't think of a better food out there...we have tried or taste-tested sooooo many that there aren't any I would go back to. His coat was the best on NB...but the protein was so low that I did not want to have him on it long-term. Also, his stools weren't bad, but they weren't the greatest either.

Dempseysmama · #5 13th September 2006, 08:01 PM

I have to agree that I am not all that impressed with it either. Ever since I switched Dempsey he seems to be much hungrier than when he was on California Natural and is poooping alot more and his stool is stinkier.

At first I thought he was just enjoying the food so much that he was wanting more and more, but now I think he is really hungrier. I tried not to give him more when he whined at his bowl, (didn't want to over feed him) but he has lost a couple of pounds. (He is 58lbs and 24 inches at the withers and was 60lbs) no big difference, but I felt bad. I am going to look into NB after this bag.

I have heard this from a couple of other people recently also.

RachelsPrime · #6 13th September 2006, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dozersmommy

Both of their coats look dull and they have had a ton of poop! I know it's not from over feeding because I give them the minimum for their weight. So I guess I need to find something else.

Yeah, I agree. My pups coat is very dull now and has an odor. I don't know if its the chicken, rice, or sunflower oil...or maybe all of them? I really hope Timberwolf does the trick. I also hope that you find another food that your boys do well on. I know it seems like an on-going battle. It's either great stools and dull coat...or great coat and not so firm stools. I am hoping to find the food that makes both great!

It's really a shame too, because Canidae is a great food at a really affordable price. Oh well...

"Finding the right food that works well with your dog in every way...PRICELESS!!"

- I made that up to go with that credit card commercial...he he he.

**gmacleod** · #7 14th September 2006, 02:34 AM

There's no food yet invented that works for every dog

Regardless of how good the ingredients are, or how many other dogs are doing great on it.

If you think he's missing fish oils for his coat though, how about just adding some as a supplement in the meantime? Actually, Canidae does already contain herring meal - but if you feel more is needed, a tablespoon or so of salmon oil once or twice a week can be helpful. Likewise, a raw egg every now and again is generally good for the coat (and besides, is great nutrition).

Zoeys_Mom · #8 14th September 2006, 09:45 AM

I am somewhat happy with Zoey on Canidae (beautiful coat, less eye boogers), although I have noticed that she poops nearly twice as much as she did when she was on CS. She still has a mild rash on her underbelly, so I think she may have a mild chicken allergy. I'm off to the pet store today to see what I can find that isn't chicken based. Bless our babies... they sure keep us on our toes!

RachelsPrime · #9 14th September 2006, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidhewlf

Nothing negative to say about Canidae but I did find my angel Kiddo was mildly allergic to flaxseed. Maybe your pup is too?

I don't think that's it because NB Duck/Potato had flaxseed and he did absolutely wonderful on it!

Thank you for the suggestion though, I have also heard that sunflower oil could be the culprit, so maybe that's it? Who knows!?

Kirby Kirb · #10 14th September 2006, 01:47 PM

I switched Kirby and Riggs to Blue Buffalo kibble/canned salmon and sweet potatoe, and we all absolutley love it!! The dogs have never been happier, or looked better! I love that they are happy and looking good, and the smell of the food is amazing!! I would ... or I should say I do recomend the food to anyone!

boxer bill · #11 14th September 2006, 03:12 PM

I had the opposite reaction. Lexie is doing GREAT since switching to Canidae. Skin looks better less itching and more energy. How about Innova?? Thanks. BILL

Rajah01 · #12 14th September 2006, 10:01 PM

I've had Lexie on Canidae All Life Stages since we got her and she is now 4 1/2 months. It has been nothing but a struggle to try to get her to eat. She turns her nose up to it and won't touch it unless I mix in an egg or canned. Her coat has been very dull.

About 2 weeks ago, I finally decided to switch her to Timberwolf Ocean Blue as she loved these salmon treats I bought. I thought maybe switching the protein might appeal to her. Well, Timberwolf's website was out of stock of the Ocean Blue and I needed some ASAP so I bought NB Sweet Potato and Salmon. She absolutely loves it. It is so good to see her enjoy her food! I can't believe the difference in her coat! I just noticed yesterday that her coat is beautiful and shiny.

I also noticed the inside of her ears are a bit red and also a little red on her stomach.... I hope that clears up and doesn't become a problem. Isn't that the way things work, get rid of one problem and move on to another... LOL

Let us know how you like the TO. I definitely want to add it to my rotation.