Grain free dog food versus grains...Has anyone found that your dog is more hunger after the switch?

Question

I switched my dog to Orijen (it's grain free) a few months ago and noticed that he's always hungry. I have given in to his hunger and fed him real human grade chicken treats but he's gained 2 lbs which I want him to lose so he gets in better shape. Only thing is, when I was feeding him Merrick kibble which has brown rice in it, he was satisfied eating it. Now with grain free Orijen, he's always hungry. :(

Anyone else notice this?

Answer 1

I know I feel better and fuller after eating some spaghetti and rice.  I feed Wellness and my dog is cool with it.  He's beagle mix though and could eat 20 lbs a day and still be hungry.  Dogs are omnivores I think so some rice or potatoes are good for them.  I'd switch back.  

Answer 2

Nope. I switched from innova, which one of my dogs had the problem you are asking about, to a raw diet and he has no problem anymore. He can be stuffed senseless and then fasted the next day, which is the natural way for any carnivore.

The grain free formulas are very rich, if you want to add fiber, give veggies. Plain mashed pumpkin is good.  

Answer 3

yup he has gotten sick after the switch!

Answer 4

Yeah! I put my dogs on Taste of the Wild High Prairie and one of my dogs gained weight! So I put her on Wellness Weight Management because she is 11 years old and chubby! I had heard that a grain-free dog food would help the dogs stay lean,but not so! My dogs always ate food with rice or other carbs and did fine,so they are staying on it now!

Answer 5

I would add some fiber than to his diet. I would add a tablespoon of plain canned pumpkin to his diet until he trims down.It will make him feel fuller then gradually eliminate it. Feed him two meals instead of one as well. The little tubster needs to lose weight! Don't give in to his whining! I would eliminate all snacks and instead give him carrots treats until he slims down.  

Answer 6

It may be just that brand & formula.  I found the opposite to be true with my dog, she gained weight on a food with grains.  I found she had more frequent bowel movements, and eating larger quantities of the food with grain, a lot seemed to pass through in bulk, as if it were not fully digested.  Then she was hungry again.    Every dog is different though, and your dog may be better off not eating a grain-free food.

Answer 7

Dogs just like it more I think. YOu should be feeding less of the grain-free the less active your dog is.  

Answer 8

My OPINION is that some carbs and fiber are necessary to the dog's diet.  Fiber helps move things through their digestive system, carbs help provide energy.  It doesn't hurt that the grains help to fill them up, either.  My dogs eat high-quality grains, and do well.  I wouldn't feed a food that was grain based, or one that included low-quality grain by-products (corn gluten, wheat flour, etc), but whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal, I think are fine.  I did actually try Orijen for my dogs when one of my Golden's was diagnosed with a corn allergy, but it didn't work out, and I wasn't comfortable feeding such a high-protein food to a house dog.  We do supplement the hunting dogs' food during the season with extra protein, but generally, I think it's too much for a dog that sleeps most of the day to be eating that much protein.  i'm currently feeding California Naturals to my dogs (rotating Herring and Sweet Potato and Lamb & Rice) and am very impressed with the results.