Switching 5 month old puppy from Orijen to Merrick?

Question

I have recently switched my 5 month old puppy from Orijen Puppy Formula to Merrick Puppy Plate. I transitioned the food gradually but he still has diarrhea! Also, I don't think he is digesting the grains because he poops it back out in tiny pieces ( the size of a very small grain of sand ) which is also how it looks in the food.

Should I switch him back to Orijen? Is the high protein level something I should be concerned with because he is so small (about 3 1/2 to 4 pounds )? If I switch back to Orijen can I keep him on it even through adult hood? I really don't like to keep switching the food, I would like to find one GREAT brand and just have to switch him over to a adult formula when he gets old enough. What should I do?

Answer 1

I have had my dog on Progen from puppy hood...he is now turning 12 months. There is no real difference in the puppy food than the adult food. Yes you should switch him. Orijen is the BEST dry dog food out there...it is next in line after the Raw Diet. He is suppose to p**p out tiny pieces like that...aslong as it is not runny. This means he is getting everything he needs from the food. When my guy was on the raw diet he pooped out a semi moist p**p which turned white and crumbled in with the earth as natural fertilizer...this is what raw is suppose to do. Since Orijen is so close to the raw diet you would expect this. My dog was only switched to the raw diet because of allergies to grains and wheat...then he stopped eating the raw cause it had no crunch to it...so I put him on orijen only to find out he still had allergies....turned out he was allergic to grains, wheat AND Grass....so it had nothing to do with Orijen. I like to stay away from the Fish formula only because it can be hard on their systems....and Orijen contains no Grains....It is a really good food and I can vouch for the company that makes it. The only reason why most vets do not recommend these foods is they make no profit from it....most vets recommend the terrible four I call them...Science Diet "Hills", Pro Plan, Iams and Eukanuba....sometimes they recommend Medi- Cal....they all suck. Orijen all the way

Answer 2

Merrick is a good food but my puppy had intestinal problems as a young pup. He started out from the breeder with giardia which the breeder denied (dumkoff) and for 6 months of his life he had soft stools. I had to intervene with boilded rice and chicken occasionally to get him normal. But then the Giardia cropped back in again 2 other times. He at 11 months still has gotten Giardia maybe from the dog park. But at 11 months he has firmer stools because I switched to a canadian brand called Lotus which has stuff like pumpkin, which firms the stool. Ever since I started him on that he has had firm stools, even with the giardia. He's on meds right now also. Merrick puppy plate for some reason I think was too rich for my pup. I would hand feed him and he wouldn't eat some of the ingredients in the food. Also the gravy feature didn't quite work. I don't know why they use that gimmick. Water in the kibble makes the stools softer too. I really would suggest Lotus chicken for puppies. My vet said it is good and my neighbor's dog has been on it from the start. firm stools finally here.

Answer 3

thats weird, i've never heard of those dog foods before.

Understand that arguably, the best ratios for a healthy dog's diet are about 40% meat, 50% veggies, and only about 10% grain or other carbohydrate. Choose pet food close to this ingredient ratio. However, this type of information is not available from the regulated part of the label (ie, guaranteed analysis or ingredient list).

Ensure that meat protein sources are high in the ingredient list. You could look for three of the first five ingredients listed on the label as a form of protein such as chicken, lamb, venison. Although by-products can include chicken beaks, feet, bones, etc., reputable manufacturers will select ingredients processed to remove such indigestible material. Rarely, you may need to look for foods that exclude corn, cornmeal, and wheat, due to concerns about potential allergens. Grains can be a long-term source of energy and energy storage for dogs, but they can also be used as a cheap filler in order to boost the food's protein percentage. Watch out! Any grain you feed your dog should be used in whole form so that it supplies more fiber, vitamins and minerals. The best grains for dogs (when used in the proper percentages) are rolled oats, barley, quinoa, millet, and brown rice.

Often, low quality dog foods will list a meat ingredient first, which will be followed by several by-products and fillers. In this case, although meat is listed first, there are actually MORE fillers, which changes the ratio noted above.

A well-planned vegetarian diet can work for dogs, although dogs are carnivores by nature. Dogs need animal protein. Would a dog naturally be vegetarian? No. Most veterinarians and holistic practitioners agree that although a dog can survive on a vegetarian diet, they may not thrive on it.

Be aware that while preservatives may be necessary to keep the food edible, preservatives do not have to be artificial chemicals that might be cancer-causing agents. Avoid pet foods that use chemical preservatives BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin. Vitamin E & vitamin C are great preservatives that are much better for your dog.

Choose Premium Brand dog foods instead of Economy Brand dog foods. The cheapest ingredients are rarely the healthiest ones.  

Answer 4

Your puppy sounds like he is having a hard time digesting the grains in Merrick. I would changed him back to Orijen as its far better for him. Also you can continue with this brand into adulthood as there are 2 different mixes for him. You need not worry about the high protein content in the food. Protein supplies the same amount of energy as carbohydrate but has a very different effect on the body.  Unlike carbohydrate, protein is essential for life, but is when present in excess protein is NOT stored in the body as fat; it is simply removed from the body through natural elimination functions. Carbohydrates are empty calories and what makes your dog fat. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Since your dog is so small, you don't have to worry about problems from a high protein diet. It's when your dog is a large/giant breed that you worry about that as it can lead to joint problems.

I've seen many, many small dogs do WONDERFULLY on grain free diets and I really recommend them. However, I don't recommend puppy food for any life stages. I've always been a firm believer in adult foods or ALS foods.

In my opinion, I'd put him back on Orijen.. but opt for adult... there are other great grain free ones there too. Wellness makes a grain free food, Wellness Core. Merrick makes one too... It's called B.G. Before Grains. Blue Buffalo makes one, but it has a bit of oatmeal in it so it's not exactly grain free.. but it is a great food. Timberwolf makes a grain free food too and I used to love it, but I don't really know anymore after the food recalls.

Good luck with your puppy!

ETA: What's wrong with me! I forgot to mention my absolute favourite dog food.. Innova: Evo. I love that stuff. I feed my boys raw in the am and Evo for dinner.