Link's Slow Start

by Susannah
(Crestview, FL)

1 week ago 3 mos. old

When we first got Link (our Cat is Zelda) we were told he was 8 lbs (he was 8 weeks old). By the second day he developed horrible diarrhea and when we took him to the vet a few day's later he was less than 7 lbs and horribly infested with several types of worms.

We had him dewormed 3 times total, but by the time we took him back for the third check his weight had doubled from 8 lbs to 16 in 3 weeks. When we took him back earlier this week to get fixed, the worms were completely gone and he had gained another 10 lbs.

So now he is just about to be 4 months and weighs 26 lbs. We have been feeding him Science Diet since day one, and it seems to be working well.

Comments for Link's Slow Start

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RE: Link's slow start
by: Brian

Hey, I was just wondering how Link's progress is coming along.

I just purchased my first GSD and they said he was 8 weeks but only weighed 5 pounds. I am wondering if there is hope for him to grow to his full adult potential seeing that he had worms like Link did.

Sumo will be 9 weeks on 7/4/11 and today 7/2/11 he weighs 8 pounds. I finally got him to eat after he went 2 days turning his nose up at everything I put in front of him.

Also, when did Link's ears stand up? Sumo's are still both down.

AAFCO and Dog Health
by: Jennifer

Thank you for taking the time to comment.

The first four ingredients in Hill's Science Diet:

Ground Whole Grain Corn

Chicken By-Product Meal

Corn Gluten Meal

Liver Flavor

not

Anti Hills?
by: Anonymous

While the ingredients sound better in brands like Wellness and Nutro, the fact that Science Diet analyzes its nutrition based on feeding trials conducted according to AAFCO standards rather than simply formulating to meet AAFCO standards keeps me coming back, plus my dog does well on it. I am not saying that other companies don't provide good nutrition to pets, simply that they don't have the extensive research put into it that Hill's does.

Food Switch
by: Susannah

After doing research for several weeks I finally today picked up Link's first bag of new dog food. We didn't have any problems with the Science Diet but I have been looking for something better for him that is well balanced and affordable. His last bag of Science diet finally got low enough to buy a bag of the new food to integrate in.

The brand we decided to go with is 4 Health which is actually a dog food sold only at Tractor Supply and manufactured for them. It is $10 CHEAPER than the Science Diet but it has most of the hallmarks of the better brands. The ingredient list is similar to the puppy food from brands such as Wellness & Blue Buffalo.

Hopefully he likes it, we will find out over the next 2 weeks or so as we transition.

Here is the ingredient list from his old food, the Science Diet Large Breed Puppy:

Ingredients: Ground Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Flaxseed, Dried Egg Product, Soybean Oil, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Fish Oil, Potassium Citrate, iodized Salt, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Natural Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, L-Lysine, Calcium Carbonate, vitamins (L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Vitamin E Supplement, minerals (Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Tryptophan, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, L-Carnitine, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.

Here is the Ingredient list for his New Food 4 Health Puppy:

Ingredients:
Lamb, lamb meal, egg product, ground rice, cracked pearled barley, millet, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potato protein, potatoes, oatmeal, tomato pomace, natural flavor, flaxseed, ocean fish meal, salmon oil (source of DHA), potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, dried chicory root, kelp, carrots, peas, apples, tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, dried skim milk, cranberry powder, rosemary extract, parsley flake, yucca schidigera extract, L-Carnitine, dried fermentation products of Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

I will let you all know how the transition goes!

Wellness
by: sica

I agree... Wellness brand large breed puppy formula is a really good option. They even send you coupons if you sign up on their website!

Food
by: Anonymous

When it comes to Premium Dog Foods, Science Diet scores an F. Wellness, Canidae, Blue Buffalo...

These foods would be your best bet. Science Diet is just not a very good food. I also like Diamond Products.

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Link's Slow Start

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