Tomorrow morning, the big switch... (From Purina to Innova)

[yanya]

I got everything ready today to start switching my dogs from Purina to Innova.

33 Lb. bag of Innova? Check!
35 Lb. food storage container? Check!
17.6 Lb. bag of yucky Purina? Check! (Only reason I got this was so I can gradually switch the dogs over.)

So then, tomorrow morning starts the big switch. My question is this, and I'm sure it's been asked here about ... say, a million times? ...

I know the best way to put my dogs on the new food is to gradually switch them over. As mentioned I bought a bag of Purina, their old food. Where should I start tomorrow ... 90% Purina, 10% Innova? 80% Purina, 20% Innova? Is there a road map I should follow on switching over? Feed 90/10, wait a couple of days and switch to 80/20 ... 70/30 and so on?

 

[Zoom]

You can go a little quicker I think. Purina/Innova- 75/25, 50/50, 25/75. You might stick with the 50/50 for an extra day so it's four days instead of three. just make sure both meals in one day are the same ratio.

right?

 

[Athebeau]

You forgot to check off the dog...haha I love your check list

I change my dogs food every 3 months or so. I just do it 50/50 and within 3 days they are on the new food. I found slippery elm bark works great in case of loose stools from the change over. I keep this on hand for any digestive problems.

 

[yanya]

This is the first time I've ever changed Dog Food. Two of our dogs have been on Purina for nearly 8 years, and the younger one knows nothing else. Hope they take to the Innova, and that we don't have any problems.

The biggest problem I see is that they all get some of the new food. They all eat from the same bowl and I've heard a couple of times, about a dog who would pick out the Innova and leave the rest. That and making sure I don't under/over feed.

 

[yanya]

Well, so far the switching of foods is going pretty well. Yesterday my youngest dog was hogging the food dish in the morning, so I had to grab a couple of bowls from the cupboard to make sure the other two dogs got some food. Before work I made a special trip to PetsMart and got two more dog dishes, so last night and this morning they ate from their own bowls. Nothing bad to report yet, no vomiting or explosive diarheaa. Just one very greedy Corgi.

I do have another question though! The way I understand it is:

Purina = Feed more to fill up my dogs.
Innova = Feed less to fill up my dogs.

So then, say I remove one cup of Purina from their diet ... how much Innova do I add? It seems to me that if I add in a cup of Innova, I would be adding extra food to their diet. Should it be something along the lines of:

Remove one cup of Purina, add 3/4 cup of Innova?

 

[Fran27]

If you remove one cup of purina, just add half a cup of innova.

Although it depends, I've seen some purina formulas where you have to feed the same amount as the innova, so it's better to just check on the bags.

 

[Mordy]

yanya, compare the caloric content per cup of the foods.

the regular innova adult has 557 kcal per cup. i'm not sure which purina brand you were feeding, but you should be able to find the info on the bag or website.

 

[yanya]

yanya, compare the caloric content per cup of the foods.

the regular innova adult has 557 kcal per cup. i'm not sure which purina brand you were feeding, but you should be able to find the info on the bag or website.

I looked over the bag today, but couldn't find it anywhere. Then I remembered seeing something very similair to what I was looking for at your site. To make a long story short ...

Purina - Dog Chow Healthy Morsels
Calories
379 Kcal/cup

I never did like math ...
So then, the Healthy Morsels had about 68% of the Kcal/cup of the Innova. Then I would add 68% of a cup of Innova for each cup of Purina I remove?


Did I do that right? I'm confused ...

 

[Fran27]

Yes that's it.

 

[yanya]

Hurrah!

 

[Mordy]

yup, that's right - but you can round it to 3/4, no need to mess with exact amounts.

 

[BullyLover]

Keep us posted...I would like to see how it goes...I want to switch my pups food to innova also.

 

[yanya]

Keep us posted...I would like to see how it goes...I want to switch my pups food to innova also.

Well, since you asked so nicely.
I've almost got my dogs switched over completely, another day or two I think. I may just be wanting to see results immediately, but I think my dog's coats seem a bit softer since adding in the Innova.

PS: Who would have guessed a Corgi could survive on one and a half cups of food a day?

 

[juliefurry]

I never had a problem switching my dogs over from the lesser quality foods to the better quality foods. Most of the time they would take a day or two to start eating but after that they would eat and never had a problem. Our lab has had little tummy aches here and there but we switched her over from Eagle Pack to Canidae completely cold turkey (regardless we had all our fingers and toes crossed when we switched her but she did good). I bet they like the Innova a lot better, and you will too when you see how much less you will be cleaning up in the yard.

 

[yanya]

Well, the dogs are now getting nothing but Innova! So far they're loving it. Mind if I ask a technical question? Trying to figure out how long this Innova will last us. Not sure if anybody knows, but how many cups are in a 33 Lb. bag of Innova? (Approximate)

 

[Mordy]

The regular adult dry? Going by the info on their website:

It has 1667 kcal per pound, times 33 is 55,011.
One cup has 557 kcal, 55,011 divided by 557 is 98.76, so just over 98 3/4 cups.

 

[yanya]

Yes, it's just the regular Adult Dry. Thanks Mordy! So according to that, it should last just over 2 weeks. Good to know.

 

[Renee750il]

PS: Who would have guessed a Corgi could survive on one and a half cups of food a day?

Heheh . . . but who would believe a Fila could be sleek and happy on 3 3/4 - 4 cups (Innova EVO formula) a day Amazing, isn't it?