Enough Protein???

[pmontgomery]

I need some advise. I have a 6 year old Lab that needs a "lite" diet. I was feeding her Iams weight control but she doesn't like it very much. I am getting my first Dane puppy this summer and have read on this site that Nutro is a good food. I want to switch her before I get the puppy and hopefully can have them on the same food.

Here's where I'm unsure of what I'm doing. Our local pet supply store carries Nuto products. They don't have the Lamb & Rice that has somewhere around 20% protein. They do have a Nutro Natural Lite, that would be perfect for my Lab, but the nutritional information says its; 14% min. protein and 8.50% max crude fat. Will this be enough protein and fat for a growing puppy?

There is a Petsmart in our area, not as close, that carries Biljac and Nutro I will check there if you think this isn't the right food for a growing puppy.

Along these same lines, there was a Nutro Rep at the pet supply store when I was looking at the different kinds of foods and checking out the amounts of protein in each. Of course the Rep came over and asked if I needed help. When I explained my situation she instantly told me that I should never feed a puppy adult food and especially not lite food. I tried explaining that Danes can't have the amount of protein and fat that is found in the puppy foods and she started to basically argue with me. If it hadn't been for this site she probably would have convinced me that I was wrong and should feed puppy food. Why aren't the Rep's aware of the different needs of giant breed puppies? Its no wonder there are people that feed the puppy food. She really had me second guessing myself.

[dina]

"Lite" diets are a waste of money, IMO. They generally cost more & you get less. You can acheive the same effect by feeding LESS of an adult maintenance food and/or increasing exercise. So find a good quality adult food you like and is easily accesible and adjust the amounts to each dogs needs.
Dina
Scoobie, Skye, & Gui
Gui's page
http://www.flash.net/~dby/Guidon.htm
Great Dane Rescue of the Southwest
http://www.angelfire.com/anime/gdrsw/index.html

[astridj]

Why reps "don't know any better for giant breeds"??? Not sure, but reps are to there to sell their products and last time I looked "puppy food" is more expensive than adult food, meaning more $ for their respective companies - wonder if that has something to do with it??? Though I've never tried it, the biljak has a very good reputation - maybe if its a longer drive you can get more of it and store it in a good container that would keep it fresher longer???
But, if the store carries one type of Nutro what reason do they have not to carry others?

[pmontgomery]

I have no idea why they didn't have the Lamb & Rice. They seemed to have everything but that. I guess you're right, Money Talks doesn't it?

The drive isn't that much farther. I work two afternoons a week at an office not far from Petsmart. I will just have to make sure I pick up the food on those occations.

Thanks for the feedback.:)

[HKDanes]

Won't you be feeding your new puppy what the breeder suggests? You may be jumping the gun here...Jo

[gmac]

Yes, I would follow the breeder's advice. I think you gave a great example of why the reps might be great at selling their product, but not necessarily knowledgable about dogs or cats. I have found that most people are all too willing to give you advice about your dog (and child) and most of the time, I just tune it out, and change the subject!