I would stick with the reduced fat. Try the formula of 10 calories per pound you want your dog to weigh. If you're comfortable with 75 pounds, feed 750 calories per day. I think you'll find that with reduced fat formulas, that often works out to about 2 cups/day.
How much reduced fat should I feed?
:doh
k, now I am totally confused...my vet awhile back said that I should be feeding no more than 1 cup per mean 2X per day. I was feeding my golden Innova regular dog kibble (large bites) with that instruction. Noah has gained about 5 pounds more than he should weigh. He is probably ok but I don't want him gaining anymore..
Apparently the regular is high in calories. I switched to the reduced fat but should I still be feeding him on 1 cup per meal (2 meals)?
I would like to go back to the Innova regular but am afraid the high cal. will keep the scale going up overtime. I feel like less than 1 cup per meal tho if I cut back the amount is not enough and I don't want to sub green beans as they aren't nutritionally what he needs over time for weight matinence..
Should I go back to the regular or stick with the reduced fat (more fillers in that tho) ?
k, now I am totally confused...my vet awhile back said that I should be feeding no more than 1 cup per mean 2X per day. I was feeding my golden Innova regular dog kibble (large bites) with that instruction. Noah has gained about 5 pounds more than he should weigh. He is probably ok but I don't want him gaining anymore..Apparently the regular is high in calories. I switched to the reduced fat but should I still be feeding him on 1 cup per meal (2 meals)?
I would like to go back to the Innova regular but am afraid the high cal. will keep the scale going up overtime. I feel like less than 1 cup per meal tho if I cut back the amount is not enough and I don't want to sub green beans as they aren't nutritionally what he needs over time for weight matinence..
Should I go back to the regular or stick with the reduced fat (more fillers in that tho) ?
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
GoldenKeeper:
If you've already started the Innova Reduced Fat, it's fine for rapid short-term weight loss purposes (though you'll probably have to feed a lot more of it because it has far fewer calories per cup), but for most dogs the regular Adult formula is a better choice for long term/maintenance (with only 45% carbs compared to 57% in the RF formula). In addition to fewer grains, the higher protein and fat contents also benefit Goldens. So long as your dog is getting adequate calories* there is nothing wrong with adding some green beans or other healthly bulk to the diet (i.e. carrots, apples, pumpkin, etc) - so long as it's shredded small enough to be digestable to the dog, it IS nutritionally beneficial to him (especially as fiber - the Innova Adult is rather low in fiber).
If a healthy weight can't be maintained on the Adult Innova, the California Natural Adult Chicken & Rice (by the same makers as Innova) might be a better alternative. Even though it has about the same calorie count/cup as the Innova Adult, it's between the two Innovas in terms of fat and protein and still keeps the grains in control with a 48% carb count (not to mention it's great for the coats and usually a hair less expensive than Innova), making is great for weight loss/maintenance. Again, the extras can be applied (this CN formula is also low in fiber).
*If your dog is getting ~1000 calories per day now, try cutting back by 50-100 calories at a time until you reach what works best for maintaining your dog's waistline.
If you've already started the Innova Reduced Fat, it's fine for rapid short-term weight loss purposes (though you'll probably have to feed a lot more of it because it has far fewer calories per cup), but for most dogs the regular Adult formula is a better choice for long term/maintenance (with only 45% carbs compared to 57% in the RF formula). In addition to fewer grains, the higher protein and fat contents also benefit Goldens. So long as your dog is getting adequate calories* there is nothing wrong with adding some green beans or other healthly bulk to the diet (i.e. carrots, apples, pumpkin, etc) - so long as it's shredded small enough to be digestable to the dog, it IS nutritionally beneficial to him (especially as fiber - the Innova Adult is rather low in fiber).
If a healthy weight can't be maintained on the Adult Innova, the California Natural Adult Chicken & Rice (by the same makers as Innova) might be a better alternative. Even though it has about the same calorie count/cup as the Innova Adult, it's between the two Innovas in terms of fat and protein and still keeps the grains in control with a 48% carb count (not to mention it's great for the coats and usually a hair less expensive than Innova), making is great for weight loss/maintenance. Again, the extras can be applied (this CN formula is also low in fiber).
*If your dog is getting ~1000 calories per day now, try cutting back by 50-100 calories at a time until you reach what works best for maintaining your dog's waistline.
When you have a food obsessed dog like my Daisy, anything less than 2 cups feels like cruel and unusual punishment :
Feed less? Not if I don't have to
:Feed less? Not if I don't have to
Thanks for this post, Garfield. It was really useful and informative.
GoldenKeeper:
If you've already started the Innova Reduced Fat, it's fine for rapid short-term weight loss purposes (though you'll probably have to feed a lot more of it because it has far fewer calories per cup), but for most dogs the regular Adult formula is a better choice for long term/maintenance (with only 45% carbs compared to 57% in the RF formula). In addition to fewer grains, the higher protein and fat contents also benefit Goldens. So long as your dog is getting adequate calories* there is nothing wrong with adding some green beans or other healthly bulk to the diet (i.e. carrots, apples, pumpkin, etc) - so long as it's shredded small enough to be digestable to the dog, it IS nutritionally beneficial to him (especially as fiber - the Innova Adult is rather low in fiber).
If a healthy weight can't be maintained on the Adult Innova, the California Natural Adult Chicken & Rice (by the same makers as Innova) might be a better alternative. Even though it has about the same calorie count/cup as the Innova Adult, it's between the two Innovas in terms of fat and protein and still keeps the grains in control with a 48% carb count (not to mention it's great for the coats and usually a hair less expensive than Innova), making is great for weight loss/maintenance. Again, the extras can be applied (this CN formula is also low in fiber).
*If your dog is getting ~1000 calories per day now, try cutting back by 50-100 calories at a time until you reach what works best for maintaining your dog's waistline.
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
