High calorie (and tasty) soft kibble
Discussion
We have an 14.5yo greyhound who always been picky with his food but is now declining to eat any kibble at all.
Currently we're feeding him Butchers brand tinned wet food, which does work, but he wont eat more than a 400g can full at a time, and seems to need about five per day to make up for the 'tin full' scoop of kibble he used to have with a can of wet food because the wet has so much less calories per mouthfull!
No major issue with this other than the fact he often wants his third of fourth dinner at 4am, and although I feed him twice most mornings, always seems starving by the time we get home, and its not really fair to ask the dog walk to feed him mid-day.
I would leave food down for him, which is what his original owners did for his first 5-6 years, but we also have a romanian retriever cross, who hoovers up anything he can including barging our older dog out of the way if we let him.
TLDR: Any recommendations for a tasty high calorie density easy to eat dog food for an older dog.
Currently we're feeding him Butchers brand tinned wet food, which does work, but he wont eat more than a 400g can full at a time, and seems to need about five per day to make up for the 'tin full' scoop of kibble he used to have with a can of wet food because the wet has so much less calories per mouthfull!
No major issue with this other than the fact he often wants his third of fourth dinner at 4am, and although I feed him twice most mornings, always seems starving by the time we get home, and its not really fair to ask the dog walk to feed him mid-day.
I would leave food down for him, which is what his original owners did for his first 5-6 years, but we also have a romanian retriever cross, who hoovers up anything he can including barging our older dog out of the way if we let him.
TLDR: Any recommendations for a tasty high calorie density easy to eat dog food for an older dog.
Have you tried adding a bit of water to the kibble?
Our 14yo Staffie has always been a food hoover, but in recent months she's started leaving her breakfast. We tried a few things but simply putting a bit of water in there got her eating it again.
She doesn't chew her toys much these days so I wonder if it's too hard on her gums or something, and the water just softens it up a bit.
Our 14yo Staffie has always been a food hoover, but in recent months she's started leaving her breakfast. We tried a few things but simply putting a bit of water in there got her eating it again.
She doesn't chew her toys much these days so I wonder if it's too hard on her gums or something, and the water just softens it up a bit.
durbster said:
Have you tried adding a bit of water to the kibble?
Our 14yo Staffie has always been a food hoover, but in recent months she's started leaving her breakfast. We tried a few things but simply putting a bit of water in there got her eating it again.
She doesn't chew her toys much these days so I wonder if it's too hard on her gums or something, and the water just softens it up a bit.
That's a good suggestion.Our 14yo Staffie has always been a food hoover, but in recent months she's started leaving her breakfast. We tried a few things but simply putting a bit of water in there got her eating it again.
She doesn't chew her toys much these days so I wonder if it's too hard on her gums or something, and the water just softens it up a bit.
Greyhounds often have dental issues, so it may be that he is struggling with that. Adding water (especially warm) will also enhance the smell, which may help. Or, if you leave it long enough, it will soften the kibble.
We have to do this with our older saluki because he's had quite a few teeth removed, although he does manage a small-bite kibble for one of his meals.
We have used a specialist greyhound food (used to be 'Gain' now 'Time') for many years. They do different protein levels, so there's a 20 and a 28.
Or you could look at using a puppy food, which would have higher protein levels. You do need to be careful if they have any kidney or liver issues though.
Yeah, the kibble gets mixed up with water and the wet food.
If it gets too soft because the leftovers have been on the side an hour (think soggy breakfast cereal) he wont eat that either
So far his teeth appear good and not to be giving any issues, and I think its more the taste he struggles with.
We have always had to change kibble brand from time to time, but have hit a bit of a wall with it now.
I thave been revving up to going down to one of the local equine outlets and get another selection and just try a hit a miss approach, but was just wondering if anyone has any good steers to get the ball rolling. At very least, the retriever will work his way though anything the greyhound turns his overly long nose up at so it wont go to waste!
However we had a bit of a breakthrough last night having bought the topic up with my mother in law, and she suggested we tried the Forthglade food she feeds her dogs, as in her lasts months it was the only thing her collie would still eat, and he has absolutely woofed it down!! Its twice the prices of the Harringtons we have settled on for the past few years but if he is happy and we get to sleep through the night or at least only be woken by the 3yo child not the 14yo dog then its a bargain!
Maybe its the sweet potato, as otherwise its composition (atleast the % meat content) isn't miles off.
https://forthglade.com/products/chicken-grain-free...
If it gets too soft because the leftovers have been on the side an hour (think soggy breakfast cereal) he wont eat that either
So far his teeth appear good and not to be giving any issues, and I think its more the taste he struggles with.
We have always had to change kibble brand from time to time, but have hit a bit of a wall with it now.
I thave been revving up to going down to one of the local equine outlets and get another selection and just try a hit a miss approach, but was just wondering if anyone has any good steers to get the ball rolling. At very least, the retriever will work his way though anything the greyhound turns his overly long nose up at so it wont go to waste!
However we had a bit of a breakthrough last night having bought the topic up with my mother in law, and she suggested we tried the Forthglade food she feeds her dogs, as in her lasts months it was the only thing her collie would still eat, and he has absolutely woofed it down!! Its twice the prices of the Harringtons we have settled on for the past few years but if he is happy and we get to sleep through the night or at least only be woken by the 3yo child not the 14yo dog then its a bargain!
Maybe its the sweet potato, as otherwise its composition (atleast the % meat content) isn't miles off.
https://forthglade.com/products/chicken-grain-free...
Gerradi said:
I tried my Whippet on Forthglade a week ago today, nibbled at it & had the runs next day. It says slowly introduce it as it can upset the tummy... giving it to my Sister 2 Cockapoodles who could eat radioactive waste without a hiccup..
Was that the cold pressed, or the part baked?I guess all dogs and stomachs are different.
Good to have an unfussy outlet for unwanted trialed food!
dhutch said:
Gerradi said:
I tried my Whippet on Forthglade a week ago today, nibbled at it & had the runs next day. It says slowly introduce it as it can upset the tummy... giving it to my Sister 2 Cockapoodles who could eat radioactive waste without a hiccup..
Was that the cold pressed, or the part baked?I guess all dogs and stomachs are different.
Good to have an unfussy outlet for unwanted trialed food!
Forgot i hadn't updated this thread recently.
We've now switched from Forthglade cold pressed to their lightly baked version, which said greyhound collie appears to prefer. Plus its available at major supermarkets, sometimes even on a reasonable nectar or clubcard discount.
Still a minor challenge to keep him interested, mix of butchers and sainsburys chunks in jelly and butchers tripe tins, which are good for hiding tablets in as he is also on paracetamol which he doesn't particularly like the taste of.
However all told, he remains happy, passes his 6 monthly vet checkups, and without wishing to jinx it, is currently not waking us in the night.
We've now switched from Forthglade cold pressed to their lightly baked version, which said greyhound collie appears to prefer. Plus its available at major supermarkets, sometimes even on a reasonable nectar or clubcard discount.
Still a minor challenge to keep him interested, mix of butchers and sainsburys chunks in jelly and butchers tripe tins, which are good for hiding tablets in as he is also on paracetamol which he doesn't particularly like the taste of.
However all told, he remains happy, passes his 6 monthly vet checkups, and without wishing to jinx it, is currently not waking us in the night.
Doofus said:
I'm sorry to come to this so late, but did you say your dog eats four or five 400g tins of dog food per day?!
Yeah, he always has eaten a substantial amount, and bit more in winter presumably when its colder. Although he is only 20kg, he is larger dog than our 30kg retriever in ever other measures, standing at over 70cm to the top of his back.
dhutch said:
Doofus said:
I'm sorry to come to this so late, but did you say your dog eats four or five 400g tins of dog food per day?!
Yeah, he always has eaten a substantial amount, and bit more in winter presumably when its colder. Although he is only 20kg, he is larger dog than our 30kg retriever in ever other measures, standing at over 70cm to the top of his back.
All-in, that's less than 500g per day. He walks 4-5 miles, and still tends to gain weight rather tha lose it.
Doofus said:
Our dog is 19kg. He gets 165g of kibble (wetted), 85g of wet dog food, with added veg and a Kong (frozen yoghurt and banana) daily.
All-in, that's less than 500g per day. He walks 4-5 miles, and still tends to gain weight rather tha lose it.
Yes, but two things apply here. All-in, that's less than 500g per day. He walks 4-5 miles, and still tends to gain weight rather tha lose it.
1. Food is all about the amount of energy, calories or kJoule, and typically kibble is around four times more calorific for a given weight than wet dog food. So 165x4 + 85 is 745g equivalent. So with some added veg banana and yoghurt the latter which is also fairly calorific you could easily be most of the way to 1000g per day.
2. Food requirements are very specific to a given dog and or breed, even more so than they are person to person, and so a factor or two difference is perfectly reasonable, with Greyhounds i belive typically having high metabolism.
Either way, he is eating plenty, more than our retriever cross, and loosing weight not gaining it.
We feed out greyhound Millie's Wolfheart, they do different kibbles dependent on your dog, the calorific content is roughly the same, but they change the balance of carbs vs protein and also have a nutritionist on hand.
We were on 50/50 but after we started training him, he put on a bit too much weight, so we are down to 40/60 now and he is slowly losing a bit of weight.
We soak it in warm water and top it off with 1/5 of a tin of their wet food.
Not the cheapest, but really great quality and ours loves it. In the kennels he was on Country Feast working dog and Forthglade, which he ate because he had to and when we got him, he would eat a bit and then leave it. He runs for his Millie's food now.
We were on 50/50 but after we started training him, he put on a bit too much weight, so we are down to 40/60 now and he is slowly losing a bit of weight.
We soak it in warm water and top it off with 1/5 of a tin of their wet food.
Not the cheapest, but really great quality and ours loves it. In the kennels he was on Country Feast working dog and Forthglade, which he ate because he had to and when we got him, he would eat a bit and then leave it. He runs for his Millie's food now.
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