Weight Gain

[Marty11]

So has anybody's pooch gained weight on the grain free food? Rookie went from Go natural (over 600 calories per cup) to grain free (just over 400 calories per cup) What happened???? Ok yes little less exercise this summer, but I emphasize (little less). He's still leads a normal active life. AGE, ACTIVITY, FOOD??? He's a manchester and very tall slim built like a Dobe. I've switched to Acana, less protein.

[rainbow]

How much does he weigh and how much are you feeding him? Did you feed him less to compensate for getting less exercise?

[DoubleRR]

They will certainly gain weight if fed too much--my Ridgeback will gain if fed any more than 3 measured cups a day. In winter, when he is less active, he gets 2.5 cups.
My dachshund gets half a cup a day, and is much younger and more active than the Ridgeback. Just 10% more for either and they start to gain. That is what I like about Orijen--you use less and clean up less and the dogs are in such good shape.

[Marty11]

He weighs 29 lbs and he gets 1/2 cup twice a day with one "TBSP" of quality can. I would like him to weigh his previous weight at 24/25 lbs. The only change is that he's on better kibble, so does that mean more calories? I do wonder if he's better off on grain based (hate to say that).

[DoubleRR]

It is not so much more calories per cup, as it is better digestion for the ones that are there. Try giving 1/3 cup twice a day instead--or 1/4 c for one feeding with the bit of canned and 1/2 for the other?

[Marty11]

I will try the 1/3 cup twice day with TBSP of canned and up his activity. Just bought new fall coat, more walking planned for the fall. Gear for dogs has a great sale by the way.