Vet says puppy needs new food

I have my moms 12 week old puppy on Timberwolf wild formula (26% protein). The vet thinks the dog has to much fat in it's diet and thinks the puppy is to muscular for its age. He wants my mom to switch it to a large breed puppy formula preferably science diet. I am very against this idea and want some input. Thanks

 

Stick with Timberwolf. Science Diet is crap & the vet is just doing his "job" by promoting a food in which his clinic gets a cutback from sales. Also, if I were you, I'd find a new vet. And this advice is coming to you from a cert. vet. tech.

 

Well he thinks the food is excellent but he says to hold off till the puppy is at its adult size. He thinks it is growing faster than its skeleton can support. I know about the whole sales and promoting but I also have heard about puppys growing to quickly. I looked up on timberwolfs website and says for dogs of *all* ages. I just don't know if the puppy could be in any real danger.

 

Every dog I own eats timberwolf of some kind right now, stick with it

 

I am the proud owner of a four month old pit bull. Sheis very finicky, and cannot to seem to find a food that she likes. I do not mean to sound stupid, but what and where do you buy timberwolf. My dog is a little chunky also. My daughter bought her home two months ago without my permission, and i was not happy to have a pit bull. Now after getting to know her and read the forum on the community, I am not as ignorant as i was. Thanks to all of your input and advice. I also think that she is the best dog I have ever had. She is smart, lovable, and playful. I had no idea th ey were so cool. THANKS

 

I would also like to know where to buy this food. My dogs do not like Science Diet one bit, and since I have been on this website, I've learned that it is not the best..'Preciate it!

 

http://www.timberwolforganics.com/



A big thing with dogs and food that I noticed. If your dog is a finicky eater it is probably not getting enough exercise. After my dog goes on a four mile walk she comes home with an appetite. If your dog is not burning all of its energy it won't be hungry and be much more picky. That is my experience

 

The vet(s) I work for push the Science Diet, (and Iams, ...cringe...) as well.

Don't fall for it. It's over priced crap.
I pretty much use/recommend this guideline, :

Current AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles

For Adult Maintenance

Unless otherwise listed, all values are minimum requirements:

Protein.........18%
Fat..............5%
Calcium......0.6% (maximum 2.5%)
Phosphorus...0.5% (maximum 1.6%)
Potassium.....0.6%
Sodium........0.06%
Chloride.......0.09%
Magnesium.....0.04% (maximum 0.3%)
Iron............80 mg/kg (maximum 3,000 mg/kg)
Copper.........7.3 mg/kg (maximum 250 mg/kg)
Manganese........5 mg/kg
Zinc...........120 mg/kg (maximum 1000 mg/kg)
Iodine.........1.5 mg/kg (maximum 50 mg/kg)
Selenium......0.11 mg/kg (maximum 2 mg/kg)
Vitamin A.....5000 IU/kg (maximum 250,000 IU/kg)
Vitamin D......500 IU/kg (maximum 5000 IU/kg)
Vitamin E.......50 IU/kg (maximum 1000 IU/kg)
Thiamine.........1 mg/kg
Riboflavin.....2.2 mg/kg
Pantothenic Acid..10 mg/kg
Niacin..........11.4 mg/kg
Pyridoxine.........1 mg/kg
Folic Acid......0.18 mg/kg
Vitamin B12.....0.022 mg/kg
Choline.........1200 mg/kg

For growing puppies, pregnant and lactating bitches

The majority of nutrient minimums are the same except for the items listed. The maximum for those listed does not change.

Protein...........22%
Fat................8%
Calcium............1%
Phosphorus.......0.8%
Sodium...........0.3%
Chloride........0.45%
Vitamin B12....0.022 mg/kg

and as you can see, there's not too much difference between requirement needs between pups and adults.
The AAFCO was formed (Association of American Feed Control Officials) because years ago, minimal thought or research was put into manufacturing pet food. So, as a response to consumer demand this assosiation was formed.
"Their primary function was to publish feed regulations and ingredient definitions. After much research, committee investigations and feeding trials, nutrient profiles for pets were developed, and guidelines established".
So, when a person asks about a pup's nutritional requirement needs, this assosiation always seems to pop into my head.
If you head into the Articles section in this forum, under the Nutritional Section you may find some info to help you. Or do a search on food. It's a subject that comes up often.
Of the two foods you listed tho, I would most definitly go with the Timberwolf.

 

That vet has some nerve. Timberwolf is about a hundred times better than Science diet. The only good thing about science diet is that it has the word science in the name of the food.

 

Why not seek out a true expert in the field.. a canine nutrionist.. talk with them. some vets do specialize in nutrition but for the most part a vet only spends about 15 minutes in school learning about it ..

Also, regardless of what a the foods ingredients are, what everyone has failed to mention is the pepsin digestablitly. You have to call the company and ask for it but basically the pepsin digestablity gives you a pecentage of how much of the food is actually digestable for the dog (for example in a cup of food only 75% is digestable)

Not every dog is going to do well on one type of feed. Yes, these dogs will and do grow at different rates depending on bloodlines. Some pups go through some gangley puppy stages (like human teenage years) and generally will catch right up. As long as your puppy is healthy, is not suffering from deficiencies (like going back on their feet, poor coat condition, etc) dont worry..

but again, if you are concerned, seek out a nutrion expert and beware what you read on the web