Help! Frustrated with the way my Bane is eating...

[levans2012]

Hello all,

I can't get my Cane Corso Bane to eat consistently. One day he will eat almost 4 cups of food and the next it's hard to get him to eat at least 1 cup. I am on my 4th brand of puppy food. 4Health (Tractor Supply store), Fromm, Flint River Ranch, and now I am transitioning to Canidae. I was supplementing with a raw diet, but I think he holds out for the raw food until he is starving...I took him to the vet and he said dogs will not starve and he is pleased with his health and weight. They weighed him so fast before I could not see the scale and said he was 29.6# yesterday @ 15 wks. Any suggestions or comments...

 

[mx5055]

Sounds like a lot of different food activity for a 15 week old pup. How many times a day do you feed him, or at least offer him food? Maybe too many changes too soon? I would be very hesitant to combine the raw with the kibble unless you really know what you are doing. I'm hoping ruth or Smart will jump in here and give you some advice. Good luck P.S. He is a beautiful looking pup!!

 

[kbuchanan66]

I am wondering if it is just a matter of smaller portions more times a day.

 

[levans2012]

I was putting it down 20 minutes and picking it up at least 3 times a day; now I just leave it hoping he will eat it. I don't mix the raw and kibble together. I normally give the raw right after bowel movements to make sure it doesn't stay in his system too long. I talked with the breeder and she was letting the litter open graze eat Diamond. I want him on a good food, but something he likes...

 

[mx5055]

Maybe the raw vs the dry is too confusing to him at this age? I really don't know. I got my cc pup when she was 13 weeks old...I feed her 3x/day. Maybe you could try adding some warm water to the kibble to soften it up and make it smell better? When you change a pups food it takes time to see the results, and I kind of feel that a total of 5 different foods (including what the breeder was feeding as 1 kind) in 15 weeks is maybe too much change, and not enough time to see the real results?

 

[levans2012]

Okay. I will just stay with the Canidae I guess and see what happens. I use to have a English Bulldog and he would eat his food in 2 secs it seems. Just want to make sure I was doing the right thing. I will stop changing foods!

 

[Smart_Family]

Yea way too many changes in a short period of time. Ideally you'd do a slow transition from one food to another, over the period of 10-12 days and then go thru at least 2-3 big bags of food before changing to another.

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

I also have to agree with your vet, these dogs are smart and if they think they can get you over the barrel to feed what they prefer then they will. He is right and it is rare that a dog will starve itself so if he doesn't eat it all pick it up, it is the rules here and they quickly learn if you don't then you wait for the next meal.

 

[mx5055]

Thank Goodness the Experts finally got here!!!!!

 

[Huskerkid]

I would agree with MX. Soaking the kibble in a little water helped my little guy. I also agree that you may want to stick with one brand of kibble for a little while. I am also doing the kibble in the morning and raw in the evening. For both feedings, I bring him in to the kitchen where his bowls are located and put him into a sit stay. Then put the food down where he can see it. Initially when I released him I would praise him and then lead him to the food I had put down for him. Kind of tricks him into thinking it is a reward for performing the "stay" command. Good luck

 

[levans2012]

Thanks everyone! Smart_Family do you think Canidae is a good food to try and keep him on...Do you think he is a bit on the skinny side, my mother-in-law saw him last week and said we need to feed him more lol---I'm tryin!

 

[Smart_Family]

Which canidae formula are you using?

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

Thanks everyone! Smart_Family do you think Canidae is a good food to try and keep him on...Do you think he is a bit on the skinny side, my mother-in-law saw him last week and said we need to feed him more lol---I'm tryin!

Based on the pics you have posted of him he looks to be in good condition. Keep in mind a lot of people think that they need to eat huge amounts to grow fast and in breeds like this a slow steady growth is much better for their joints.

 

[levans2012]

Which canidae formula are you using?

CANIDAE All Life Stages dry​

 

[Smart_Family]

Is the calcium listed on the bag?

 

[levans2012]

According to the website 1.80%---I will check the bag when I get home. What is the goal? Min & Max

 

[Smart_Family]

Oh ok I didn't see it on the site but yes 1.8% is a little too high. Ideal is 1.4-1.6%, but no lower than 1.0%. You also want a ratio of calcium to phosphorus of as close to 1.2:1 as possible with the lowest being 1.0:1 and highest 1.4:1.

 

[levans2012]

I'm doing 50% Canidae and 50% Flint River Ranch. I guess I can go either way? What is the ratio for calciumhosphorus:??? Forgive me for sounding dumb; just want to do the best for my Bane. This is to monitor for proper growth right
Original Oven-Baked Kibble Puppy & Adult Canine Formula

Calcium (%) 1.30% Phosphorus (%)

0.90%

 

[Smart_Family]

That ratio would be 1.45:1 so the combo of the two is probably a bit much for a mastiff under 2.

 

[levans2012]

Thanks everyone I will let you all know how it goes! He is a smart little fellow...