Rotation Kibble Diet?

[LLJohnson10]

I've read a few things about the benefits of a rotation diet for dogs, and I thought I'd reach out to members here for their thoughts and experiences. Right now I'm feeding my dogs Orijen 6 Fish exclusively.

I was thinking that I would switch between Orijen 6 Fish and Orijen Regional Red every 10 bags or so to provide some variety in the type of meats (even though its still kibble) that my dogs were eating. After settling on this model in my head, I started to wonder:

How feasible would it be to change the between the 2 on a daily basis, or even between feedings?

Would this create a constant state of diarrhea and upset stomach, or would my dogs enjoy the variety, and create even more excitement during meal time?

Thoughts, opinions please.

*I also want to note that both of my boys are voracious eaters and have never needed any additional motivation to do so. I sure they would devour a cardboard box if I placed it in their bowls at feeding time.

 

[Th0r]

I did. Every bag was a different flavour and had no issues. Their first poop is normally softer but that's about it.

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

[LLJohnson10]

I did. Every bag was a different flavour and had no issues. Their first poop is normally softer but that's about it.

Sent from my Nexus 5

Thats good to know. What type of food do you feed?

 

[Th0r]

Orijen Six Fish, Acana Chicken and Burbank Potato, Wild Prairie, Pacifica, Grasslands, FirstMate Pacific Ocean Fish, Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon, High Prairie. Actr1um Duck and Nature's Domain Salmon.

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

[LLJohnson10]

Orijen Six Fish, Acana Chicken and Burbank Potato, Wild Prairie, Pacifica, Grasslands, FirstMate Pacific Ocean Fish, Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon, High Prairie. Actr1um Duck and Nature's Domain Salmon.

Sent from my Nexus 5

Wow, that's a lot of variety!

 

[Th0r]

Yep. All since January.

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

[DennasMom]

I've heard it suggested that there's no problem rotating with different protein blends in the same brand ... but adding in variety from different manufacturer's could get interesting... but it sounds like Th0r has had good success with all sorts of good variety!

It could be that once you start adding a little variety, more variety isn't a problem - as the stomach isn't running in just one gear, so to speak. Keep the stomach guessing, and it might be more prepared for anything you give it (but - that's just a theory... I could be waaaay off).

 

[Th0r]

There definitely is differences across the brands from what I have tried from poop size, eye gunk and amount of water consumed.
Eye gunk was higher in Nature's Domain and TOTW. Poop size was massive with Nature's Domain followed by TOTW. Water consumption was the most with Nature's Domain.
Eye gunk is non-existent with Acana and Orijen.


Sent from my Nexus 5

 

[Sadies Mom]

If your dogs digestive system is healthy, rotating flavors should not be a problem. Sadie has some sort of digestive disorder that we can not pin point (other then lots of food sensitivities), so she is very sensitive to change in flavors. I do not see a problem with it. I have read somewere, that sensitivities and allergies can come with feeding the same brand and flavor for a very long time.

 

[season]

I do it with TOTW......every other bag usually. No issues.

 

[LLJohnson10]

If your dogs digestive system is healthy, rotating flavors should not be a problem. Sadie has some sort of digestive disorder that we can not pin point (other then lots of food sensitivities), so she is very sensitive to change in flavors. I do not see a problem with it. I have read somewere, that sensitivities and allergies can come with feeding the same brand and flavor for a very long time.

Well that is what I was concerned about. My dogs don't seem to be overly sensitive, but the foods I would be rotating between are vastly different. One is pretty much solely fish based, while the other is mostly red meat.

Orijen 6 Fish ingredients:
Whole salmon*, whole herring*, salmon meal, herring meal, Pollock meal, whole flounder*, boneless walleye*, boneless northern pike*, boneless lake whitefish*, salmon oil, herring oil, chickpeas, red lentils, green lentils, green peas, pea fiber, canola oil, sun-cured alfalfa, yams*, pumpkin*, butternut squash*, spinach greens*, carrots*, Red Delicious apples*, Bartlett pears*, cranberries*, blueberries*, kelp*, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, Enterococcus faecium.

Orijen Regional Red ingredients:
Boneless Angus beef*, boneless wild boar*, boneless lamb*, beef liver*, boneless pork*, pork liver*, whole herring*, lamb liver*, beef meal, lamb meal, herring meal, salmon meal, Pollock meal, beef tripe*, bison*, lamb fat, whole egg*, red lentils, chickpeas, green peas, yellow peas, green lentils, herring oil, pea fibre, yams*, sun-cured alfalfa, pumpkin, butternut squash*, spinach greens*, carrots*, Red Delicious apples*, Bartlett pears*, cranberries*, blueberries*, kelp, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, Enterococcus faecium.

 

[Th0r]

Regional Red is the priciest Orijen so I haven't tried that yet. The equivalent Acana is Ranchlands I believe which I will try once Thor is fully grown just cause the calcium level is higher.