Have now got rice and chicken Burns. They said use the same for all my dogs(3year old lab and 17 week olld Bichons) just give the pup's 25-50% more than recommended adult amount. The adult bits of food seem very big for such small pups and it is a vast quantity of food. They aren't big eaters. Any thoughts about the advice they have given me? I'm worried I won't get the amount of nutrition they need into them. They have all been doing well on Iams but don't like what I read about it.

Burns do a special puppy food I am surprised if they told you to use the adult or was it the shop.

It was their "nutritionist" on the phone. She seemed to think that Bichons were prone to hot spots too and needed the lower protein levels. I am worried about mucking around with a pups' diet using a non-puppy food. Bichons are fussy at the best of times and I would have thought that a small-bite/puppy food was better for them. Didn't think about it till I saw them try to eat the sample. They loved it but it was hard work for them.

Oh well I would not wish to argue with that, but would say although I would not feed Iams if you are happy with it why are you changing.

I sent an e-mail to them telling them the breed and that I use the Venison for the adults and they came back to say I should use the Mini bites for the pups. Which I will after the pup has had a week to settle in with us and providing his tummy is working as it should.

EDIT: If you want to continue you could soak it for the pup till it has it's adult teeth in, or you could try crushing it to make it smaller.

Thanks for the suggestion Jackie. Don't want to continue with Iams after the bad press that it has received re animal testing. Shame as the dogs love it and are doing well on it altho one of the pups is a tub! Will need to watch her with treats.

Must say I have over the years used at least 70% of the dog foods available, some very cheap when the need arose and most of the quality foods. And I have never seen such a change in the wellbeing of my dogs as I have since I put them onto the Venison and Rice. Before that came out they were on the Fish but although they did well on that since they have had the Venison my 10 year old girl has lost 2 or 3 years and is rushing around like she did as a pup. She used to suffer from hot spots and itchy skin, she has had no problem since she has been on Burns but have to say she was OK on Arden Grange too, but they were the only ones that kept her skin clear.

Different dogs do react in a different way to different food, when I had GSD's 2 of them were only ok on Chappie (tined) anything else upset their stomachs.

All of mine are from breeds prone to hot spots altho the pups have not had trouble to any great extent yet. The lab struggles with her skin in the summer and there are times when her paws really cause problems. Anything that will help can't be bad. I have bought chicken and rice this time but perhaps I will give the venison a try next time. I think I will give them a ring about the pups.