My Labrador puppy Ralph has completely gone off BETA puppy food. Typically, just after I had bought a cupboard full of it when it was on offer. :( My vet suggested to gradually change his food over to something else. Can anyone recommend the food they give to their dogs?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Lisa
P.S He is six months old. (Today actually)

Add a bit of oil or something to it and he should eat it..it is very rare a lab becomes fussy..ours would eat food out of date by 6 months if we let her..:-)

Are you sure your dog is a labrador.............. :shock:

The ultimate eating machine.

I feed raw, but most dogs would kill for Naturediet, vacuum packed meat, rice and carrots available from Pets at Home or direct; or if you prefer a dry food Burns is an excellent choice, again solely meat, rice and veggies.

Both are on the BUAV approved list, neither contain BHA/BHT, ethoxyquin, added salt, sugars, colourings, preservatives, emulsifiers, humectants, yeasts or milk products.

Both have websites and Burns generally posts out free samples.

http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/store/index.html

http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/store/index.html

HTH

How is his teething coming along?  I have never had any problems with Labs eating unless teething or dead ;)  Bailey did go off his food for quite some time. He had terrible teething pains, At the time I was feeding Autarky, so I simply poured boiled water over his food and waited till it mushed, He still wasn't too happy eating but ate it anyway, once the teething process was over, he went back to eating anything and everything :D  But in all honesty, Beta is not a food I would choose to feed

Yeah his teeth are still a bit iffy - and he has got some sore spots in his mouth  when I added warm water he ate it but went off it again. - I thought the teething might be the cause but the vet told me to swap his food over and see if he eats that.
It is very unusual for he he usual eats anything and everything.
His breeder starter him on BETA. Is this not a good choice then?

Thanks for the replies
Lisa

I would continue adding the water and ride it out until his mouth is more comfortable.  Ever food seems to attract divided opinion, I have had very good results with dogs on Beta of all ages from 3 weeks to 15 years :)

Isabel, when do you swap your dogs over to the adult food?

I have cockers, well only one left now :) so I tend to run them on on junior food longer than I think you would with a lab,  other lab owners would best advise on that one.

Sorry, not feeding Beta is just a personal thing from experience. I did feed Megan on it for nearly a year as she was a very picky eater, but I found that it just did not keep her in good condition and felt that because I was picking up more poo (lots more) when she was on it, I felt she was not getting the nourishment she needed fromthat particular food. When Penny arrived I had her on it for a few months.  After I changed from Beta, I did find an massive difference in the dogs in general.  So really have nothing against Beta as such, just personal choice :D

We all find that with certain foods and certain dogs :) but it seems like Lisa's problem is not one of failure to thrive.

My new lab puppy came on Beta puppy.  He was doing about 10 poos a day.  Also he semed to be excessively thirsty.  He was more than happy to eat it though!!

I have gradually weaned him over to James Wellbeloved puppy food and his poos are now a lot less and better in consistancy.  Delightful subject!!

Hi

Dont want to hijack the thread. But what is average poos per day for a 6-7 mth old lab. Or is this a stupid question.

Alix

Well I have wondered myself. Ralph does about four a day and he's six months old.

My 12 week old GSD puppy defecates 2 - 3 times a day.  My 4 year old Weimaraner about the same.

Hi
I switched my lab onto Burns after reading about it on champdogs and contacting them directly.  I wanted a totally natural food for her and Burns seemed to tick all the boxes.  I switched her over at around 6 months of age from Eukanuba as she was drinking excessively and peeing an awful lot and I wondered if Eukanuba might be to salty.  I must say touch wood that having switched her to Burns she has been great and seems very happy on it.  She looks forward to her food so much that when she waits for it she salivates!!!!!  as to her pooh well the consistency is usually pretty good they are certainly very easy to pick up and she usually goes in the morning in the afternoon and then sometimes in the evening around 22:00pm. 
Good luck with whatever you chose.
Van