Canidae (Yes or No)

[Jesse]

I am a brand new Frenchie owner but have had English Bulldogs in the past so I understand the level of concern that goes into our Bully's diets as well as the skin problems, etc. I have been doing some research into various food options and seem to get a drastic difference of opinion when it comes to Canidae.

On here, and other Bull breed forums, I see rave reviews about the food clearing up skin allergies as well as a host of other problems. Then I take a look at the Consumer Affairs website (http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/canidae.html) and see post after post of distraught pet owners who have had their pets become very ill and die in the past six months from feeding their dogs Canidae. They seem to attribute this to an apparent "change" in the formula of the food.

One or two posts on any consumer site is expected but there are many all telling similar stories and similar symptoms all culminating in an extremely ill or dead pet.

I am just wondering if anyone on here can shed some light on this for me.

Thanks.

[Marianne Callahan]

I too researched several different foods and I tried Canidae even though I read the negative comments. My frenchie did not have a positive experience he had very loose stool even after I transitioned him slowly. I am so thankful that I finally found a food that has helped the skin and digestive issues we have struggled with since day one. We feed Oliver Taste of the Wild (salmon) which is grain free. I know several people that use Canidae and have had much success it just did not agree with my boy. I recently got my second frenchie and she was sent home with Canidae and seems to be fine but I am slowly changing her over to Taste of the Wild as well.

[Jesse]

I have not yet picked my boy up yet so I am uncertain what his puppy food is but I was more planning ahead for transitioning him to an adult food. He is four months old now.

[Forest, Mr. Nubbins, Ms. Wiggles]

I was using Canidea up until two weeks ago. I had no idea they changed the formula, but after $2k in vet bills, our crew is on Hill's Z/D which is essentially chicken liver pate.

Mr. Nubbins was deatlhy ill, and we could not figure out what was wrong with him. We had an ultrasound done and many blood tests. Our (the vets and myself) only conclusion was a food allergy. Sure enough, once we got him off the Canidae and on the Hill's, he started eating again. He is not back to 100% yet, but he is in good spirits and gaining his weight back.

So, I am very happy to have seen your post to confirm that is a strong possibility. I would stay away from it just to be safe.

[Trish]

Canidae used to be a very good, quality dog food. Then they changed manufactures (Diamond Pet Foods now manufactures Canidae's dog food, and they have a pretty terrible reputation) and Diamond made a change to Canidae's formula without notifying the public, and dogs became deathly ill from the change. I would not even consider feeding any of Canidae's food after what happened, and from what I know, they are still producing and manufacturing the "changed formula" and have not went back to the original recipe. It wasn't just one or two dogs that became sick, it was thousands. :(

[Jesse]

Good to know. Baby arrives on Sunday. He is on Ekanuba Lamb & Rice Small Breed right now and seems to be doing well on it so I am not going to change anything too quickly.