Search Results for 'fiber dog food'

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  • #88176
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi, sounds like food sensitivity, she is sensitive to an ingredient in the kibble, have you read the ingredients in the super market food she’s eating, what are they?
    My rescue Patch was doing the same, I couldn’t feed supermarket food, he was sensitive to the corn gluten meal, barley, chicken & I think the fiber was too high… After trying a heap of premium brand kibbles & vet diets, finally I feed Patch “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb & he’s doing beautiful firm poos finally….. I seen on a Face Book group dogs with EPI & IBD were eating “Taste Of The Wild” & “Kirkland Signature Nature Domain” Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato kibble & doing really well so I tried the TOTW Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon first then the Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb, Patch likes the Roasted Lamb more…if you have a Costco close by buy a bag of their Kirkland Signature Nature Domain grain free kibbles are made by Taste Of The Wild & is cheaper then the TOTW kibbles…
    What I noticed with the Taste Of The Wild & Kirkland Signature some of the formulas the fiber was only 3% so maybe the fiber plays a big part in making Patches poos firm he needs less fiber not more..
    Look at ingredients in the kibble she’s eating & get a grain free kibble with a different protein & carbs….What happened with the Pure Balance she was eating in the beginning?? always pick a limited ingredient kibble, less ingredients are best when they are sensitive too certain ingredients…. You will slowly start to work out what she’s sensitive too as time goes by when you try a few different kibbles or if you do an elimination diet….
    It’s best to rotate kibbles with different single protein, once you find a few kibbles she does well on, make sure there’s only have 1 protein in the kibble….
    another really good kibble for dogs with sensitive stomachs & IBD do well on is “California Natural” Lamb & Rice it has just 3 ingredients..
    http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products
    http://www.kirklandsignaturepetsupplies.com/natures-domain-brand

    #88168
    TonyaGolden
    Member

    Hello & Hi Pitlove, thanks for informing me to this forum….

    What is this Tripett I keep reading about?

    I’m feeding my 8 month old Golden Retriever NB (natural balance, grain free)
    I also keep hearing about the calcium and calorie count and what is good for them. I am a new dog owner, so I’m not sure about some things. I want a food that is healthy for her. I know staying fit is key, she doesn’t get much “running time” so she is a tab bit overweight, but I am working on that. The Vet doesn’t seem much help as he can never really give me a straight answer on the calorie/calcium part. The food I’m feeding her says to give 7 1/2 to 9 1/2 cups per day, to me that seems a lot since she doesn’t get much exercise, so I give her 1 1/2 to 2 cups twice a day.

    Nutritional Info:
    Crude Protein 21.0% Min.
    Crude Fat 10.0% Min.
    Crude Fiber 4.5% Max.
    Moisture 10.0% Max.
    Calcium 1.0% Min.
    Phosphorus 0.8% Min.
    Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)* 0.01% Min.
    Omega-6 Fatty Acids* 2.3% Min.
    Omega-3 Fatty Acids* 0.4% Min.
    Calories
    Calorie Content (Calculated): ME = 3,422 kcal/kg, 375 kcal/8 oz cup

    #87961

    In reply to: Pet Wants Dog Food

    anonymously
    Member

    Just do some comparisons, and see what you think will work. Example:

    Pet Wants Whitefish & Duck Grain-Free Dog Formula
    Crude Protein, min – 30.0%
    Crude Fat, min – 16.0%
    Crude Fiber, max – 4.5%
    Moisture, max – 10.0%
    * Omega 6 (Linoleic Acid), min – 2.5%
    * Omega 3 (Linolenic Acid), min – 0.53%
    * Glucosamine, min – 800 ppm
    * Chondroitin, min – 400 ppm
    * Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.
    Calorie Count: 437 kcal/cup

    Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea, check at chewy.com
    Crude Protein (min) 30.0%
    •Crude Fat (min) 16.0%
    •Crude Fiber (max) 6.0%
    •Moisture (max) 10.0%
    •Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)* (min) 0.05%
    •Vitamin A (min) 5,000 IU/kg
    •Vitamin E (min) 100 IU/kg
    •Omega 6 Fatty Acids* (min) 2.5%
    •Omega 3 Fatty Acids* (min) 0.5%
    *Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
    Calorie Content – Kcal/kg ME (calculated) 3,680 – Kcal/cup ME (calculated) 390

    #87947
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi Patricia, sounds like my Patch when I rescued him he did really good on the Eukanuba Intestinal but cause it has maize & gluten corn he started to smell yeasty & have itchy skin,
    the maize, corn gluten & beet pulp firms up their poo….
    Start looking for another kibble with around the same fat % protein % & fiber %..With the fiber keep it LOW around 2-4% fiber what I noticed about Patches Eukanuba Intestinal the fiber was low, a lot of these grain free formulas are higher in fiber cause of the potatoes, pea, chick peas, lentils, etc & I think that’s what happened with Patch he needed a lower fiber not higher over 4% made big sloppy poos….
    Finally after trying a heap of kibbles Patch does well on ‘Taste Of The Wild’ Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb has 4%max fiber & their Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon has only 3%max fiber, I was looking on a few Face book sites & started to noticed dogs with IBD & EPI were doing really well on Taste Of The Wild kibbles, I was worried cause the fat % was 15% but its been OK for Patches stomach, Taste Of The Wild has All Life Stages formulas, The Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb is an All Life Formula it tells you in their booklet.. Contact TOTW on
    http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/ & ask for their booklet & some samples.. I got a small box full of all their formulas & the samples were pretty big…..Your dog will love the taste & do firm poos….Keep Taste of the Wild in mind if poos are still sloppy on new kibble.. 🙂

    #87622
    theBCnut
    Member

    Coconut oil is digestible, so it won’t lubricate the digestive tract. You may need to add a source of fiber to her foods. Pumpkin puree is a good source of fiber and you can freeze it in ice cube trays to get a good serving size for your dog. You can also run healthy greens through the blender and freeze those into serving size cubes to give one with every meal. There is no down side to adding fresh foods to a dogs diet except the little bit of extra work, but your dog could get all kinds of benefits from it.

    Brenda G
    Member

    My 12 year old box was told she had cancer and acute renal failure (acute = early renal = kidney). The vet insisted that unless I paid $200 a week for special hill’s K/D (or any other prescription diet) she would die and regardless she would die in 6 months. I was heart broken I couldn’t afford $200 a week. I had at the time 2 other dogs and a horse. So I cried for about a day straight (ok probably a lot longer than that), I love my dogs just like everyone here. I had to do my research and find the best alternative to the prescription diet. So I asked the vet if you could recommend anything else what would it be? That’s the only thing that she was willing to recommend also should mention this vet sells the dog food but was willing to give me a prescription for it to get it else where. The vet was willing to tell me that the two important things in a K/D diet were protein and phosphorus. I did my research and I called every major manufacture (iams and pedigree share the same phone number apparently a company called mars 1-800-675-3849) etc. Most dog foods contain around 0.8% phosphorus so I was looking for anything with less. I found one blend of dog food what wasn’t weight ( the weight control tastes gross and she wont eat it) controlled the price was more than reasonable at about $22 for 27lbs which would last my two dogs 2 weeks (now we have one other dog but it last them a month) This is a no sugar added no dyes and no artificial preservatives dog food (for all three brands). Here’s the kicker I could only buy it online in large bags or drive like 20mins plus for smaller more expensive bags(I had two large breed dogs and one small breed). I contacted Iams this week because the price of the dog food had sky rocketed to 47 (on amazon) which is way too much and Walmart wasn’t showing when it would be back in stock or at all. Come to find out they discontinued it 8months ago. I searched high and low and found blue buffalo (aka blue diamond) had about the same values but there have been 1400 consumer complaints and many recalls of their food and the same with purina. I did contact both companies and they did offer weight control alternatives to the dog food I was currently feeding. But again both companies had poor recall records and a lot of dogs were getting sick from their brands from diarrhea or vomiting and worse sometimes death. As my dog is a boxer she’s a natural gas bag so feeding her anything that would further upset her already delicate gastric intestinal systems is absolute a no no. Oh i forgot to put in the numbers, so when this all started I had her blood ran to see where she was at she had high phosphorus and high protein so I switched to this dog food “Iams so good Savory chicken” then took her to a different vet which was much further away by about an hour and half. The vet said that her levels still showed problems but dogs with her levels lived years so keep doing what i was doing. Anyway I’m writing today about this discontinued product because I think people should know about it. Call the number I put in and ask iams to start making the product they claim that the sales were poor but I assure you it ran out online all the time and it would sky rocket in price then drop back down. This is a good alternative to $200 a week. And they are not telling people enough about their product to say hey try this it might help your wallet and your dog. I have seen someone write about primal or nature’s as well as lotus which is really really really expensive. If there is enough pressure on iams they will bring the food back. This is working and its not breaking my already busted pocket book. It really shouldn’t be about money but when you dont have money to spend like that it kind of is the best you can afford. Once supply runs out they dont make any more and I cant find anything that she will eat. I’m not saying I know better than a vet. I am not buy any means a vet however I tested it before I put her on it full time. Switched her from pedigree normal nutrition for a week then had her blood checked again. About a year ago they gave my dog 6 months. As long as she has a good quality of life I’m happy. I’m going to buy a few smaller bags to give myself time to research incase they dont change their mind but so far the ones that are the best make your dog sick. I have done tons of research both this time and last time when I found the iams so good. It really makes me angry that people are buying it but stores wont carry it.

    I found the perfect dog food Iams so good savory chicken (as well as their salmon and their beef have all the same % this is the beef but its the same as the chicken) The arrows show the two important values to a dog with liver problems

    Crude Protein, minimum 21.00% <—-
    Crude Fat, minimum 10.00%
    Crude Fiber, maximum 5.00%
    Moisture, maximum 10.00%
    Linoleic Acid, minimum 1.9%
    Calcium,minimum 0.65%
    Phosphorus, minimum 0.5% <—-
    Iron, minimum 225 mg/kg
    Zinc, minimum 160 mg/k
    Vitamin E, minimum 80 IU/kg

    #87452
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi, have you thought of cooking?? you have a very small dog so you can make a batch of food & freeze meal, with cooking you can feed what you want to feed…….Kibbles with grains & grain free kibbles both need a carb to bind the kibble & some grain free kibble have more starchy sugar carbs then the kibbles with grains, when a dog is sensitive to an ingredient they start to get that yeasty smell & start scratching…… I bath weekly in Malaseb medicated shampoo, it’s excellent & kills the bacteria on their skin & leaves them feeling so soft…
    Have a look at Dr Judy Morgan site http://www.drjudymorgan.com/articles/food-therapy/
    Dr Judy Morgan also sells supplements to balance the meals & has easy recipes on YouTube to follow…. I think it’s her husband that’s in some cooking videos….

    There’s also “Balance It”
    http://secure.balanceit.com/ Click on link then it will say “Click here Free Pet Recipes” & you fill out the quick questionnaire, all your pet health problems, if you tick too many health problems, it will say you need to make an appointment with one of their Nutritionists, but if you click a few health problems then recipes will come up to cook then you add the “Balance it” to balance the meals…..Fresh foods are best, I cook & I feed kibble… Kibble for breakfast-Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb & cooked meal for dinner…. I cook my meal sometimes & make Patches meal as well, we eat the same meal some nights, he eats lean pork mince or lean veal mince made into rissoles that I bake in the oven & boiled sweet potato, cabbage, broccoli, I freeze all this in meal sizes….
    I feed 1 cup meat/rissoles cut up mixed with 1/2 cup mashed veggies….feed low glycemic veggies, Patch doesn’t get many veggies cause they are high in fiber, Patch has IBD & needs a low fiber low, fat diet….

    #87318
    Shawna
    Member

    Kathleen C,

    There are two really good studies in the Journal of Nutrition showing higher protein foods work very well as weight loss diets for dogs. Unlike higher fiber foods they also were better at keeping muscle on the dog.

    Here’s the two papers if interested
    “High-Protein Low-Carbohydrate Diets Enhance Weight Loss in Dogs” http://jn.nutrition.org/content/134/8/2087S.full

    “Weight Loss in Obese Dogs: Evaluation of a High-Protein, Low-Carbohydrate Diet” http://jn.nutrition.org/content/132/6/1685S.full

    I had a Papillon come in (I foster) that was over 30 pounds. She now weighs 12 pounds and has eaten a very high protein (and therefore higher in fat) diet since coming in.

    #87287
    theBCnut
    Member

    It isn’t common for dogs to retain water unless they have kidney disease or congestive heart failure. However, I just learned from my diabetic brother that people retain about 4-5 pounds of water for each pound of glycogen stored, so maybe dogs do likewise.

    As far as Dr Tim’s, it is a good quality food. Any low fat food will have higher carbs. There is no way around that. Fiber is reported as carbs, so you may want to also be aware of fiber content in any food you look at.

    #87167

    In reply to: Soft stools

    crazy4cats
    Participant

    Hi harp31-
    I know the ingredients do not look very enticing in the prescription food and is more expensive than it should be. But, have you considered feeding it for a while to heal your puppies tummies? I have fed it to one of my cats and both dogs after they suffered health conditions. They are now all transitioned to non-Rx food and doing great. My dogs with tummy issues do well on kibble that is a little higher in fiber and mid range protein. They did great on Pure Vita Turkey and do fine on the Whole Earth Farms, Nutrisource, Victor and 4Health grain free brands. I also want to try the Fromm weight management kibble.

    So, anyway, I don’t think you have to be afraid of the Rx food to help your dog’s heal. I believe that it can serve a useful purpose in certain conditions. Best of luck to you. I dealt with yucky poop for a long time and I know it gets stressful!

    #87146
    Ingrid D
    Member

    Omg m so glad i googled this issue. You are describing my 10yr old schnauzer. It started 6 months ago, vet has no clue, only recomm lower fiber food. After reading all these suggestions, i will go bak and request xrays and may even try acupunture/chiropract? (I didnt know dogs get those). Thx everybody for the postings, soglad to know my lupita’s issue is not so weird after all.

    #87095

    In reply to: Soft stools

    anonymously
    Member

    The best thing that you can do for a dog that has a tendency to have impacted anal glands is to learn how to express them yourself. Check YouTube for how to videos.
    Have your vet tech/vet go over how often this needs to be done for your dog (once a week?)
    With the right diet, exercise and routine care, you may find the condition will clear up quite a bit and you may not have to express the anal glands as often…if at all after a while.
    Make sure he is drinking adequate water, maybe add a splash to his meals.

    Find a food that will give him firm stools, rather than mushy (less likely to get clogged in the anal glands).
    Also, some dogs have better stools on canned food, others do better on kibble. Buy small amounts of the recommended foods and see what works, sometimes it takes a week or two to see a difference.
    Plus, feed only once or twice a day, don’t leave food down.

    http://www.vetmedclinic.com/?p=290 excerpt below
    Prevention:
    Expression of the anal sacs every few weeks or months often will help prevent anal gland fluid from accumulating and becoming thickened again. High fiber diets have been shown to help prevent anal sac disease in at-risk dogs, especially those that are obese.

    #87089
    Scared D
    Member

    This is an older thread but Abady’s granular foods are the best ‘dry’ foods you can buy. 9/10 stores that carry these foods, the staff and owners of the store use them.

    They are incredibly simple foods and not really processed at all except for mixing.

    They just need to be mixed every so often and its best to keep them in a cool location.

    Very few stores carry the large boxes, they need to be ordered but in my area if you call on a Monday, the food is delivered by an Abady truck by Wednesday. The food is generally only a week old when you get it.

    You will notice in two weeks. Tiny stools, better coat and cleaner teeth. You will also notice how comfortable the dogs are eating the food and after they finish. The mass they eat is much less and the food is granular so it digests much more efficiently. There is no plant fiber in the food. The stools look like coyote of fox scat.

    It is also the only company that will work with your vet and actually review blood work if needed. There is a Vet on staff at the company. I highly recommend the Classic version. I haven’t done the calculation but I suspect the calories from carbs is 10-12%, and just white rice.

    • This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by Scared D.
    • This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by Scared D.
    • This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by Scared D.
    • This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by Scared D.
    #87061

    In reply to: Acid Reflux – help?

    Susan
    Participant

    Hi Andrea, I understand what you & your poor dog is going thru, my Patch has IBD (Stomach) + Helicobacter-Pylori, he gets BAD acid reflux to the point he was crying whinging wanting me to rub his stomach & pancreas area…Vet just says its his IBD his stomach there’s not much I can do except put him on Steroids (Prednisone) I finally gave in
    to vet after 1 yr saying NO to steroids & tried 5mg Prednisone & it made poor Patch vomit feel sick & diarrhea so vet said cut in 1/2 gave 2.5mg, for 2 days then I would stop for 2 days it seem to stop his stomach pain but he still felt nauseous & kept licking & licking mouth & front paws…..

    Have you ever had an Endoscope + Biopsies done?? to see if he has the Helicobacter infection?? ask vet PLEASE do biopsies for the Helicobacter as soon as they take the triple therapy meds it kills the Helicobacter that’s living in their stomach wall their acid reflux goes away…. Then the Helicobacter comes back aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhHHHHH
    I’m learning so much thru poor Patch & so are Patches vets, we are finding once we kill the Helicobacter then diet is the answer so it doesn’t come back again, a diet low in carbs, low fiber & Gluten free & no beet pulp in the kibble…
    I tried a raw diet thru a Naturopath but Patch was regurgitating the raw, water kept coming back up into his mouth when he burped, then Patch would get his acid efflux, I think the digestive enzymes digested the raw meat to quick….

    Stop feeding the Hills vet diet I/d, Patch was put on the I/d Low Fat Restore & it made his acid reflux worse…. all vet diets are high in carbs, grains, by product meats, beet pulp, fermentable carbs that feed the bacteria in the gut & are responsible for gut inflammation, gas, bloating etc.. certain foods are no good for Acid Reflux, Helicobacter, Gerds, IBD, Dysbiosis, SIBO & IBS….

    As we get older we make less & less Hydrocloric Acid in the stomach, (google Hyprochlorhydria) chances are your dog has the Helicobacter..Patch is a grinder he starts grinding his teeth when he has his acid, He was taking Losec 10mg morning & 10mg at night 12 hours apart doesn’t really matter before food after food….
    Zantac needs to be taken 40mins before food….there’s a stronger Pump Proton Inhibitor that works quicker called Lansprazole (Prevacid) but I don’t know if dogs can take it I’d say they can cause they can take Losec & Somac also maybe ask vet can you change to Somac(Pantoprazole) Somac is more for Oesophagus & Barrett’s Esophagus so maybe the Somac may work better I’ve tried both Losec & Somac with Patch & the Somac stopped his burping
    & reflux more then the Losec..I was given 20mg Somac daily for 2 weeks..but he starts to get a fermenting smell coming from his mouth when Patch is on a PPI’s Somac& Losec for more the 1-2 weeks so I start reducing over 3 days then stop I’ve never had Patch on a PPI for more then 2 weeks..
    DO NOT just STOP giving a PPI, once he’s been on a Pump Proton Inhibitor (PPI) for more then 21-28days, you need too slowly reduce the dose, that’s what I’m doing at the moment, I’ve been on Somac for 13yrs, 80mg a day, Patches stomach vet that did Patches
    Endoscope & Biopsies told me PPI are no good & wouldn’t put Patch on any PPI, I was allowed to give Patch either the Somac or the Losec for just 4-5 days. when he has bad acid reflux or when he takes the Triple Therapy meds for helicobacter then he’s on a PPI for about 2 weeks…then I have to stop & only give Liquid Mylanta…The liquid Mylants seems to work the best instantly he has relief…You can give the Losec & the liquid Mylanta I was with Patch…Patches other vet wrote me out a script for Losec & said just give it to him, but I do what the Gastro vet wants never give him Losec or Somac for more then 2 weeks..

    After a few diet changes Patch acid reflux went away I was in SHOCK 2 yrs of acid reflux
    on & off…
    I had just given Patch the Triple Therapy, Metronidazole, Amoxicillin, Losec then I started feeding Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream & now I feed the TOTW Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb for breakfast & lunch & a cooked meal chicken breast & Sweet Potato for diner, I put the cooked Chicken breast pieces & sweet potatoes thru the blender I digest the food as much as I can.. Why the TOTW kibble worked & stopped his acid reflux was there are no NO GRAINS cause the fat is 15% I was told keep Patch on a low fat diet 8-10% fat but with any kibbles when the fat is real low the carbs are real high if you can start cooking lean white meats like Fish, turkey, Chicken etc the protein is lean & not to rich.. I bought Canidae Pure Land Bison about 1 month ago the fat % was the same as TOTW Roasted Lamb 15% but the protein & the Kcals Per cup were higher then the TOTW Roasted Lamb Patch got his real bad acid reflux back again so I’m learning kibbles Kcals per cup have to be lower the 360Kcal per cup & the protein has to be around 27%max protein..
    I have found kibble is the worse to feed I’ll feed Patch his cooked meals all day then the next day I’ll feed the kibble & he will get acid reflux some of the days I feed his kibble also soaking kibble in water made Patch acid reflux worse vet told me to stop soaking his kibble in water & the acid reflux stopped..
    I’ve tried Live Probiotics & Digestive Enzymes there’s 2 types of enzymes the probiotics made Patch feel sick & the Digestive Enzymes made him feel sick as well he was eating grass like a cow when I added the digestive enzyme capsule to his meal….
    Dogs with EPI have their food soaked in different Enzymes so make sure you look into the difference in enzymes….

    #86975
    Elinor M
    Member

    Only need to give Coconut oil (about 1/2-1 tsp per feeding) and maybe the addition of fiber (oat bran, about 1 tsp per feeding). No need to brush teeth if giving raw chicken wings (cut in half depending on size of dog). I raw feed and mix with kibble (3/4 cup kibble and remainder raw ground meat or ground turkey and also oftentimes add some sardines [omegas], mashed unadulterated sweet potatoes [about 1 lg soup spoon] and plain low fat yogurt [Fage brand is the best there is] and sometimes blueberries [about 1/2 cup per feeding once/wk] and sometimes 1/2 banana cut into chunks, other times steamed green beans, or steamed frozen peas, they like carrots too but must be cooked to soft stage, sometimes steamed cauliflower or chopped spinach and try to remember to top whatever I fix with Cilantro [detox]. My dogs are 6 mo old, eat 3 meals per day (until they’re 1 yr old). Sometimes I only give them couple chicken wings for mid-day meal and they seem to do real well. I also add to their meals twice/day Transfer Factor Canine Formula for all the nutrients I’m not able to provide by raw/kibble feeding. It’s expensive but lasts a really really long time between my 2 dogs which are: A Red Haired Golden Retriever and a German Shorthaired Pointer who are both very very active and healthy and have soft coats and clear eyes and very very white teeth (from the bones which contain calcium). Sometimes I also put a raw egg into their food which they love (using only some of the egg shell for the calcium which I sort of hand pulverize). Golden Retriever has been spayed and recovered completely in 2 days. German Shorthair Pointer will be spayed tomorrow 6/6/16 so am believing she’ll recover as quickly. In closing, if anyone’s dog gets diarrhea, give the dog 1 T Organic Canned Pumpkin or the supplement called Slippery Elm (1 cap for med size dog and 1/2 cap for smaller size [1 cap = 1/2 tsp….dump it out of capsule onto a largish piece of cheese and roll the whole thing up and feed that to the dog), Also might mention I fix all my own dog treats which is easy to do and they simply love them.

    Bobby dog
    Member

    Hi Amy K:
    If you are happy with your dry food I would continue to feed it. I would only suggest trying out a few brands to find other choices she does well on in case of a recall, formula changes, or distribution issues; you never know when you may need a back-up. I would also stick with similar protein, fat, and fiber percentages when trying a new kibble.

    I feed a variety of canned foods in various price ranges. My budget friendly choices are Pure Balance stews or gravy tubs (Wal-Mart), Variety stews, Beyond grain free stews, Pro Plan Naturals, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul, Triumph turkey or puppy recipes, BJ’s price club brand, and Tractor Supply stews or Sr. pate’. Costco also has a budget friendly canned, Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain. You have to buy a case which is under $20. If you don’t have a Costco membership Jet.com sells it for a little more, but still a great deal.

    Other brands my dog does well on are Wellness Core, Red Barn Stews, Tiki Dog, Weruva, Eagle Pack, Fromm shredded recipes, Halo, Life’s Abundance, Holistic Select, Nature’s Recipe, Nutrisource, and Precise. I order Life’s Abundance directly from their website.

    Good luck finding a new food!

    #86612
    theBCnut
    Member

    Decomposition is a bacterial issue. The toxins that are produced are produced by bacteria.

    I’ve been combining raw and kibble for years on multiple dogs and never had an issue in any way. My dog with gut issues definitely digests kibble better along with raw. Personally, I think the admonition to not mix the two is an old wives tail based on anecdotal “evidence.” Raw fed dogs would have gigantic stools too, if people fed like amounts of grains, veggies, etc. My dogs have very small stools since they aren’t fed the foods that have tons of fiber and other filler ingredients. Well, except for my JRT, who actually gets fiber added to her food, but that’s another story.

    #86583

    In reply to: Low Sodium Dog Food

    Susan
    Participant

    Hi,
    One thing about senior foods some are higher in fiber & lower in fat, as a dog gets older they aren’t as active, cause your dog is young will that be OK?? make sure you read the Guaranteed Analysis & make sure fat is 10% & higher & fiber is around 4%…. Holistic Select Chicken Meal Senior looks pretty good & I seen salt under Sodium Selenite in the ingredients but pass half way, so does that mean there’s less?? also salt will be in some of the ingredients, so your best to find a few kibbles you like even normal adult kibbles & email companies for the Sodium %…..
    http://holisticselect.com.au/senior-dry-dog-food-chicken-meal-and-rice
    Canidae Pure Formulas are also very good so email Canidae & ask for the Sodium % in a few Pure Formulas….
    http://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products

    #86411
    Catherine G
    Member

    I did use Blue Buffalo for some time, I have several small puppy mill survivors. I read that potatoes are of no use to a dogs diet and to look for foods that did not have potatoes, tapioca, beets or pea fiber, too many carbs, a dog does not need carbs.
    I switched to Dogswell Live free.

    #86288

    In reply to: Abady Granular

    Scared D
    Member

    How can that be BC Nut? The rating are taken from public sources???

    I will rate then, “5 Stars and Enthusiastically Recommended”. Abady for Maintenance & Stress gets 94% of its GA protein from animal sources and is low in carbohydrates at 20%. One source of carbohydrates and one source of plant ingredient, simple white rice. Several ingredients organic and human grade. This food is a granular product and not subject to high temperature extrusion and high temperature drying. The granular nature makes it much more digestible than kibbled foods. It has no expandable fiber forcing the dog or cat to drink incessantly after eating. It comes in a plain brown box without silly pictures and claims and the foods are void of misleading names.

    • This reply was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by Scared D.
    • This reply was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by Scared D.
    • This reply was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by Scared D.
    #86286
    theBCnut
    Member

    I do like to feed some carbs, mostly foods with good levels of antioxidants or super green foods for their micronutrients. I try to feed no more than 20% of the diet as carbs. I like protein to be around twice the % of the fat, but am OK with a 3/2 ratio.

    I do have one dog that gets a higher carb %, but that’s because she needs more fiber, so it’s indigestible carbs.

    #86254
    crazy4cats
    Participant

    Here is an article written by a vet that was included in my Petcurean newsletter:

    CATS | DOGS | HEALTH & NUTRITION | APRIL 8, 2016
    The Great Grain Debate: Should pet foods avoid grains?
    Dr. Jennifer Adolphe
    BY: DR. JENNIFER ADOLPHE
    Dog in the woods
    Grain-free diets are becoming much more commonplace in the pet food aisle. There are a number of reasons for this growing trend, such as the belief that grains are harmful for pets or that grain-free diets are more appropriate for dogs and cats from an evolutionary perspective.

    Also, gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley and rye — has been touted as a substance to be feared in many popular human nutrition diets, and pet and human nutrition trends usually go hand-in-hand. With so many grain and grain-free options available, what do you need to know about the great grain debate?

    Grains are an important source of complex carbohydrates, which have three or more sugar molecules joined together so they are more slowly digested than simple sugars that only have one or two molecules. Although carbohydrates are not considered essential nutrients in the diets of dogs and cats, and are often considered “fillers,” they do play a critical role in your pet’s body.

    In particular, carbohydrates provide a highly digestible, readily available energy source. Foods rich in complex carbohydrates are also an important source of essential nutrients. The shape, texture and density of kibble depends on the carbohydrate (starch) content of the food. This is important, as mouth feel and the structure of the kibble help to determine palatability.

    Recent genetic research suggests that one of the important steps in the domestication of dogs was their adaptation to a diet high in carbohydrates relative to the diet of carnivorous wolves. Carbohydrates are often considered to be detrimental to cats, but research suggests that moderate amounts may actually be beneficial in promoting insulin sensitivity.

    Some of the grains commonly found in pet foods include barley, corn, rice, oats and wheat. Whole grains include all parts of the grain, while refined grains have the nutrient-rich germ and bran layers removed.

    Whole grains promote digestive health since they are not only an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, but are also rich in fiber. Dietary fiber is a unique type of carbohydrate that cannot be digested by your pet’s digestive enzymes, but nonetheless provides many benefits.

    For example, oats and barley contain a special type of fiber called beta-glucan, which has been shown in numerous human studies to fight heart disease and diabetes. Beta-glucan may also be beneficial in pet foods to control blood glucose and prevent obesity.

    Grain-free does not mean carbohydrate-free, as complex carbohydrates can be sourced from nongrain ingredients such as peas, lentils, chickpeas, tapioca, potatoes and sweet potatoes. Some pets may have allergies to one or more specific grains, but it might not be necessary to eliminate all grains.

    Gluten-free diets are necessary for humans diagnosed with celiac disease or nonceliac gluten sensitivity, but this is not a common problem in pets and most tolerate gluten without any difficulty. The exception is some Irish Setters with inherited gluten sensitivity.

    Many grain-free pet foods are higher in protein than conventional diets and, while extra protein is typically not a problem for most healthy pets, it can be problematic in certain medical conditions such as kidney disease. Since all foods contain a balance of carbohydrates, fat and protein, decreasing the amount of carbohydrate in a food will increase the fat and/or protein content.

    What are some of the benefits of grain-free carbohydrate sources? Peas are an excellent source of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and provide most of the essential amino acids required by dogs and cats. Peas also provide an added environmental benefit in that they are used as a tool in sustainable agriculture to add nitrogen back into the soil.

    Tapioca does not contain protein, so it is not considered a potential allergen or source of food sensitivity. This is especially important in limited ingredient diets that are designed for food hypersensitive pets.

    Potatoes are a rich source of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C and potassium. Sweet potatoes are a major source of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which act as antioxidants, as well as manganese and potassium.

    One of the primary benefits of grain-free diets is the increased variety of new and unique pet food recipes available. This allows pet parents to choose a diet with or without grains that works best for their dog or cat.

    This article originally appeared on Multibriefs.com

    Hope this article helps!

    #86174

    In reply to: Puppy with giardia?

    crazy4cats
    Participant

    Hi Mary A-
    I also had a tough time getting rid of my dogs’ Giardia infections. It is really frustrating. Sometimes the antigens from the parasite stay in the dog’s system for a while. You may want to wait a few more weeks before doing another fecal test. It may finally be gone.

    Normally, I try to listen to a traditional vet. But, unfortunately, when it comes to Giardia, I also came to this site and got some great holistic advice to finally rid of it. I’m at work right now, and my notebook is at home with all the different remedies that I tried.

    A couple of things that I do remember using though is using a medicinal dosage of probiotics that contain a high percentage of enterococcus faecium: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19298607

    I’ve also had read that added fiber is good. So, I added shredded carrots to their meals. In addition, I added fresh cut garlic cloves for its antibacterial properties. Make sure to let it sit for about 10 minutes before you feed it as the allicin needs to release before it is beneficial. http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/garlic-friend-or-foe/

    I also used the Kochi Free tincture, DE added to their food, some fermented veggies. and digestive enzymes on an empty stomach!!! LOL Here is Little Big Cat’s giardia protocol: http://www.littlebigcat.com/health/giardia-natural-treatment-protocol/

    I didn’t add them all at once, thank goodness. Poor dogs!!! But, it finally did go away and I’ve been using Panacur still every six to 12 months because I’m so scared it may come back.

    Here is Great Dane lady’s recommendations for Giardia: http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/giardia_protozoa_diarrhea_vomiting_weight-loss..htm

    You do need to get rid of it as soon as possible due to it possibly causing some damage to your pup’s gut. Sounds like you are trying to do just that. Use hot bleach water to dump on the spots where he poops too. Best of luck to you! I’ll write back if I can think of anything else.

    #86016
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi Sydney. your best sticking with limited ingredient kibbles, that way you have less ingredients that he can be sensitive or intolerant too & start reacting with skin problems…. Have a look “Taste Of The Wild” Grain Free formulas like the Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon, my boy does well on the Taste Of The Wild Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb, I try & stay around 40% & under for carbs, you add the Protein % + the Fat % + the Fiber % + the Moisture % & + the Ash % if there’s no ash % on bag or their internet site then just add 8% for the ash, now take the results away from 100 & you’ll have a the carb %….also rotate when you find a few kibbles brands he does well on, rotate them, you can do it monthly every time you have to buy a new bag of kibble….
    My boy starts to smell real yeasty when the carb % is over 45% in carbs & when he eats barley, corn, maize, gluten meal, beet pulp & sometimes oats, depends where on the ingredient list the oats are, he starts to smell scratch & itch, it will depend on your dog, what he’s sensitive too, even the grain free kibbles can be very high in starchy carbs as well, have a look at Canidae Pure kibbles, they’re grain free, there’s Pure Wild, Pure Land, Pure Sea, Pure Sky, the Canidae Pure formulas were a bit too rich for my Staffy, he has IBD & got acid reflux when he ate the Pure Land, probably the Bison was too rich for him or the chickpeas…a lot of dogs do really well on fish kibbles that have skin problems, the Canidae has their Pure Sea… Canidae Pure Formulas are very dense, high in Kcals, you don’t need to feed as much kibble…. Canidae also have their Life Stages Formulas, have a look at the Duck Meal Brown Rice & Lentils Formula for large Breeds….. Patch just tried the Life Stages, All Life Stages Formula, it has Chicken meal, Turkey Meal, Lamb Meal as the first 3 ingredients then Ocean fish meal is further down the ingredient list & its around 39% in Carbs, or try another kibble that has a few different ingredients to the kibble he’s eating now, try & make sure there’s about 2 to 4 proteins as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th ingredients maybe try a grainfree kibble you’ve tried a kibble with grains also fresh foods are excellent give a few small sardines, the tin sardines in spring water as a treat or add to his kibble, at dinner time if you’ve cooked too much & have some left over veggies & meat make him a meal as well, I prefer fresh foods then feeding kibble, kibble is quick & easy for us…I try & feed 1 meal kibble breakfast & dinner a cooked meal, I cook then freeze meals…. here’s the Canidae page http://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products/ the new Pure Wild looks good, I’m waiting to try it, I live Australia & we haven’t got the new Canidae formulas yet 🙁 I love Pit Bulls being pure white, I hope he doesn’t get skin allergies as he gets older, my vet said he see’s more white, pink skin dogs with skin problems then dogs that are black or brown with dark skin, also are you washing him weekly in the Malaseb medicated shampoo?? bath in a antibacterial shampoo to kill the bacteria & yeast…I have a English Staffy he has skin problems only where he’s has white fur the brindle areas are fine & stomach problems…. I hope you have better luck with your boy, so make sure he’s eating a good diet & use sun screen on face head etc & give him a nice raw meaty turkey leg once a week for breakfast also in Australia we give Staffys whole coconuts to play with, you peel the husk off the coconut a bit can cause sloppy poos, then the coconut keeps them busy trying to open the coconut & drink the milk, keep 1/2 the coconut for another day, may cause soft poos depends on your dog..

    #85947

    In reply to: Thoughts on Vegan dogs

    Shawna
    Member

    laconrad,

    I spent an hour creating a post last night only to have it disappear. I’m guessing it was all the links include so in this post I’m only going to include a few links but I most certainly can provide them if wanted.

    I definitely agree that dogs shouldn’t eat nothing but meat, or even meat and bone exclusively but it is an absolute fact that they have no physiological requirement for carbohydrates. Waltham is a reliable source of info on this —
    “Cats and dogs can sythesise their own blood glucose from amino acids.
    Carbohydrate, therefore is not an essential macronutrient. However,
    if provided in their diet, cats and dogs can utilise carbohydrates and
    they are used in pet foods as sources of energy and dietary fibre.
    Carbohydrate levels tend to be higher in dry pet food than in wet
    pet food.” https://www.waltham.com/dyn/_assets/_pdfs/waltham-booklets/Essentialcatanddognutritionbookletelectronicversion.pdf

    In fact, the AAFCO (as of 2008 at least) doesn’t have any requirement for carbohydrates in the canine diet. There’s a minimum for fat and a minimum for protein but no required carbs. Many complete and balanced canned foods have no added carbs at all.

    For the record, I do think certain vegetables and fruits are beneficial in the canine diet but protein and fat should not be displaced with any carbs. I personally have no use for most grains but I do utilize foods with millet or quinoa sometimes (to mix things up).

    Dogs have been eating kibble for less than 200 years. Evolution doesn’t happen in 200 years. Yes, I would agree that my dogs ancestors probably got some carbs as table scraps however carbs in kibble is not the same as carbs in fresh, albeit possibly cooked, carbs. From my understanding grains weren’t processed in the manner we process them today either. Not to mention GMOs, glyphosate / etc and hybridization to increase the protein content wan’t a thing back then.

    Ammonia is not toxic unless the liver is damaged and I’ve never read any research (even in humans) suggesting excess protein caused cirrhosis. Yes in cases where the liver is excessively damaged, or a shunt, limiting protein and feeding certain kinds, like dairy, helps alleviate ammonia from building up but it doesn’t damage the liver. I would agree that 78% of the amino acids in certain meat proteins is all that is used but the bioavailability of commonly used plant proteins aren’t any better and often worse.

    Excess fiber in the diet can actually bind up minerals and prevent their absorption. Grains and legumes have anti-nutrients like phytates and enzyme inhibitors as well as lectin proteins which in susceptible persons and pets can lead to illness including some pretty nasty disease (even autoimmune disease). Although possibly not “nasty” I recently read research suggesting gluten as a cause for “Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome” in Border Terriers. In humans these lectin proteins from certain carbohydrates is also considered a factor in IgA nephropathy (a form of kidney disease) as well as type 1 diabetes (the kind dogs get).

    Protein absolutely does not “cause” damage to the kidneys and some reports suggest dogs with kidney disease actually have an increased need for protein. They now know that “senior” dogs actually have an increased need as well – “as much as 50% more protein” and minimums for seniors is suggested at 25% — “minimum”. My favorite source of info on protein as a cause / contributing factor to kidney disease is “Mythology of Protein Restriction for Dogs with Reduced Renal Function” http://www.championpetfoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Myths_of_High_Protein.pdf

    There are two papers published in the Journal of Nutrition suggesting that overweight dogs, even “obese” dogs, lose just as much weight (albeit slightly slower) on a high protein diet, 56% protein, as those fed higher fiber diets without the “muscle wasting” that is often seen in lower protein fed dogs. The body will break down muscle when it’s amino acid requirements aren’t being met through diet.

    #85943

    In reply to: Thoughts on Vegan dogs

    Shawna
    Member

    laconrad,

    Although I do feel small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables are quite healthy for dogs, carbohydrates aren’t a necessary requirement – even in the modern dog. Yes, when properly processed, they can utilize them but they still aren’t a necessary macronutrient. Waltham is a reliable source of information on this – they state “Cats and dogs can sythesise their own blood glucose from amino acids. Carbohydrate, therefore is not an essential macronutrient. However, if provided in their diet, cats and dogs can utilise carbohydrates and they are used in pet foods as sources of energy and dietary fibre.
    Carbohydrate levels tend to be higher in dry pet food than in wet pet food.” https://www.waltham.com/dyn/_assets/_pdfs/waltham-booklets/Essentialcatanddognutritionbookletelectronicversion.pdf

    In fact, carbohydrates aren’t even required in complete and balanced foods. There is a minimum protein requirement, a minimum fat requirement but no minimum on carbs. AAFCO guidelines as of 2008 http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1659&aid=662

    They now know that the MINIMUM protein requirement for senior dogs is actually 25%. ” Protein requirements actually increase by about 50% in older dogs, while their energy requirements tend to decrease. When insufficient protein is provided, it can aggravate the age-associated loss of lean body mass and may contribute to earlier mortality. Older dogs should receive at least 25% of their calories from protein, typically provided by diets containing at least 7 g protein/100 Kcal ME.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18656844

    It’s also a myth that higher protein amounts have a negative impact on a dog’s kidneys. In fact, dogs WITH kidney disease can safely eat a higher protein diet as long as phosphorus is watched. Here’s my favorite source of info on this “Mythology of Protein Restriction for Dogs with Reduced Renal Function” http://www.championpetfoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Myths_of_High_Protein.pdf

    The bioavailability of the protein is every bit as important as the overall amount. The more bioavailable the protein the less blood urea nitrogen is created. So the better the quality of the protein the more that can be fed. An ounce of protein from beef, as an example, will be better utilized, leaving less waste, than an ounce of soy protein. Additionally raw protein will be better utilized then it’s cooked counterpart due to amino acid loss lowering bioavailability.

    I have never read any literature suggesting protein as a cause of cirrhosis however I would agree that lowering protein would be advised if the liver is already severely damaged. NOT because the protein is further “damaging” the liver however the ammonia not being converted is quite toxic. Even in this article relating to humans they don’t suggest excess dietary protein as a cause https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000302.htm

    Excess fiber in the diet has been shown to act as an anti-nutrient. I just this week read a research paper on this but I bookmarked it at work and don’t have access right now.

    You’ve mentioned the liver and kidneys several times so I thought I’d add a little more research on the kidneys. “Long-term renal responses to high dietary protein in dogs with 75% nephrectomy. These results do not support the hypothesis that high protein feeding had a significant adverse effect on either renal function of morphology in dogs with 75% nephrectomy.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3702209

    Purina Veterinary Diets
    “A University of Minnesota study revealed renal aging does not occur in geriatric dogs, at least to the extent that it has been reported in people. When fed a diet of 39% protein and 15% fat (dry matter basis), geriatric dogs maintained relatively stable glomerular filtration rates and had no greater incidence of glomerulosclerosis than those dogs in the protein-restricted (19% dry matter basis) diet group. These and other studies indicate no need for restricted dietary protein, fat, sodium or phosphorus to help minimize renal disease progression in healthy geriatric dogs. Still other studies have shown high dietary protein alone will not cause the development of kidney disease. In addition, research has shown that older dogs may actually require more protein than younger adult dogs, just to maintain normal protein turnover, and to support lean body mass and normal immunocompetence.

    Obesity has been associated with arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, neoplasia and decreased survival. Therefore, efforts to maintain ideal body weight and body condition are far more important and appropriate than protein or phosphorus reduction for maintaining health in geriatric dogs.” https://www.purinaveterinarydiets.com/research/senior-dogs-do-old-kidneys-need-new-diets/

    Interestingly, at least two papers published in the Journal of Nutrition have shown higher protein diets to be beneficial for weight loss in dogs.

    “High-Protein Low-Carbohydrate Diets Enhance Weight Loss in Dogs” http://jn.nutrition.org/content/134/8/2087S.full

    “Weight Loss in Obese Dogs: Evaluation of a High-Protein, Low-Carbohydrate Diet” http://jn.nutrition.org/content/132/6/1685S.full

    #85896
    Pitlove
    Member

    Hi Heather-

    How did you determine Wellness TruFood Puppy was safe for a large breed puppy? Have you looked at WellnessCORE Puppy? It is grain free and already determined safe for large breed puppies. I would certainly not follow the advice above to NOT read labels. That is silly. However, you do need to call the company and ask follow up questions to determine if a food meets the needs of your dog.

    Here is a recommendation to a pet parent from Dr. Rebecca Remilliard DVM, ACVN for how to select a large breed puppy formula: “Having said that, most nutritionists would agree that about 1-1.5% calcium is not harmful and safe. Secondly you want to feed a lower fat or lowest kcal/cup ….. to help control the growth rate now and prevent obesity later. I would suggest you select the food with the lower kcal/cup (350-375 kcal/cup), lower fat and higher fiber, if the calcium is about the same on both products.”

    #85838
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi, my boy has IBD & Wellness made his poos worse Wellness is very pea heavy & barley heavy…. Stay on the Purina vet diet for now if its helping & making the diarrhea stop, was she put on Metronidazole (Flagyl) ?? My Patch also a rescue dog that I ended up keeping,
    had to stay on a vet diet for 1yr to let the bowel heal & get better, but at 9months I started trying new foods, I could always fall back on the vet diet when the new kibble didn’t work, have you tried cooked meals?? like Chicken & sweet potatoes or potatoes?? lean cooked meals normally firms up poos, I feed cooked chicken breast, sweet potato, broccoli, zucchini for dinner & a kibble for breakfast now but it has taken Patch 2 yrs for me to work out what foods he’s sensitive too….I got him at the age of 4 yrs old & who ever owned him just feed cheap super market kibble vet thinks he was sensitive too the kibble & they didn’t care about his diarrhea & kept feeding whatever was causing his diarrhea which has now cause his IBD so try not to let the diarrhea go on & on, when you start introducing a new food start using new food as a treat watch poo if poos seem the same after 2-3 days then start adding new kibble to vet diet….
    these are the kibbles that didn’t give Patch diarrhea, Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon, Taste Of The Wild Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb,
    Canidae has their Pure limited ingredient grain free formulas & their Life Stages Formulas stay around the same fat % protein % & fiber % as the vet diet if you can, you can go up a few % but don’t jump from 20% protein to 30% protein same with fat % if fat says 12% don’t get a kibble with 18-20% fat etc & look for limited ingredient kibbles less ingredients are better so there’s less ingredients for her to be sensitive to, I wonder as she gets older will she get itchy & have the skin allergies aswell :
    I hate vet diets BUT they seem to work & help them get better when nothing else worked,
    even though she on a vet diet you can replace 1 meal with a bland cooked meal then what I did was I seen Patch can eat chicken, salmon & sweet potato & Potato then I looked for a kibble that had fish & sweet potato or chicken & potato…
    Patch cant eat boiled rice it irritates his bowel & gives him diarrhea… have a look at California Natural Lamb & Rice it has just 4 ingredients & a few dogs with IBD do really well on the California Natural kibbles…also Honest Kitchen Zeal you just add water you can buy samples but still feed 1 meal the RX Purina Vet diet…
    add things to diet slowly & only do 1 thing at a time so if you give a piece of chicken as a treat don’t give any other foods kibbles etc that day so you will know what caused the sloppy poo if it happens…
    http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products

    #85786

    In reply to: Help us!!!!!

    Susan
    Participant

    Hi, change vets & see a vet that’s knows about IBD SIBO EPI etc has she been tested for SIBO? have a look at the fat % & fiber % in the food she is doing well on…. ring Royal Canine & find out what % is the Soluble fiber, Insoluble Fiber & Crude fiber % in the wet tin food, did you try the matching kibble to the wet tin food she’s doing good on?? …. Have you tried limited ingredient kibbles & cooked meals? Have you tried boiled chicken breast, not boil till chicken pieces are like leather, get 1 chicken breast & cut up into small bit size pieces & just before it boils the pieces are normally cooked, take off stove drain water, boil the jug & rinse the chicken pieces with boiled water, the fat & white froth comes off then I put chicken pieces in cold water to stop the cooking process, also boil 1 potato & 1 sweet potato… same cut into bit size pieces… I freeze the Sweet Potato pieces in meal sections, same with the chicken pieces, I freeze in 1/2 cup sections & 1 cup sections…You cant freeze the potato it goes yuk I have found so I cook enough boiled potato for 2-3 days & keep in the fridge, I add 1 cup chicken pieces, a couple pieces of potato & a couple of pieces of sweet potato about 1/4 cup each to 1 cup chicken, put the chicken & potato & sweet potato in the blender & blend for a few seconds, stop when everything is all blended, put 1/2 in the fridge & warm the other 1/2 in micro wave if you have taken out of fridge for about 10-15 sec make sure it isn’t hot, now add 1/2 a can of her wet tin food she does well on & see when you add the chicken pieces, sweet potato & potato if she still does firm poos….maybe start with just the potato first no sweet potato just in case later if poos are firm then try adding some sweet potato… every thing you do has to be limited ingredients & only 1 thing at a time or you wont know what is causing the diarrhea…

    My dog gets real sloppy yellow poos from the vet diet Royal Canine Low Fat Intestinal cause it has Maize & boiled rice in it, boiled rice can irritate the bowel causing diarrhea…
    Have you tried “California Natural” Lamb Meal & Brown Rice?? it has just 4 ingredients but cause you have a puppy you should have your dog on a puppy large breed Lamb & Rice kibble…. here’s the California Natural web site… a few dogs with IBD do really well on the limited ingredient California Natural, I’m pretty sure its money back guaranteed if it doesn’t agree with your dog….

    I really think you should be seeing a specialist that deals in IBD in dogs, she may need to be put on Tylan Powder or Metronidazole or a steroid…. Tylan Powder is excellent & firms poos over night but you need to put the Tylan Powder in empty capsule cause its very bitter & dogs can stop eating cause of the taste it leave a metal taste in their mouth, it’s online how to get a shoe box & put small holes in the top of the empty shoe box, so you can put the Tylan Powder into the empty capsules, you add about 1/8th -1/4 teaspoon into capsule & must be given with a meal once a day if once a day doesn’t firm poo, then give twice a day breakfast meal & dinner meal but I only gave at Dinner meal..

    When you try any kibbles or wet tin foods make sure they have limited ingredients…. just 1 protein & 1 carb, another kibble & wet tin food brand you can try is “Natural Balance” Dick Van Patten limited ingredient but look thru all the formulas as some have peas only pick a formula that just has Potato & 1 single protein, that’s why the California Natural Lamb & Rice is the best it has no peas its just Lamb & grounded brown & white rice, feed for breakfast 1/2 cup kibble then wait 5-10mins & then feed 1/2 can of the Royal Canine that she can eat, what ever you try always add her wet tin food but I don’t like feeding wet tin or cooked with dry kibble together, my boy gets pain when I’ve added the wet tin & a kibble dry 2 together your girl might be Ok…. For breakfast I feed cooked chicken sweet potato, then I feed the 1/2 cup kibble for lunch, so you’d feed her wet tin for breakfast, then lunch try just 1/2 cup limited ingredient kibble for lunch, then for dinner her wet tin food do not give anything else that day, no treats nothing, just her wet tin food & the new kibble or the cooked meal……That would cost a bit buying the vet diet wet tin foods being a pup, they eat a bit, that’s why if you can, its cheaper to cook & fresher…..do 1/2 wet tin food & 1/2 cooked chicken/sweet potato also if sweet potato give sloppy poo, then try just the boiled potato, if it does work you will need to balance the cooked meal, I use DigestaVite Plus powder
    http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products
    http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/

    #85566
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi sounds like food sensitivities/intolerances & environment allergies, have you looked at doing the Jean Dobbs salvia testing to get an idea what foods she may be sensitive too, I know people say these test are not 100% but it will give you an idea what foods she may be sensitive too there’s also salvia & hair testing that test for food, mites & tree/plants….. she may be sensitive to dust mites??? also my boy can not have a kibble that’s high fat, high fiber/carb diet, no fish or salmon oils they all cause acid reflux stomach problems…
    Can you start to cook for her or even if you feed a cooked meal that’s been pre cooked sectioned then frozen & you take out the night before & put in fridge for next day & feed a kibble for breakfast & cooked for dinner, also change the kibble, stop feeding kibbles with potatoes & specially when potatoes are first ingredient like the Natural Balance is, its too much starchy carbs…..a good kibble should have 2-4 proteins as 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th ingredients then a carb…..
    Some grain free kibbles can be very high in starchy carbs…. I have found Patch does best on a kibble that’s lamb chicken fish & Brown rice or a Fish Kibble with sweet potatoes but the fat has to be 10-14% fat or he gets his acid reflux & it must not have fish oil or Salmon oil or he starts grinding his teeth with real bad acid reflux.
    He eats Earthborn Ocean Fusion, Taste Of The Wild Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb, Canidae Life Stages, all life stages formula, Canidae Grain free look at the Pure land, Pure Sky & Pure Wild they all have no potatoes & Carbs are 40% & under
    http://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products
    Have a look at the Honest Kitchen aswell
    http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/dog-food
    look at “Brave” & “Zeal” carbs are 35% or the base mixes you just add the protein….

    Baths are you doing weekly baths? I use the “Malaseb” medicated shampoo in Spring Summer, bath every 4-7 days, whenever Patchy is real itchy & has his red paws/toes, itchy bum, etc …… I also use Hydrocortisone 1% cream, every night when Patch is sleeping, I do the skin body check for any red toes, red paws, white fur thinning out above right eye etc & lightly apply some Hydrocortisone cream next morning itch & redness has all cleared up also I use the “Huggie Baby Wipes” Cucumber & Aloe, when we come home from a walk or he goes outside, I wipe Patch down, a new baby wipe per section of the body, these Cucumber & Aloe wipes are really good, sold in Supermarket baby section, I think you can get special wipes for environment allergies & hot spots as well, there’s a Face Book group called “Dog issues, allergies and other information support” group, one of the admins uses the special wipes & has started cooking & using “Balance It” to balance the diet……

    Normally when they have Food Sensitivities/Intolerances they will have stomach & bowel problems & itchy skin…….My Patch gets he has Seasonal Environment Allergies & Food Intolerances & Sensitivities to certain foods, I did an elimination diet, then started adding foods… there’s no point trying a vegan diet, the carbs would be thru the roof 50-70% carbs like the vet diets have & you want a low carb diet……dogs are made to eat meat, have you thought of trying a Raw diet?? Patch did real well on Raw diet his skin cleared up within 1 week BUT cause he has IBD he kept regurgitating water up into his mouth, I think it was the Digestive enzymes the Naturopath made me use cause of his IBD I was so worried he’ll get diarrhea from the raw diet, so we used digestive enzymes & I think they digested the raw to quick & Patch was burping up & water was coming up into mouth… I’m going to try the raw again next Summer…..
    I would honestly start again with the diet building up the immune system probiotice foods high in probiotics Kefir/yogurt etc & see if you see a change, if your on face Book Monica Segal has a group called “K9Kitchen” she has put up a easy recipe to make called “Omega 3 Boost” cookies, I’m going to make some for Patch, I really believe you need to boost their omega 3 & some kibbles are very high in omega 6 & very low in omega 3 then the dog starts having skin problems, stop the fish oils & try other things that are high in omega 3, olive oil, sardines in Spring water are good 1-2 a day this way its given thru foods… also what tin foods are you feeding? I was feeding tin foods at night as well & they were making Patch itch they had gelling agents in them something in the wet food made his paws go real red & he’d start licking his paws & get itchy, try replacing the wet tin foods with cooked meals… I’m feeding boil chicken breast, sweet potato not much only 1/4 to 1/3 cup & broccoli & 1 cup chicken, cook & add greens zucchini celery spinach etc… I feed more protein then carbs in the cooked meals…1 cup meat 1/2 cup veggies…

    crazy4cats
    Participant

    Hi stacy 4-
    I’m very familiar with soft mushy poop too! Lucky us. LOL! My dogs do better with a more moderate protein and higher fiber kibble. The one they do very best on is PureVita’s grain free turkey formula: http://purevitapetfoods.com/dog-recipes/grain-free/turkey-and-sweet-potato. I only buy it when I can find it on sale, however, due to it’s price.

    They also do well on Whole Earth Farms, Nutrisource, 4Health and Victor which all have a little higher than average fiber and are much more budget friendly.

    I also add toppers to some of their meals, which I think help as well such as tripe and frozen commercial raw.

    Here is a link to a website which was very helpful when my dogs were going through that stage: http://www.dogaware.com/health/digestive.html

    I used some of the supplements on that site, but am pretty much supplement free now, except for occasional probiotics.

    Best of luck to you and your furries!

    stacy r
    Member

    I have French Bulldogs and struggle with soft mushy poop. tired sooo many different dog foods, kinda gave up thinking that’s just them, but then was reading something about low protein, higher fat content and higher fiber is best for firm poo . I don’t give my frenchies any chicken or grain foods. Foods we’ve tried, Acana, taste of wild, earthborn holistics, lastest is natural balance. I am at my wits end. Looking for a quality kibble . anyone heard about the ratios of protein, fat and fiber? thanks stacy

    • This topic was modified 7 years, 11 months ago by Mike Sagman. Reason: Moderator has removed percent symbols from the title and replaced them with text to improve the ability to find this thread in a search
    #85293
    M F
    Member

    Hi Heather, My dog was diagnosed with Pancreatitis at only two years of age and she was put on Hills WD chicken and rice, that worked good for her for a number of years but then at age 13 she was diagnosed with IBD and she could no longer tolerate the Hills WD because at that time they had made a slight change to their formula, now let me say I am not a fan of Hills they really aren’t that highly rate. I cooked for her for close to a year trying to find food she could keep down, then I discovered Royal Canine Gastrointestinal Low Fat dry dog food Chicken and Rice formula and she did great on that and lived to be seventeen years old, I also found that giving her salt free soda crackers at night before bedtime broken up with a little water on them helped to avoid an upset tummy in the morning, she could also tolerate carrots for treats which I think helped give her extra fiber, of course what works for one dog doesn’t necessarily work for another, I wish you good luck, I thought perhaps you might also try some boiled boneless skinless chicken ground up in a grinder very small and then stir a tablespoon of that in with the try, maybe it will entice him to eat.

    #85285
    Greg F
    Participant

    We recently lost a 5 year battle with IBD. I think between the disease and long term meds this disease started throwing off the liver and possibly brought on lymphoma. Diseases with dogs like humans are often a mistery and what works for one doesn’t on another. When foods and meds aren’t working changes need to be made. We had the lymphocytes IBD and PLE. Most experts think this should be treated with a novel protein, very low fat and lower fiber. I came across (too late) an excellent vetinarian food by Rayne Clinical Nutrition out of Australia. They have a Low Fat Kangaroo dry and can food. The dry has 26% protein, 6% fat and low fiber. My dog liked the kibble and wasn’t eating the can. They say the can is less processed and probably better however is very expensive. The dry runs about $3.50/#.
    If you aren’t aware there is a 1000 member on Facebook called Dogs with Inflamitory Bowel Disorder. You have to go trough a wait period to get excepted into the group. There is a lot of input from owners. It is here where a person had his dog on the Rayne wet food for the past year with excellent results. He said “I think all IBD dogs should be on this food”.
    If wet is too expensive for you you can go dry or mix the two together.

    #85191
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi, Patch 7 yrs old suffers with IBD, Helicobacter-Pylori (bad Acid Reflux) & Pancreatitis sounds like the Pepcid isn’t working anymore or he doesn’t need it any more or what are you putting in the Kongs ?? its not Peanut Butter? or his kibble needs changing its making him feel sick …..IBD can make them feel sick especially after they eat…Patch wakes up feeling good he eats breakfast then from 9am to 12pm he doesn’t feel well some mornings. Grass seems to be the only thing that makes him feel better, I have stopped giving the ant acids now…. only use as needed..

    Try stopping the Pepcid for a couple of days & see if he feels better, Patch vomited when he took the Pepcid & was put on Zantac (Ranitidine) instead given 30mins before breakfast & dinner given every 12 hours, then after 3 months it didn’t seem to work anymore, he still had bad acid reflux & was still grinding his teeth & vomiting yellow acid some mornings but he was eating a vet diet that had fish oil & Beet Pulp in kibble that made his acid reflux worse…
    I now only give liquid Mylanta 4-5mls in a syringe kept in the fridge only when he needs it, the Mylanta seems to work the best…..
    I started to realise Patch wasn’t making enough stomach acid & some days he wasn’t getting acid reflux & I was still giving him ant acid medication, so stomach wasn’t working properly…. as we get older we make less hydrochloric acid it’s called “Hypochlorhydria”

    Vet didn’t want Patch on Losec (Omeprazole) cause its a Pump Proton Inhibitor (PPI) & you can not just stop taking a PPI Losec after you have taken it for more then 3 weeks but vet did say I can give Patch the Losec 10mg for 3-4 days then I stop but only when Patch has bad acid reflux…Zantac & Pepcid can be stopped at anytime…So be careful if vet puts him on a PPI…

    I have found I have to keep changing Patches kibbles & rotating them & no vet diets, if he stays on the same kibble for more then 2 months, his acid reflux starts to come back also I read when they have acid reflux they need a low fiber kibble 3-4% fiber & no Beet Pulp, Does the kibble he’s eating have “Beet Pulp” ?? it makes their poos look beautiful & firm, so everything looks OK cause poos are firm & look good, its the beet pulp making the poos firm…most vet diets use Beet Pulp….
    When the Kibble has beet Pulp it made Patches acid reflux bad again, I started doing so much research & read low fiber diets are best when they have Acid Reflux thru IBD & if you can start feeding a balanced cooked diet will be better then eating a kibble, feed lean meats boil some potatoes, sweet potato & green vegetables, Google Dr Judy Morgan she has easy to follow recipes on You-Tube & she uses the Honest Kitchen Base Mixes in some of her meals you just add the meat & the Base Mixes balances the meal, she also has supplements to balance the cooked meals also have a look at the Honest Kitchen Zeal its low in fat & excellent for dogs with Pancreatitis & IBD…you just add warm water..
    http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/dog-food/zeal
    I started feeding cooked chicken breast, sweet potato & broccoli & replacing 1 kibble meal, I’m feeding “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain now, I’m going to try Canidae Pure Land you cant have too much high fat in a kibble with acid reflux so I normally stay around 10-14% for fat but in Australia we have 1 low fat grain free kibble & the fiber is high 5%….I’m waiting cause Canidae has 4 new grain free formulas, Pure Meadows, is for seniors & is 10% fat & limited ingredients & grain free, if you live in America you can get the Canidae Pure Meadow.. I also want to try the Pure Wild its boar & Pork…
    I was feeding Patch Salmon & Sardine kibbles but I think the fish gives him his acid reflux also certain kibbles he starts getting his pain right side pancreas/stomach area & wants me to rub the chest area, he starts his whinging when he has his pain again & doesn’t really want to eat so I change his food, I have to introduce the new kibble over 1 week……I make sure the kibble doesn’t have fish oil & has limited ingredients…. I wish they could talk….. if you can cook & freeze meals give it a try cause kibble is hard to digest especially on the pancreas….

    #84972
    Pitlove
    Member

    Hi Allie-

    I see that most of your research has been browsing through the opinions of other pet parents with similar situations. The problem with that is exactly what you have come across…SO many different view points, so many different opinions. Makes it impossible to know what the best coarse of action is for YOUR dog.

    It sounds to me like this is a very invididualized case (since he is also eating other foreign objects that he shouldn’t be) that needs the attention of a trusted vet. They will be able to exam your dog and help you determine the cause. Until then, the more you change, the harder it will be to pin-point the cause.

    As for the food…Acana might have too much or the wrong kind of fiber for your dogs digestive system given that he is pooping 3-5 times a day. It sounds like this may not be the best food for your dog. However, I would make an appointment with the vet before changing foods and also ask about the frequent bowel movements to confirm.

    #84953
    crazy4cats
    Participant

    Oh boy, Mine also had giardia and unfortunately, it took months for their tummies to get better afterwards for some reason. I had a hard time getting rid of it though. I would think about using another round of Panacur for five days unless you are absolutely sure that he is rid of it. You mentioned using Flagyl (metronidazole) which is an antibiotic and can cause their tummies to be out of balance. Therefore, I’d definitely continue with probiotics. Forti Flora by Purina worked well for us. It isn’t one that I’d use for maintennce. But, good for when they have diarrhea.

    I used a lot of the supplements that are mentioned on the dogaware link that I provided above. Mostly Vetri Science Probiotic BD, Gastriplex as well as the Perfect Form I mentioned earlier. Some of them contain both probiotics and digestive enzymes, but also some healing ingredients as well. Only use one at a time until you see if it helps at all.

    I fed them as if they had colitis, (yes, I have two littermates) adding some fiber and applesauce for the pectin. I would feed a moderate protein and fat food for now. Nutrisource large breed puppy food might be a good one.

    There is hope, however. My dogs are doing well now. We can switch kibble and toppers up now without any digestive upset!!!! Woo Hoo! Best of luck to you!

    #84817
    Rhonda F
    Member

    My dog has colitis and was put on royal canine fiber response, which took care of the problem, but I was not happy with the ingredients – corn, cellulose, wheat gluten. I went to a feed store and they recommended Natural Balance Synergy. Said it took care of many digestive issues. They cook the food and then coat with a prebiotic. I tried it , but supplement with a tsp/day of psyllium husk. My dog is doing great!!

    #84686
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi Carlene, I feel for your poor dog, your story reminded me of my Patch that I rescued 3 years ago, I also have tried all the ant acid meds until I read about not making enough Hydrochloric acid, its called Hypochlorhydria low stomach acid, this year I stopped any meds on Patch the end of 2015 all I used was liquid Mylanta & the Metronidazole for 7 days in October 2015, the ant acids seemed to make Patch worse not better & his mouth started to smell like food was fermenting in his stomach & not digesting, after he took Losec the Moltium you have Reglan in America made his breath smell like food was fermenting vet didn’t want him on the Moltium…
    2016 all I gave Patch was grass, grass growing out the back yard, i’d wash grass under cool water dry in a tea towel & feed Patch 1 blade of grass at a time about 5-6 pieces, then he’d either spew up un-digested kibble or he’d feel better & want to play,no more Mylanta nothing, then a lady told me LOW FIBER diet, I was lowering the fat% always feeding kibbles from 8% fat to 13% it made no difference then I saw on a EPI F/B group their dogs were doing really well on the “Taste Of The Wild” Pacific Stream, the fat is 15% & the fiber is 3%, I live Australia & we still have the old formula with no peas & no garbanzo beans, its just Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Canola Oil, Salmon, Smoked Salmon Meal, probiotics… finally Patches acid reflux, grinding his teeth, all stopped, no waking up grinding his teeth, another thing I have found I have to do is change his kibble every month if he eats the same kibble or cooked diet for more then 5 weeks, he gets food sensitivities & all his symptoms come back, so now I’m feeding the “Taste of The Wild” Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb in 1 month I’m trying Canidae Pure Lamb limited ingredients then going back to the TOTW Pacific stream smoke Salmon & going to rotate his kibbles, Becareful with the Prilosec its a Pump Proton Inhibitor you can not just stop taking it after taken a PPI’s for 1 month, my vet said NO to the Losec & I was to only use it for 3-4days then stop also I use Metronidazole for 7-10days that’s what I did in October & January 2016 & after I stop the Metronidazole Patch does real well as soon as I see him have his acid reflux grinding his teeth for more then 3-4 days I’m giving the Metronidazole again, have you tried any Calming supplements??
    Since the grass works the best now with Patch I’m going to buy some Chlorophyll liquid, look at what is in the kibble she is eating now write down everything protein% fat% fiber% ingredients, & look for another kibble that’s the same BUT a different protein & start rotating in 3 weeks, I also feed 4 small meals a day, 7am I give 3/4 cup TOTW Roasted Lamb, 12pm under 1/2 cup TOTW Roasted Lamb, 5pm the TOTW Smoked Salmon & 8pm 1/2 cup cooked chicken & sweet potatoes or a low fat wet tin food, 2% fat but I have just started that this week…. I don’t know why Patch has finally gotten better & gained weight I don’t know what I did but something has fixed his IBD, all I’ve done is changed his food every month & feed something different for breakfast & dinner & the grass & the Metronidazole when the acid reflux doesn’t go away, Patches vet wanted Patch on a low dose of the Metronidazole 200mg a day for 6months she said the Metronidazole works for her IBD dogs with stomach problems, I just gave for 21 days then stopped, I hate giving any tablets they seem to make Patch worse, I hope everything you’ve been thru you find the answers for your poor girl…..I really believe stress plays a big part..

    #84374
    theBCnut
    Member

    First, I’ve only ever heard bad things about Blue Ridge. They use denaturants in their food, which are used to absorb toxins when the meat has been allowed to go bad. A good raw company should never be adding denaturants. Second, if there isn’t any bone, what are they using for a calcium source? This sounds terribly unbalanced. Finally, my JRT requires a minimum of 3% fiber and as much as 5%. How often is your dog going? When my girl gets constipated, I can always tell. She starts walking differently and holds her stomach muscles tight.

    #84370
    Sabrina L
    Member

    Anonymous- We haven’t been to the vet yet, but I am definitely considering taking her to one. I would have already but we haven’t been able to find a vet we’re happy with yet. I just need to look more into vets in my area. Thanks

    theBCnut- I’ve been feeding her beef, and I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have any bone in it. I’ve been going back and forth from the blue ridge beef kitten grind and the blue ridge beef breeder’s choice. So I don’t think too much bone should be an issue. I’m unsure about the fiber, I just looked up the analysis for both of the types I’m feeding her and they seem relatively low. The kitten grind has 2% fiber and the breeder’s choice has 1% fiber. Do you think I should be putting her on something with more fiber in it? As for her stools, obviously she’s going less but I think they’re relatively normal for a dog on the raw food diet? They’re definitely harder and smaller but from what I’ve been told and what I’ve read that’s typical since their systems use almost all of the raw food in comparison to the kibble. I’ve also just started supplementing her diet with coconut oil, because I read that it is good for dogs digestive systems.

    #84109
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi Sarah, if you feeding boiled rice why don’t you add a meat instead of feeding the kibble…. kibbles are why tooo hard for a dog with food sensitivities not to have a reactions…. I have just started “Taste Of The Wild” Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon, its just Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Canolia Oil, Salmon Meal, Smoked Salmon, Potato Fiber etc no other food ingredients, TOTW is the only kibble with least ingredients, I can get in Australia without Beet Pulp, garbanzo beans & peas… Patches acid reflux went away, he was doing really well stomach wise, 2 weeks down the track, every time after eating TOTW about 30min-60mins his back paw is going red & he started licking them, AAAaaaaaaaararrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhh….it does your head in… I also feed chicken breast & sweet potato put thru a blender for dinner, but my boy regurgitates raw & cook foods sometimes & does better holding down kibble…. If he stopped regurgitating the raw i’d be feeding a raw diet, no kibble….. I use the Sudocrem for his bum & the white part about his eye & his paws when its raining…. have you tried “Monetasone Furoate 0.1% Ointment, it works better then then the Hydrocortisone 1% cream cause its an ointment, stays on the skin/fur longer & fixes any red rashes & stops the itch, so if you find the Sudocrem isn’t helping some areas you can buy the Monetasone Furoate 0.1% ointment over the counter at chemist…also what you thought your dog was allergic or sensitive too after about 1 year when he’s doing real well re introduce 1 of those food slowly that you thought he was sensitive too, you’ll be surprised he may have no reaction this time….

    #83994
    C4D
    Member

    Hi Kevin K,

    Are you feeding a balanced commercial raw diet? If not, unless you are very knowledgable on feeding a balanced raw diet and are following a recipe that has been put together by a vet nutritionist, or at the very least, by a qualified professional, you need to rethink feeding raw. Too much liver, which is very rich and nutrient dense, can cause loose stools. Too much bone, which is very high in calcium, and lack of correct fiber can cause a very small dry stool.

    Raw food can be fed to a healthy animal, as long as there has been the proper adjustment period and that the diet is correctly formulated and nutritionally balanced. I do feed raw in my rotation of foods, but I use commercial raw food that’s complete and balanced. When feeding fresh cooked food, I use a commercial premix added to the meat. I have no problems with stools or any health issues with my dogs.

    You might want to either put him back on a traditional diet to see if that corrects the issues and transition to the correct raw diet gradually. If the sypmtoms persist or worsen, you do need to see a vet soon.

    • This reply was modified 8 years ago by C4D.
    #83942

    In reply to: Thoughts on Vegan dogs

    laconrad
    Participant

    Somehow the notion that dogs are pure carnivores has permeated through internet chat forums, among some non-medically trained people working in the pet industry (groomers, trainers, etc.), and those that take their information seriously. This notion is based by in large on the multiply erroneous notion that dogs are essentially wolves, and since wolves are pure carnivores, then dogs necessarily should be fed as wolves would eat.

    I stated multiply erroneous notion because the true fact is that EVEN WOLVES ARE NOT PURE CARNIVORES! While it is true that wolves generally require and eat a high level of protein in comparison to dogs, they also consume a significant amount of vegetable matters instinctively, as doing so is necessary for optimal physiological balance and gastrointestinal health in the species. Wolves consume vegetation from routine grazing on grasses and by tearing open the stomachs of their herbivorous prey and eating the contents.

    The other true fact is that dogs are not wolves, but differ from the wolf in DNA structure by about 0.8 %. That may not seem like much, but only a 1.2% difference in DNA separates us from the chimpanzee. Few would suggest that we should model our diet around that of a chimpanzee.

    Thousands of generations and selective breeding that made domestic dogs more adaptable to life with humans was responsible for the evolution that today differentiates dogs from their ancient ancestor. Among the most prevalent difference between dogs and wolves that resulted is gastrointestinal physiology and how it impacts overall gastrointestinal and other organ health. In the process of canine domestication, humans essentially their early more wolf-like canine companions what they ate, and over successive generations, the species adapted to a more omnivorous diet.

    Dog owners jumping on board with feeding their dogs nothing but meat, essentially a pure protein diet, is fraught with potentially serious health consequences. All one has to do is understand protein metabolism to see the problem.

    Before protein can be absorbed into body’s cells and tissues for metabolic and physiological purposes, it must first be broken down into small chains of proteins called peptides, and in some cases broken down to the individual molecular protein building blocks, amino acids. Once absorbed by the gut, amino acids and peptides are then repackaged and utilized by the body.

    It all sounds lovely, but protein metabolism does not come without a price, as it generates a toxic waste product called ammonia. In fact, many common meat protein sources are as low as 78% utilized by the body with the rest represented as waste. Luckily, like us, canines have a liver that converts ammonia into a less harmful molecule called urea, which is then excreted by the kidneys in urine.

    However, the liver and kidneys over time become overwhelmed with a diet heavily laden with protein, because these organs are constantly burdened with detoxification. Over time, if excessively taxed in this manner through diet, these organs become compromised, leading to degenerative disease, chronic renal failure in the case of the kidneys, and cirrhosis in the case of the liver.

    Physiologically, dietary protein for the average adult canine should not exceed 25% of the total daily nutrient intake. In high performance dogs, such as those that participate in in field or agility competition, that requirement may be increased to 27%. Beyond this level of protein the dog suffers deficiencies in other key nutrients, such as soluble and insoluble fiber and anti-oxidants to name a few, while unnecessarily taxing his liver and kidneys with excessive protein metabolic waste.

    Canine owners that feed raw are the biggest offenders with regard to overloading their dogs with protein, many feeding nothing but a raw meat diet. For these pet owners that are committed to raw feeding, if they are feeding their dogs nothing but meat, I would urge them to integrate fresh or cooked vegetables to represent at least 50% of total dietary intake. Green beans, carrots, broccoli, celery, and spinach are all healthy vegetable sources for dogs. It is also a good idea to integrate complex carbohydrate sources, such as brown rice and sweet potato, as well as some canine safe fruits like cantaloupe, apples, and pears.

    What is most troublesome to me is that some commercial pet food companies are taking advantage of the canine pure carnivore hype and creating diets that are heavily laden with protein, even going further to validate this false notion in their promotional tactics. I was actually inspired to write this post after having seen a TV commercial two nights ago from a large, well known pet food company touting its newest diet as having one of the highest protein percentages in the industry.

    I caution all canine owners to not buy into the hype, not listen to non-medically trained people that recommend a dietary regimen without understanding that over time it does damage to the liver and kidneys while denying the canine other essential nutrients; and reject pet food companies touting false claims, who clearly value sales far more than the well-being of their canine consumers. If in doubt, talk to your veterinarian to help you sift through what is best to feed your dog.

    Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital and CEO/Chief Editor of the veterinary information and blog online community, Web-DVM.

    #83856
    Susan
    Participant

    Hi, Holistic Select Senior digest easy the protein-26% fat-10% fiber-3.5% & has 3 proteins… as dogs get older sometimes high fat & high protein diets can cause problems like pancreatitis, acid reflux so keep that in mind…..Holistic Select Guaranteed money back
    http://holisticselect.com.au/senior-dry-dog-food-chicken-meal-and-rice#ingredients

    #83704
    anonymously
    Member

    Check out Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea at Chewy.com
    My dog has a history of struvite and calcium oxalate stones and does well on it, no reoccurrence in bladder stones in almost 5 years now. I add water and offer frequent bathroom breaks/opportunities to urinate. Keep the bladder flushed.
    I have also used prescription food recommended by the vet with good results.

    Ingredients
    Salmon, Menhaden Fish Meal, Peas, Chickpeas, Salmon Meal, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Sunflower Oil, Pea Fiber, Flaxseed, Calcium Carbonate, Salmon Oil (a source of DHA), Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Dried Eggs, Natural Flavor, Tomato Pomace, Carrots, Cranberries, Apricots, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Iron Proteinate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Proteinate, Biotin, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Rosemary Extract

    #83323
    Susan
    Participant

    To Aracely, if your dog has gotten better after having Apple Cider Vinegar means your dog isn’t making enough stomach acid to digest his food, My boy was having bad acid reflux colitis, food sensitivities, vet said IBD… I needed to know what was wrong, so Patch had an Endoscope & Biopsies done & he had Lymphocytic Gastritis & Helicobacter-Pylori, he was put on the Triple Therapy, Metronidazole, Amoxicillin & Zantac for 21 days & a gluten free vet diet Royal Canine Sensitivity Control Tapioca & Duck it gave Patch bad farts. (at the time I didn’t know Patch is sensitive to Tapioca) 1-2 weeks after finishing the triple therapy Patches acid reflux was back again & bad again probably cause of the Tapioca, so his helicobacter was back, there’s not much research on dogs with Lymphocytic Gastritis & Helicobacter-Pylori only humans, then I found Hypochlorydria it’s insufficient stomach acid being made which causes the same symptoms when you make tooo much stomach acid…. if you take Apple Cider vinegar when your making tooo much stomach acid the ACV makes the acid reflux worse, if you take ACV & feel better then your not making enough hydrochloric acid, but dogs can’t talk & tell us mum I’m feeling better… here’s a link http://nutritiongang.com/low-stomach-acidity-hypochlorhydria/#diet-impact
    No starchy carbs, No foods high in Lectins, No kibbles with Beet Pulp high in fiber, low carb kibbles, doesn’t have to be grain free, gluten free diets are best & fish omega 3…. What your doing feeding a raw diet with lean white proteins are best….Raw diet made Patch regurgitate food & water back up into his mouth giving him acid reflux, so I started cooking instead…..I’m going to try the raw again…

    #83245
    crazy4cats
    Participant

    Hi Lori L-

    Which Pure Balance recipe are you feeding? It is a decent food and many posters on this site have reported good things about it. However, it sounds like it may not be right for your dog. Does she have diarrhea, or is she just pooping a lot? Sometimes it is related to the fiber content of the food, being fed too much or it just doesn’t agree with her.

    Another possibility is worms and/or parasites. Has she had a fecal test done testing for worms or parasites? They are fairly common in young dogs.

    Here is a link to a helpful website for digestive issues: http://www.dogaware.com/health/digestive.html

    Been there, done that and it’s not fun!! Report back with updates, please!

    #83241
    Allison S
    Member

    I have a 3 year old bulldog that I introduced to a raw diet a few months ago. So far success, but maybe you guys can provide some insight on tweaks.

    Inkedmarie: what do you add to your dogs food to include fiber in the diet? Do you use a suppliment? Ive done alot of research on raw diets, and lets just say, like anything else, everyone has their own opinion, so it’s hard to figure things out, but I just try and use the common denominators I find, and trial and error. I’m basically feeding a large portion of ground turkey, or pork, and a small portion of ground beef, and any other muscle meat I find at the store for variety. I add in small portions of organ meat such as heart or tripe, and small portions of veggies. (thoughts on the organ meat? most research suggests adding it for certain nutrients, but I just watched some videos about a vet speaking highly of raw diets, but said no organs!) It varies, but I mostly use carrots, spinach, and pumpkin. However, my dog has developed yeast. I used to give her raw chicken legs as a snack (which I monitored, and she was successful at eating those properly) but i’ve read bulldogs dont’ usually tolerate chicken well, so I cut that out of her diet completely. I’ve been able to obtain other meat bones to substitute. The yeast has gotten better, but it’s not gone. Another source told me carrots aren’t good because they digest into sugar that feeds the yeast, and suggested only green vegetables. I’m really trying to tweak the diet as much as possible, and give as little suppliments as possible. Mostly cause i’m broke, haha, but also i just like the idea of doing things naturally. I do have her on a probiotic, and fish oil. And i’ve also started giving her coconut oil and yogurt…just a spoonful as a treat each day. Go figure, i probably have the only dog in the world that will eat spoonfuls of coconut oil, but hates peanut butter.

    Thoughts?

    #83038

    In reply to: Loose Stools

    Susan
    Participant

    Hi cant you have it delivered thru Chewy’s, can you get the California Natural Lamb & Rice with just 4 ingredients a few dogs with IBD do really well on the C.N Lamb & Rice…. look at the ingredients & fat % Protein % & fiber % in the C.N Kangaroo & look for another food with similar ingredients & Fat% Protein % & Fiber % as the C.N Kangaroo has……look at the percent of the one she is eating now, maybe the fiber % protein % or fat % is higher causing the loose stools…
    Also contact California Natural & tell them you can’t get their Kangaroo & see what they say….

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