[Dfwgolden]

Hi everyone!

Ok so I have serious question for xx large breed dog owners.
I have a 12 week old male Great Dane puppy.
When we got him he was on Diamond Puppy formula and doing iffy.
We feed ourdogs a grain free rotational diet.
And they have done awesome. However Bane has seemed to decline since we got him.

He’s growing normally and everything however he has had soft stool since day one.
And these past two weeks it’s literally been water/patte.
Two days ago He had to go CONSTANTLY. And just explodes I kid you not it’s like an explosion.
A norm poop just falls even if it’s diarrhea however his blows like a gun. Splashing everywhere.
Including in our new car… Three times within two hours.
And it’s not just a little it’s A LOT.

He’s been on-
Diamond Puppy
Whole Earth Farms
And recently Diamond Naturals Large Breed chicken and rice.
This last food is when he hit his worst.

After two weeks of this I took him off the food sunday afternoon. And only gave him canned pumpkin salt, plain crackers, plain yogurt (live culture) and some probiotic human capsules.

Last night I finly have him some solid food:
Wellness Simple Salmon formula.
This morning he finally pooped and it was solid! But very orange defiantly could tell it was from the pumpkin! Haha!

He has since pooped three more times all of which have been mostly solid but could be better.
Shaped but mushy.

I’m wondering if it’s poultry and the Petco guy recommended it as a way to start into a LID and see if that helps. (The simple)
He had his ears cropped about 3-4 weeks ago and was on antibiotics which could possibly play a roll? And he is down on his probiotics?
He was only on them for a week though and this didn’t start up to water until recently.

He is on dewormer and flea/tick. Sintenal. And has received his last round of puppy shots. No rabies yet.
My dad brought up the possibility of Giardia and Coccidia. Had a fu work up done today he he’s clean as a whistle on his fecal Giardia and blood.
Our vet is a dane breeder herself

Bane is eating and drinking normally and has shown no signs of “illness” he’s just his goofy self as always!

My biggest
Concern however is the fact that if he does do good on wellness simple that we won’t be able to keep him on it.
It’s $68 for 27lbs.
And with him already eating 6 cups a day and is having 4 other dogs.
You get the gist.
I live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Texas area and believe it or not my food choices although broad are limited to either $&!+ or high dollar.

We’ve done 4Health and Diamond and Proplan and purina one (which believe it or
Not the weight loss formula did fantastic for out over weight senior golden)

The vet said it’s possible he has a grain and poultry allergy.
Which limits my choices even more as even “duck and oatmeal” formulas contain chicken fat.

I leave for a month long Vacation with Bane to Poplar Bluff Missouri on the 15th white it being so Rural that lowers my availability even more.
Meaning I don’t have time to try a raw diet for him.

I need something that’s no more than $45-$50 a bag that can basically “hold him over” until I get back In 4 weeks.

I’m in need her Hound Dog mom! Lol.

[Susan]

Hi Dfwgolden, Ive just started the Wellness Simple Duck & Oatmeal.. as my boy has IBD & we think that the chicken was causing his tummy problems & the hive like lumps on his head & body, so I’ve started the Simple Duck & Oatmeal cause it has the lowest fat %.. Im not happy about the low Protein but Patch seems to do better when the protein is under 24%.. Im pretty sure that the Simple Duck & Oatmeal does not have chicken fat, as I made sure that there was no chicken in the Duck & Oatmeal, I just went on the Wellness Simple site to double check & there’s no chicken fat, it has natural duck flavours, I even looked at the Lamb & Oatmeal & there’s no chicken fat either, the best way to know if ur dog is intolarent to chicken is to start a elimination diet…when you start with say lamb or Rabbit for 1 month,then slowley add some chicken & see if he has his diarrhea again, he’s had alot of things done in the last 3-4weeks so its very hard to say what did cause his diarrhea, I know antibiotics can cause diarrhea, Ive written down what antibiotics causes Patch to have diarrhea & make sure next time Patch is not put on them..
I read that Victor is a budget friendly & has 5 stars also 4 health sold at Tractor Supply, Pure Balance grainfree Rachel Ray sold at Walmart, Earth Farms sold at Petco & Eagle Pack & Authority sold at Petsmart are suppost to be budget friendly aswell…also keep up with the probiotics, my boy has been on dog probiotics now for 10 months..especially when trying a new foods..

[Dfwgolden]

Authority- NEVER- it’s a crap brand that made my friends dog puke blood.
Pure balance-also a crap brand that makes my dogs have the runs
4Health- as stated above has not shown to be of any gain to us.
Rachel Ray- ALL contains poultry

I’m looking for dog food that is lower in price but that doesn’t mean I’m
About to feed him crap.
I’m insanely picky about my dogs well being so pardon me if I come off rude.

I’m not feeding my dog ANYTHING you can buy in walmart.

As of now the vet have us a list of what she thinks he has allergies to-
Chicken
Turkey
Duck
(Any type of poultry)
Corn
Soy
Oatmeal
Wheat
(Any type of “filler” grain”
Milk
White rice
Brown rice
Raspberries

And my options just plumited.

I’ve looked at Pennical grain free salmon,if anyone has any experiance with it I would love to know.

[Susan]

Hi, I only listed kibbles that people on this site use & say are budget friendly, I dont live in America, so I wouldn’t have any idea about these budget friendly kibbles..also how do you know that ur dog is intolarent to all those foods if u have never done an elimination diet ..Elimintion diet is the only way to know what ur dog has a reaction to & being a puppy its very rare to be allergic to all these foods at such a young age…you need a new vet…

[Dfwgolden]

*facepalm*
Okay…
Let me clear something’s up.
First off I will NOT stand for anyone bashing my vet who has
Been nothing but PERFECT.
Secondly- Danes differ largely from a terrier.
Therefor saying it is VERY common for Great Danes to have a large Ammount of food allergies.

Third- I was trying to say that this is what she slid could be the culprits.
Meaning all the foods he has tried have contained these commonly allergic ingredients. Therefor we need to eliminate on by one to see.

Also if you don’t live in America it makes it very difficult for you to recommend any good dog foods.
All you listed are low grade except for victor which is NOT budget friendly in my opinion.

I’m not trying to sound rude, I am just VERY picky and protective of my dogs. And will not take anything regarding them lightly.

[Susan]

Whatever, if ur so protective of ur dogs, why cut his ears off…its 2014 not the seventies…

[Dfwgolden]

Lol wow as if I haven’t had this question asked to me 1000000 times.

Why did I do it?
Because I wanted to that’s why.
Why did I want to?
Because I prefer a more regal look.
Does that make me a bad pet owner?
No, a bad pet owner would take their dog to just anyone to chop of half their ear! Hell, some even go as far as a exacto knife or scissors at home.
I was a GOOD pet owner a researched a ton before paying top dollar to have my pups ears done by one of the top ear specialist in the world.
Would I do it again?
Hell yeah.

Yes my dear it is 2014 not the 70’s I’m glad you’re able to read a calendar.

As for your advice-
It was not bad, and for the average pet owner it’s great. However I’m not the average pet owner. And even though I would prefer to buy a cheaper brand I do not mind buying a $100 bag of dog food every week if it keeps my baby healthy!

Do you take your dogs in for water aerobics, acupuncture sessions, t touch sessions, full
Test work ups once a month and radiographs every 6 months?
Do you monitor your dogs bowl movements and write them down when he or she goes poo or pee how long it took how often you take them out and when?

Are your dogs top class agility champions with bloodlines that make people pass out?
Did you pay $3000 for your puppy just to skimp off on something like food?

Probably not.

So before you start the while lecture on ear cropping think about what’s worse….
A vet performing a crop in a professional manner or someone starving their dog?

There are a ton of worse things in life than a ear crop.

[USA]

Hi Dfwgolden

Regarding ear cropping or more properly ear mutilation you said:

“Lol wow as if I haven’t had this question asked to me 1000000 times. (that should have been your first clue)
Why did I do it? (yes, why would you mutilate your pup for your pleasure?)
Because I wanted to that’s why. (great reason for cutting off half of each of your dog’s ears)
Why did I want to? (yes, why would you want to disfigure and cause unnecessary pain and suffering to a loved one?)
Because I prefer a more regal look.(thank the lord you had a good reason :S)
Does that make me a bad pet owner?” (of course it does!)

You mutilated your dog’s ears because you “wanted to” and also to satisfy your desire to have “a more regal look” for your dog. BRAVO!!!! :S

[Dfwgolden]

Let me put it this way then…
YOUR OPINION DOES
NOT MATTER!

Why?

BECAUSE I DONT CARE.
It’s MY DOG not YOURS.

And it’s my choice
Not yours

Just like it’s my
Choice to continue you this conversation.
So what’s my choice?
I’m abandoning this topic due to the fact that I cannot get a lick of decent advise.

Like I said bitch and scream call me awful.
But in the end my
Dog looks AMAZING to ME and is happy and healthy. He is not mutilated! He’s beautiful. And perfect in very way shape or form. I see him as perfection.

And that’s all that matters.

[Author]

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