[crazy4cats]

Hi Melanie-
That is very concerning. Have you taken the dog to a vet for a fecal or blood test. Does he have intermittent diarrhea, or all the time? First of all you need to find out if he has a health condition. I went through this with my pups, thinking it was the food, but it was actually parasites found in a fecal test.

Now, if you have ruled out those issues, then you need to figure out what ingredient or ingredients that your dog has an intolerance to. They do not necessarily have an intolerance to a food. They have an intolerance to something in the food. Try a different food with totally different ingredients than the ones you have already fed. Have all the foods you have fed so far been chicken based? If yes, try a different protein and binder on the next bag. A limited ingredient food might be the best choice to eliminate what the issue is. Keep a list of the foods and ingredients you’ve tried so far to help you rule out ingredients. I wish you luck!

[crazy4cats]

I hope not either. Mine were treated four times maybe five with flagyl and panacur for giardia. The with Albon for coccidia. They did, however have parasites. So, boy, do I know about loose stools and diarrhea. It was the main topic of conversation here for about a year! We have all kinds of “grading” systems for poop! I’m not sure if the bugs or the meds did more damage to their digestive systems. Have you checked out dogaware.com? There are several suggestions and information for digestive issues on that site. Another supplement you could use with the vetri pro is Phytomucil. It is made by Animal Essentials. I believe it has slippery elm, plantain, DGL and marshmallow root. It helps to soothe the tract. I guess the main thing, though is to figure out what is causing the issue. Does it occur more when she is excited or after exercise? My dogs do best when I’m feeding Victor with raw frozen nuggets and a supplement. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Yes, I did. If I remember correctly, I was leaning towards Nature’s Logic. I don’t remember exactly why, though. After I started feeding the Victor, I didn’t think I needed to add it. My dog’s have improved a lot.

[crazy4cats]

Yes, it seems to be the case with all the supplements I’ve used. Is your dog having issues? If yes, I would go ahead and start with the double dosing. If not, just go with the maintenance dosage. Actually, the first couple of days you could build up to the initial dosing if concerned about any side effects. My pups do well on it.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Raam-
I too, have had some battles with Giardia. During that time I never knew if they were suffering from a food intolerance or if the Giardia was back. It was very stressful. Luckily, they have been negative for about 9 months. They were also treated several times with panacur and antibiotics. It has taken a long time to get their tummies back to normal. They have always been interested in eating though, thank goodness! I am feeding them Victor grain free with a variety of toppers with good luck. However, I do use various supplements which have also helped soothe their tummies. Much information can be found on dogaware.com with digestive issues. It is a great site. Many of the supplements that I’ve used are made by Vetri Science, Thorne, Animal Essentials and Honest Kitchen. As Sue said, it might be best to start with something bland and work your way back to a better kibble. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Case-
I have used and recently ordered the same digestive enzymes that you just ordered made by Vetri-Science. They are a combo product. They contain enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics and other supplements as well. The other supplements such as, NAG and L-Glutamine are known to be helpful with loose stools. My dogs do well with this supplement as they have bouts of leaky gut or some type of IBS. Not sure if this is what you were looking for or not. I also occasionally use Gastriplex or THK Perfect Form. Good luck.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Case-
I’ve never used this product, but I have thought about it. lol! Just wanted to let you know that Nature’s Logic has something similar that I also have thought about. They both look like a great supplement.

[crazy4cats]

Yes, Dori, please don’t give up. I sure wish I knew about this site 3 years ago when my vet told us that our previous dog “most likely” had cancer. He ran a few blood tests and did an X-ray. Said it would cost too much to do more tests and he was almost 12 so he didn’t think it would make sense. We just gave him steroids and metronidazole for about 6 months before he died. I just can’t help but wonder if I changed his diet or tried some supplements, we could have had him around longer. I just believed the vet. So anyway, do everything you can to help your little girl, so you won’t have any regrets. I’m sure I really didn’t need to tell you that though. Keep smiling because she knows when you’re sad. Best wishes!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Akari-
I use Northwest Naturals nuggets as a topper for my dogs a couple times a week. So far so good! Not sure if you would have them in your area though. They are a little cheaper than some of the others. I’m using them as the raw meat for my ABC meal. If I remember correctly, you do not go to Costco? If you can, they still may have some Kirkland cuts in gravy left or the replacement, Nature’s Domain turkey stew canned foods. They come in a case of 24 and come out to be about 80 cents a can. Call first before you go to check availability though.

[crazy4cats]

Excellent, that is great to hear!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Terri-
I have fed both Victor grain free and Nature’s Logic to my lab mix dogs. Both have very small kibble and are 5 star foods that my dogs have done well on. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Jen-
I think Melissa means Giardia. Lol! But, either way, I totally agree. Please have a fecal done if you haven’t already. My dogs have had both multiple times. It’s very common here in the NW as we have damp mild weather. The symptoms sound like that could be the cause. I sure hope you figure it out. It’s stressful having a sick pup.

[crazy4cats]

Oh Dori-
I hope everything turns out OK. I’m sure you will make the right decision.

[crazy4cats]

Akari-
Sorry, I don’t have any recommendations either. I’ve not really ever had a problem with hairballs. Three out of four of my cats are short haired and one medium. I don’t see any of them licking or grooming much. Thank goodness. I don’t think that the oil sounds like a great idea, but I really don’t know. I remember seeing some sort of remedy at Mud Bay when I was looking at dog supplements. I don’t remember what it was called. But, I think it had some petroleum jelly in it? How is Kitty today?

[crazy4cats]

Mine are labs as well. I most likely will never get another lab pup. And definitely not two at the same time! What were we thinking? But anyway, Akari, go check that litter box!

[crazy4cats]

Oh these darn pets! I’ve had one of my pups to the vet for X-rays three different times, trying to determine if he will pass something he has swallowed. So far so good. His main staple has been socks. He has swallowed about four of them whole. I usually give him something real soupy to get them through. Every time I say there goes my new furniture I’ve been trying to save for. I think we are finally past that phase. Oh, how it hope he passes it in the next day.

[crazy4cats]

Ok, so right now I’m transitioning from Nature’s Logic all life stages duck and salmon to Victor’s grain free all life stages. Are you saying I shouldn’t be feeding either of these foods to my almost three year old lab mixes?

[crazy4cats]

OMG, Akari! I’m confused, did they remove the object from his stomach? Or, are you waiting for it to pass? I would have been a mess too. I’m praying for a quick recovery.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Case-
My dogs will be three next month and I still feed them all life stages or puppy food. I have no plans to change to a maintenance food. The ALS and puppy foods tend to be a little higher in protein and calories. My dogs are both about 80 pounds and this works out well for them. Good luck. Who knew feeding our furry friends could be so controversial?

[crazy4cats]

I feed my dogs Victor’s Joint Health grain free food. It has extra glucosamine added to it. But, like the others have stated, it is probably best to add a supplement to ensure that they are getting the full benefit of it.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Chris K-
I add a topper to every one of my dogs’ meals. They get a little canned every morning and either left overs, eggs, or sardines in their afternoon meal. I like to think of it as making their kibble into a healthier meal, not a treat. I think of kibble, no matter how many stars, is not the healthiest choice and it needs a little boost to make it better for them. Also you may need to add some digestive enzymes to help your dog digest the kibble. Good luck with your pup!

[crazy4cats]

How about Victor Lamb and Rice, Healthwise Lamb and Oatmeal or Earthborm Meadowfeast?

[crazy4cats]

Hi Camano-
Welcome to the cat food thread. Most of us on this thread often mention catinfo.org as one of our favorite sites for cat food information. Lisa Pierson is a vet and author of the site. She highly recommends feeding species appropriate wet food to cats. This tends to help prevent urinary tract problems and blockages especially in male cats. She suggests not using any dry at all. That being said, it is expensive to feed my four cats all canned, dehydrated or raw. So, I feed about 3/4 canned and 1/4 dry. My big male cats are the ones that eat more dry. I tend to believe that most of the high quality dog food makers also make high quality cat food. My cats are indoor only, so I lean to lower calorie kibble. Right now, I am feeding Wellness Core kibble with budget friendly canned such as Authority, Chicken Soup, Nutro Max, Soulistic and even some Friskies and Fancy Feast to keep the costs down. I have also fed Taste of the Wild, Earthborn, and Premium Edge dry foods. I’m sure a couple of the other regulars will pop in and give their recommendations as well. Oh, yes, I try to stay away from fish as my 15 year old cat has hyperthyroidism. Again, welcome!

[crazy4cats]

Oh my! So lucky. 🙂

[crazy4cats]

It’s a four star food made by Petcurean.

[crazy4cats]

Hi All-
About a week ago, I bought some Natures Variety Instinct because it was on a special at our feed store. I’m happy to report back that all 4 of my cats ate it! Woo Hoo, (I think). Most of the time I end up having to throw out the expensive stuff. They like the cheap stuff much better. They probably won’t get it very often, but when on sale, I won’t worry about having to end up throwing it out after spending so much on it.
Sharon- I’m up to date on your new screen name.
Naturella- have a good time on your trip!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Steve and Corey-
I enjoyed both of your posts because I have had the same puzzlements. And yes, I have also weighed food to see how many cups per bag to compare prices. I have since just decided to go with foods that are around 400 calories per cup and just compare their prices to keep things easier. Also that way everyone knows how much to feed when I rotate to another brand. I have it posted above their food in the garage who gets how much. Lol! I found that with just a little tweaking, the dog food calculator on this site worked pretty well for me. I’ve also found that most companies have the calories listed on their websites or you can email them to get the information. I also add toppers and use less kibble to compensate. A lot of canned foods do list the calories on the can or their websites also. I just use an average of 350 calories per can now. Fresh Pet, Honest kitchen and Northwest Naturals frozen raw nuggets also list their calories on the package, if you want to use any of those as toppers.

[crazy4cats]

Hey guys-
Do you think either of those solutions would kill the dreaded blackberry bushes?

[crazy4cats]

It is under diet and health issues. The first few pages have a lot of good links to check out. There is also a google docs spread sheet that has recommended kibble for large breed pups. It has both with and without grains sections. Good luck! Who knew it would be so difficult to feed out furry friends!

[crazy4cats]

Hi there-
Wow! Two St. Bernard pups at the same time. yikes! We took on two golden lab pups at the same time. It was crazy and still is at times and they are almost three! I do not feed home made food and only a little raw with kibble a few times a week, but I wanted to bump up your post in hopes someone else will respond. I do know there is a thread on large breed pups on this site that will be helpful. You are right there are special requirements to help avoid hip dysplasia. Keeping your pups lean and not over exercising are two important factors. Also their calcium levels need to be limited. That information is on the large breed thread. Hound Dog Mom is the expert in that area. Hopefully she will “pop” in with some guidance. Have fun! I think St. Bernard’s are adorable.

[crazy4cats]

Bobby Dog-
In regards to the ABC diet, I bought some Northwest Naturals raw nuggets. I feed them about 150 calories with their kibble twice a week. They have done well with them. I usually forget to defrost, though. So, I put them in warm water about 5 minutes before I feed and that is fine with them! I just don’t think I can do the raw organs. But, at least they are getting some raw meat. I haven’t done great with the vege/fruit day, however. I’ll work on that one. Lol!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Sharon-
Was looking at ordering the CS online and I noticed the packaging has totally changed. And I think they went from 6 oz cans to the 5.5 oz. I don’t know if the formula has changed. Do you know? I don’t have an old can left.

[crazy4cats]

Yes, we have Del’s. However, they only sell the dry 4health, no canned. I check back about every 6 months to see if they’ve started carrying it yet. I need to check again soon. Thanks though.

[crazy4cats]

Bobby dog-
I went and bought 4 cases today of the KCIG since it is being deleted. When that is gone, I’ll have to get some more budget friendly canned dog food advice from you. I didn’t think my dogs were picky about their food. But, I found out different yesterday. We went to the ocean and I just took some dry food to feed them their dinner on the road. They haven’t had just plain dry for a long time. One of my dogs just looked at me like, “this is it?” He actually wouldn’t eat it until I picked some up and he ate it out of my hand. But, very hesitantly. My husband, of course thinks that they are spoiled. I’m sure after he was hungry enough, he’d eat it. Of course, he will eat poop, wood and cardboard though. So, anyway, I guess I’m stuck using toppers for them.

[crazy4cats]

Naturella-
Yes, if you only had a cat…. Your life would be complete. Lol!
Thanks for the coconut oil. I’ll give it a try. Sounds good.

[crazy4cats]

Do you just mix it in their food? Does it taste like coconut?

[crazy4cats]

Akari –
Don’t worry, I am also OCD, when it comes to lining up my cats’ food. Except, I have four cats to organize! I line up the dogs’ canned also and try not to say anything when my husband grabs a can from the wrong row. Even though it is making me crazy inside. lol! Also, not sure why you think you should be able to use the bathroom alone! I usually have a kitty parade every morning first thing in the bathroom. I don’t think I’ve been alone in the bathroom for years!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Seany711-
Yes, it have fed the chunky beef and vegetable Fresh Pet to my dogs. I have two 80lb labs, so I have just used as a topper on their Victor kibble. They love it and I think it looks nice and fresh to go with their processed kibble. And best of all, no cans to have to rinse and recycle. As for the carrageenan, I don’t know much about it. But, that is why I like to rotate kibble and switch up the toppers. It seems everything has something controversial. I don’t want to feed the same thing day after day. Good luck.

[crazy4cats]

I know there is a lot! But you could just go on that one and ask for suggestions. I just hate to start another cat food thread on a dog food site. I’m sure you would get some suggestions on that thread if you joined in. We would love to have your experiences too.

[crazy4cats]

Hi-
There is already a cat food recommendation thread started in the off topic section started by Akari a while back. Please join us there!

[crazy4cats]

I do understand that. But I’m glad he brought it up so members might be more aware when starting a new subject that does not involve the choice foods to start it in the regular forum so more may participate. Thanks for your help.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Mike-
I don’t think he is expressing frustration with the types of topics being started. I think that he is frustrated that they are being introduced in the editors choice section, not allowing non-members to participate. For example a topic on cancer might be introduced in the editor’s choice section not allowing others to participate when they might benefit from it, but it has nothing to do with the Editor’s choice foods. Is this correct USA? I know when I’m in the forum, since I am a member, I never know which one I’m in for sure. I hadn’t really thought about his point. But, I do understand his concern.

[crazy4cats]

My favorite are:
Victor grain free kibble
Nature’s Logic kibble
Kirkland Cuts in Gravy canned
Pure Balance canned
Northwest Naturals raw nuggets

[crazy4cats]

Sharon-
Thanks, I’m gonna check it out. I feel like I am constantly buying cat food. Buying a case or two would be smart.

[crazy4cats]

Gina-
I’m hoping the best for you and your pup. It sounds like he’s in great hands.

[crazy4cats]

Yippee! Another cat lady! That is a great vet. Glad to hear it. Honestly, I will always get two kittens at a time if possible. They are unbelievably playful and entertaining. It’s great for them to have playmates. Some rescue groups require it. On the other hand, I will never get two puppies at the same time again! Your husband will tell everyone that they are your dumb cats, but will love them as much as you!

[crazy4cats]

Sharon-
Where do you order the CS by the case from?

[crazy4cats]

Well, according to her response, the vet just told her low fat and high fiber. It seems that those two are more of an issue than the protein. But that being said, the food that I believe she is feeding now is low protein and she probably shouldn’t jump up too quick to a higher protein. As I mentioned earlier, I fed this food for a while prescribed by my previous vet. I just couldn’t believe the cost of it. Especially after looking at the ingredients. I didn’t even know half of what I do now and common sense told me that I was paying way too much for powdered cellulose, rice hulls, corn and wheat. I think it was over $3 per pound.

[crazy4cats]

I think Betsy’s suggestion of Wellness Core reduced fat is a great recommendation. In my opinion, your dog cold use a little more protein while keeping the fat low and the fiber high. Just remember to transition slowly. Also remember my tips that I mentioned earlier about adding fiber with psyllium or chia. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Nona-
I agree with the other two posters. I don’t think you necessarily need to switch foods due to your dog being a senior. I think you need to find another food because it is healthy to rotate and add variety. And also to have another food to use in case you can’t get the current food. Like Marie said, seniors don’t necessarily need less protein like many senior foods have. They actually could use more high quality protein. Since your dog has been on the same food for so long, when you switch, you will have to transition very slowly. I’d also try to find something with similar fat and protein levels. I also really think that adding healthy toppers to dry food is a must. I use either canned, dehydrated, raw, eggs, cottage cheese, or sardines to every meal. Good luck!

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