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OnyxMom

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  • in reply to: Anal Gland Problems #84458 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    My newfoundland poodle used to get anal gland problems as a puppy – they were really bad. The groomer wouldn’t express a puppy, and we didn’t wanna right away spend money on a vet. So I read the internet and found out about pumpkin puree. It worked like magic. As he grew up his anal gland issues went away, but I always keep a can on hand for those once in a blue moon situations. I would recommend pumpkin puree to any dog parent.

    in reply to: Large and Giant Breed Puppy Nutrition #72806 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    Hello Jen!

    I feel your pain about the cost, but honestly I’ve done my research on the dfa site and at pet food stores. You won’t be able to find a better food at a cheaper price. Totw gets five stars on the dfa website. I do however buy on amazon which costs me about 43/44 bucks a bag. Try that?

    in reply to: Anal Gland Problems #62160 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    When Onyx was a puppy (about 3.5 months) I first learn what the anal gland smell is and what it means. I called the vet who said they would express them but it would cost more than a 100 bucks. I called the groomers and they said we don’t do puppies. SO, then I turned to the internet and read that pumpkin puree helps with this problem.

    Onyx LOVED the pumpkin. I fed it to him on a spoon and he gobbled it up. The anal gland issue was gone the next time he pooped. Since then, I always have cans of pumpkin puree on hand (this got me into baking with pumpkin too) and once a week I give my dog a yummy treat with a boiled egg and three tablespoons of pumpkin puree.

    If I so much as get a whiff of that nasty smell, I bust out my pureed weapon and it’s taken care of right away. I did try the firm up stuff (looks similar to glandex with similar ingredients but is called something different) BUT the price is atrocious. As a poor underpaid and overworked grad student, I’d rather spend a buck on a small can of pumpkin.

    I can not say enough good things about pumpkin puree when it comes to anal gland or constipation related problems. OTOH it doesnt work so well on my dog for upset tummy issues. Everyone else that I have ever suggested pumpkin puree to at the park (big or small dogs) all have had similar results. Try it, you won’t regret it at all!

    in reply to: Large and Giant Breed Puppy Nutrition #61592 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    Hello Erin,

    one, I’ll suspect the cat food may be playing games with your puppy’s digestive system. We went away one time with a friend to a cottage who has cats and Onyx kept stealing cat kibble and getting an upset stomach.

    And, two, if you rotate the food too much it might also be affecting his tummy. When I was trying to figure out Onyx’ food, every time we switched it made his tummy problems worse. All in all, my puppy (who is now 11 months old) was having trouble with any food that had grains in it. So, finally I now give him Taste of the Wild which is a pretty high quality food which doesn’t break our bank. His stomach is perfect. I also give him pumpkin puree whenever he has anal gland or unsettled tummy issues.

    He also gets a digestive enzyme sprinkled over his food which has done tremendous good for his tummmy and me (when I pick up his poop). 😀

    Good Luck!

    in reply to: Large and Giant Breed Puppy Nutrition #61121 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    Hi Angie!

    I had the same issues… I asked the vet and couldnt get a straight answer, then I asked the breeder and she said that she had switched her puppy (from the same litter) at 8 months. My husband who has had dobermans before said one year. So we discussed and decided that based on the fact that Onyx has not been growing too much, his weight has remained pretty stagnant since about month 9, that we would start switching his food mid month 11. We also decided to stay in the same pet food company because if the formula stays pretty similar it doesnt upset their stomachs as much.

    Good luck!

    in reply to: Large and Giant Breed Puppy Nutrition #51360 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    I have had very good experience with preventing runny/soft serve stool by adding a digestive enzyme to my newfypoo’s food. It honestly has solved all my poop related problems. I feed grain free too.

    in reply to: Anal Gland Problems #48563 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    So happy she has nothing serious going on. The Cone of Shame is the worst – When Onyx got fixed, the cone caused him more stress than his op did. So we got him an inflatable collar from Amazon. It worked amazingly well. If you are having similar problems try an alternative. She will be happier.

    in reply to: Anal Gland Problems #48539 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    After I brought my Newfypoo puppy home I realised that he was having anal gland problems – which was super gross for me to find out about. I tried to call groomers to ask about expressing his glands, but no one would do a puppy.

    I read stuff online and found out about pumpkin puree. You have to be careful and not by the sweetened canned stuff that people use for pies. You have to make sure it’s simply pumpkin puree. I gave him a tablespoon that day and I can say that I was amazed with results. The nasty smell, the itching, biting all went away by the next day. So, I continued feeding him a tbsp of pumpkin puree everyday for about two months. He loved the stuff, licked it right off the spoon.

    I stopped cos I ran out and then I realised that he was now expressing his glands on his own. But I always have a can handy just in case. I even gave some to my neighbour once for his little dog and it worked for them as well. I only hear good things as far as I see it no harm in trying.

    His poop didnt get fixed with the pumpkin puree though – for that I had to start giving him digestive enzymes with his food. http://www.amazon.com/NaturVet-Digestive-Enzymes-Pets-1-Pound/dp/B009O31QXY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407154566&sr=8-1&keywords=digestive+enzymes+for+dogs

    in reply to: Large and Giant Breed Puppy Nutrition #48533 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    Hello Sully’sMom!

    The first thing to do is to do a fecal test – which I’m sure you probably have done.

    I had the same problem with my Newfypoo (newfoundland+ standard poodle) puppy. I tried canned pumpkin twice a day, and probiotic yoghurt but his soft serve poop never went away. I had to finally introduce a digestive enzyme into his diet. The one I use is on Amazon and is made by naturvet. http://www.amazon.com/NaturVet-Digestive-Enzymes-Pets-1-Pound/dp/B009O31QXY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407154566&sr=8-1&keywords=digestive+enzymes+for+dogs

    Good Luck!

    in reply to: Large and Giant Breed Puppy Nutrition #47007 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    Andrew, is Orijen LB Puppy grain free? If not try switching to a grain free food and introduce a digestive enzyme into his food.

    My 6 month old newfypoo never had good poop. I’d shudder every time he went because the horrible job of picking up dog poop was even more horrid because of his soft-serve style mushy excreta. When he would go on the sidewalk it was embarrassing and super disgusting. I switched his food several times (the proper way) to no avail.

    Giving him a probiotic yoghurt only helped when he had very soft poop – but apparently there is a prebiotic and probiotic issue – a little bit of yoghurt doesn’t help with that.

    Then I went on a grain free food and poop looked significantly better. Which led me to believe that he clearly does not handle grain well. Then I introduced a digestive enzyme and now his poop could not be better! I dont love picking up dog poop now, but I sort of do a little dance in my head cos it’s not gross anymore. He even goes less now (only two times a day) whereas before he was asking to be taken out 4/5 times a day.

    I bought myself this from amazon – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009O31QXY/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1405450583&sr=1&keywords=dog+digestive+enzyme

    Good Luck!
    P.S. I forgot to mention before that I also tried Nutro Ultra and my puppy did not like it and it did not solve the mushy poop issue.

    • This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by OnyxMom.
    in reply to: Large and Giant Breed Puppy Nutrition #45121 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    Thank you so much for responding Hound Dog Mom!

    Really? The article I was reading said Calcium should be around 1.5%, this formula is at 1.4% – What number should the calcium content be at?

    I have taken to feeding Onyx a boiled egg once a week, and some coconut oil once in a while. How often can I give him boiled eggs?

    in reply to: Large and Giant Breed Puppy Nutrition #45111 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    Hello everyone!

    I have a 5.5 month old Newfoundland Standard Poodle mix puppy (Onyx) who weighed in at about 60 pounds 2 weeks ago. We were feeding him Blue Buffalo large breed but the food doesnt agree with him, he itches constantly on it. And, his poop is Never good. I hate picking up mushy mess always. gross.

    So, I was thinking about switching to Taste of the Wild’s salmon stream puppy formula, He was on this food before we got him and he loved it and was doing well on it. Im picking TOTW because of the following reasons:
    1. It’s actually pretty reasonably priced for a 4 star food (on DFA) and I am a grad student so money is an issue.
    2. The calcium content is at 1.4% and as recommended in this article (http://www.ivcjournal.com/articles/feeding-large-breed-puppies/) since it should be around 1.5% it seems okay to me.
    3. The salmon is supposed to be good for his coat, he has the poodle hair, and I would like for it to be shinier than it is now.
    4. He loves salmon anything.

    I’d say Onyx is quite healthy and has a BCS of 4. Other than the occasional bout of diarrhea especially if he’s been digging up dirt, he is pretty happy and healthy.

    Can anybody tell me if this is a terrible idea please? Here’s the link for the TOTW nutritional information – http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/products/puppies/dry_food/pacific_stream_puppy_formula/

    Thank you!

    in reply to: Coconut Oil #43587 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    The first time I tried feeding onyx coco oil I tried to mix it into his food. He didn’t touch it. Then I put the solidified coco oil on a treat and he sniffed at it. So then I sat down beside him with the coco oil on the treat and opened his mouth and put a little bit on it. He licked his lips and seemed to like it. The next few days I fed him the coco oil the same way, I’d take a little and put it in his mouth. He also knows that when he is done eating the oil he gets the treat, so he has something to look forward to. Nowadays Ive graduated to being able to put it on the side of his food bowl and him licking all of it off. He still gets his treat of course!

    in reply to: Coconut Oil #43289 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    I’ve been getting into the habit of feeding my newfoundland and standard poodle mix puppy a half tsp of coconut oil for about a week. It has done wonders with his breath! You have to slowly build it up to the recommended amount so that it doesn’t play havoc with his stomach all of a sudden.

    in reply to: Water Additives? #42039 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    Thank you Mom2Cavs! I am ordering it right now on Amazon! 🙂

    in reply to: Water Additives? #42019 Report Abuse
    OnyxMom
    Member

    We brush our 4 month old puppy’s teeth twice a day. His poop is always good, and he has no gas. But, his breath stinks so bad. I am obsessive about doggie smell, and so his fur doesn’t smell at all, but gosh his breath could make a giant swoon. Or, maybe my smell obsession is affecting my perception of how bad his breath is. I really don’t want to give him an additive.

    How are enzymatic sprays with the breath issue? Does the coconut oil help with bad breath? I have no idea how to fix this!

Viewing 16 posts - 1 through 16 (of 16 total)