[Patricia A]

Sound like a good starter plan Subby. With any luck it was only the treats that were disagreeing with her. So stools firm up and none of those treats. Then slowly introducing the kibble back maybe even starting with just two on top of her chicken/rice. Then four etc. No reason even to stop the chicken at times even if the kibble is agreeing with her. I often feed pieces of hard boiled egg to mine also. Don’t think that would disagree with most dogs and the white of the egg is another source of good protein. Just first make sure introducing the egg when no diarrhea for awhile so it’s easy to tell the foods that doesn’t work with her.
Maybe, with time you can introduce another treat. I use freeze dried in open Farm or Bixbi. Their just little nuggets in different protein. Also had luck with feeding these even to my one that tends toward sensitive stomach. Just one though to see how she does. Even a string bean could be a nutritious treat as an answer to a question below. .
(Yes, your dog can eat green beans. Plain, unseasoned green beans can be a healthy addition to supplement your dog’s diet. Just remember: all dogs react differently to each and every food. Moderation is key here to avoid gas or diarrhea.) I myself give canned. My one doesn’t digest the raw . The other like raw carrots though.
UHHH I!! know how she feels. Just figured out that I can continue eating Japanese food. It wasn’t the rolls but the the salad dressing they used that was doing me in. lol Keep me updated and fingers crossed no more tummy trouble.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Subby so sorry your going through this with your pup. First off from experience I know my two will get diarrhea with any food too high in fat. This would include DARK meat chicken. Only boiled white meat breasts is what I can feed. Also , I had a pooh eater. Never failed to give her diarrhea. After weeks of making sure I was right there to pooper scoop hers or my other ones pooh to the pail and a stern yell of her name she no longer has that habit thus stopping the diarrhea. So make sure she is not eating her own pooh.
Now don’t believe a diet strictly of chicken/rice is given her proper nutrition in the long run. As long as your vet says there is no problem such as IBD then it’s going to be a painstaking task of finding a food that agrees with her.
I believe the trouble begins when any food introduced is not VERY SLOWLY introduced. Then the diarrhea and thinking it’s not agreeing your switching AGAIN and it’s a vicious cycle then.
Don’t know if possibly the kibble you gave wasn’t agreeing with her? So as long as you have stopped kibble you can SLOWLY,, being a two kibble at a time each day introduce a new brand? Kibble is only a VERY small portion of my dogs’ diet. I feed freeze dried and home cooked . However, again those low in fat. My dogs’ do very well with Stella Chewy’s kibble in chicken grain free. Freeze dried is what DFA rates as 5* because lower in fat. This works for my two. But again..introduced VERY, VERY, VERY slowly. Mine two did have loose stool for the first few days but gave it a chance and now doing great with their diet. Hope this helps a little.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Steve I know that in some dogs too much fat in a diet can cause pancreatitis. When given a little chop meat that was not lean or even dark meat chicken my two would get IBS symptoms of diarrhea . I don’t know if your vet said that the bloat could be caused by fat in diet. However, these are some of the possible causes of bloat.
Causes
Vets aren’t sure what causes bloat, but there are some things that raise a dog’s risk for it, including

Having one large meal a day
Eating quickly
A lot of running or playing after they eat
Other dogs they are related to have had bloat
Eating or drinking too much
Stress
To avoid bloat, be mindful of your dog’s eating habits. Dogs that gulp their food should not receive large meals or large quantities of water all at once. Instead, let them have smaller meals more frequently and small drinks of water more frequently. Large dogs will benefit from eating their food from a raised bowl because they will ingest less air when eating. Make sure your dog is kept quiet after they eat so have time to digest before running and playing. Below is a good article on burping dogs also. Hope this helps a little.
https://www.petful.com/pet-health/why-does-my-dog-burp-so-much/

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

. I feed Primal Freeze dried. Believe more expensive then the raw however I have Chihuahuas’ so doesn’t break the bank. I also add at times some kibble. That being Stella Chewy’s with freeze dried pieces. The kibble is a VERY small part of their diet. My two are also fed boiled chicken, salmon, lean steak, watermelon, string beans, carrots, pieces of apple, plain yogur etc. and 1/4 of a hard boiled egg for breakfast.
You can try the Primal freeze dried in the different flavors/proteins. Mine does well with the duck, chicken, rabbit, and they LOVE the turkey/Sardine. The DFA rates all these proteins 5*. I use Stella chewys also in freeze dried being chicken, venison blend. Just needs to be hydrated with some warm water .
So sounds like you have a good plan to me Maria. Just go slow with introduction so he’s used to it by the time it’s necessary to feed.

[Patricia A]

I’m always looking out for a quality food to add in rotation with my dogs’. Although kibble is only a VERY small part of their diet it does stretch the freeze dried they eat as their main meal. All kibble is so processed that feel your starting out with a negative with the best of them. This is all I found on DFA regarding this kibble. /forums/topic/natures-protection-superior-care-whitedog/

[Patricia A]

I believe your thinking of Susan Thixton (Truth behind Pet Food). She writes up a list of her top picks and reviews of dog food that she would feed her own dog. List mostly consists of organic, raw and freeze dried dog and cat foods. Believe she visits facilities also. There is a small fee for list for the year.

[Patricia A]

I agree with pugmomsan. I switch between brands, flavors, proteins. This should be done VERY SLOWLY . If using kibble just start with the new brand being added to old brand with a few mixed in for several weeks. I NEVER only give kibble. Not the best diet for life for a dog. You can add a little prepared freeze dried or raw again with rotating brands and proteins SLOWLY introducing. Also REAL cooked food when appropriate. I sound like a broken record but I think most people now know that lean beef, lean steak, salmon, string beans, watermelon, plain yogurt, boiled plain chicken etc. added to kibble at times is the best diet at least for my two.

[Patricia A]

John I have Chihuahuas. Freeze Dried is kind of expensive to feed even with them being small. So I supplement with the kibble and give less of the freeze dried to make up their calorie/nutritional needs. Also as I posted they get home cooked as a topper to a little kibble. This being boiled white meat chicken, boiled salmon, string beans(low salt), carrots, watermelon, sweet potatoes, lean steak, boiled 1/8 of hard boiled egg in morning. This is easily done since it’s just what we’re having for dinner that day.
So there are many freeze dried brands. I stick to Primal and Stella Chewy’s. Bixbi Rawbbles freeze dried are given for treats and Open Farm freeze dried. I hear Dogs for the Earth is a very good brand also and Vital Essentials(believe this one follows a prey model with no added vitamins. Just what’s in the food for nutrition. )
I got them VERY, VERY, VERY slowly used to Primal in different proteins/flavors. I use the lower fat ones which I believe is the ones DFA rated as 5*’s. So Rabbit, Turkey/Salmon, Duck.
Stella Chewy’s I feed their Venison Blend,.
I just mix it up everyday. Never had a problem with their digestion and all blood work great. They LOVE the food.
I use Open Farm grain free and switch between with Stella Chewy’s raw coated chicken kibble. Just a little again to stretch the freeze dried .
If you have a larger breed dog it would be more cost saving to get the same in the raw. Most go through HPP process to get rid of salmonella/bacteria. True raw advocates don’t like this step but it’s fine with me. https://primalpetfoods.com/pages/canine-balanced-bases https://www.stellaandchewys.com/dog-food/

• This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Isabella which protein/flavor Primal Nuggets do you feed. Some are higher in fat which might cause the looser stool. Try the rabbit or Turkey/Salmon which are I believe lower in fat. Also You may need to have a veterinarian shave or clip your dog if her hot spot is especially painful.) Clean the affected area with warm water, and gently pat dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Apply a small amount of an over-the-counter hydrocortisone ointment to stop itching and aid healing.
Try to keep her from scratching and which causes the viscous cycle of hot spots. Maybe a bully stick to chew.
Hope this might help .

[Patricia A]

My thoughts are that your dog is getting very poor nutrition with “meal” listed as the ingredient on kibble. Kibble is already not the best diet for a dog. I supplement with a high quality kibble in VERY small portions but always with REAL food and freeze dried. Kibble was made for the convenience of feeding NOT for the best diet for an animal.
Article from DFA on meat meal.
/choosing-dog-food/dog-food-meat-content/

[Patricia A]

leamlass I’m not sure how big a dog you have since freezer dried is somewhat expensive. I have Chihuahuas’ so it doesn’t break the bank. However, I stretch the freeze dried by giving small amounts of kibble to make up for the caloric requirements. Other times I will give small amount of kibble with home cooked. That being boiled white meat chicken, boiled egg in morning some lean steak, lean very low chop meat (90% fat free), boiled salmon, string beans, carrots, watermelon etc. These all agree with my dogs in small quantities and really are real food that they should be eating.
So I got my two SLOWLY used to different brands and different proteins. Again VERY SLOWLY one at a time for a few weeks . They lick their bowls.
These are the brands that they do well with and are in supply at my local Pet Supply store. I stick with the ones the DFA advisor gives the 5* . They are a little lower in fat. They are all freeze dried. However the frozen would be more cost saving..
PRIMAL Turkey/Sardine, Rabbit, Duck
Stella Chewy’s Chicken(I give home cooked so don’t use too much), Rabbit, Venison Blend
I also give freeze dried treats in Bixbi and Open Farm treats freeze dried.
I alternate with Stella Chewy’s raw coated kibble and Open Farm grain free kibble.
Always looking for freeze dried to add to my rotation but mine do very well with good checkups and no tummy upset with these brands. Hope this helps.

[Patricia A]

Taylor I am SO VERY sorry for your loss . My heart goes out to you. There was NOTHING that you could have done differently.I lost my dog to a vets misdiagnosis and know the pain and frustration.
You did the right thing to not prolong her suffering. Nothing can stop the tears but just remember how much love you gave her and that she had the perfect person to have as her owner. Nothing stops the tears.
Again I am SO sorry to hear this. Prayers for you and your much loved pup.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Hi ipek.Don’t know if a switch in food would at all be helpful unless your shih tzu has other issues with the food you are currently feeding other then the stains. However, I did this on DFA site with posters opinions on this kibble for what it’s worth. /forums/topic/natures-protection-superior-care-whitedog/
/forums/topic/natures-protection-superior-care-whitedog/
As long as a vet has given a clean bill of health with especially tooth decay, then hope this article can be of help to you and your fur baby.
Tear stains are usually caused by dye molecules called porphyrins. Porphyrins are iron-containing molecules, produced when the body breaks down red blood cells. Porphyrins are excreted primarily through bile and the intestinal tract, but in dogs a significant amount of porphyrin is excreted through tears, saliva and also urine.

When porphyrin containing tears or saliva sits on white fur for any length of time, stains result. These iron-related stains intensify/darken in the presence of sunlight.

All dogs produce porphyrin, but of course porphyrin staining is most noticeable on light colored dogs. If you have ever noticed a white dog who has been licking or chewing on his leg, the hair in that area will turn iron-brown in color as well.

Primarily, then, most tear stains in most dogs can be simply prevented by keeping the face meticulously free of porphyrin-containing tears. That means keeping the face hair trimmed, and wiping the face at least twice daily with a slightly damp wash cloth, to dilute out and wash away the tears.

Or, if you want to get really fancy, cleaning under the eyes with ordinary contact lens cleaning solution (containing dilute boric acid, that oxidizes the iron in the porphyrins and lightens the color) will help keep things neat and tidy.

[Patricia A]

Taylor your dog is blessed to have you as her owner. You’re doing everything you can.

You mentioned dental work for tooth decay. Can you please mention this to your vet and see if this fits her symptoms. I came across tons of posts with the unilateral discharge with tooth decay and treatment. ORAL FISTULA and it does fit her symptoms.

Oronasal Fistula

An oronasal fistula is an opening or communication between the oral and nasal cavity. This occurs secondary to periodontal disease or loss of any maxillary (upper) teeth, most commonly the canine tooth. Signs of this condition include sneezing, nasal discharge, and bad breath odor.

Oronasal fistula needs to be evaluated with dental x-rays for impacted tooth/root structures. Surgical repair is accomplished with a gingival flap, debridement of the site, preservation of blood supply to the flap and tension-free closure of the site for good healing.
written on one of many forums Typically oronasal fistulas are repaired once the local infection has cleared, some of the tissue has healed, and some granulation (scar) tissue has had time to fill in. Some (smaller) ones will self-correct (fill in with granulation tissue on their own). Typically except with HUGE ones, you can’t see up into the nasal cavity, rather they are detected by chronic nasal discharge, small amounts of food or debris reaching the nostrils, etc. Because they are located above (ahead of) the pharynx, having an oronasal fistula is not typically much of a risk for creating aspiration. So, talk to your vet, have it evaluated, and have it repaired at the appropriate time. Like so many things, this is one procedure where you would want to ask your vet very directly what their success rate is in fixing them, and possibly ask for a referral. Performing the surgical flaps that allow these to close correctly is not difficult, but it is often outside the range of training of the average vet. The rate of surgical failure if very high if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. Good luck.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Taylor I’m so sorry that after all treatments and test she still has these health issues. You wrote that her discharge is unilateral. I would think this is very telling to the vet. All those antibiotics and still no relief. Don’t know why when the vet couldn’t do the rhinoscopy he prescribed even MORE instead of going right to CT scan which hopefully give the true cause of her suffering and finally correct treatment.
This is a long shot but has anything changed in the way of detergents , air fresheners or scented candles in the home. I know many dogs have severe symptoms from the plug in diffuses. When did her symptoms start. Could it be an allergic reaction to one of the common allergies outside at this time of year? But again, I’m thinking you said discharge is only one side of nose and I would think that if it were an allergy or infection it would be bilateral.
Please post when you get results of CT scan.I hope a reason and hence treatment.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Melissa I don’t believe there is a difference in ingredients if a brand says small breed. It is probably just the size of the kibble and nothing should be different in the same flavor/protein of the same brand which doesn’t have small breed on the label. Large breed puppy food I believe would be an exception since large breed puppies have very different nutritional needs then non large breed puppies.
When it comes to senior foods I don’t believe it’s necessary to switch foods. It depends on you dog as stated in this article. If you have a vet check with blood work and your dogs are in good health then no reason to switch their food. Also there is nothing wrong with giving your senior dogs some REAL food at times. That being boiled white meat chicken, string beans, lean steak , watermelon . I’m sure they will enjoy this at their age. Hopes this helps.
Manufacturers “might be increasing protein, decreasing protein or keeping it the same,” Freeman said. “That emphasizes to us to look at the individual animal, and not all aging animals need a different diet. It’s much, much more important to look at individual dogs.”
Respondents tended to assume that senior dog foods were lower in calories, yet this actually varied from 246 to 408 calories a cup. Not all dogs gain weight as they age, some gain weight and some stay the same, Freeman said. Survey respondents also tended to assume that senior diets had less fat, protein and sodium. But, this was also not necessarily the case, with much variation among individual petfood brands, Freeman found.

“The study highlights the diversity among dogs and, consequently, dog food products. Each dog is unique and has distinct needs,” said Kurt Gallagher, a spokesman for the Pet Food Institute.”Attaining senior status depends on several factors, including the breed and weight of the dog. The differing nutritional needs of dogs are exemplified by the variance in the amount of protein senior dogs should consume.”

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

I would prefer to have protein twice as much as the fat also Aimee.I am doing just what you suggested regarding the kcal/kg. I actually wrote all the flavors down on paper of the three different brands I rotate with .I put the Kcal in order of lowest to highest. I always have a few different protein/flavors and brands to rotate with. For their snack they get one freeze dried piece of either Open Farm or Bixbi So when my two are more active being I take them for a longer walk, I don’t mind giving the the one higher in the calories because they love those flavors. I notice a BIG difference between Stella and Chewy’s Kcal vs Primal in the same protein also. My one that tends to get chubby is given more of the Primal in the lower kcals. But really their diet is varied with home cooked when appropriate also. Had their checkup recently and they got a clean bill of health with the blood work. So, so far so good.
Thank you so much Aimee for posting. You give me a much better understanding of how to look between the lines when reading labels. I’m going to use the dot.com site . Thank you again Aimee.

[Patricia A]

You’re welcome Madison.
Aimee you’re so knowledgable with understanding the ratio breakdowns. I wish companies would make it easier and give real amount and not min/max. I get a little ptsd with even looking at a label. I went to Catholic school in the 60’s and if you didn’t get your math right you’d get the dreaded “paddle”. lol
Is my understanding of the star ratings correct. Being that if I pick the Primal Freeze dried in a protein/flavor rated 5* it would be higher in protein then fat? When I fed the lower stars (2.5) they always got lose stool. So it made sense to me. The DFA also clarifies at the bottom of his breakdown/reviews for the brand as a whole.
So, yes I see that some of the freeze dried in Primal are lower star ratings. Hence the review of above fats . However, the ones with the 5* are lower? Uhhh..hope I’m making sense with this probably senseless question. They are doing well on the food but I like to rotate brands somewhat and want to know if I come across in the future I will know if I’m picking one with more meat then fat.
Below is the overall review for Primal Freeze Dried. Thank’s Aimee for helping me.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other raw dog foods.

Even when you consider the mild protein-boosting effect of the alfalfa, this looks like the profile of a raw dog food containing an abundance of meat.

However, with 64% of the total calories in our example coming from fat versus just 33% from protein, some recipes may not be suitable for every animal.
Bottom line?
Primal Freeze-Dried Formula is a grain-free raw dog food using an generous of named meats and organs as its main source of animal protein, thus receiving 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

ooops..I just saw the reviews for Vital Essentials. The freeze dried is low in fat. The frozen is above average fat. I understand when the reviews are based on “as a whole” above average in fat since not all their proteins/flavors rate the 5* . However, only one protein/flavor in the Vital Essentials rate as lower then the 5*. So don’t know why “as a whole” the raw would be higher in fat or even know why the freeze dried would be rated differently then their raw in the same protein/flavors. Maybe someone can clear this up for me also.

[Patricia A]

Madison I have dogs’ which have digestive problems with higher fat in their diet. I came to that conclusion because whenever I fed certain home cooked food as a kibble topper they would have loose stools. That being dark meat chicken vs boiled white meat, ground beef that wasn’t 90% fat free, fatty pieces of steak vs very lean(when they got lucky lol). They have no trouble with plain, boiled salmon.
So, that being said I hope I can make some suggestions of a starting point in switching to raw and then you can see how she does with each of these brands.
I got used to my dogs’ with one brand/protein VERY, VERY, VERY slowly. Then when i knew that they were digestively good with the brand/protein I would switch the protein also very slowly. Just giving them bits mixed in with the other protein. Eventually, I also would change brands and did the same. I just feel better not sticking always to one brand, but that’s me.
I used a starting point by looking at the raw food reviews on DFA. This led me to Primal, Stella Chewy’s, I have Chihuahuas’. This allowed me to use freeze dried. However, for a larger dog as yours, I believe the frozen raw would be most cost efficient. Freeze Dried should be the same as raw nutritionally once hydrated.
I always only feed his 5* reviews in the protein/flavor of that brand. I believe he rates by protein to fat ratio. So the 5* ones are lower in fat. So I stick to Primal’s turkey/sardine, venison, pork, duck. All of these proteins/flavors are non HPP (HIGH-PRESSURE PROCESSING (HPP)
High-Pressure Processing, or HPP, is an FDA- and USDA-approved cold water pressure process that allows us to target salmonella and other food-borne pathogens—without cooking.) Some raw feeders do not like the HPP process claiming it effects nutritional values. However other studies show he use of High Pressure Processing (known as HPP) is becoming increasingly common with commercial raw dog foods. However, HPP can be a controversial process. Some view it as an effective way to eliminate disease-causing bacteria while having only minimal effect on the integrity of the finished product.)
I believe Stella’s uses HPP in all their products. With their food I use chicken, venison bland and their rabbit.
Their are many other companies which are rated highly on this site. I believe VITAL ESSENTIALS is the brand which Is as a whole below in fat . If you go to the reviews on DFA they are all listed as a 5*. Many different flavors also. They are also low in calories . Their company goes by the prey model which is no veggies/fruits which are sometimes added to other brands. vital essentials example (ngredients: Beef, beef tripe, beef lung, ground beef bone, beef liver, beef heart, beef kidney, beef blood, beef fat, herring oil, d-alpha tocopherol)
I also want to suggest possibly kibble with salmon. Pancreatic digestive enzyme supplements have been reported to help some dogs with pancreatitis while fish body oils (such as salmon oil or EPA oil but not cod liver oil), can help to lower blood lipid levels which may reduce the workload on the pancreas.
I believe your dog does not suffer from pancreatitis but just occasional IBS? So I hope she does well with any of these . Just go slowly. So much confusion with all those brands. Hope I gave you a good starting point and she does well with these suggestions.

[Patricia A]

I’m also trying to get my slightly chubby Chihuahua to lose a bit. She gets two meal a day. Breakfast being just 1/8 of a hard boiled egg. Very hard to figure out how much to feed Boss since the food is pretty significant calorie difference. How about alternating each day? This way you can give less of the Perfectus per cup on those days since higher in calories.
I notice with my little chihuahua that giving her breakfast, which is for her 1/8 of a hard boiled egg, cuts her hunger for giving all the calories for dinner. So if you can give dinner a little earlier and wait an hour and give her some exercise with a walk the calories can burn off? String beans in-between instead of caloric treats also helps for the weight lose.
Hope this helps.

[Patricia A]

Ladies I believe we are all trying to do our best in trying to help Sienna with whatever knowledge we have from experiences with our own pets in regards to what to feed for a possible resolution of her dogs health symptoms.
However, when rereading her posts I still cannot find a definitive diagnosis of IBD. Sienna posted “My vet told me her behavior is likely 100% behavioral- that my dog is basically just so generally stressed that she is resorting to eating- and since she doesn’t have loose stool or diarrhea that she may just have general IBD but to keep her on this same food since her stools are nice and firm with .” I would never think the vet would describe IBD as just GENERAL????
It’s just an opinio,however when i read between the lines of Siennas’ description of her Boxer’s many symptoms they all lead me to believe she might have IBS when fed certain foods as she states “er a piece of pineapple yesterday and she woke up in the middle of the night and expelled it, undigested.” as my dogs and many others do with certain food also. With constant looking for food could it be possible Sienna is feeding less because she feels like the amount to satiate her causes her to be “reactive”. But i don’t read her say reactive in the way of diarrhea, vomiting. or a lose of appetite as being the common signs of IBD.
Would you ladies agree that she really should go to another vet and hopefully this vet would be able to give a definitive diagnosis of IBD vs IBS and the not so big deal of behavioral issues which then can be addressed or accepted as her personality and work around it.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

UHHH ..So sorry the change of food again didn’t do the trick for her problem. Just wanted to add that with at least my two dogs’, their appetite NEVER seems to be satiated. I think I could give them each a whole chicken and when done they would STILL be under the dinner table waiting for the messy eater to drop a table scrap or two. lol And these are 6lb. Chihuahuas’. lol
I’m hoping that since your dog does not show the classic symptoms of Interestinal Bowel Disease, such as the lack of appetite, losing weight, vomiting and diarrhea and that your vet never gave a definitive diagnosis of chronic pancreas that perhaps she’s just a hungry dog.
Keep me updated Sienna. Hopefully optimistic that you’ll work out the problem and find a solution for your pup.

[Patricia A]

Sienna this is an excellent article on very natural behaviors of dogs. It’s in regard to why dogs don’t like hugs. How dogs react to certain places on their body they regard as a threat when you try to touch or pet. Also how to handle a dog who is reactive to other dogs. It’s really all natural behavior in a dogs world.
https://www.treehugger.com/things-humans-do-that-dogs-hate-4864319
This is a questions and answers regarding REACTIVE DOG BEHAVIORS.

Reactive Dog FAQs

Maybe you’ll find similarities in your Boxer’s behavior in articles . it explains the whys and helpful advice.

[Patricia A]

LOL! Oh good. I told my hubby to stop me from posting because I might be coming across as that. Glad you didn’t think that. Yes..we had Pookie our Doxie as our first dog with my kids when they were little. NOW he could eat a lamb bone with fatty meat. Iron stomach. We just couldn’t step outside we’re he would run outside to eat for the two days cause he would growl at us. New dog parents and didn’t know any better to feed him that. No google either to look up even what to feed a dog and what not. Then we had Chloe a rescue Chihuahua. Then my Hannah Belle my soulmate dog who we put to rest at 17 in the spring. I still cry. So now we have our Tia who just turned 10 and Loli who will be six. Both Chihuahuas . Each one was SO different. Now without the kids to worry about it’s all-out them.
I’m really sad that you’re going through this with your first dog. Happy she’s in good hands and loved so much.I think the best thing is find low fat food. This way you can feed the amount she need to satisfy her and keep the appropriate weight for her size. I read this one is good. https://www.chewy.com/nulo-freestyle-cod-lentils-recipe/dp/104614?utm_source=partnerize&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=1100l35838&utm_content=0&clickref=1100laaz8JW6
Good luck Sienna and keep updating

[Patricia A]

Thank’s Sienna for claifying. It’s not the classic symptoms of IBD . For instance If I give my one dog a piece of raw carrot she’s fine. But with the other one she throws it up. That same dog can eat several pieces of watermelon and be fine. But now the other one will have diarrhea with one small piece .I’ve gotten to know what agrees with each of them and what they can’t tolerate digestivelly . Just like people we can have digestive problems with eating a food that others would have no problem with.
Do you believe that the whining is caused by stomach pain or just wanting more food? Does she get diarrheae (ORANGE STOOL https://www.dogsupsetstomach.com/causes-of-orange-stool-in-dogs/) or vomit kibble back up? If when you SLOWLY, SLOWLY changed to a different food did she at first start out with loose stool . Because that would be normal at least for my dogs. Then after a few weeks of gradual change over their stools were fine. If not then that particular protein/brand did not agree with them.
Sienna please don’t take me as a know-it-all. I certainly don’t. Just thought maybe I’d hit on something that is a simple fix. but maybe it is not. But i agree with Susan to find a new vet . I don’t like either that he/she dismissed as being purely behavioral. Especially since apparently she was guessing when this vet put her on all these meds thats did not help and was probably not warranted.
I found this Boxer site that IS active. Maybe you can copy/paste what you posted on this forum .
Please keep us updated. https://www.boxerforums.com

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Susan I read over Sienna’s post and really doesn’t sound like IBD by her description. Symptoms I always believed by others posts who’s dog’s suffered from IBD were LACK of appetite, vomiting and diahrreah. She wrote her pooch does fine on kibble. If I read in-between the lines it seems her main concern is her behavior. That being her dog is so distracted looking for food on ground that she doesn’t walk. But this really stood out in Sienna’s post…”If I feed her more to satisfy her hunger, she becomes much more reactive and defensive.”
I’m hoping Sienna replies with my question of a description of her boxer being reactive and defensive when she feeds enough for satiation. So if she’s worried about this behavior she’s feeding less then what the dog needs to ever feel full hence the content hunger?
Each dog I had the pleasure to share my life with has had little quirks in personality. Some good some I would rather them have not possessed.” My foremost concern was always their health. Personality traits I could change I worked on. Others were accepted as “that’s just the way they were born.” Gets harder if a pet was adopted past puppyhood. Never know what their situation was which led to a fearful dog, aggressive dog because of fear etc. My moms dog has submissive pee since she brought her home. Go down to pet her and she wets. Without going into detail her last owners were not too nice to her.
So what I’m getting at is for Sienna to work on what truly is a health concern causing her dog to suffer and what is a personality trait that MAYBE can be worked on or something just to accept. Just seperate the two so a NEW vet can focus on her health. Hope this makes sense.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

oops forgot to put this article. Might be helpful? https://dogsfirst.ie/health-issues/pancreatitis-dogs-part-2-solution/

[Patricia A]

Sienna it sounds like you’re doing everything you can. I feel so sorry for you and your pup going through all this. So frustrating when you’re trying so hard and can’t find a solution . All those antibiotics will definitely cause upset stomach and loose stool. I read this and maybe it will help a little with avoiding the UTI’s’ (Routine grooming, especially around the urinary opening, and regular bathing can help prevent bacteria from entering the urinary system. …)
I imagine the vet checked all blood work values such as liver and found them to be normal. Is she losing weight at all? I know my two dogs are ALWAYS hungary and following into kitchen even just after eating for any crumbs that may drop.
Keeping my fingers crossed for her that low fat food works for her . She’s probably so hungry all the time because the food is going right through her. I think she’s going to be more hungry with the low fat but hopefully it will stay in her stomach and won’t cause the loose stools and then you can just feed more.
My dogs will always get the diarrhea if I feed a protein high in fat. I feed freeze dried and ONLY feed the 5* flavors/proteins because the higher rating I am told means less fat. So I SLOWLY got them used to a few different brands and flavors. But if I give them a little chop meat that’s not 90% fat free they’ll get the soft stool.
Please keep updating. I hope, hope, hope the new food and enzyme does the trick.

[Patricia A]

Wow that’s a lot of abnormal symptoms without the vet resolving any. Seems like they are guessing and giving possibly unneeded medications since it never resolved the problems. No definitive diagnosis of hypothyroidism but put on that medication could cause more symptoms .
Has the vet given a cause of the constant UTI’s? Were these her symptoms?
( The most common cause of UTIs in dogs is bacteria, which enters upwards through the urethral opening. The bacteria can develop when feces or debris enter the area, or if your dog’s immune system is weakened from lack of nutrients.
In most cases, E. coli is the bacterium that causes such infections. In more severe, but less common cases, causes include cancer, bladder disease, kidney disease and stones, diabetes, bladder inflammation or infection, spinal cord abnormalities, and prostate disease.)
Symptoms of UTIs in Dogs
Bloody and/or cloudy urine
Straining or whimpering during urination
Accidents in the house
Wanting to be let outside more frequently
Dribbling urine
Licking around urinary opening
Fever
If not then is it possible she never had constant UTI’s? Because if she did they at least should have found a cause and preventive treatment.
Also is it possible she has chronic pancreatitis? Then a change in dog food and given high protein and low fat diet should help. But worst thing is the constant switching of food . This will give stomach pain and diarrhea . Any switch has to be done VERY VERY VERY slowly to get used to. With the chicken was it ONLY white meat? Normally if a dog has pancreatitis they can tolerate WHITE meat boiled chicken (not from store bought seasoned already) and plain rice. Give this for a few days and a few times a day and see if she tolerated that. Give a break from meds and all the switching of foods and just work on her digestion first possibly. Have a calm place for her to eat with no excitement so the food doesn’t go right through her if she’s an anxious by nature dog. Hope this helps a little If not take her back to vet for some definitive tests and answers.

[Patricia A]

Kanna Polycythemia is very rare . Don’t believe changing of diet would be of any solution. Treatment would be removing blood red blood cells . Which type does your vet said she had?
Relative polycythemia – Usually a vet will fix this by re-hydrating the dog, sometimes with intravenous fluids.
Transient polycythemia – This is most often a temporary condition brought on by stress or excitement and resolves itself without treatment.
Primary absolute polycythemia – This is a chronic, rare disease that a vet may resolve with a phlebotomy, more commonly know as blood letting. The vet puts a catheter in a central vein to remove blood that’s too high in red blood cells, then they replace fluids intravenously to avoid a drop in blood pressure. They may need to repeat the procedure several times. The vet may also prescribe medications to inhibit red blood cell production.
Secondary absolute polycythemia – The vet must diagnose underlying cause, and because there are so many potential causes of the condition, treatment can vary a great deal. Often treatment of the underlying cause resolves the issue and dogs won’t need further treatment, though in some cases, dogs may need phlebotomies to reduce the amount of red blood cells.

[Patricia A]

Yazmin one of the important keys to not upsetting his stomach is a VERY, VERY slow transition from what the breeder has been feeding him. Meaning feed the majority of kibble as his diet mixed in with the raw a tiny bit of the time until he’s fully transitioned to the raw. I feed freeze-dried raw in different brands. Don’t know the fat content in truly raw feeding. Just know that in certain proteins/flavors my dogs have a problem if the protein is too high in fat with certain brands. I stick to the low in fat because it causes stomach upset in my small dogs. So keep this in mind if your pup has loose stools after the full transition. Good luck with your new puppy.

[Patricia A]

Jared if your dog has high Lipase levels read this article regarding correct blood test to determine if the elevation truly is from pancreatitis or some other problem. Can routine tests be used to diagnose pancreatitis?
Routine blood tests, including a Complete Blood Count and Biochemistry Profile (see handouts: “Complete Blood Count” and “Serum Biochemistry”) typically reveal abnormalities that are suggestive of pancreatitis. However, the changes are not unique to the disease and do not give a definitive diagnosis.
In the past, the diagnosis of pancreatitis was based on finding high levels of two enzymes called serum amylase and serum lipase. While high values of these enzymes can be found in dogs with pancreatitis, the tests have not proven reliable and are no longer considered the tests of choice for diagnosing pancreatitis in the dog.
What is pancreas-specific lipase? How is it different from serum lipase?
“…blood values increase only when there is pancreatic inflammation.”
Pancreas-specific lipase is a form of lipase produced only in the pancreas. It is highly specific to the pancreas, and blood values increase only when there is pancreatic inflammation. By comparison, serum lipase can come from tissues other than the pancreas, and high blood values can occur with conditions other than pancreatitis.

[Patricia A]

Bryan here is a comparison between the top fresh food deliveries. https://www.consumervoice.org/top-dog-food-delivery?s=ollie&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI476iqa3P6gIVirbICh3rPgZAEAAYBCAAEgJQNfD_BwE&kw=pet%20plate%20vs%20ollie&cpn=9498257918&adgroup=102601955441&loc_physical=9004507&loc_interest=&matchtype=e&network=g&device=c&creative=438764923659&placement=&target=&adpos=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI476iqa3P6gIVirbICh3rPgZAEAAYBCAAEgJQNfD_BwE

[Patricia A]

Jude when it comes to kibble you need low carbs and higher protein. Hard to find a kibble low in carbs since it needs a starchy binder to hold it together. So maybe do away with kibble altogether.. I have a Chihuahua who tends to get chubby . My other Chihuahua is the same size and is fed same amount and stays slim. Yet, the chubby one is much more active. I think the secret is cutting food down. I never go by what they say on bag. I feed kibble as a VERY VERY small portion of food. Kibble is what tends to put the weight on my chubby one and now that weather is hot here and they get less walks I cut down to just a few along with their freeze dried food. I used string beans and one freeze dried as a treat. I stick to 5* proteins and brands as per DFA reviews. They also get home cooked LEAN boiled white meat chicken, fish(salmon) in tiny amounts, lean steak when we have. Bits of watermelon etc. But secret is cut down on food smaller portions gradually. Then when weather permits a walk as much as a 17 can do comfortably.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

I get my dogs slowly used to several brands of freeze dried in different brands and proteins which I feel is much better then dried kibble. They do get kibble but as a VERY small portion of their diet. I was getting overwhelmed also but that was when I was in mindset was that dogs should only be fed kibble and to boot only the same brand.for life. Now I mix it up with REAL food also. With REAL chunks of meat or fish when I cook . Kibble was only invented for the convenience.

[Patricia A]

Nina you say that her tonsils are enlarged. Could it be vet meant her esophagus? Article below describes regurgitation in dog with this condition.
https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/c_dg_megaesophagus

[Patricia A]

Maybe a starting point would be to find a food low in fat but has a good protein level. I feed freeze dried raw. This way with the hydration they are getting plenty of water. I also stick to only the LOW IN FAT proteins because my one would get diarrhea with the high fat. So maybe the best you can do with diet is the hard task of helping with the pancreatitis as well as the bladder stones is the high protein/low fat diet.
I read this in Whole Dog Journal
Low-protein diets have also been shown to predispose dogs to pancreatitis, especially when combined with high fat intake. Some prescription diets may be a concern, such as those prescribed to dissolve struvite bladder stones; to prevent calcium oxalate, urate, or cystine stones; and to treat kidney disease; especially for breeds prone to pancreatitis.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Also prednisone should NOT be given to dogs with stones since it causes stones to form. The following treats are acceptable for oxalate stone forming dogs:
plain cooked chicken
plain cooked turkey
eggs
rice
peas
pasta
white potatoes
cabbage
cauliflower
bananas
melon

[Patricia A]

There are different types of stones with different reasons for formations. However, hydration is a big key in all stones to prevent recurrence. Helpful article below for Calcium oxalate stones.
Nutritional management of Calcium Oxalate stones

While it can be difficult to completely prevent your dog developing calcium oxalate stones (particularly if they have a genetic predisposition to it), there are some things that you can do to decrease your dog’s chances of developing bladder stones, and to prevent them coming back in dogs who have previously had them.

Keeping your dog well hydrated is vital. This dilutes their urine, which in turn dilutes the levels of chemicals that promote stone formation, and so decreases the chance of your dog developing bladder stones.

You can help your dog drink more water by placing a few bowls of fresh water in different locations around the house. Always make sure the water is fresh and that you change it regularly.

In the ideal world we are aiming to maintain urine specific gravity <1.020. I always encourage my clients to buy a refractometer, which makes it very easy to measure your dog’s urine specific gravity.

The food your dog eats also impacts on the development of calcium oxalate stones.

To decrease the chances of your dog developing bladder stones, you should avoid feeding foods that contain high levels of oxalate such as spinach, sweet potatoes, organ meat and brown rice. Instead, include foods with lower oxalate levels like apples (peeled), wild rice and meats and fish in their diet. It’s also a good idea to boil vegetables and discharge the water before giving them to your dog – this helps to reduce the oxalate levels in them.

Restricting calcium is another strategy for reducing oxalate levels in the urine – a reduction in calcium should be accompanies by a similar reduction in oxalate levels. However calcium restriction should be done very carefully, as too much restriction can be damaging and may lead to health problems including osteoporosis.

Other dietary measures that can be taken to help prevent formation of calcium oxalate stones are reducing dietary sodium (salt) and avoiding excess vitamin D. This is because excess sodium and vitamin D promotes excessive urinary calcium excretion. Therefore moderately reduce dietary sodium, stay away from high sodium treats and do not supplement with vitamin D.

Vitamin C supplements are not recommended because when vitamin C is metabolised and broken down, it produces oxalate – therefore avoiding vitamin C supplements avoids an increase in oxalate levels.

Vitamin B supplements are water soluble and are excreted in the urine. Therefore in all cases of urinary tract stones it is prudent to give a vitamin B complex supplement.

There is still some debate surrounding magnesium and bladder stones. Some studies have shown that magnesium in the urine impairs formation of calcium oxalate stones. But other studies have shown that when given to healthy dogs, magnesium supplements resulted in an increase in urinary calcium levels. So because there is no definite consensus, restricting or supplementing magnesium is not recommended and so both should be avoided.

It’s important to note that not all of the oxalate in your dog’s body stems from their diet. Some is produced naturally by your dog’s body, mainly the liver. Nonetheless, avoiding incorporating foods with high levels of oxalate in your dog’s diet is an important preventative step against calcium oxalate stones.

Including fiber in the diet may reduce absorption of some minerals and so should be considered as part of any dietary changes being made. However, take care not to increase levels too much which can result in overfeeding.

Calcium oxalate stones cause the bladder to become inflamed by rubbing up against the bladder wall. To help reduce this inflammation, you can give your dog fish body oil supplements. However, avoid liver oil as this contains vitamin D which should be avoided (see above).

There are a few veterinary prescription diets designed to (theoretically) reduce the likelihood of calcium oxalate stone.

You can also prepare you dogs food at home using the same high quality ingredients that you eat. There are several health benefits of making your dogs food at home. By feeding your dog a home-prepared diet rather than a dry kibble diet, you can increase the amount of water they are drinking. And as mentioned above, increased water consumption makes urine more dilute and can help prevent stones forming.

A home-prepared diet is also the only way you can truly control what is going into your dog.

If you’d like to try cooking for your dog, the best way to ensure that the diet is meeting all of your dogs nutritional needs is to get your recipe from a qualified nutritionist. Dietary manipulation to address a health problem should be done by someone who will work with your dog.

[Patricia A]

My one Chihuahua used to eat her pooh and my other dogs pooh when left to go in back yard when not walked. I always knew because when on pooh patrol there was none to be found. Also her breath smelled like pooh as well as the vomiting and diarrhea when she indulged. Habit was totally broken by being EXTREMELLY diligent in NEVER EVER letting her have the chance again to eat her or the other dogs pooh. I would stand outside and immediately sternly yell her name and pick up with pooper scooper to pail. Did the same when she would wait patiently for my Loli to pooh to eat and again a stern warning and immediately dispose of the pooh. After a few weeks she gave up trying and now I watch her out back door and she doesn’t recycle hers or lolis’ food . I still pick up after they go of course.
So now your second problem it could be he developed an intolerance to the food. I always stick with low fat foods but NOT prescription. Low fat white meat chicken, lean steak when available. I use freeze dried in the 5* which are lower in fat to top their kibble. Maybe you can introduce VERY slowly to your dogs diet. I use stella Chewy’s kibble and never had a problem with diahrreah or colitis in my dogs. introduce any new food VERY, VERY, VERY slowly.
Just for info any antibiotic takes away good bacteria and effects can happen weeks later. The most common side effect of metronidazole in dogs is vomiting, usually accompanied by diarrhea. Sometimes other veterinary medicine will be prescribed to help with the nauseous feeling.
Also I really hope your vet is up to date on NOT giving vaccinations yearly. It is NOT necessary and will have side effects. My dogs were vaccinated with booster at one year and they only get rabies every 3 years now.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/8572826/ns/health-pet_health/t/still-vaccinating-your-pet-every-year/#.XvjP9y3MwcY

• This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Yes TB you can make it as soft in consistency as your pet likes and can eat. Some of the protein flavors in Primal and Stella’s are easier to break up. But all can just be crumbled and softened. Here is a video and towards the end you can see how it breaks up in water to easy to eat portions even for dogs with no teeth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvTOALTqruQ

[Patricia A]

T B she might do well with freeze dried. I use Primal and Stella Chewy’s for my two Chihuahuas’ However, there are many other brands related on this site you can try also. . You can break up the nuggets/disc to the size she can eat and then hydrate a little. The consistency will be soft but not mushy at all. You can break up as big or small as you like. Easy to feed and they go crazy for the taste and they get 5* reviews on DFA . Here’s the site for Primal. They also have raw called Pronto which you just take straight from freeze, put in bowl and it’s ready to eat in five minutes or so without water. https://primalpetfoods.com/pages/canine-choose-your-primal
They are not sold at supermarkets or petsmart/ petcos’ . You can order online or if you have a pet supply store in your area.
Hope this helps.

[Patricia A]

Hi Tom…You can look at Budget friendly dog food at this site here on the Dog Food Advisor. /best-dog-foods/budget-friendly/
Also, I know my senior dog when at that age really enjoyed some plain boiled white meat chicken, string beans and very lean hamburger mixed in with her kibble. This way you can possibly get a higher rated 4 or 5* kibble and stretch it by giving a little less kibble with simple homemade cooked food. However, please go VERY SLOWLY with any transition of any new type of food as not to upset his stomach. Good luck and since your profile photo has you with a good catch I say happy fishing to you since I also enjoy fishing.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Paul when I notice a discrepancy I email them and they give explanation. I was confused why the one protein/flavor in Stella & Chewy’s freeze dried was rated at a 2.5*s and the same flavor/protein in the raw was a 4*. According to Stella’s the raw is exactly the same as their freeze dried once dehydrated. DFA changed the ratings in the raw to also a 2.5* the next day. So errors do occur and you have to email and call them out on it.

[Patricia A]

Open Farm freeze Dried and Rawbbles freeze dried. No reason to give junk food for treats. Instead give beneficial nutrition.

[Patricia A]

KH I’m confused with the reasoning that your vet advised a low protein diet . How would that solve the gas problem caused from the gulping of food. Maybe one of those bowls where the dog is forced to eat slowly . Did your vet give you an explanation why she would benefit from a low protein diet. Myvet actually told me to up the protein with fresh meat added since older dogs get muscle mass waste and need the extra protein.
(When dietary protein intake is inadequate, protein will initially be depleted from skeletal muscle, accelerating muscle wastage. General guidelines of 2.55g protein/kg bodyweight (BW) for healthy dogs and 5g/kg BW for cats have been suggested, but senior animals may need up to 50 percent more than this (Churchill, 2018). Although still an ongoing area of investigation, an increased intake of protein appears to be of particular benefit and has demonstrated a reduction in sarcopenia in dogs and cats (Laflamme, 2018). As yet, however, no optimal protein level has been determined. )

• This reply was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Kathy is it possible this could be the problem??? It may be related to her facial structure. Some BT can have Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS), the shape of their short heads can lead to airway obstruction, so when eating or drinking, they in effect can’t breathe, so they vomit. Other possibilities include elongated soft palate, pyloric stenosis, or megasophagus. All of those could suggest an abnormality that might have a surgical response, some may not. If her food is not even reaching her stomach, but is vomiting very shortly after eating or drinking, the problem might be a congenital structure problem, not related to her food or allergies.
Also have you tried many smalls meals a day? Getting off the kibble and giving only boiled white meat chicken and rice for a few days and see if she vomits? Those with dogs with this facial structure also elevate their water and food bowls .
Also just like people who take acid suppresses, once stopped a rebound effect might occur which makes the acid worse for awhile.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Stinkydog maybe it’s time for the chicken and rice again to get back to normal stool. The antibiotics take out all the good bacteria and it could have just caught up with her causing the runs. Maybe do not give any treats or chews and when her stool goes back to normal try VERY SLOWLY a different kibble. I’ve had great success with Stella N Chewy’s. My one chihuahua has a sensitive stomach and saw on their f/b page that many said their dogs that had same issues did well on their food. If you choose another food just go VERY SLOWLY with just maybe a few kibble thrown in to the chicken/rice for a few days or even weeks to get used to.

[Patricia A]

Destiny does just sound like the stress and the change of food. Before throwing up one of my dogs always did the licking the air. Probably the food change switch was done too quickly. Mine would get loose stools always with any change in food even going very slowly. Also you added to the digestive issues by switching to two different brands. So if he doesn’t tolerate the food after a few days/weeks on it you won’t even know which one is the cause. Try feeding just the one kibble. I believe Authority got rated somewhat better then the Purina One on this sight. This is the reviews for the Purina One (Purina One SmartBlend Dog Food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of 3.5 stars.). Not the best food according to the reviews.
if he still has problems with the authority and your vet has checked him out to be sure there are no other reasons for his digestive problems, then maybe try switching to a totally different brand VERY SLOWLY while giving him a chance to get used to the change. There are several kibble brands reviewed on this sight as 5* . Hope this helps a little .

• This reply was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by Patricia A.

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