Do Doodles have delicate tummys?

[Jennifer Tramell]

I come from a very doodley family: my sister got the first goldendoodle 4 yrs ago and since then my parents have a standard and mini and I have 2 standards.  Prior to Webster, I had my 2 pound puppy/rescue puppy for almost 16 years.  I never worried about what food I was feeding, changing the food, giving treats, giving table scraps (just a taste), etc.  Same thing with our family dogs we had growing up - and they were also just "mutts". 

My mom has been telling me how her dogs are very sensitive to any change in food and I've noticed the same with Charlotte.  My sister's gd also has a sensitive tummy.  Webster doesn't seem AS sensitive but still somewhat.  Changes in food lead to diarrhea and stinky gas, even though I changed from a poorer quality chicken and rice to a higher quality chicken and rice.  The rare table scrap can also lead to an odorous evening. So my question is, is this common in doodles or just individual dogs?  Just curious what other DKers have experienced.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I can comment on my two....they both have not only sensitive stomachs, but significant GI issues.  I've been wondering this same thing.  I wish there was some way to do a "scientific" study.  My other breeds (Irish Setter, Lab, Golden, and Dalmatian) never had any issues, and I think I fed them Purina (that was many years ago).  Forgive me, Karen.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hey, with my first dog (circa 1977) I used to feed something called "Special Cuts" which looked and felt like pieces of meat made out of Playdough. Who knew?

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I think in the past food was somewhat better than it is now (less fillers, better meat). Then these foods deteriorated in quality, and the new high quality foods were made.... or so i have been told

[Donna Vee]

My girls do.  They both were sick with diarrhea last month and although they are eating again, they sometimes have to be coaxed.  We also went back to their old food (not my 1st choice) but I plan on integrating  homemade food into the mix once they stabilize a bit more,.

[Phoebe's Mom]

Count Phoebe in for the delicate tummy, too.  As a matter of fact, she just vomited this morning but was her usual doodley self right after.  I have taken to giving her a treat in the early morning if I need to feed her a little later than usual otherwise she gets over-hungry and vomits.  She has had numerous trips to th vet for GI issues and I have changed her food three times already and stopped giving her all sorts of treats because of tummy trouble.  She also gets car sick to boot.  I would not trade her for the world but how I wish I could find a resolution for this issue.  I have often wondered if it is a doodle as there seems to be quite a few posts with a similar theme.

[Melissa & Porter]

Porter (a standard ALD) can change foods, eat table scraps, steal cupcakes and eat the wrappers too, and nothing interesting happens except maybe loose stools with the stolen sweets. He has always been gas-free, which I only appreciate when I dog sit dogs who have godawful farts.

Now, he has had two periods of reflux which were resolved within one week once and about a month the first time, using antacid wrapped in a late-night bread.

Overall though, he bucks the trend you are looking for.  I often say he has poodle hair and a lab body/stomach.

[Meridith and Lola]

Lola is a  2 year old mini GD with minimum tummy issues (and never gas).  Once in awhile some loose stools but a little pumpkin and she is cured.  Her litter mate also doesn't have any problems.  (I am knocking on wood as I write this!!)

 

 

[Richard Crowe]

Holly has a sensitive GI system.  She does great on Nature's Variety Raw Beef and also has no problems with an occasional snack as well as a milk bone once daily.  However, if we feed her any type of kibble, she gets runny stool - even with pumpkin or sweet potato topping.  We feed her a full patty in the morning and a half patty in the evening.  This keeps her weight perfect and her stools firm.

[GBK]

My Kona does not seem to be sensitive when it comes to food changes.  We change high quality dog foods frequently, but is sensitive to things like cheap rawhide, and other  dogs treats.  We bought these things that looked like the pig trachia's at Petsmart the other week and both of them were eating grass and having potty issues.  My big guy usually has a cast iron stomach, so we won't be doing those anymore!

[GBK]

My Kona does not seem to be sensitive when it comes to food changes.  We change high quality dog foods frequently, but is sensitive to things like cheap rawhide, and other  dogs treats.  We bought these things that looked like the pig trachia's at Petsmart the other week and both of them were eating grass and having potty issues.  My big guy usually has a cast iron stomach, so we won't be doing those anymore!

[Adina P]

Yes and No.

 

I don't think there is anything 'magic' about mixing a poodle with another breed that creates tummy issues.  So I'd say NO 'doodles' probably don't have a higher incidence of tummy issues.  However, because a lot of doodles come from BYB's and mills and other less favorable breedings...then THAT alone might contribute to issues due to poor breeding.  So in that sense, Yes.  At the same time that doesn't mean all dogs from good breedings will have perfect iron guts and it doesn't mean all dogs from crappy breedings will have sensitive tummies.

 

I do think that it's normal for dogs to have a bit of a tummy upset with changes in food or when they eat people food they are not accustomed to.  And gas, well, people have it too and it's usually related to fermentable fiber.  I'd be curious if raw meat and grain/veggie-free dogs have any gas.  Gas in people doesn't indicate a 'problem' -- it's normal.  Not sure about dogs though. 

 

I would say it's an individual dog thing overall.  We are on a forum with doodles so we hear most about this from other doodle owners.   And people usually write about issues, they don't blog or post discussions about their dog's perfect GI system.  For what it's worth all three doodles I've had had normal tummies...no 'issues' at all.  2 from less desirable breedings and one from a decent breeder.  Gassy...yes...but very rare diarrhea or other upset tummy issues.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with everything you've said here.

I have owned two purebred poodles, both from top-notch breeders, one schnoodle from a friend whose dog had puppies, and JD, an F1 LD who came from a puppy mill. With the poodles, the genetics and early care & feeding were impeccable. No stomach issues whatsoever. With the schnoodle, the parentage was questionable, but the puppies received the best possible care & feeding from the time they were born, and also no stomach issues. With JD, the genetics were abominable, the early care and feeding were equally abominable, and yet with all of his other health problems, guess what? No stomach issues.