Food for Archie

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

Hello everyone!

It has been quite a while since I have posted, but looks like Archie's habits and eating issues have not subsided (well a little). I have a few questions, so hopefully some people have some ideas they can share or at least some helpful recommendations.  

Archie has been on Acana for about a year now (He is 2 and a half year old goldendoodle) after switching between several different brands. At first, Archie was not really eating and I was a little conceded as to why I was spending so much money on a food my dog isn't getting overly excited about. My last Vet said that there was not much to worry as Archie may be just a 2 cup and once a day eater since He was rarely eating twice a day and he warned me about over feeding.  With that said, I start a with a new Vet next week and have an appointment with them, so I will ask similar questions then, but figured I would start here first.

Since being on Acana things have improved slightly, but nothing drastic. Archie still only eats sparingly and he continues to get 24-48 hour stomach bugs (no poop for 24 hours or soft stool as well as some vomiting). Archie def vomits or has this type of stomach issue once a month (and no its not around the heartworm meds) I have been monitoring that. with that said, I am concerned about Archie's health and why he continues to get these monthly 24-48 hour bugs where he isn't eating, not pooping/soft stool? Is this a food issue? Also, Archie tends to choke on his food sometimes and spit it back up or take a bite and drop half on the floor. He almost always leaves kibble laying on the floor by his bowl when eating. I think Acana kibble may be too big. What brand of food has smaller kibble that I could try? Maybe he is having trouble digesting the food?

Sorry for carrying on, but basically what do you think about....

1. Archie and his stomach/eating problems? 

2. Brand of food that is similar or as good as Acana, but smaller sized kibble? I was thinking Petcurean, Zignature, Solid Gold, or Lotus. Not sure if they're smaller sized kibbles, but would anyone else know? I can never find pictures of kibble when I google....weird

Thank you to everyone for all your input and helpful ideas!

Sam & Archie 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I haVe fed a number of kibble a although I have only used Acana for a number of years. I have not seen a smaller kibble and I doubt that's the issue.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sam, we've had numerous discussions here about Archie's issues, and I don;t really have the time right now to go back through all of them so that I can refresh my memory, which I would need to do to make another food recommendation. You might want to do that yourself, as I'm sure there's some good advice about just about everything you've mentioned here.

I seem to recall the issue of the food size being mentioned before, and I think I told you then that the size of the kibble has nothing to do with any of Archie's issues. I am absolutely certain of that. There is also nmo way for anyone to know which kibbles are what size. The reason that you don't see pictures of kibble when you google them is because it's a non-issue. Many, many dogs leave kibble on the floor when they eat. Many, many dogs take the food out of the bowl and drop it somewhere else while they're eating. It's perfectly normal, absolutely nothing to be concerned about. A smaller size kibble will not make a difference. 

As far as Archie not getting overly excited about his food, again, a non-issue. Some dogs are not madly in love with food, and that's okay. You are paying for the quality and nutritional value of the food, not for your dog's reaction to it. 

I agree with your vet that there is nothing to worry about, and that Archie is just the kind of dog who isn;t real interested in food. Again, many dogs are that way. "Picky eaters" and "how can I get my dog to like his food?" are some of the most common topics we discuss here.

Which Acana formula are you feeding? Sometimes, rotating to another formula within the same line can help keep dogs interested in their food. 

As to why Archie continues to have digestive issues every month, that's the main question you should be asking the vet. I never ask the vet for opinions or recommendations on food and advise others to do the same, as most vets receive little to no nutritional education or training and what they do know comes from the Hill's and Purina salesmen. If you want to switch to Rx food, ask the vet what to feed. Otherwise, no.

I really don;t think that Archie's digestive issues are related to his food and I don;t think another food change is going to fix them. But like I said, I'd have to go back and read through all the past discussions to know. 

Some dogs need probiotics on an ongoing basis. Are you still using them? 

[Chris Ringle]

We use Orijen Six Fish, Acana Pork and Butternut Squash and Fromm's Whitefish and they are all similar sized, small kibble. Although your mind can always go to something being physically wrong, what crosses my mind first is whether he is just a picky eater and whether the times he is refusing his food is what is causing the variations in his stool and episodes of vomiting. Both my Doodles have had GI issues and one thing I have found with them is that they tend to be worse if they have an empty stomach. When they seem to be a little off (but not really sick) or thorw up bile, I try to keep something on their stomach (like giving them a bisquit before bed) and they do much better.

I have seen a lot of discussions in other places about picky Doodle eaters who are getting only kibble and often the problem is improved by giving them some variety....adding some broth, moist canned food, pumpkin, yogurt, veggies, cottage cheese, eggs, etc. (warmed) to their food. It gives their noses something new to get excited about.

Good luck...hope all is well at the vets.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I actually have found that adding toppers to a dog's food is a good way to create a picky eater, lol. One of our favorite discussions on this topic, sure to make you laugh but a lot of wisdom, too: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/an-ode-...

[Laura and Angus]

I agree about adding lots of toppers creating picky eaters, but does that include pumpkin or sweet potatoes? I thought those are helpful specifically for digestion...could this pup have some kind of reflux or other digestive issue contributing? Or is this an over-thinking kinda scenario? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No, pumpkin or sweet potatoes are given for the fiber content, not to tempt a dog into eating. Sometimes some extra fiber in the diet helps with stool formation. 

Some of the symptoms that Sam has described over time do sound like a reflux issue or some other type of serious digestive issue like megaesophagus, but in those cases, the puppy isn't well. They don;t gain weight normally, don't have normal energy levels, etc. 

[Laura and Angus]

Right that's what I was thinking too. Our pup has better "stool formation" with the pumpkin for sure. 

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

Thank you all for your insight! Karen you're fantastic as always and although I can get a bit "annoying" with all my concerns I truly appreciate everything you always tell me.

Another quick question for all...I just changed my auto shipment on Chewy.com and decided to get FROMM for Archie in 2 weeks instead of sending his usual Duck and Apple Acana.  Will this create problems for Archie's stomach and stool since I am going to change his food for variety circumstances? Or because FROMM is another high quality food it should not matter?

Thanks!

Sam

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sam, we've talked about this before. A brand is a brand and a formula is a formula. You must, must, must look at the ingredients and the nutritional profile, not just the brand. Saying you're changing to "Fromm" is like saying you're changing to "another high quality food". It means absolutely nothing. Which Fromm formula????? Fromm makes foods with grains, foods without grains, fish based foods, chicken based foods, pork based foods, foods with multiple proteins, etc. 

I think you are making a big mistake. If you want variety, you go with another formula in the same Acana line that you are feeding. There are 3 in the Singles line, which is the line you're feeding. That way you maintain the same nutritional profile while providing variety. 

Dogs with digestive issues need simple, limited ingredient, grain-free foods. Fromm doesn't make an LID formula.

There is no "Duck & Apple" formula. It's Duck & Pear or Lamb & Apple. There's also Pork & Butternut Squash. Why would you not choose one of those?  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's a link to your discussion from a year ago. All of this was discussed then, including my advice to stop looking at brands and start looking at ingredients. We also talked about needing to stay with a limited ingredient diet.  http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/poop-issues-on-acana?group...

Please read back through the entire discussion.