Help making the switch

[Kelly]

Hello everyone. I just joined the food group because I am so confused on how to pick a good food for Skeet. He came to us several years ago as a rescue in pretty bad shape. He was being used as a stud dog in less than ideal environment. He was on pedigree. After joining this website I quickly realized that he needed to change to a more nutritious food. He has a sensitive stomach so the vet put him on Z/D ultra. This is where we are now. I have questioned that he has to stay on this food but have gotten little answers. He likes it but then he will eat anything. He does well on it, less licking and throwing up, but is this food recommended for long term use and if not how do I pick a new food? I have been looking at Blue Buffalo but there are so many choice. Grain free? Not grain free?
I thank you for your advise and help.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Did you check out the recommended food brands?  http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/recomme...

Also, what do you mean by sensitive stomach? loose stools?  Has he ever had a stool sample done.  I understand that they like to blow you off when you ask WHY..but I would def try to find out the true answer of why they want him on this z/d ultra..you can read this link..the ingredients in these foods are terrible.. http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/why-you...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Please read the discussion that Jill linked. Z/D (and all Hill's products) is a horrible food that is not recommended here for even one day, let alone long term. There is nothing in it of any medicinal or therapeutic value, and you are paying a lot of $ for garbage. Whatever digestive issues your dog has, there is a good quality commercial diet that will work for him. In order to help you choose one, we need to know what kinds of issues he has/had. Also, are you feeding Z/D kibble or canned? 

What else does he get in terms of treats, chews, etc?

[Kelly]

When he was on pedigree he threw up a lot. Now that has stopped for the most part. No loose stools. Ear infections and licking paws. I put yogurt on his food now and that has helped. I read the list and was looking at the Blue Buffalo because they have a variety and it was on the recommended food list and it us available in our area. He has been very healthy but I just feel this Z/D ultra needs to go and something more nutritious needs to be found. Thanks for your suggestion.

[Kelly]

He would just eat grass and throw up. No lose stools. Yeast in the ears and lots of licking. He is much better but after educating myself here I realize it isn't using the Z/D that has helped. I use yogurt and bath him in sensitive skin shampoo.
Use Claritin. Now I want a good food. He likes dry food. I don't feed table food. I don't mind paying for a good quality food after all Z/D is VERY expensive and I feel bad that I didn't realize how terrible it is sooner. His sensitivities seem to be just occasionally eating grass and vomiting which was much less on Z/D but that is probably because Pedigree is so terrible too. I have a great vet and he is only alive today because the were able to clear up a very severe and resistant heart worm infection he had when he came to us. His medical care is exceptional but this food is an issue.

[Kelly]

Oh and he gets carrots for treats. He likes the crunchiness and the occasional milk bone which now I see is bad too. I just read your previous discussion on "vet recommended foods" . Very helpful.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Chances are that the ear infections and paw licking were not related to food at all, especially if it occurred mostly in spring or fall. One thing you can do that will help with this is to buy some 500 mg. evening primrose oil capsules (human supplement) and give him one per day; if he tolerates that, which he should, you can increase it to two capsules a day. 

If you want to try Blue Buffalo, I would recommend either the Blue Basics Adult Grain-free Turkey & Potato (be careful, there is also an Adult Turkey & Potato formula that contains grains) or the Blue Freedom Adult Grain-free Chicken Recipe.

Both are limited ingredient foods that are poultry and potato based, and should be well-tolerated.

I would not do a slow transition. Check the feeding guidelines on the new food as the calorie content may be different from the Z/D and you may need to adjust the feeding amount.  But I'd try just switching cold turkey. Feed twice a day (which you are probably doing now) and you can try reserving a small amount of the day's food to give him about an hour before bed. That can help with dogs who vomit in the a.m. 

[Kelly]

Thank you so very much. I was overwhelmed trying to address vomiting, ear infections, and bad food. Now I have a place to start. I so appreciate you help.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You may also want to start him on Gentle Digest by Ark Naturals; inexpensive and available in most better pet supply stores. It helps promote the good flora in the gut that is necessary for proper digestion. Try one capsule a day. Two tablespoons of plain unflavored fat free yogurt with each meal can also help.

And don't puncture the eveing primrose oil capsules. Give as you would a pill.  

[Kelly]

Will do. Thanks for your help. I will let you know how it goes.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

How often does Skeet throw up?  Is it only at certain times of the day? 

[Kelly]

He throws up about once a week. It always seems to be early in the morning after we have all been sleeping.

Usually he comes and gets me to let him out around 2 or 3 in the morning. He eats around 5 pm. He doesnt

like to throw up in the house so he wakes me up to let him out. He eats a lot of grass.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Throwing up bile in the morning is fairly common in dogs; it's from having an empty stomach for so many hours. Giving a small snack about 30-60 minutes before bed helps. I give JD a third cup of his day's worth of kibble between 9 and 9:30 p.m.