Question regarding Orijen

[Laura & Chewie]

So Chewie has been 100% on the Orijen for just over a week now.  Based on what I had read/heard I thought the grain-free, high protein diet would produce smaller, drier poops.  While not smaller, they have been okay...formed, but a little on the soft side.  Now today, he is much looser...like pudding.  Also, would the higher protein diet make him pee more as he definitely has been doing that. 

 

He is back from his "bootcamp" training for two days and this is what I have noticed.  The trainer said poops were fine while she had him, but of course, I don't know exactly what that means. 

 

 

[Nick Pietras]

Based on my and my dood's (Gus)experience with Orijen, sounds like you're ok. Its only been a little over a week...his body is still adjusting to the food, so there will be variation. I think you'll see over time that they become drier. I don't think Gus' stools have gotten much smaller...just more compact. But, it also depends on what else they're eating (snacks, etc.) and possibly, environmental changes. I notice in my Gus that if we go on vacation, and he is drinking different water, his stools are always a little looser the first couple days. Or after a day at doggie day care, his stool will sometimes be looser...whether its because he is nervous/stressed, etc or possibly getting fed a new type of treat, who knows. Regardless, since he's been on Orijen, his stools always return to normal and he hasn't had any accidents or diareaha, etc. I used to worry when he would have a non-firm, dry stool, flashing back to the many months of constant loose stools and diareaha...but he's been fine. If he is just back from "bootcamp", perhaps his body is just readjusting to the environment?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Laura, I don't think it has been long enough to make a complete transition AND the fact that he was at bootcamp and is now home might play a role. He is on a different schedule, he may have been eating more treats, etc...

I would not worry at all - give it a few more days for him to get into the swing of home life...

[Tammy & Gracie]

I too, say give it more time. Boot camp was likely stressful so that could be the real cause.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I am willing to bet your next bag of Orijen that Chewie's diet was altered while he was at bootcamp. Either that, or he has picked up a parasitic infection while he was away.
There are some people who don't feed Orijen because they say it produces "cement butt"...poop that is actually too firm and hard. It can't be the Orijen causing this, especially since he has gotten progressively looser. If this continues, I would take a specimen to the vet. I hate to say it, but it's very possible that Chewie picked up giardia while he was at camp. The other alternative is that he got other stuff to eat besides the Orijen.

[Laura & Chewie]

Chewie stayed at the trainer's home, but did have some exposure to other dogs as she would take him on some of her training appointments. I packed all his meals and provided grain-free treats and when she brought him back she even had some additional grain-free treat she had picked up for him, so it seems like she was respecting my wishes for his diet. I'll keep my fingers crossed it's just the transition back home and he hasn't picked something up.

Karen...what about the peeing more?

[Nick Pietras]

When Gus first started on Orijen, I noticed that was drinking more...so, I guess he was peeing more too. He went back to drinking a more regular amount of water after a couple weeks.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I did not notice increased peeing or water consumption when I switched Jack, and have not heard of it before.
In humans, excess protein consumption can cause these things, but humans need much less protein than dogs do. Dogs are basically designed to live on a very high-protein diet, and Orijen's protein content is nowhere near what a raw diet would be. I agree with Nick that it may just be a temporary adjustment to the increased protein, decreased carbs in Chewie's diet.

[Laura & Chewie]

Everything seems back to normal today, so maybe it was just the transition back home and/or a little stress thrown in. Thanks for your comments/opinions!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad to hear it!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I thought that would happen.... great news!