Sensitive Tummy Doodle

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

My girl is having diarrhea again. She is 16 months and this is the fifth or sixth time in her life that she has had this issue. She started on Blue Buffalo and moved to Purina ONE, then Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul. The vet put her on prescription, but I don't want to keep her on it forever. What do you think about this? What are your food recommendations for a dog with a sensitive tummy?

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Natural Balance is a good food for dogs with allergies/sensitivities. its a grain free food, and comes in unique proteins that a dog is unlikely to be allergic to, though your pup is still rather young to have a food allergy. Doodles are known for their sensitive tummies though, and a simple diet like Natural balance often works well. (There are other brands out there too but Natural balance is widely available). It is a simple diet in that it has one protein source, and one carb source. It has no other main ingredients other than the fat source, and the usual added vitamins and minerals. There is dry, canned, chubbs and treats available. Unfortunately it is a low protein formiula, but you could always go into your local pet food store and compare bags/ask the staff for something similar with higher protein if you feel a higher protein is necessary

 

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/allergy.html

 

I would try a fish or poultry first - proteins are made up of amino acids, the longer the amino acid chain the harder it is to digest. Fish has the shortest chain, followed by poultry, with red meats having the longest chains. The duck formula is very popular

 

Stay away from grains as they can be hard to digest. If you really do want to go with a grain food, choose one with oatmeal or brown rice

 

A higher protein allergy formula is Acana Lamb and apple - it does have grain, but its oatmeal. Its not hugely high, 27%, but thats 5 or 6% higher than natural balance  http://www.championpetfoods.com/acana/show-product.php?formulation=la This one does have a few additional ingredients, but does have good bacteria added for digestion

 

and heres another good duck and oatmeal food at 22% protein (Go) http://petcurean.com/index.php?page_id=204

this one also has good bacteria added for digestion

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You might also look at the Wellness Simple Solutions formulas; limited ingredient formulas (that includes some of the Natural Balance formulas Kaytlin mentioned) are sometimes easier on sensitive tummies than more complex foods.

Also, canned formulas are sometimes easier on the digestive system than kibbles. Wellness has canned versions of the Simple Solutions line as well.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Another option is First Mate - they have a fish based, simple, grain free formula many people use for sensitive tummies and allergies - its a local company to me, so I dont know how available it may be to you. It is 23% protein.  http://www.firstmate.com/dog_food.aspx?guid=38F-8C95EF820A13

 

Another option if its severe, it to try raw or dehydrated raw. My kitten (well hes 10 months old now) has a really stinky bum - his poop is huge, slightly mushy and very stinky (sorry to be graphic) when hes on kibble, but on the days I give him raw he is fine (small, normal formed, no smell poop). Im switching him onto raw 100% of the time

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I wouldn't recommend First Mate. All of their formulas include chicken fat within the first four ingredients, which is a known risk factor for bloat.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

is it? Ive never heard of this. Interesting.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh yes, the Purdue study is one of the largest ever conducted on the risk factors for bloat (GDV) in dogs. If you do a Google search, you'll find all kinds of articles and references. Here's one which includes most of the factors, including fat in the first four ingredients of a food.

http://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

hmmm can I have some clarification Karen?

I understand that with a regular food, with say 10 ingredients, having the fat within the first 4 might be an issue, but If a dog is eating a limited ingredient diet, and the main ingredients are fish and potato, then you have the fat....... how is this worse than a food with 2 types of fish, and 2 types of potato, then the fat?

Surely its more down to a % of ingredients, rather than the placing in the list.....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You do have a good point. If there are only 4 or 5 ingredients in the food, the chicken fat would have to be pretty high on the list, lol.

However, no law says a food has to contain animal fat at all. Most of the better ones do not list any animal fat in the ingredients, the fat content is provided by fish and/or vegetable oils. I know that oils are fats, but I'm not sure that animal fat is as healthy a fat source as fish or plant oil, or that they contribute to bloat in the same way.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

thanks Karen!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

My mom's terrier has a sensitive tummy and LOVES Natural Balance.  She does so well on it, it's unbelievable.

The Wellness Simple Solutions as Karen stated are good too - you can usually find them more places (even PetSmart too I think).

[Lindsey]

Oh gosh, I've been there :-) We went through the same problems with our 6 month old doodle. We are feeding her Wellness now, she loves it and she's doing GREAT on it!!!

PS. Be careful what treats you're giving your doodle as well...I found out (the hard way) after we finally got her straight and doing great on Wellness, I gave her a Bully stick and she got sick again...so some treats will also upset the doodles bellies!

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

Thanks for all the info everyone! We are almost done the medicine from the vet! I went out for an hour or so today and she threw up her prescription food! I am not giving her treats, but yesterday my neighbors daughter gave her a tiny little training treat. I am thinking about trying out wellness.