Soft Stools

[Kim]

Hi everyone!  I am thinking about changing Allie's food from Canidae to something else.  She has loose stools the majority of the time - we have had her stools tested 3 times and all 3 times they have diagnosed her with a "sensitive stomach," and keep giving us medication for the soft stools - to the point now that we don't need to bring in a sample - we can get the medication when needed.  I have been doing a lot of reading in the Food Group, and have searched under sensitive stomach's - but I am confused!  I have a few questions:  Because of her loose stools - should I be looking for a grain free food, or no?  I have my brands narrowed down to Fromm's (not grain free) and EVO (grain free).  I also have a question about treats, wondering if we should stop giving her any of the following:  We give her Milk Bone treats, Scooby Snacks (sometimes), Good Life Turkey & Apple, Blue Buffalo Pumpkin & Cinnamon.  For chewing, we get her Bully Sticks, and she has a deer antler.  She goes to Doggie Daycare, which I am going to ask them Tuesday (her next daycare day) not to give her anything other than what we provide for her. Any help would be appreciated!

[Amy Snyder]

I will keep searching. Think I'll try a different chain store than I usually go to. Thanks!

[Kim]

So I'm stumped. After switching Allie to Orijen Adult from California Naturals in June, her poop was PERFECT. Then I tried the Orijen Red, and after about a week she started getting constipated. To the point of it hurting her. So we started adding Pumpkin, and Green Beans to her food, and she was already getting the extra Salmon Oil as well. That didn't work. We went back to the Adult formula thinking that would work. It hasn't. SOOOOOOO I decided to switch foods AGAIN. We are transitioning her to Fromm's and we are at 1/2 Fromm and 1/2 Orijen right now and her poop is perfect again, but I notice it getting softer - if I give her any more Fromm I think it will be too soft. I want to keep them perfect. I think she needs grain - but not much. Karen! I need your advice!!!! Do you think it would be ok to keep her on 1/2 Orijen and 1/2 Fromm for now? Is there a reason why I shouldn't be feeding 2 different brands? I want her to have the best food - and I know that the food groups favorite grain free is Orijen and the favorite food with grains is Fromm. So can I just feed both?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't see why you couldn't continue to feed her a mixture of Orijen and Fromm's...what you're essentially doing is making your own custom blend dog food that contains grains but in a smaller percentage than other commercial foods. If you don't mind the "extra trouble" of mixing the two, nutritionally there's nothing wrong with that.

[Kim]

oh good! I had reservations with changing from Orijen because of their reputation as well as the fact that Allie is still interested in the food after 2 months. That is NOT normal for her! She usually loses interest after a week starting a new food. So I guess now she will get the best of both worlds! Thanks Karen.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Please keep us posted, Kim. This is new territory for us here, so we'll be very interested in how Allie does.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Could the poo be getting softer just from mixture itself - since Fromms is new?

Keep us posted - I will be curious to see how it goes!

[Kim]

Yes, it could possibly be because of the new food. I'm more convinced that she needs grain - but extreme minimal. The bag of Fromm I got is Whitefish and Potato, which already has low grains - but I think she needs even less than that. She has VERY stubborn poop issues. LOL. I will keep everyone posted, but will probably wait this time as I usually jump the gun. It took Allie 4 weeks to be constipated on Orijen.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think the Chicken a la Veg or Salmon a la Veg might have been a better choice of Fromm's- those have more rice in them and rice seems to be the key for some dogs.

[Kim]

I didn't know what to choose! Oops! It was a spur of the moment kind of thing, I was at the food store and I didn't check with DK! Oh well, as long as her poop stays like it is now - it will be ok!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I like the idea of mixing Fromms and Acana and have considered this also. I will also be watching this posting.

The Acana, I think, makes the stools very hard. The Fromms makes the stools too soft. The combo may just be the answer.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

TREATS: We had to start making our own because of Spud's sensitive stomach. When the nice man at the drive through hands us a dog biscuit we PANIC! <---seriously. That was how bad he gets with all the snacks.

Now we make the Liver Cookies posted in the DK Cookbook. No complaints, No problems. We make them in bulk and freeze them.

Another idea for treats--we use the packets of sample food from other brands of foods as dog treats. Right now we feed Acana but last night for training treats the dogs got Evo pieces and Fromms pieces. They are small and real dog food ( not junk ) but they never get more than 10 pieces at a time. Just a few will do for them. To the dogs they feel it is a treat because it tastes different.

[Kim]

Joanne - I know what you mean!!!!!! My DH says no to the polite man at the drive through - but I don't have the heart!!!! I take them, and then throw them away! I started dehydrating my own Chicken for Allie's treats. I tried Sweet Potatoes first and that was NOT a big hit. They all got thrown away, after she snubbed them for the tenth time. She is LOVING the Chicken. I also make Peanut Butter biscuits for her. DK Doodles sure are spoiled!