This is an... er... akward question, but

[Leslie J]

Can anyone try to help me out with a kind of embarrassing question? Our (now) 12 week old puppy (labradoodle) came home from the breeder at 8 weeks eating Nutro puppy food. She was doing great but I wanted a healthier dog food. I went to a natural dog food store and they recommended Orijen puppy food. We switched her when she was 10 weeks- not gradually, just a change to the new food.

Cocoa did fine with the change, but had a much softer stool. Then after about a week on the food she developed very enlarged anal glands which needed to be drained (done at the vet's office). On Friday (a week after having the glands drained) she was again straining and I think the glands were swollen again (I'm not so good at telling and I didn't go to the vet this time).

I looked online and an article mentioned that often a firm stool will help drain the glands while the dog is eliminating. I switched her back over the weekend to the Nutro and now she is having firmer stools and doesn't seem to be straining or in pain anymore. So... is it possible the it was a food related problem? What might be a good puppy food for her? I would prefer a kibble diet for her, if possible.

Thank you!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Leslie, Nutro is a terrible food, but it does make the stools very firm. The junk in there does have that effect, but it's not worth the firm poop to risk the other problems Nutro can cause. Among other hazards, Nutro contains menadione, which is a synthetic form of vitamin K linked to many serious (and sometimes fatal) diseases in dogs. Nutro has had many recalls, the most recent being just within the last month.
An abrupt food switch at 10 weeks could certainly cause problems with your pup's digestive system. The change needs to be done gradually over 7-10 days. Soft stool can be firmed up by giving canned pumpkin while she adjusts to the new food.
Orijen is grain-free. It is an excellent food, among the very best you can buy, but switching from a food packed with grain & fillers (Nutro) to one that is much higher protein & completely grain-free (Orijen) would definitely play havoc with such a young puppy's digestive system.
There are many excellent foods that do contain healthier grains such as brown rice, oatmeal, and barley.
Some brands to consider: Canidae, Fromm, Innova, EVO, California Naturals, Solid Gold, Acana, Merrick, Natural Balance, Nature's Variety.
and do not eliminate Orijen....just make sure you switch slowly. Good luck!

[Leslie J]

Thanks for the comments! I am thinking of changing (gradually this time!!!) towards a goal of 1/2 Orijen and 1/2 grain based (such as one of the ones recommended here). Does this make any sense? The vet said that problems with the anal glands were generally associated with small dogs and she will most likely outgrow it as she gets larger (she is expected to reach 40-45 lbs.). She said that it was unusual to see the problem in such a young puppy, which may indicate that Cocoa is more prone to the problem than is typical.

That is scary about Nutro! Another reason to get my puppy off it! Just more slowly this time...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm not sure about mixing half Orijen and half grain-containing food. It would probably be less expensive to just go with one of the foods that contain healthier grains, such as Fromm, and then rotate through the flavors once she's acclimated to the change. There is really no right or wrong, though, as long as you stick to high-quality foods and go slowly. Sometimes it just takes a little time to find the foods that work best for your particular dog.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Leslie...my pups were on grain-free for a while and their poos were softer also. It will probably get better with time - anytime you make a big change in diet, their stomachs respond. That being said, my two (chihuahua in particular) do better with some grain. We use Fromm.

[Laura & Chewie]

We also recently switched to Fromm's and Chewie loves it. We switched over a two week period to be safe and had no problems. Although it's no guarantee, I think the key is a gradual transition to give their tummys a chance to acclimate to the new food.

[Cherri]

Leslie,
I had a Shi-tsu that we were constantly having to drain her glands and our doctor told us that anytime we gave her something new or irritating to her system it would show up in her glands. We even put the spot treatment for fleas and tick which inflamed them. Sometimes, it is there bodies ways of showing stress or allergy to something. I bet the slower change would help with the stress of the change, but I would not give up.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We used to use Nutro - for years. Stools etc were perfect. Nutro has changed their formula and it isn't a very good food any more. We used the Dick Van Patten all ages for Ned (and our others) when he was a puppy. We use EVO now.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You have no idea how it broke my heart to switch from Nutro. I was so attached to it. My poodle ate it for almost 16 years, exclusively, and she was the healthiest dog I've ever known. Jack had the tiniest, firmest poops when he was eating it. Even after I learned about all the changes, the imported ingredients, the menadione and the recalls, I resisted switching Jackdoodle to another food. I'm so glad I did, but I still feel a little pang when I walk right past the Nutro display in the pet supply store and see that green bag with the shaggy dog on the label, lol! I hope I haven't hurt his feelings!
I am a manufacturer's dream customer...the brand-loyal consumer! Old habits die hard.

[Leslie J]

So... can anyone advise me of which dog food is most likely to produce the firm stools that Cocoa needs (at least for now). When she is full grown perhaps it won't be so important, but for now it seems that she needs stools which are very firm. And thanks to everyone who has responded- I don't think my vet is near as well informed about issues such a food as the doodle posters here are!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There isn't a vet living who is as well-informed about dog food issues as we are here in The Food Group! LOL
You know, every dog is different. Jack's stools were just okay on Fromm and on Nature's Variety. Once I had him fully transitioned to Orijen, his stools became extremely firm and well-formed. Yet you and Jane had the opposite experience with Orijen.
I would check the availability of some of these choices at your local stores. Check prices, and see which foods come in smaller size bags so you don't have to buy 20# of something that doesn't work for you. I know that doesn't seem like a good way to choose, but everything that's been mentioned here is a premium food that we have no qualms about recommending (I am not familiar with the Pinnacle that Cynthia mentioned), so you really can't go wrong. Like so much else involved in raising kids & dogs, it's a matter of trial & error to find what works for yours.

[Leslie J]

Well, I went to my natural dog food store, and he recommended a product called Azmira Holistic Animal Care. He said that it is higher in grains and might help her digestion/ elimination. Has anyone heard of this? He also agreed with others here that Orijen is a great food and might be the best when she gets bigger and less likely to have problems with the anal glands.

I'm not going to switch her for a few days, as she just had here vaccinations today and I don't want to make any additional changes until I am sure that she isn't having any reactions to the vaccinations. Then I'll do it GRADUALLY this time :)

While I'm waiting, I'd love to hear if anyone knows anything about Azmira Dog Food?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Azmira contains menadione. In addition to that, I would want a statement from the company regarding the absence of ethoxyquin in the food, since it contains fish meal, and statements regarding where the food is manufactured and whether they use imported ingredients. These are the questions we ask of any company before using or recommending a food. The protein content of this food is also very low.
As I have said many times, it is never a good idea to purchase any product based on the salesman's recommendation. You want an independent recommendation. Even more important when the product is something that is ingested. I personally could not recommend this food, based on the menadione alone.

Azmira Lifestyle Lamb Dog Food:
Lamb Meal, Whole Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Whole Ground Grain Sorghum, Flax Seed, Canola Oil, Alfalfa Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Natural Flavors, Dehydrated Carrots, Apple Pomace, Potassium Chloride, Garlic Powder, Dried Kelp, Choline Chloride, DI-methionine, Mixed Tocopherols (natural antioxidant), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin Supplements (E,A,B2,B12,D3), Niacin, Calcium Ascorbate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Inositol, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Folic Acid, Biotin, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Cobalt Proteinate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite.