Trouble digesting Orijen Regional Red?

[Rica + Margot]

With the great collective experience/knowledge on doodlekisses, can someone let me know their thoughts on Margot's experience with Orijen's Regional Red?

She's been eating Orijen since she she was 3 mo (now 11 mo) and does great on the Adult/Six Fish formulas. We decided to try the regional red into the mix and after about a 1.5 weeks, she got liquid diarrhea :( At first we thought she might have gotten something in her system since she hung out by the lake banks right before it started. But, the vet tests came back negative and after a bland diet (chicken/rice/potatoes/squash) that resulted in better poop we reintroduced her kibble and got soft/liquid poo again.

We also gave her metronidazole and prostora max for 5 days as the vet suggested while on the bland diet. When she was done with that I switched to vetri mega probiotics. Anyways, the soft poo didn't seem to get much better (after 1.5 weeks since starting the metro) and I decided to go back to Six Fish since I knew she did well on that. After about a day her poo firmness was soooo much better - almost back to little firm bits!

Could it just be a coincidence with timing? Did her stomach just finally settle down? Or was the Regional Red just too much for her to handle? She sometimes got treats with buffalo and lamb without issues. If she can't take the regional red now, if I put a tiny bit in with her other kibble will her tummy likely tolerate it? I'm okay keeping her on Six Fish/Adult, but I'm just curious about others' knowledge /experience?

Thank you!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There's no way to know if the Regional Red caused the problem, but I'd avoid it for now.

In the future, I'd also avoid giving metronidazole unless there is a confirmed infection or illness. That in itself has caused many a dog to develop chronic diarrhea after it was discontinued, because it can create a bacterial imbalance in the gut. Probiotics do help, but Iam's Prostora is not your best choice. It's loaded with sugar, dairy products, and artificial flavorings and colorings. The Vetri Mega probiotic is a better choice. I like Proviable best. And you must give the probiotics at least two hours apart from the meds, and longer is better. 

Regional Red contains beef, beef liver, lamb, lamb liver, pork, pork liver, bison, and three different kinds of fish. It's possible that so many different protein sources all at once upset her digestive tract. I'd stick with the Orijen Adult and Six Fish for now. You could try to introduce the Regional Red again in a few months. I'd go very slowly next time.

[Rica + Margot]

Thank you for the reply Karen.

I was hesitant about the metro and thought Prostora wasn't the way to go, but at the same time I wasn't ready to question the vet (his decades of experience vs. my 8 months). Although some suggestions are contrary to what I read on DK, I do like our vet. He did ask if we'd rather stick to cooking or use a prescription dog food!

Could you tell me why you like Proviable better? I was trying to decide between the two, and the reasons I chose Vetri-Mega was that it had one more culture and it was less expensive. 

If we try again in a few months, I'll post on how it goes. Thanks again for your input!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I like Proviable because of the results that members of my IBD support group have gotten, and I know many DK members have had good experiences with it too. The Vetri-Mega looks fine, though.

I like my vet too, and he also has decades of experience. But I also recognize the influence that the drug and pet food companies have, as well as the fact that, like my doctor and unlike me, he didn't receive any formal nutritional education whatsoever and what he does know comes from the salesmen, lol. I knew more about nutrition than my father, too, and he was an MD and an Associate Professor of Medicine. :)

[Rica + Margot]

I agree with the vet thing! I cringed at the Prostora. I guess what I meant to come off is that while I disagree with some things with the vet bc of what I've learned on DK, I still like him enough to not find another vet. Oh and yes, many doctors have poor nutrition information! I see it in my family! It seems younger doctors may know a little more...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I just heard a program on NPR about doctors and med students enrolling in culinary classes to learn about nutrition and food. :)

[Rica + Margot]

Ha! I think they'd learn about food, but not much about nutrition...it seems like most chefs don't focus on nutrition and more on flavor (my biased opinion as from watching food TV shows). I'll have to look for it on NPR and now that I've poked fun at doctors and chefs, I better brush up on my own info on nutrition. Thanks!

[Shari Becker]

My dog had trouble digesting some of the Orijen formulas. She did best on Six Fish, too. You'll never know for sure, but my feeling is that if a food is working, stick with it! Good luck. :-)

[Rica + Margot]

Thanks Shari! It was my husband who got most excited for the Regional Red! I'm happy to stick with the things that keep her healthy and regular as long as she keeps eating it!