Long doodle week several questions

[Lynn Stoops]

Hi

I have several questions ~ this has been a LONG doodle week...and it is only Tuesday!

I have a poop problem...we just adopted a 15 month old ALD (late Saturday night) when he arrived his poop looked fine we have no idea what type of food he was eating the only thing we know it was NOT a good kibble (probably from Wal-mart) we feed Orijen fish along with fresh veggies to our other doodles. They also love the Tripett Green Lamb tripe.

The night he arrived he was starving so we feed him the Orijen with no veggies and the next day is when our poop mess started. So then I tried Wellness (super 5 mix) and this morning it was a total disaster. Should I try and feed him a "bad" kibble and try slowly to introduce him to better food? We have no way of knowing what he was eating at his previous owner's home.

He has been to the Vet and no parasites ~ he seems very healthy and active. Should I add in canned pumpkin or green beans? Should I do the bland diet ~ rice and chicken or lean beef for a few days? The Vet of course wanted me to feed the Rx food.

Another question prior to him arriving we started a new bag of Orijen fish (been feeding this for months) and both our doodles started having very soft poop which is very unusual for our doodles ~ any chance Orijen changed the formula of the fish kibble?

I really would like to find something local vs. having the food shipped. Looking at what I can find local ~ here are the top choices:

Wellness

Blue Buffalo Wilderness

Solid Gold

Petcurean GO! NATURAL Grain Free Endurance

Taste of the wild

Fromm - used that in the past and our dogs did not like any of the flavors

I know they are all on the OK list ~ is there one that most doodles seem better eating ~ probably a silly question? The breeder from our first doodle always suggested feeding a combination of different kibbles just in case there would be change/shortage of one particular kibble.

Thanks

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Lynn, is there no way to find out what he was eating before? Did you get him directly from the owners, or from a rescue or shelter? Most rescues ask that the dog stay on whatever he was eating previously for a couple of weeks.

It would help if we at least knew whether he was on a grain-free food, but if it was something cheap, chances are it wasn't.

BUT...3 days is a very short time for his bowels to regulate after a radical food change on top of an enormously stressful (although happy) event, moving to a new home and entirely new surroundings. Even JD had 4 or 5 days of very loose stools when I switched him to Orijen, and he has no digestive issues.

Wellness Super 5 mix is the one kibble Jackdoodle had the most trouble with, out of at least 8 I have tried. If you go with Wellness, stick with the Core line or the Simple Solutions. I would not add any vegetables or anything else to the kibble for a while, until his digestion has regulated. Simple Solutions would probably be easiest on his tummy.

Of the foods you have listed, I would go with TOTW or the Wellness. I'm surprised your dogs didn't like any of the Fromm flavors, most dogs love them.

Oh, and BTW, congratulations on your new arrival!

[Lynn Stoops]

I wish I could find out what he was eating ~ he was taken from the owners then moved into a kennel until he arrived here.  I called the kennel and they said they feed a variety of foods based on donations and did not have any clue what he was eating. 

 

Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Cheap grocery store stuff, most likely, and he's apparently been through several food changes in a very short time. In kennel situations like that, where they feed whatever's on hand, the dogs may get a different kibble at every meal. :(

I would choose something and stick with it for a week or so.

Regarding the Orijen Fish formula, we have had a few people lately who have reported diarrhea from it. BUT- these have been cases where the dog was changed from something very different.

I feed Orijen Regional Red and the regular Adult formula, and have had no issues. JD doesn't care for the Fish formula, so we haven't used that one for awhile.

[Lynn Stoops]

Should I try the Wellness simple solution or would it be better to homecook for him until his tummy settles and then start introducing the new food slowly?

 

He has been through a lot these past couple of weeks.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think homecooking is a wonderful alternative to feeding kibble, but unless you intend to continue with it, I would not start with it. It would just be one more huge adjustment, as I think you are going to have the same trouble getting him back on kibble.

[Ozzy Bob and Leanna]

I wouldn't recommend home cooking either as it seems to be more expensive and more work.  I only did it because Ozzy went 3 days w/o eating any kibble and it scared me to death!  I've tried many brands of kibble and he turns his nose up at all of it!  He did eat the Orijen, but it severely upset him tummy!  Wish I knew how to get him to eat kibble, but after 2 months of home cooking, I doubt I can get Ozzy to eat anything! 

[Ozzy Bob and Leanna]

I ordered Orijen and my 10 month old Doodle and he started vomiting until some blood came up!  Of course we took him to the ER Vet one night and luckily all his test came back normal, but he was given a shot to calm his tummy down.  I also noticed that he was extremely constipated for days afterwards.  I went back to home cooking for him and he's doing fine now.  Hope you solve your problem!  It's no fun when our Doodles are not feeling well!

[BG and Gavin]

Hi Lynn, it may be my immagination, but I feel like I have been reading alot on here about diarrhea and the Orijen fish formula.  Weird.  I feed Petcurean GO! NATURAL Grain Free Endurance.  I ran out when I was at the cottage this summer and it was not available locally, so fed Taste of the Wild with no issues.  You may just have to muscle your way through this problem as his system is likely upset from all the recent changes.

[BG and Gavin]

And by the way congratulations on your new arrival!!

[Lynn Stoops]

I know I went back and read some of the other posts regarding the Orijen fish ~ I have heard good things about Petcurean Endurance.

 

Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Petcurean is a good product. I just don't have enough info on how dogs with digestive issues have done with it. It certainly couldn't hurt to try it. Whatever you choose, give it a little time.