Changing food???? Need help

[Sabrina and Bentley]

Hey guys,

I've written on here twice in almost two months about Bentley and his diarrhea. He had it for almost two months. Not watery, but really soft serve and he always consistently had firm poops. He had blood in it at one time, he was throwing up a lot at another time. After the third time to the vet and doing blood work, everything has come back negative. I'm happy that he's ok, but frustrated that he's been like this for almost two months.

In the last two weeks he's had really bad gas. The last time he had this was when he was on Blue Buffalo. He's been on Fromms Gold Large Breed for about six months and he was on the puppy formula for about eight months before that and he hasn't had any issues. Since everything came back negative, the vet suggested switching his food to prescription and giving him a probiotic supplement, Prostora. Although I know this group is against prescription, I was willing to try a small bag to see if it helped. It's Presciption Diet z/d Canine ULTRA Allergen-Free.

So the gas was bad before going on the diet food and its still really bad. While we transitioned him on this food, he still had diarrhea. After a full day on the diet food, he had his first firm poop. He's been n it for a week along with the supplement and he's having firm poops again.

So two questions...could he have built up an allergy to something in the Fromms? I don't want to stay on the prescription food, so any suggestions for a new food? I would like to stay with Fromms. Just wondering if maybe we should look at the Grain-Free line? I feel very lost. My poor bud has always been in good spirits and high energy through the last two months. I just don't want him to go through this again. I can't imagine how miserable having diarrhea for two months would be. Also why the gas all of a sudden?

Appreciate any help/ suggestions.

Thanks, Sabrina

[Heather]

I had to switch around Ellie's Food a couple of times due to her stool being too soft. She also didn't want to always eat, because I think her tummy was bothering her. We tried Orijens, Taste of the Wild, and finnally Pinnacle. The Pinnacle was like magic for her. She eats like a different dog now and her stool is normal with No Gas!!! I do also cook for her chicken, fresh string beans, Sweet potato, egg, salmon, etc. I know how Frustrated you must be, I was there!!!! Good Luck~

[Heather]

PS- Started my second Goldendoodle Oliver on it after we got him, and he also had No Problem from the start of switching him!!!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Gas could be due to an imbalance in his intestinal bacteria--they could have been wiped out by the diarrhea--yogurt could help with that --but just small amounts at first--and I am sure Karen will have advice for you!!

[Willow and J]

Have you checked "food group" on DK? Karen is the "to go" person on this issue, and I'm sure she'll chime in.

My experience with Willow was grain-free definitely helped. Willow was on other premium brand puppy formula, but had sensitive stomach. Orijen large puppy formula really worked, and dried sweet potato (Sam's yams) as snack firmed up her stool. We give her non-fat plain yogurt as topper for her food, and when she has problem, we give her one of the probiotic capsules we take.

Good luck. It's not rare to see puppies with sensitive stomach, and in our experience, that stage passes.  

[Lisa Turner]

We had this with izzy. Vet put her on purina DCO. It's not the answer long term but gave some very welcome relief. Now we are in the process of weening her off. But each time we get to 50/50 the squits come back! Back on forth we go! My heart goes out to you. It's not easy. But she clearly has a great mom!

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

My Oliver has a sensitive tummy and always had very loose poops, I had to express his anal glands all the time too.  I ended up switching him to grain free Naturesbounty and his poops are perfect !!  At times I will add a 1/2 cup or Orjen grain free to his food and his poops are even better.  Orjen is VERY expensive so I just by a $17.00 bag and give Ollie a 1/2 cup every other day or so.   That is work worked for us, but try the grain free that may help.

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

I feed my dogs a grain-free diet as well but it started due to a food allergy with my older dog.  Talk to Karen and those in the food group - you will gasp at some of the stuff in the Science Diet foods.  Good luck, I hope you find the perfect diet for Bentley.

[kristine & Auggie]

I am so sorry that you are going through this. It is amazing how our dogs poop is so important.

We feed grain free and I top with either sweet potato, egg maybe the occasional raw meat.  He has only had loose stools twice, once when he got into the Easter basket and ate jelly beans, that was some colorful poop lol. Personally I think grain free with doodles is really important, they seem to have more sensitive tummies than other breeds.

Good luck finding the right brand of food for Bently.

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Ok, I'm new to Doods..have had DerbyDoodle 5 weeks...been on Accana since from breeder...but I a.m. Curious...why do a lot of owners do the topper thing?
My approach has always been.." If it ain't broke..etc" so it's only 5 wks..no issues...a.m. I cheating her..is it for some variety or a real health boost? I a.m. Also curious about the additive fish oil.... According to the breeder the Alanna Wild Prarier had pretty much everything she needed.i luv all the new knowledge I glean here...so, lay it on me..always open to solid, information to keep my Derby a happy, healthy Doodle

[F, Calla & Luca]

There is no reason to add toppers with Acana. Some people do it for a treat, others to entice their dog to eat. I will usually give the dogs a tiny bit of my food if I'm eating something appropriate since Luca often won't eat right away. By the time I give them a "topper", Calla's food is long gone : ) As to fish oil, people add for coats etc. I give my dogs evening primrose oil to help with Calla's possible allergies. But Acana is a great complete food and you don't need to add anything. I feed it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Most people add toppers to entice picky eaters to eat. It is not done to supplement the nutritional value of the food, other than when people add yogurt for the probiotics or pumpkin for fiber. 

The fish oil is for added Omega 3 fatty acids. Extra DHA & EPA are beneficial for skin & coats, and for dogs who have any type of inflammatory conditions. Some foods have a better Omega 3 content and Omega 6:3 ratio than others.