Puppy With Sensitive Tummy

[Jerry Kandel]

We finally got a brother for Bailey - his name is Kobe and is four months old. We have had him a few weeks shy of two months - and got him from a reputable breeder and from the same breeder where we got Bailey. Kobe has had continually loose stools - better described as a small mound of mush. We are feeding him Taste of the Wild Grain Free. He is not lethargic - he has doubled his weight in two months (10 lbs to 20 lbs) - but he rarely (read: almost never) has formed stools. We did a stool sample with our vet and it came back negative. Our breeder de-wormed him prior to our getting him. We are at a loss as to what to do to have him have regular hard formed stools. We don't know whether we should change foods (perhaps he is allergic to one of the ingredients in TOTW) - our breeder suggested getting Probiotic Max - she said that she has had good luck using that.  Is anyone familiar with Probiotic max?

Hope someone can help

Thanks

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I rarely jump into a Food discussion, but I feel compelled to add that Karen is the most knowledgeable person you will ever encounter regarding dog food. She works hours and hours a day, free of charge, to answer questions and stay up to date on the dog foods out there. I don't know how she does it and continues to stay sane. She answers the same questions over and over and usually the people that continue to have problems are the ones who continue to search for answers from less informed individuals. I also have to say that I don't even follow these discussions all that closely, but I know enough that Karen has always talked about the benefits of long term probiotics.

[Brittney & Cally]

We are all definitely lucky to have her. To find someone with her knowledge and expertise is hard to find and usually costs a fortune! So true Laurie, on the people who keep asking the same questions!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have mentioned to Karen more than once that in this regard she has the patience of a saint : ) all so true.

[Jerry Kandel]

A.K.A. Rodney and everyone else - thank you for your replies. I am not doubting that Karen knows a lot about foods - but I believe just like people, some things work and some things don't work. I have decided to go along with the suggestions of our breeder's vet. I am going to put Kobe on a month of Purina EN food - supplemented with sweet potato - Probiotic Max and the regimen for coccadia. I know this goes against the grain of some of the advice I have received here - but I am already optimistic that it is working. This morning, my wife saw Kobe go into the dining room and a few minutes later she found pooh there - since Bailey (our older Labradoodle) knows better - we're sure it was from Kobe. It was nice and firm - so we're trying to stay positive and looking for any glimmer of hope (Kobe actually knows better as well - but we are getting rain here on the CA. Central Coast (rare) so we think Kobe just didn't want to get wet).

[Brittney & Cally]

I guess we can all give up now... Karen thank you for your advice so at least others can look at it and learn from it..

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Well we all just threw our virtual arms in the air. hah oh well. Good luck, Jerry. I truly hope Kobe improves.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Just coming in here, and I second Laurie, Brittney and F.'s responses above. Karen knows her stuff and I swear, without her, my chi would be on Rx kidney food and would have been dead two years ago.

At least everyone tried.

Good luck Jerry, I wish you the best with Bailey's diet.

[Kristen and Chewbacca (Chewy)]

I'm waiting for my puppy to arrive in Spring, so I have been on DK often and follow many groups hoping to het advice myself one day.. While this group seems to have great information, I'm not sure why it has to get so ugly and insulting at times. People come here in desperation and if you give advice and they choose not to take it, that's their choice. Please think about the tone of this group in the future. Thank you.

[Brittney & Cally]

I think you have to understand how frustrating it is for us. Many, mostly meaning Karen spend a lot of time doing research for people when they ask questions and gives the best advice! We all give the best advice we can and most times do it repeatedly. Jerry came here asking for our advice and after everyone gave there opinion he would go back to his vets or breeder and listen to them and ask what we think. It is very frustrating for us to be ignored but then want more of our opinions. After asking all of our advice he untimely did what he was going to do in the first place! We do not mean to insult, just educate. But if you are going to do the things your way in the end, why drag us into it for us to be ignored!

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Kristen, what it all comes down to, is, we are in it for the dogs, and the dogs only.  We all want what is best for them,from the types of beds they sleep on, the toys they play with, to the food and treats that they eat.  Karen and others have done so much research,and dedicated so much time to compile lists and lists of information, updating it constantly..all with fact based explanations/information. When someone asks a question, then gets all this information handed on a silver platter, THEN still does the exact opposite..it is hurtful.  I only wish I heard of this site when I was going through my problems. Please read my discussion, "Update on Woody.." I now have a life long commitment of home cooking for my dog b/c I did not have this information when Woody was a puppy.  Though you are entitled to your opinion.. but please do not think that this group gets "ugly and insulting"…we just care…a lot. And I personally know what happens when you treat an immature immune system with medication and garbage food…it is heart breaking to watch your puppy be sick.  And unfortunately, many of us here in the Food group have gone through this…which is why we are trying so hard to help.

I wish you the best of luck with your puppy this spring.  And that is great that you are reading and gathering all of your information now! :)

[Brittney & Cally]

Much more eloquently said than me, lol! It is hard to write on this dang iPad!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's also hurtful personally when after all of this time and effort, I am asked for a food recommendation, I recommend the same food I feed my beloved JD, and the person then goes to check how the Dog Food Advisor rates the food, then comes back to tell me that the food is not good enough and he only wants the best for his dog. I, on the other hand, couldn't care less about my dog, apparently. I've only spent $20,000 treating his various illnesses in the past two years, and had hoped to spare another dog & owner a similar fate. 

And then, after all that, this same person, who "only wants the best for his dog", chooses to go with a food that he has been advised contains a dangerous synthetic vitamin which has been shown to cause so many health problems in dogs, it has been banned from use in many countries. I wonder how the Dog Food Advisor rates that one???????? 

This whole thing has been a waste of my time, my energy, and extremely insulting to me, to boot. I swore i was not going to even respond to this discussion again, but this really needed to be said.