Poop Issues on Acana

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

Although I think Archie has enjoyed Acana...I am not 100% sure.  Since moving to Acana about 3-4 months ago (maybe longer) Archie has most definitely enjoyed it over anything else weve ever fed him.  He usually (not always) runs over to his bowl when we drop a scoop of Acana down.  With that said though, he has always been a picky and not so big of an eater (sometimes only once a day). 

 

However, Acana has brought on some weird poop cycles.  Archie usually goes one or 2 weeks okay and then has a rough day or two.  Since moving to Acana Archie has never really had a nice firm stool.  Its not always loose, but its just soft.  He also poops about 2-3 times between the morning and afternoon (won't eat until he has done all his pooping for the morning/afternoon).  After about a week or two of normal yet soft poops archie ALWAYS seems to go with a day or two of not eating and having those rumbling and bubbling gassy type noises in his stomach.  (not sure if its gas noises or hunger) but it happens so often that I know whats next....He doesn't eat, gassy bubbling noises in his stomach, and then comes grass eatin outside, followed by diarrhea for a day or two...

 

So we have done plenty of vet visits and all that jazz, but nothing major has come of it. 

 

Do we think its just sensitive stomach and we have to deal with it? 

Could Archie be allergic to Acana?

Archie has only had grain-free dry food...even outside of Acana. 

Should we try food with grain? (I was thinking Fromm, Earthborn, I andLOVE andYOU and Petcurean)

 

Any ideas and help would be awesome!

Thanks,

Sam

[Kaye guelfo]

Hi! My doodle has some poop issues also.  The guy at our local pet market suggested she get tested for EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.  The #1 sign is excessive eating and no weight gain along with the loose stools etc. So far, my 6 month piglet has not had any trouble gaining weight....lol...anyway, it's a good read on their digestive system and speaks to the probiotics etc. I did just switch her from Taste of the Wild to Fromm based on his recommendation.  He states that a chicken free, low fiber food works the best on his dog with it.  I just started her last night on it,  so no conclusive results as of yet. Good Luck with yours!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Many of us here have learned the hard way that the clerks in pet supply stores don;t always have the best knowledge or information and don;t always give the best advice. Diagnosing serious diseases is the worst I have heard yet. I would totally disregard this man's opinions about food and everything else, to be honest, especially health issues.

Actually, the number one sign of EPI is "cow patty stools". Archie definitely doesn't have it, and I am certain your dog doesn't either. And chicken would have nothing to do with EPI in any case. 

[Sue & Lily Grace]

My Lily Grace was diagnosed with IBD about 2 months ago. We went through a horrible two and a half to three months previous to the diagnosis. She was a really sick little girl. After a month long trial of taking her off all proteins and carbs that she had come into contact previously, I now have her on arcana duck and pear. Although Acana is going through a formula change in the near future I had to put Lily Grace on something that I trusted and that was one single protein and one single carb. Soon arcana will take out the oatmeal in the formula and put in lentils.

Lily Grace has handled the duck and pear with out any problems. Her poops are formed and although there is greater volume she is neither constipated nor having soft movements. I also give her some no salt canned green beans and I give her a probiotic every other day. The treat she is now getting is the orijin freeze-dry duck. I would love her to have some of the good treats she used to get but the kibble and the duck treat is keeping her well.

As Karen said you have to take Archie off all proteins except one and give it another time to see if that helps him. Good luck.

[Sue & Lily Grace]

PS. I have a bag of Zingature here that a rep gave me to try for Lily Grace. After checking ingredients I went with the formula that had fewer ingredients.

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

Yes, I have a few bags at home that the reps from Zignature sent me.  I am going to try them out.  Duck looks good.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sue is saying that she chose to go with Acana rather than Zignature, because the Acana had fewer ingredients.

But whatever you use, just be sure to use only one formula at a time, and stay with it for at  least a couple of months. 

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

Karen...which formulas have less protein? I wanna change from Wild Prairie?  Also, I know with some brands you don't always have to ween your dog on since its the same company just different formula.  Does that hold true for Acana?

Which ever I chose to go with, can I just start Archie on it ASAP? Thanks!

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

I am leaning towards just staying with Acana vs. Zignature and switching Archie from Wild Prairie to either Lamb & Apple or Duck & Pear.  Any suggestions? They are both LIDs and I think Archie may need that.  Its worth a try at least.  He def needs to try a single animal source protein and either one provides that.

Would you recommend either or?

Thanks!

[Sue & Lily Grace]

I had no choice with Lily Grace as she had eaten lamb in previous kibble. If one is a novel protein pick that one. If both are novel proteins for Archie, maybe Karen would have a preference for you.

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

I just am unfamiliar with "grain" foods.  I know all the hype is around "grain-free", but Archie still has a sensitive stomach and his stools are messed up and has ALWAYS been on grain-free regardless of brand of foods. 

So maybe time to try grain formula and see what happens?  Duck and Pear sounds better haha but I may go with Lamb and Apple.

Would I need to ween Archie on or it doesn't matter since its all Acana.  I know some people rotate between formulas of same brands.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

I was in the same situation in deciding which Acana singles to try.

I can't answer your other questions, but I chose lamb because there are more options for treats with lamb than with duck.

[Oliver & Elizabeth]

Oliver is a picky eater and the only foods he will eat on a regular basis are Acana Duck and Pear and Orijen Regional Red. Duck and pear has been our everyday food for over a year (he now gets regional red freeze dried treats so he doesn't get the regional red food). While every dog is different, duck and pear is the winner at our house--for some reason he never liked the lamb and apple. Also, Orijen also makes duck only freeze dried treats. 

When we switched between Champion foods we never did gradual switches. Good luck!