Can't eat dog food

[linda giorgi]

We would like to take a trip to a state park with my puppy Morgan. The only thing is she still can not eat dog food. She eats a boiled meat, rice, and a vegtable at every meal. 3x;s a day.   How am I ever going to get her over to eat dog food. I try orijen puppy and she loves it. But gets diarrhea. I also tried natural instinct lamb and peas...diarrhea. I can not see me cooking on the road.  What do you suggest?

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Linda, can we have some history? How old is Morgan? What was she eating when she came to you from the breeder, and when did you change her food? What does she get in the way of treats and chews? Has she had giardia, any fecals, any meds? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Okay, I see in one of your past discussions that she has been treated several times for parasites as well as wormed five times! That's what is causing the problem. The medications have destroyed all of the good bacteria in her gut along with the bad, and that good bacteria is necessary for normal stool formation. 

Order a bottle of Proviable DC probiotic capsules. In the meantime, start giving her 2-3 tablespoons of yogurt twice a day. 

Once she's been on the probiotics for a week or so, I'd try to introduce a limited ingredient kibble. Acana Singles or Wellness Simple Solutions would be good choices. 

I also saw you mention that she is biting off pieces of bones. I don't know what kind of bones they are, but stop giving them. 

What else is she getting in the way of treats or chews? 

[linda giorgi]

Morgan is going to be 4 months old on September 1. I don't give her any treats now except for real pieces of meat. The bone was Himalayan Dog Chew That she coughed with. When I got her from the breeder she said she might have a little diarrhea   because of the changes around her.She gave me a bag of Diamond dog food. I also tried Orjin and Natural Instincts peas and lamb and also the chicken variety. I questioned the vet about all the parasites. She said it was natural for puppies. I think she had every parasites there is. This upsets me. We clean up after she makes and clean the spot with bleach water to kill anything that might be there. My husband and I are not first time dog owner. We had dogs all our lives. She is also very noisy and gets into everything. She never sits still. We exercise her all day with play and running in the yard and take her to the school in the evening to really run. Oh and she dig holes if we don't stop her.Is this natural behavior for a labradoodle. I guess she is lucky we love her so much. I hope she outgrows all the nutty business. At least she is not biting anymore. I will try the new dog food you recommended. Should I add a little bit at a time to her home cooked meals along with the other suggestions you gave me. How much kibble a day to add. Thank you so much and sorry for the ranting and going on and on. I am fustrated. She has been given Panacur. I just don't understand where all this is coming from.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would not try a new food yet until you start her on probiotics. This is very important. No food is going to work for her if there is a bacterial imbalance in the gut. Any time a puppy is on antibiotics, especially metronidazole/Flagyl, which is what most vets give for giardia, they must also be on probiotics, and the probiotics need to continue for several weeks. 

[linda giorgi]

I am going to go buy the probiotics now. Are they in Petco or a store like that? Or should I order them on line.

It the panacur just as bad?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Proviable is only available on-line. Some vets do carry it, very few, but they also charge more.

Panacur is much safer and has fewer side effects than metronidazole. But several treatments plus five wormings(!) would still deplete the good gut flora if probiotics were not given. 

[linda giorgi]

Is there only one strength for Proviable.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There are two forms: Proviable KP, which is a paste and is "stronger", and Proviable DC. Some people have used both. 

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Moose came home with really runny poop and they treated him for giardia (he never had a positive test result) with Panacur and advised I give him the KP and DC just to help get his tummy in order. Not sure if its normal practice to give both but it worked for Moose. I still keep the Proviable DC on hand just incase anything happens :)

[linda giorgi]

Thanks for the advise. I just ordered the Proviable that Karen told me about. Did you cook for your puppy?

[linda giorgi]

Karen thank you so much for your help. I order the Proviable  and the food. Thanks for sharing your valuable time.

Lynn

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I cannot stress enough how important it is not to start a new food until she has been on the Proviable for at least a few days if not a week. 

Which food did you order?