Wow! Thanks for the info. That's why I was thinking of switching from the chicken to lamb or venison. I've seen a couple things on here in regards to chicken being a problem. I just bought a brand new bag of the chicken and rice too dangit. So can I go to a Lamb & Brown Rice Adult without it being large breed or do I need to continue on large breed with adult food?
I never had good results feeding the top end foods that are much to rich imo for young puppies, it also concerns me when I read about people changing foods like they change their socks, pick a food and stick to it, how can there be any success when foods are changed so frequently? as stated overfeeding can cause loose stools, perhaps stick with the food your breeder recommended? at least for the 1st 6 mos, until they are ready for adult food....we really base this on a success rate, and not just because we walked into the store one day and said..."oh that one has a pretty bag, I'll recommend this one this week" ...as I am sure you can tell, this is one of my Pet Peeves"
:doh: Sully has a soft stool on and off for over a year, but nothing ever shows up in the vet's tests. I think sometimes they have bought new cars because of my office visits. Scotty is starting Amoxicillin, Metronidaxole, and Proviable-DC because of his diarrhea today. My vet checks for coc. because he had it last fall when he was less than eight weeks (breeder denied it). I am going to try Nutro Sensitive Stomach :crossfing once he can get off of the boiled turkey and rice. My vet doesn't want him to have any treats or Kong stuff because it may be contributing to his soft stool. He loves carrots for treats and I'm going to shape and bake the canned variety for treats. Has any one had an experience with Nutro Sensitive Stomach?
I had very similar problems with Flora. After a LONG battle with loose poops and nasty diarrhea, and a couple of trips to the vet for fecal exams and whatever else, my vet finally suggested taking her off of her present food (Blue Buffalo chicken and rice puppy food) and switching her over to an adult food with a different source of protein.
I put her on a less "quality" adult food (Purina ProPlan Sensitive Formula) and her poops have been great ever since. Not a single problem with diarrhea, even after a rich marrow bone.
Arcane~ I understand you're protective of the breed. I'm not changing his food like I change my socks BUT after doing weeks of research and enrolling in obedience our eyes were opened to how bad the "walmart" brands are. We are trying to do what's best for our dog and unfortunately its going to take some trial and error. He's been on BB for 2 months now and has had this problem the entire time on it. I prefer to not make him suffer. He is almost 7 months old and after this bag I will switch him to adult food most likely of the same brand but with a different protein. The bags of BB food aren't that pretty so that's not why we decided on that food. Our breeder wasn't feeding a quality food. I would rather figure out an issue at 6 months old than to have him suffer for years or eat a low quality food and have ailments. If you eat McDonalds every day do you think that's ok just because you can't "see" any outward effects?
Arcane~ I understand you're protective of the breed. I'm not changing his food like I change my socks BUT after doing weeks of research and enrolling in obedience our eyes were opened to how bad the "walmart" brands are. We are trying to do what's best for our dog and unfortunately its going to take some trial and error. He's been on BB for 2 months now and has had this problem the entire time on it. I prefer to not make him suffer. He is almost 7 months old and after this bag I will switch him to adult food most likely of the same brand but with a different protein. The bags of BB food aren't that pretty so that's not why we decided on that food. Our breeder wasn't feeding a quality food. I would rather figure out an issue at 6 months old than to have him suffer for years or eat a low quality food and have ailments. If you eat McDonalds every day do you think that's ok just because you can't "see" any outward effects?
Remember you can return the food bag to pet smart, we returned half a bag and got full refund. i still dont know why our dogs poop good stools and some minutes or even seconds after that they poop lose stools. I think you are doing the right thing. Dont take arcana comments personal, she is a breeder so her comments are because her frustration with more experience dog owners, i'm sure they would love to help us first time puppy parents. And yes "McDonalds es del Diablo"
Thanks hmsalazar! I threw the stupid bag away thinking it would be a quick fix with the antibiotic. I was told you have to have the original packaging to return it. Stupid me, I should've waited and listened to my gut. Always gets you in trouble when you don't listen to your gut! Hopefully the probiotic starts working!
Vet is letting me try a round of the Metro-whatever. I also went to Nature Dog here in Omaha yesterday and got a probiotic (cheaper than the vets and non-dairy, vets had dairy in it). His morning poo today was hard so that's good. Hopefully it stays that way.
so that's not why we decided on that food. Our breeder wasn't feeding a quality food. I would rather figure out an issue at 6 months old than to have him suffer for years or eat a low quality food and have ailments. If you eat McDonalds every day do you think that's ok just because you can't "see" any outward effects?
I sometimes think people take dog food too seriously. Carmella ate Iams until she was 8 years old, when we switched her over to Solid Gold per her groomer's suggestion. I know tons of people think Iams is "evil" and garbage food, but my Carmella lived to be almost 15 years old with very few health problems.
She never "suffered" because she was eating what many people consider a low quality food. She was a happy, healthy dog. Just find what works for your dog rather than being so adamant about finding a high quality food. If it's something "high quality" like Fromm or Orijin, then awesome. If it's something "low quality" like Iams or Purina One, then... who cares?! The diarrhea is over. :
Thanks! Anyone know how many calories a dog should have per day? 7 months old, moderately active (doesn't go for walks every day). I know being young his metabolism is high. How do you figure out when to feed more or less? Just keep doing the rib test? Back off if you notice they're getting porky?
Thanks! Anyone know how many calories a dog should have per day? 7 months old, moderately active (doesn't go for walks every day). I know being young his metabolism is high. How do you figure out when to feed more or less? Just keep doing the rib test? Back off if you notice they're getting porky?
Jax is getting around 1400 calories a day, but he's a nutjob hiking dog who's 10 months old. Comet thrived on around 1000 at the same age, same food, and same amount of exercise. Jax is just more intense about running around and more wired all the time.
So I say check the ribs every day and always make changes very slowly.
In the old days, my past goldens ate Purina their entire lives and lived to be 14, 12 and 12. The one who had health issues were genetic.
My current goldens were on Nutro for years as that is what the breeder fed. Then the big Nutro health scare and I switched to Nature's Variety which is a great food and originates right here in Lincoln. When food prices soared I switched to a less expensive but still healthy food and my poor boys suffered the consequences.
It contained sweet potatoes which was the major difference so apparently my boy had an extreme allergy to it. He lost his hair and 15 pounds. I switched back to NV and he is now in wonderful shape. All this is to point out that changing foods can cause major problems fast! I would make sure all other areas are covered (the antibiotic finished) before changing foods.
Good Luck to your sweet boy. Glad your vet agreed to the antibiotic and hope it works. Poor baby.
energy requirements for adult dogs (7 months needs more, but not that much more since the major growth is over by 7 months). Add more for extremely active dogs.
body weight----- at rest calories per day---- moderately active
50 pounds---------- 725 -------------------1000-1200
60 pounds---------- 835 -------------------1200-1500
70 pounds -----------940------------------- 1400-1750
80 pounds ----------1035 -------------------1600-2000
Moderately active does not mean going for a couple of daily walks. It means at least 1/2 hour of hard play per day.
sources: Purina, Royal Canin tech letters
as far as checking the ribs, be sure you're checking in the right place. You need to check about 1-1/2 inches off the spinal bone, NOT on the dog's sides.
Thanks for all the info Hotel & Debles. No food changes will be made until we switch to adult which is when this bag is done and he'll be almost 8 months. So the antibiotic will be done. I'm noticing what people were saying in earlier posts about feeding too much. I'm feeding 1/2c less than the minimum on the bag but I wasn't taking into consideration the calories. He was getting 1500 calories plus a lot of treats, I've since cut back on the treats/stuffed kongs. I just now checked his ribs off the spine and I can feel them easily. I will keep up on checking his ribs.
Yes updates......He is still doing the walking squats but his poo is firmer. The antibiotic is finished so I cut his food back to 2 1/2 cups to see if overfeeding is the issue (trying to rule out simple stuff before changing food). I just did the lesser food a few days ago so I haven't seen any "better" results as of yet but I will give it a few more days. I'll update again in a few days. Although now today he ate a pair of my undies so we'll most likely have some issues with that. I posted a thread about it on another section in here. This pup keeps us on our toes.
I should say his poo is firmer at the beginning than previous but still have the issue of it being softer at the end when he's doing the walking squats.
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