Should I try a new food?

Kina_A · 11-10-2009, 09:01 AM

Since finding out that Kind doesn't do well on chicken, I've had her on California Natural Lamb meal and rice. She has sorta done alright on it. I find that she isn't really consistent in the poop department. She's 7 months old now and I've had her on it for at lease 5 months now.

She'll be ok for a few days and then she'll get the runny poops.

I've had her checked by the vet and there's nothing wrong with her.

Going raw is out of the question. I just don't have time for that.

I was wondering if anyone thinks that I should try something else and if so, what should I try. I also have to keep in mind that Sadie is also eating the same food, so I would also be switching hers as well.

I have cut back a bit on her food. and the strange thing is, that we don't give her many treats. She'll only get 2 a day.

She use to get 1 cup a day, and now I've cut her back to 1/3 cup in the am and 1/2 of a cup in the pm.

I know she isn't getting into Sadie's food because I watch her and have taught both of them that it isn't polite to eat out of each other's bowls.

What do you think.

Terrie · 11-10-2009, 12:47 PM

Maybe try a fish formula. Orijen's 6 Fish for example.

Laurelin · 11-10-2009, 01:37 PM

I had that problem with both EVO and California Natural with a few of our dogs. About once a week they would have runny stools which is just not good. I'm not sure WHY but I can tell you that the foods that have worked best on our dogs. We tried a LOT of different foods ranging from Purina to EVO. What worked best with ours was Fromm's duck formula, Blue Buffalo, and EaglePack Holistic's Duck formula.

They've all been on Eagle Pack for about 8 months now and they're wonderful. All their stool problems are gone. I know it's not top top of the line kibble, but it's good enough and the poop is so much better on it too.

dieterherzog · 11-10-2009, 02:43 PM

Add pumpkin or unsweetened coconut flakes with a wee bit of coconut oil.

Kina_A · 11-10-2009, 02:56 PM

I've actually tried, probiotic, pumkin, coconut, Carrots you name it, she still gets the runny poops for no reason.

What do you think of Nature's Variety? Would this be too rich?

dieterherzog · 11-10-2009, 03:03 PM

Are you thinking of Nature Variety's Instinct? I'm always up for recommending grain-free foods, but try the duck variety or like the other poster recommended, Orijen 6-Fish. Some dogs just don't do well on lamb or chicken. Try another protein source and see if that works.

Kina_A · 11-10-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieterherzog

Are you thinking of Nature Variety's Instinct? I'm always up for recommending grain-free foods, but try the duck variety or like the other poster recommended, Orijen 6-Fish. Some dogs just don't do well on lamb or chicken. Try another protein source and see if that works.

Yes the Nature's Variety's Instinct is what I had in mind. That or Natural Balance's in their grain free line.

I never thought of going the orijen route. I'll look it up and see what they have.

Would Orijen be ok for all life stages?

Terrie · 11-10-2009, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kina_A

Would Orijen be ok for all life stages?

I'm not 100% sure but they do have puppy formulas and a senior formula so I'm guessing it's not. The 6 Fish formula is directed towards adult dogs I believe.

orijen.ca That's their website, you can see everything they have there.

HORSEandHOUND · 11-10-2009, 04:46 PM

I tried instinct rabbit with my puppy and he wont touch the stuff... thankfully my other dog loves it, so it wont go to waste.
We've settled on a mix of EVO and Wilderness that we alternate and its so far working great. he only poops 2x a day now, they are firm and it's not a matter of life and death to go potty *right nooowww!!!* anymore... which in and of itself was worth the extra bucks.

Kina_A · 11-10-2009, 07:24 PM

Kina will poop 4 times a day!! She'll wake me up every night now at 4 am to go poop. After doing some research, I think I'm going to stry Nature's Variety Instinct. Hopefully she does well on it, as this food issue is getting to be very annoying!

I'd want to switch to something both Sadie and Kina can both be on, as I really don't want to always play food police if I don't have to. Although both of them have really gotten good at staying out of each others bowls.

nico8 · 11-10-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kina_A

Kina will poop 4 times a day!!

Wow 4 times a day, really? Is that normal for most dogs? Nico usually poops once a day and I've never seen her go more than twice in one day.

Neri Mosby · 11-10-2009, 10:17 PM

pet foods professionals recommend a rotation of diets, which means, changing your pet foods regularly so that the dogs and cats can get different nutrients from different types of foods. this way, the pets wont get bored as well. However, rotating the diets is too troublesome for the pet owners, and also dangerous for the pets.

so what i do to my dogs is i stick to my trusted dry foods, and buy canned foods once in a while, to make their meals more interesting. im feeding only 2-3 types of dry foods in a year. Orijen is good. try solid gold too.

Kina_A · 11-11-2009, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nico8

Wow 4 times a day, really? Is that normal for most dogs? Nico usually poops once a day and I've never seen her go more than twice in one day.

Sadie only poops poops once a day, and sometimes twice.

I heard that normal dogs poop 1.5 times a a day.

Linda C · 11-12-2009, 07:19 AM

My allergy girl Katie doesn't do well with chicken either. She used to have troubles in the poop dept..inconsistant. I switched all three over to Acana and they're doing super! I've tried Grasslands, and we're now doing Pacifica. I also add my own mix at dinner. Cooked sweet potato and frozen cooked mixed veggies. I put them through the processor and add a few teaspoons.

Ayanla · 11-12-2009, 10:35 AM

How big is Kina? Could you be overfeeding? With 4 poops a day, and loose poops, that'd be my first things to evaluate.

Odo gets 1/2 to 2/3 cups a day of Evo. He's 8 months old and right at about 7.5lbs. Any more than 2/3 cup and he gets loose poops as well.

I think we're too obsessed with our dog's poop sometimes. Think about it. If you were otherwise healthy, would you be overly concerned if you had soft/loose poop for a day or two? I can't say I would be for myself or even if it were my human children. Let either of my pups get loose poop, though, and I'm evaluating their entire diet, their treats, and anything they might have eaten by accident. At least I'm in good company here

Kina_A · 11-13-2009, 11:40 AM

Kina is around 15 pounds. I have cut back on her food and have not seen any difference. She gets 1/3 of a cup in the evening and 1/2 a cup at night.

Odo looks so much like Kina. What kind of dog is he?

I think the reason I'm so obsessed with her poop is because when she does have loose stools for too many days in a row, she then has issues with her anal glands! Thank goodness that she going to the groomers tomorrow because I think she needs them drained again!!

Ayanla · 11-13-2009, 02:17 PM

Odo is a maltese/poodle mix. Most people are able to pick out the Maltese right off, but can't quite put their finger on what he's mixed with until I tell them. He's starting to get more "poodly" fur on his body, though, as his adult coat is coming in.

michelleboston · 11-13-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayanla

I think we're too obsessed with our dog's poop sometimes. Think about it. If you were otherwise healthy, would you be overly concerned if you had soft/loose poop for a day or two? I can't say I would be for myself or even if it were my human children. Let either of my pups get loose poop, though, and I'm evaluating their entire diet, their treats, and anything they might have eaten by accident. At least I'm in good company here

Haha SO TRUE! I've been stressing out about Bailey's on & off loose stools and my boyfriend basically said the same thing to me. Maybe it's just because we're constantly picking up the poop that we are so concerned with how it looks. Too funny.