Suggestions Please!

[quack]

I am lost here as what to do.

Our pup was on Hills prescription diet duck and potato, but was vomiting almost every day on it.

I have done a gradual change over to Canidae All life stages and she has been on it for 1 week now and she isn't vomiting at all. However, she seems to be having too many and too large of bowel movements during the day. She is having 4-5.

She is taking metronidazole 0.4 cc two times a day.

She was just spayed and had a liver biopsy done Dec. 17th and the liver biopsy came back looking good, so the doctor is leaning towards her having tummy problems and not liver problems.

I really need some food suggestions from anyone that has gone through this with their pups.

[Myzzbrat]

Good luck on helping your baby. I will bump this for you.. Try posting it in the Health and diet portion of the forum. You may get more responses there.

[quack]

Thanks.

I wasn't sure where to post to get the most responses.

My vet really pushes Science Diet foods and I have been studying the food analysis site and reading here before I slowly started her on the Canidae.

I would really love suggestions on the best food for very sensitive tummy or possible colitis.

Also, how many times a day should be having bowel movements? I was thinking 2-3.

[diggy4]

I have 2 Yorkies Bella 2.5 years and Diggy 10 months. He poops 4 times at least and she goes 3-4 times a day so I dont think your baby is too far off. These small ones tend to burn thru food faster therefore causing more bowel movements. Glad your liver bio came back looking good! As far as food I am sure you will get many suggestions mine both have stomachs of steel so rarely do they vomit but my sisters has bad allergies and she is on Merricks as are mine and all 3 do great! Good luck!

[4doggiemama]

I agree. I have a 6.5 mo. pommie and he poops 3-4 times per day. It used to be at least 5. Just the way it goes. Joanne

[quack]

I thought I had read a thread here where most of the people were saying their pups only had a BM 2 times a day. Since she isn't vomiting (YAY!) I am going to continue on with the Canidae and see how she does.

Thanks!

[Ellie May]

I wouldn't be too happy if Ellie had bowel movements that often. I think it's too much. It is generally thought of as the body not being able to use everything in the food and discarding what it couldn't. I would say that is too much discarding. Ellie goes once a day and occasionally twice. Puppies go more often. One poop per meal plus maybe one more (if your dog gets lots of treats) throughout the day could be okay...

Why the Science Diet Duck and Potato in the first place? Allergies or stomach problems?

Are you willing to homecook?

[quack]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I wouldn't be too happy if Ellie had bowel movements that often. I think it's too much. It is generally thought of as the body not being able to use everything in the food and discarding what it couldn't. I would say that is too much discarding. Ellie goes once a day and occasionally twice. Puppies go more often. One poop per meal plus maybe one more (if your dog gets lots of treats) throughout the day could be okay...

Why the Science Diet Duck and Potato in the first place? Allergies or stomach problems?

Are you willing to homecook?

She was vomiting a lot, so the vet put her on the Science Diet Duck and Potato. They were not sure if she had tummy issues or liver problems and are now saying (liver biopsy came back good) it is her her tummy.

My vet thinks more than 3 bowel movements a day are too much and she was having 2-3 on the Science Diet Duck and Potato, but still vomiting too often.

Now she isn't vomiting on the Canidae, but having too many BM's.

I can't homecook, but am willing to buy the best food I can to give her a healthy diet.

She has only been on the Canidae for 8 days, so maybe it will get better if I just keep her on it for a while? I just don't know. I am so new to this puppy stuff and just want to give her the right stuff so she is healthy.

I am just desperate to find a good food that works well for her. She has had so many problems since we got her and I just want her to be healthy.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by quack

She was vomiting a lot, so the vet put her on the Science Diet Duck and Potato. They were not sure if she had tummy issues or liver problems and are now saying (liver biopsy came back good) it is her her tummy.

My vet thinks more than 3 bowel movements a day are too much and she was having 2-3 on the Science Diet Duck and Potato, but still vomiting too often.

Now she isn't vomiting on the Canidae, but having too many BM's.

I can't homecook, but am willing to buy the best food I can to give her a healthy diet.

She has only been on the Canidae for 8 days, so maybe it will get better if I just keep her on it for a while? I just don't know. I am so new to this puppy stuff and just want to give her the right stuff so she is healthy.

I am just desperate to find a good food that works well for her. She has had so many problems since we got her and I just want her to be healthy.

Hmmm, I agree with your vet (well except about using Science Diet). I don't think you can plan on the BMs slowing down and I would switch foods. Please don't go to Royal Canin. It is responsible for lots of tummy troubles. I really don't know what food to recommend because the one I know works best for colitis-type issues is a homecooked diet from "Wylie'sMom"'s nutritionist. It is white fish, green beans and mashed potatoes. I know homecooking is a lot of work though. Maybe you could find a food with a fish base but Wellness is the first one that comes to mind and it is too rich for some dogs. Maybe it will just take some experimenting for you. There is also Natural Balance Duck and Potato which might work if the vet likes the duck/potato idea.

[quack]

Thanks so much, Ellie May.

I have spent so many hours reading about food and and still feel at such a loss.

[Erin]

We tried 4 foods with Loki before finding Canidae. The Canidae cleared up all of his issues. He had been on and off of that medicine and even a small treat would upset his stomach before Canidae. I say, give it a chance to work. Are you feedng the right amount? And how many times per day are you feeding? Usually your dogs will have the same # of BM as they do meals. Mine go twice a day just before or after each meal.

Have you tried adding a bit of canned pumpkin or plain yogurt to her kibble to help with digestion? Are the stools loose? If they are loose that may contribute to the # of BM's. Adding those things, or even plain white rice, might help. Her stomach may just need time to recover from all of those problems.

[Wylie's Mom]

Oh, do I feel for you - I've had a lot of experience with possible colitis/ibs/ibd - etcetera!

1) First, you should know that sometimes when dogs are on Metro for an extended period - it can actually EXACERBATE (and mimic) the very symptoms you are trying to fix. Seriously. It's quite a tough drug and can build up in their systems causing some toxicity. I found this out on my own after Marcel began having some weird issues on the Metro - brought my research to my vet, we took him off of it. So, that may be one thing to take a look at. Read about Metro here: http://www.wedgewoodpharmacy.com/mon...ronidazole.asp

2) Could be going through a "detox" elimination period now that you've got her off the SD - so you could give the Canidae a couple weeks and re-evaluate. This, coupled w/ any Metro issues, could be a double whammy here.

3) If you can wait 2 weeks, then, if poos still bad - you could consider if Metro is the issue w/ your vet. If you d/c the Metro - then you could wait 2 weeks again - any changes? If no, then consider another kibble switch. Perhaps Nature's Variety Instinct (grain free) or something on that level. NV is known for smaller poos (bc the ingredients are absorbed rather than poo-ed out) - so it'd be an interesting one to try.

4) Homecooking - a whole 'nother issue - and it doesn't sound like your thing right now.

5) You could supplement w/ a couple things: pinch of Benefiber (or, canned pumpkin for fiber in her kibble), digestive enzymes, probiotics

So, if it were me, I'd first determine w/ my vet if we felt the Metro was building up/becoming a bit toxic. Based on that, I'd then move forward to waiting w/ the Canidae for a bit etcetera. The canned pumpkin could be quite soothing for her system. I would guess her entire digestive system is extremely stressed at this point - so I would very careful w/ changes.

Hang in there - you'll find the solution. Give her some kisses for me, poor little honey!