Homecooking causing gas!
 

Hi

Tootsy is loving my homecooking but I have noticed that she is having smelly gas!! It isn't too often and her stools are normal, although her tummy makes a lot of grumbling noises. Is she finding it hard to digest the food? I mainly use chicken, lamb and fish with sweetpotato/potato/rice and carrots/pumpkin/ plus broccilli or peas. Will be trying beans next. I was hoping to try lentils and split peas as well, but I am wondering if this will make the problem worse? She is a bit of a gobbler although, now that she knows that she gets regular food and plenty of it, she is not gobbling her food down quite as bad as she was at first. But she does still gobble at times though. Is this the problem? Is she swallowing too much air, do you think? Any advice?

Luv

Franceen

My guess would be it's the broccoli. Broccoli causes gas in humans so it's
possible it's giving her gas. I cook for Buddy but have never given him
broccoli. Green beans, peas and carrots. He's never had gas.
I hope that's what it is. That's an easy fix if it is.

My first thought would be the pumpkin because it helps with constipation so it could do something to the GI tract. I'm not sure though. It also very well could be the broccili and I would never have thought of that. I do give broccili but please don't over-do it. Too much broccili is not good.

how are you cooking the meat?

it might be her body is trying to clean itself out.... if she is pooping ok i'd give it a few more days and see it if clears up

It could be the broccoli. I'd limit that and see if it gets better.

I would only introduce one veggie and one meat at a time, otherwise there is really no way to find the culprit and/or what she does best on. Carrots should be started slowly, as they can cause digestive issues; broccoli, of course, is gaseous.

Be careful w/ the chicken bc that is the most highly allergenic meat and can often cause symptoms that mimic ibd/ibs. She may be just fine w/ chicken, but if the problems continue, then you may need to eliminate it for awhile to see what's going on. If it were me, I would hold off on beans or split peas too bc they are gaseous too. Remember, dogs aren't really built for veggies and grains, so they can be tough to digest for some....

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Anne is so great!

Hi everyone

Thanks so much for all these replies!

I think the broccilli may well be the culprit. I hadn't thought of that before but it does make sense. I will cut that out first then use one of the other veg at a time and see if there is an improvement. Why is too much broccilli not good for her, Ellie May? I always thought it was such a healthy veg. Does it upset them or is there something in it that is not good for them?

Marcella02, I simmer the meat in a little stock until it is tender. I use one third of an organic stock cube to about a pint of water. I add the veg during the last 12 minutes or so and cook them until they are just done but still a little crunchy. I then cut up everything into small bits to prevent her from swallowing whole chunks. I didn't realise that they could react to chicken as I thought that chicken and rice was the blandest food to give, as far as their digestion goes. So much to learn!!!

The main thing is that she has stopped all vomiting since the home cooking which is the best. It is a combination of feeding small amounts, and frequently, as well as the home cooking. Just feeding small amounts of the dog food she was on when we got her, also helped the vomiting enormously but it did not completely stop it altogether. Now it HAS completely stopped and she is putting on weight for the first time. Someone saw her after not seeing her for a few weeks, and she says that Tootsy is altogether a bigger dog. She says even her head is a bit bigger! A few people have commented on how much bigger she is and healthier looking. Her coat is shiny for the first time and her scratching has all but stopped. I must be doing something right! Phew!

I want to get her diet absolutely right , so any help you can give me will be very gratefully received. I will try out all the suggestions you have made in these replies. I also won't start with the lentils or split peas yet.

Thanks so much you guys - what I would do without you, I really don't know.

Luv

Franceen

Oh, another thing I give her is the stock I cooked her food in, thickened with a little cornflour. Is this okay to do?

Luv

Franceen

I give it to mine when I homecook

Awww, how wonderful! What a great, loving Mum you are - this doggy hit the jackpot! :D

That's so sweet of you, thank you!

Luv

Franceen

http://www.news10now.com/content/fea...s/?ArID=127445

It is just mildly toxic if given in large amounts. I usually only give it for a week or two at a time and then switch veggies. It is always mixed with atleast two other veggies also and never makes up more than about 10% of Ellie's diet. You are fine feeding it though.

Thank you for that link. I am so pleased I know about this now as I had no idea it contained a toxic substance I think that it is probably the cause of the gas for certain now. I have cut it out today and so far she has been fine.

Thanks again, Ellie.

Luv
Franceen