Vet says stop Prey Model Diet!!

[Cinq1964]

OK, now I am totally confused. Vet says Nolee is not getting the proper nutrients needed?? I brought him in for a ear problem which happened to be a yeast infection. He also has been having diarreha for a good while now. He even starting waking us up at nite to go poop. He has been on Prey model since May. He really has not ever had normal poop, as a little soft. Could it be his body not accepting the Prey diet?? I am so confused! She suggested a RAW Diet if I did not want to use commercial food. What do I do? Nolee was very picky until the Prey diet. She also said to cut back on his food, he is getting fat. He weighs 9 lbs. I am totally confused.

[Ellie May]

When you say prey model, do you mean just feeding whatever raw meat and bones you have or do you feed certain amounts of muscle meat, organ meat, bones, etc.?

I would not automatically think that a yeast infection in his ears is because of improper nutrition. Yorkies get them all the time. Diarrhea on the other hand is probably diet related. Or maybe it is not caused by a poor diet but could be just one of those things and may be able to be helped by a different diet. Did he start getting diarrhea when you changed his diet?

Since there are so many forms of the raw diet, did the vet tell you exactly what they wanted you to switch to? Prepackaged?

How many times a day does he poop?

As for the overweight thing, I would cut down.
It is better than health problems later.

[DejaVu]

what is his normal feedings like? He could be getting too much of something and that could cause diareah. Too much muscle meat or too much organ meat can cause diareaha.

[Wylie's Mom]

I'm confused by some things in your post....

When you say he has "not ever had a normal poop" - do you mean since you've had him? If so, what exactly was his diet history if you've had him since he was a puppy? How old is he now?

How long has he had diarrhea now? Are you following the 80/10/10 ratios of the Prey Diet? If not, that could be your problem.

What do you mean your vet "suggested a RAW Diet" - do you mean a BARF diet?

If you do want to continue raw, but want to discontinue prey model - you could move to pre-packaged raw/Barf diets like Natures Variety or Primal (I feed NV). But, I'm concerned about some of the stool issues you're having....

[tjdmom]

In addition to the other question.... how much bone is he getting in his diet? Usually more bone will firm up their poo.....

[Cinq1964]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

When you say prey model, do you mean just feeding whatever raw meat and bones you have or do you feed certain amounts of muscle meat, organ meat, bones, etc.?

I would not automatically think that a yeast infection in his ears is because of improper nutrition. Yorkies get them all the time. Diarrhea on the other hand is probably diet related. Or maybe it is not caused by a poor diet but could be just one of those things and may be able to be helped by a different diet. Did he start getting diarrhea when you changed his diet?

Since there are so many forms of the raw diet, did the vet tell you exactly what they wanted you to switch to? Prepackaged?

How many times a day does he poop?

As for the overweight thing, I would cut down.
It is better than health problems later.

I feed him 2 meals a day consisting of: First Meal: 85% beef or Turkey meat, 15% liver or gizzard. Second Meal: 95% beef or Turkey and 5% liver or gizzard. He eats turkey neck bone, drumstick or thigh bone every other day. About 3 to 4 in. long.

I told her I would not feed commercial food. She suggested this Homemade diet. Starting with cream of wheat, cottage cheese, cooked egg, yeast, sugar veg. oil, potassium chloride, dicalcium phophate and calcium carbonate. Then ground round, cooked rice, oil, dicalcium phosphate and a vitamin-mineral supplement. All cooked.

He poops once a day. He has had soft stool more runny since I changed to Prey Model. Thanks!

[layorkiemom]

Originally Posted by Cinq1964

I feed him 2 meals a day consisting of: First Meal: 85% beef or Turkey meat, 15% liver or gizzard. Second Meal: 95% beef or Turkey and 5% liver or gizzard. He eats turkey neck bone, drumstick or thigh bone every other day. About 3 to 4 in. long.

I told her I would not feed commercial food. She suggested this Homemade diet. Starting with cream of wheat, cottage cheese, cooked egg, yeast, sugar veg. oil, potassium chloride, dicalcium phophate and calcium carbonate. Then ground round, cooked rice, oil, dicalcium phosphate and a vitamin-mineral supplement. All cooked.

He poops once a day. He has had soft stool more runny since I changed to Prey Model. Thanks!

Did your vet give dosages of the supplements per day?
TIA!

[Cinq1964]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I'm confused by some things in your post....

When you say he has "not ever had a normal poop" - do you mean since you've had him? If so, what exactly was his diet history if you've had him since he was a puppy? How old is he now?

How long has he had diarrhea now? Are you following the 80/10/10 ratios of the Prey Diet? If not, that could be your problem.

What do you mean your vet "suggested a RAW Diet" - do you mean a BARF diet?

If you do want to continue raw, but want to discontinue prey model - you could move to pre-packaged raw/Barf diets like Natures Variety or Primal (I feed NV). But, I'm concerned about some of the stool issues you're having....

He has not had normal poop since I changed to Prey Model Diet. I posted what I am feeding him in reply to Elli Mae's reply. He is 1.5 yrs old. I have had him on Natures choice can & Kibble. He did not eat it unless I used more of the can. Then I read how bad and the problems the Natures choice was giving and changed. I put him on Evo can with red meat kibble. He did not eat the kibble at all, only the meat and eventually did not eat this either. I read up on Prey Model here and on the web and started it in May. He loves it and eats all.

I probably am feeding a little more meat, 10% organs and bone every other day. I may not be giving him enough of something or too much of another. He has had soft to diarreha since on Prey Model.

If I were to change, it would be raw. Where I live there are no place to buy pre-packaged raw/Barf diets and I find it is very pricey. I would be paying like $20 for shipping if not more. But if I have to do this I will. I want him healthy.

[Cinq1964]

Originally Posted by layorkiemom

Did your vet give dosages of the supplements per day?
TIA!

Yes, there is a specific recipe to follow.

[tjdmom]

Are you feeding those percentages because that is what the vet recommended?
If not, I would recommend cutting back on the liver/gizzards a little bit and maybe try chicken instead of turkey. Also, be sure to cut off the excess fat as they could contribute to your problem.

[Cinq1964]

Originally Posted by tjdmom

Are you feeding those percentages because that is what the vet recommended?
If not, I would recommend cutting back on the liver/gizzards a little bit and maybe try chicken instead of turkey. Also, be sure to cut off the excess fat as they could contribute to your problem.

No, the vet is totally against Prey Model. He will not eat chicken. I have always cut the excess fat. Not sure what else to do.

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by Cinq1964

I feed him 2 meals a day consisting of: First Meal: 85% beef or Turkey meat, 15% liver or gizzard. Second Meal: 95% beef or Turkey and 5% liver or gizzard. He eats turkey neck bone, drumstick or thigh bone every other day. About 3 to 4 in. long.

I told her I would not feed commercial food. She suggested this Homemade diet. Starting with cream of wheat, cottage cheese, cooked egg, yeast, sugar veg. oil, potassium chloride, dicalcium phophate and calcium carbonate. Then ground round, cooked rice, oil, dicalcium phosphate and a vitamin-mineral supplement. All cooked.

He poops once a day. He has had soft stool more runny since I changed to Prey Model. Thanks!

The homecooked recipe that your vet recommended is the recipe that Hill's came up with to be the equivilent to one of their prescription diets. My vet gave a print off with ALL of the home cooked verison of the prescription diets.

Dr. Amy and I talk extensively about feeding .... and food problems - both those caused by commerical diets and by homecooked ones. She does not recommend raw food. From her medical standpoint - domestic dogs are NOT the same animal as a wild dog and their nutrient requirements are different. The digestive system of the dogs have evolved over the years to accomodate cooked food - feeding raw can cause just as many digestive problems as feeding cooked....

I guess it comes down to finding what works for you and your kids. At Dr. Amy's recommendation, I won't feed raw, but I am working towards homecooking - working on acquiring a good source of organic protein - venison and I am STILL trying to find some hens for fresh free-range chicken eggs.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Cinq1964

I feed him 2 meals a day consisting of: First Meal: 85% beef or Turkey meat, 15% liver or gizzard. Second Meal: 95% beef or Turkey and 5% liver or gizzard. He eats turkey neck bone, drumstick or thigh bone every other day. About 3 to 4 in. long.

I told her I would not feed commercial food. She suggested this Homemade diet. Starting with cream of wheat, cottage cheese, cooked egg, yeast, sugar veg. oil, potassium chloride, dicalcium phophate and calcium carbonate. Then ground round, cooked rice, oil, dicalcium phosphate and a vitamin-mineral supplement. All cooked.

He poops once a day. He has had soft stool more runny since I changed to Prey Model. Thanks!

I'd cut back on the organ meats. How are you feeding the meat on the days without bone? Are you not feeding RMBs? I'm confused about that part. Feeding RMBs on those days may help there. Are you feeding just ground meat or something?

I don't really get the vet's diet either - wheat? Yeast? Cottage Cheese? No meat?

I'm sorry your baby is having a hard time. Homecooking, Pre-Made Raw, and Prey are all healthy diets - I hope you can find one that works. I wish there was some way I could help...

[Cinq1964]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I'd cut back on the organ meats. How are you feeding the meat on the days without bone? Are you not feeding RMBs? I'm confused about that part. Feeding RMBs on those days may help there. Are you feeding just ground meat or something?

I don't really get the vet's diet either - wheat? Yeast? Cottage Cheese? No meat?

I'm sorry your baby is having a hard time. Homecooking, Pre-Made Raw, and Prey are all healthy diets - I hope you can find one that works. I wish there was some way I could help...

When I feed RMBs it is the only thing for that meal. He gets a little ground meat and either a piece of beef meat, depending whats on sale. Do you thing feeding him a RMB a day will help out?

Well I decided to order NV raw medallions and give this a try. It will be a few days to get it in. In the mean time I will add a little more bone and a little less organ. Is it my understanding that the NV raw medallions will have all the nutrients needed? No supplements will be needed? Will it be ok to start on the NV right away or do I need to mix? Thanks for you help!

[Cinq1964]

Thank you all for your suggestions!