|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
07-29-2010, 08:20 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 23
| What to do...too much poo! I have had my girl on Now small breed (1/4C twice a day) for over a month and I just can not believe how much she goes #2. I think it's fair to say 4-5 times a day and I mean alot each time. It's firm and she's healthy so I really hesitate to switch her but I just think for a 4 1/2 pd dog that is alot. When I questioned the guy at our local holistic store he said that it was normal at first because it has a high amount of probiotics and that her body was just getting rid of all the junk. It's been over a month how much junk can one little dog have? I've been thinking of maybe trying Wellness but I know that has a lot of grains. How important is it that I feed grain free? Who knew this could be so hard. :-) |
Welcome Guest! | |
07-29-2010, 08:26 PM | #2 |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| Honestly, you seem like you are WAY overfeeding (Don't worry-I've been there before!) Her being only 4 1/2lbs.... my 15lb boy eats the same amount each day (1/4 cup in AM, and 1/4 cup in PM) along with a bit of wet food and some treats during the day. That would totally explain why she's pooping so much. I feed Acana mainly but have also fed Go! Endurance (makers of Now!) and the bag states a 50lb dog should be fed 1.75-2cups per day for reference. You've gotta remember that with higher quality, grain-free foods, often times you feed a lot less. It is a more rich food than others and it's sooo easy to over-feed. On a few other forums I belong to, people often state that even if they barely overfeed some of the better foods, they can notice in their stools that it is too soft, etc. So I really think I would just cut back her food! Btw, yay for another Maryland'er! I'm in Annapolis area. Have a few step relatives in Frederick area, and we often visit to Charlestown, WV, etc which is close-ish to there.
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 07-29-2010 at 08:27 PM. |
07-30-2010, 03:27 AM | #3 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, Texas USA
Posts: 2,473
| What are the recommendations on the bag, for a 4 1/2 lb. dog? You didn't mention how old she is? If she's still a puppy, that may explain why she goes so much...If it's firm and she's not overweight and healthy, I wouldn't worry about it...I'd sure stick w/Now, rather than go to Wellness...However, I think Acana is the best grain free kibble on the planet, but the kibble is kinda big for tiny mouths, so Acana may not work for your baby...I didn't know about Now, but just read about it, and it looks like a good food... |
07-30-2010, 06:47 PM | #4 |
♥ love my girls!! ♥ Donating Member | Hey! (I don't know if you remember PM'ing me back in Dec about trying to decide which puppy to get...which one did you decide on?? I was looking at old PM's tonight and saw them and then saw this thread!! I see your little girl turned out to be 4 1/2 lbs, so does that mean you chose the bigger one?? ) I feed my Bella, who is between 4.25 and 4.5 lbs, 1/2-3/4 of 1/4 of a cup of food in the morning and in the evening...so not quite 1/2 a cup per day. She goes through periods where she eats everything you give her, but right now she's going through a period where she'll only eat one of those meals (so not even 1/4 cup per day!!) I really think there are times she needs more food because she burns more calories, and then there are times she doesn't....and she's one who only eats when she's hungry, which most dogs aren't like that. And she poops probably 3 times per day. I've found that the recommended feeding on the bag of food is WAAYYY more than they should actually have!! I googled NOW puppy food, and it looks like it's a good quality food to me. I don't know much about grain free food, but I think I'd ask on YT about putting a puppy on a grain free diet to get some feedback about that. It may be just fine, but for some reason I was thinking I was told not to do that when I got Bella....but I've slept since then so I can't remember for sure. Maybe dogs on grain free just poop more?? Or maybe she IS just eating more than her body can handle?? Sorry I couldn't be more help! Can't wait to hear which puppy you chose! I still have the pics you sent me. You should post some pics on here so everyone can oooh and ahhhh over your baby!! (They were BOTH tooooo cute!! )
__________________ Tara Bella's & Maya's mommy Last edited by bellasmomok; 07-30-2010 at 06:48 PM. |
07-30-2010, 06:54 PM | #5 |
♥ love my girls!! ♥ Donating Member | P.S. Bella was on Wellness puppy food, and it IS a really good food!! I have done a TON of research on foods and ingredients because Bella has a liver issue (which is why she isn't eating Wellness anymore....the only one they make that has the kind of proteins she can have is the Whitefish one, but she didn't like the fish I guess she's just a chicken girl!! ) Just find out more about grain free food....Wylie's Mom on here knows a lot about that, so ask her!! I know she will steer you in the right direction!
__________________ Tara Bella's & Maya's mommy |
07-31-2010, 05:29 AM | #6 | |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| Quote:
A caution to large breeds is often given for high protein, grainfree foods, not because of the fact that it's grain-less or high protein but it's the calcium and phosphorus levels in the food, which is why a warning is often given to wait until 1 year of age to feed. Large breed dogs grow at a rapid rate and it can affect their growth. Too much calcium has been shown to cause bone/growth problems. Calcium levels, ideally, should be around 1.4 and phosphorus around 1.0. These little guys, it's not as big of a deal, but it's whatever you feel comfortable with. There are grains out there that are not bad. I personally don't feel their necessary in a canines diet but I don't think certain grains are going to harm them or anything. Also, like I said, over feeding is a huge problem. People just feed entirely too much. Also, grainfree, higher quality food, you're going to have to feed less of, or you will definitely get runny stools and/or more poop. For example, Jackson, my 15lb'er eats 1/2 cup a day of Acana Grasslands. If he was eating Purina, he would need 1 cup a day or more. Acana is a really calorie dense food. More calories = less you need to feed. All dogs, including Yorkies, pretty much are wolves. They are taxonomically the same species, and physiologically and anatomically the same and actually share 99.8% of the same DNA. Size and appearance are in the less than .2% differences, therefore I like to feed a food that is 'close' to what the wolves eat in the wild (ok, we know wolves aren't getting served kibble in a bowl... but it's the closest you can get, IMO, besides feeding raw which many do). A baby wolf would not eat anything different than an adult wolf, and I personally feel that most puppy, large breed, senior dog, etc foods are not all that much different and pretty much marketing. Anyways, it's just my personal preference to feed grain free, low carb, meat protein rich foods. Ultimately, though, I think it's what works best for you and your dog. I've done alot of research and have finally settled that this works best for Jackson!
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 07-31-2010 at 05:33 AM. | |
07-31-2010, 06:13 AM | #7 | |
♥ love my girls!! ♥ Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ Tara Bella's & Maya's mommy | |
07-31-2010, 11:05 AM | #8 | |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| Quote:
There are wolf studies that show that they shake the stomach contents out of their prey animals and just don't eat the digestive tract of larger prey animals. But I'm sure on occasion they do ingest some form of crab source but even if so, the amount is so small and insignificant that it doesn't make much difference in the overall nutrition for the wolf. Only very small animals are eaten whole (rodents, birds, and such). Even so, in the wild, few herbivores actually eat grains. They mostly eat grasses, seeds, and leaves. Grains are typically not as bioavailable to a dog as potato starch which is found in grain free foods. It's harder for dogs to break grains down and get little nutrition from them. They are commonly irritants to the bowel and cause allergies in dogs. They are a cheap filler for dog foods. Although potatoes are not much more nutritionally available to dogs, they are a "higher quality" ingredient. Dogs in the wild have been known to eat fruits and berries occasionally as taste-driven treats, much like we eat ice cream and candy. But if you look at the scat from a wild dog, like a coyote or fox, that has eaten berries, you'll find that most of them pass through pretty much intact. So while the dog may like the taste, very little is actually extracted from this type of "food". I just like what I see in dogs fed grain-free foods. Smaller poops, less smelly (usually), usually less poop. When I see my family members dogs, who are eating Purina, Kibbles n Bits and Puppy Chow, they are itchy, their poops are horrendous smelling, they poop often 4-6x a day, the poops are huge, they have more of a dog odor than the grainfree fed dogs I know. I just love what grainfree did for Jackson and what it is doing. My dads dogs were always fed crappy food until being fed Acana... their energy levels are higher, they are losing weight, they look shinier, breath smells better, such a difference. Now, I would definitely choose, say, Fromm grain inclusive line for example, or Wellness, WAY before choosing Pedigree or Purina. Keep in mind, I used to be one of those "their dogs! they can eat whatever!" person until I saw the differences with my own two eyes.
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 07-31-2010 at 11:09 AM. | |
08-02-2010, 10:06 AM | #9 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 23
| Wow thanks everyone! Penny is 7mn old and is an extremely active puppy. I am following the suggestion on the NOW bag of food. She wolf's it down in no time flat I swear she doesn't even chew half the time. I'm worried I'll be starving her if I give her to much less. I thought she was supposed to be popping less on this food and the amount seems ridiculous to me given its a very high quality food. Hi Bella's mommy of course I remember you! We went with the tiny one who ended up being the perfect size. She's not quite done growing and she's 4 1/2 pds of spit fire. I hope to get pics up here in a few. |
08-02-2010, 01:13 PM | #10 | |
♥ love my girls!! ♥ Donating Member | Quote:
Yay!! I know it wouldn't have mattered in the long run...you'd be in love with her no matter what size she ended up being....but I'm glad she's the perfect size for your family! Can't wait to see pics!!
__________________ Tara Bella's & Maya's mommy | |
08-03-2010, 06:33 AM | #11 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,795
| I feed NOW! puppy and love it... I wouldn't switch, Harley is 3-3.5lbs and poos at least 3 times a day, more so when we walk outside ( I think he just likes to poo outside, he's grid trained). I think you may be giving too much, check the bag. I feed Harley 1/4 cup a day, free feed, and he doesn't even eat all of that every day.
__________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love! |
08-03-2010, 07:09 AM | #12 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 23
| I know I followed the instructions on the bag. I know it seems obvious that I must be overfeeding her with how much shes going potty but she is always starving. She eats the 1/4 C as soon as I put it down and when I feed her the night meal the same. She is a very hyper puppy I don't know if her energy level has something to do with it. I will try to cut back on the amount and see if that helps. It seems the food isn't the problem. THanks for all the help everyone. |
08-03-2010, 07:45 AM | #13 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,795
| Yeah it doesn't seem like the food is the problem... If she's hyper, active, and not overweight you may be just giving her what she needs. Are you giving her any treats or other things that may contribute to the poo issue?
__________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love! |
08-03-2010, 07:55 AM | #14 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 23
| Well I do give her treats; those little zukes treats after she goes to the bathroom, well when I see her go I should say (shes pad trained). So she probably has about 5 a day and usually a few real tiny grain free biscuits. But that's about it. She gets no table food at all. |
08-03-2010, 08:18 AM | #15 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,795
| Ok well it isn't the treats then... I use the same ones... you're right they are completely grain free. It's a mystery....
__________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love! |
Bookmarks |
|
|
Thread Tools | |
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart