HORRIBLE gas issues continues...getting frustrated
 

My 65 lb, 7 1/2 year old lab/springer mix dog has been having gas issues for quite some time.

I switched from Iams (which he had been on for the first 5 1/2 year of his life) to Nutro then after reading about Nutro I have been on an endless quest of trying to find a food that does not give him GAS!!!

I have tried TOTW, Fromm, Earthborn Holisitic, Canidae, and now finally Natural balance, first tried the lamb and rice formula and now the duck and potato....still has gas but I am going to give it a couple of weeks before I change him again.

He had a complete checkup earlier this week, including shots, fecal sample, blood work and physical exam, all of which came back A-OK!!!!

The Vet suggested Iams Premium Protection or SD I/D for him but I hesitate because of the ingredients. The first ingredients in Iams PP are: Chicken By-Product Meal (Natural source of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine), Corn Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Chicken.

My Lucy (yorkie) is currently on SD L/D and since being on that her eye boogers are really bad. Her eye boogers were almost non existent when she was on Fromm.

I will do what is best for him and I want him to be happy and comfortable, my main concern here is that he is feeling good (not so much the smell) and with gas like that he can't be feeling all that good.

I will switch him if I have to but I just wondered if anyone else has used the Iams PP yet and what you think?!

Any other suggestions are welcome too!!

Thanks in advance!!!

My 8 year old jack russell terrier had really bad gas and bad bad breathe. He didn't even have to open his mouth while next to you for you to smell him. He would be laying on the couch with my husband and we'd all have to leave the room the gas was so bad....It wasn't until I changed to Halo dog food that he now has no bad breathe and no gas...or the smelly kind I should say. It cleared up within a week....I was so shocked!

I have a pup that had awful gas and also funky looking stools. I spoke with my vet and we were suspecting IBD or some food intolerance/allergy . Before even putting him through a lot of tests, we decided to try Ultra Z/D . Problem is fixed and that was almost a year ago! :)

That's great! What is Ultra Z/D...is that a Science Diet food?

The reason I had the tests done was more for a senior thing...he seems to drink more water than usual so I wanted to make sure he didn't have diabetes so since they were taking blood for the heart worm test they just took a little more blood and did a senior workup to check for diabetes. All came back negative.
The Vet didn't really talk about IBD but just thought that he needed a food that was milder.

That's great! What is Ultra Z/D...is that a Science Diet food?

The reason I had the tests done was more for a senior thing...he seems to drink more water than usual so I wanted to make sure he didn't have diabetes so since they were taking blood for the heart worm test they just took a little more blood and did a senior workup to check for diabetes. All came back negative.
The Vet didn't really talk about IBD but just thought that he needed a food that was milder.

That's great...hmmm Halo huh I will have to check that out! Thanks!

Both dogs can probably go on Purina HA -- similar to z/d but lower fat and protein source is good for liver compromised dog and is tolerated by IBD dogs. Ask your vet about it. It's expensive. Honestly I am using Royal canin in two dogs with no issues. No eye gunk, no gas, no funky stools, etc. Oh and perfect blood work.

This sounds almost exactly like what was going on with my pup. Before starting to run every test in the book, a fecal was done and his vet chose a food that historically has worked well in these cases for her (happens to be Eukanuba - so an Iams product - she thinks the fiber content/make-up is good for some dogs). It's hard to assess how he is doing because he eats inedible stuff all the time. However, it is the best he has done on a food and the gas has stopped. It can take about 3 weeks to even start to assess how a food is working for the GI tract. What I'd say is this. Your vet has had many, many patients, some with similar issues. If these two foods have worked well for them and they are suggesting it to you, then that's what you should feed. My girl eats corn starch and soy and my boy eats chicken by-products and corn. They are fed what they do well on, not what a person on the internet considers a good food based on biased research.

I wouldn't say eye boogers are a good thing, but honestly I think sometimes it's paid attention to way too much. Intestinal health is more important, imo. Also, there is always the possibility of allergies or tear duct issues.

Yes, it is a Science Diet food. Hypo Allergenic

z/d® Canine ULTRA Allergen-Free - Dry

It would be great if they could both be on the same food because Tubby always drops food on the floor and Lucy grabs what she can get and then I panic.
I thought of Royal Canin too but haven't gotten to that one yet.. Lol

Would Z/D be cheaper than Purina HA?

I've found rx foods to be about $3/lb give or take regardless of the brand.

Thank you I will ask about it.


Well part of the reason I didn't want to switch right away is because I just started the Nat. Balance a week ago so I wanted to give it a few weeks before I switch again.
I am not opposed to feeding the Iams I was just not impressed with the ingredients but if that is what will work then I will do it.

It just seemed odd to me that her eye boogers were so much better when she was eating Fromm but now on the L/D they are so much worse, thicker and build up fast.

Do any of you have any experience with Iams PP? It just looks to be a senior food but not sure why they would advise me to feed that to him...is it good for GI issues?

It looks like the fiber is something special (two part system) which could help. It's okay if it's a senior food. Your pup is a senior at 7...

Ya I know he is a senior-still acts like a puppy though :)

I was just wondering if there was a benefit for the GI issue...if there is then I will try it after this current trial - depending on how it goes.

Is it possible to have them both on the same food...Lucy for her liver and Tubby for his GI issues?