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07-18-2015, 08:37 PM | #1 |
YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 342
| Changing a Prescription Diet A few months ago I made a post about the vet putting Sophie on Hills I/D canned and dry foods as she has had a lot of issues with her willingness to eat and they wanted to get her on something designed to be easy on their bellies - she has always had belly issues. Just has had more since being switched to this food than usual - one day a week for a few weeks and then goes a few weeks without a problem. On the days she doesn't want to eat she doesn't vomit or have diarrhea, she still gets excited when she thinks she is going for a walk, no fever and no bloating. She just flat out refuses food and acts like her bum is bothering her. The most recent time she took a little piece of chicken around midnight and then acted like she felt even worse, a few minutes later passed some very stinky (re: cleared the cats from the bed) gas and within minutes was running around barking and wanting more food and was fine. So...we are thinking the only thing that has majorly changed in the last few months has been this food. Could it be possible that a food meant for a dog with gastro problems, has made the problem worse? When she was a puppy she couldn't do chicken but it hasn't seemed as bad, but maybe she just really can't do chicken? We have a can of the salmon and potato d/d formula to try and are considering trying out the dry formula of it as well. We haven't talked to the vet yet as she wasn't in but a tech was able to suggest the D/D food - even though the receptionist was against it because it is for skin and not belly trouble. The reason I am posting this though is I am wondering what you would do in this case? If she doesn't need to be on the I/D and the other option isn't even tailored to belly trouble, would you look into a pet store food? We looked at Wellness Salmon and Potato, Fromm Salmon Tunalini and Fromm Whitefish and Potato and they all seem okay. She has anal gland issues and those three foods have higher fibre than the D/D, so I don't know if that is a plus or minus? Our vet (and the second opinion vet) feel the testing we have done to this point based on her not having any other symptoms is sufficient unless she starts having other symptoms pop up, so I am trying to trust them. She gets a blood panel every 6 months, so at least that will always be up to date. We have until Friday to decide and I am so confused. I am afraid it won't be the food but at the same time, I want to make sure that it isn't something as simple as her food causing the problem before we put her through more tests. We are in the middle of fertility treatments (please cross fingers that this year will finally be our year after 3 years of trying!) so money is a little tight right now as well. Of course, if a food switch doesn't help she will be going to another vet for a third opinion to see if they have any new suggestions and we will spend what is necessary - our Visa is now nicknamed "Sophie's Card" She will be staying at the vet for boarding next week from Tuesday-Friday so we will definitely be talking to the vet when we pick her up and see what she thinks. Also, her being there for a few days means they will be able to keep a closer eye on her and see how she acts on a regular basis. On the upside, she had a tiny lump the other week that the vet said to keep an eye on and if it got bigger we would have to check it out but it looks like it was just a bite as it has shrank and is almost gone! |
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07-18-2015, 10:31 PM | #2 |
Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas
Posts: 9,462
| The prescription diets from Royal Canin are usually very well received and very effective for the condition they are being given for. You may want to give RC a try. |
07-19-2015, 04:46 AM | #3 |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | Has she actually been diagnosed w/ IBD or IBS or anything? Have any meds been tried like sucralfate or such? Have you supplemented her w/ a probiotic/enzyme yet? I guess I'd try some sort of an elimination diet to determine if this is a certain protein sensitivity (ie, chicken)...bc that could make all the difference. You want to feed a low-ingredient kibble to do an elim type diet. I think Natural Balance used to make LID foods, but not sure anymore...? It may be worth trying something like a whitefish based diet as fish is such a nice lean protein and it's not typically one of the proteins that dogs have sensitivity issues with. When she poos, is the poo normal btw?
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |
07-19-2015, 08:54 AM | #4 |
YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 342
| She hasn't been diagnosed with IBD or IBS, other than being told they think she may just be a sensitive girl and reacts badly to stress or changes. We haven't looked into enzymes or probiotics - are they something that has to come through a vet or can they be purchased without prescriptions? We have considered giving her some unrefined coconut oil everyday as the times I have let her lick it off of my fingers she seems to love it. Was planning to introduce it when things settled for her as I don't want to end up upsetting her stomach more with it. The only medication I have on hand is metronidazole to help with the symptoms and issues she was having after being on clavaseptin for an infected anal glands. She was put on another antibiotic at that point too that I can't remember the name of. Other than that, nothing else. We have been leaning toward the whitefish and pototo recipe. I don't know if potatoes are okay for her, but looking at the ingredients it has a lot of fruits and veggies, so I don't know if that would be the best idea if we are trying to do elimination again. Natural Balance has LID but none of them are whitefish, just salmon with sweet potatoes. Poops are normal. She goes once or twice a day, which has been how she has been since she was a puppy. In the post you linked an article about dog poop, hers normally look like the first one, sometimes smaller pieces and if she has diarrhea is typically looks like the small bowel diarrhea because the first part is normal and then the second part is soft, but that hasn't really happened lately that I can think of (and I check every poop she does lol). Thanks! |
07-19-2015, 09:07 AM | #5 |
I ♥ my girls! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: With My Yorkies
Posts: 18,980
| Have you talked to your vet about changing from the I/D? I have had very good luck with using I/D. Are you feeding can or dry? I think the can has a "new recipe" out. Not sure if you are using that one. Since my Rosie has such a sensitive tummy I would discuss with my vet before changing.
__________________ Momma to three sweet Yorkie girls Rosie Marie, Mikki Leigh , and Lily Mae Grace! |
07-19-2015, 10:02 AM | #6 |
YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 342
| She is using the kibble and the dry. Our new cans say new on them so I don't know how that will go for her. I'm going to talk to them on Friday when I pick her up from boarding. I figure she will be at the vet so if anything happens while still on this food she is where she needs to be. That and I don't want to start the switch right when she is leaving for a boarding vacation as she already gets stressed being left there, I don't want to upset her belly even more by starting a new food! But right now she is eating the canned chicken and vegetable stew with the dry kibble. Her only treats are freeze dried liver, frozen organic green beans, occasional piece of organic baby carrot or banana slice. We slowly introduced and took away those treats when trying to find a sensitivity and they had no impact on whether she had belly issues or not. |
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