Need advice

[CamdenMom]

My 1 year old yorkie was having multiple, foul smelling stools a day and very dry skin. According to the vet., she is not digesting protein well. The vet put her on Z/d, which is a prescription and a product of Hills Science Diet. The ingredients are horrible but she does well on it. She is only having two stools a day that are well formed and practically odor free. I really want her off the z/d but do not know what else to try. Yes, I have tried raw with the same terrible results. Has anyone had success with a healthier brand or have recommendations?

[KatysMom]

Originally Posted by CamdenMom

My 1 year old yorkie was having multiple, foul smelling stools a day and very dry skin. According to the vet., she is not digesting protein well. The vet put her on Z/d, which is a prescription and a product of Hills Science Diet. The ingredients are horrible but she does well on it. She is only having two stools a day that are well formed and practically odor free. I really want her off the z/d but do not know what else to try. Yes, I have tried raw with the same terrible results. Has anyone had success with a healthier brand or have recommendations?

Hi CamdenMom,

I'm sorry you and your sweetie are having some issues. I did not have protein issues with my late senior sweetie.

Did the vet offer more insight into what might cause her to not "digesting protein well?" What tests were administered and what were the results of those tests?

[CamdenMom]

No tests were performed. I asked about her stools and the vet looked at her skin and coat. She asked about her diet, at the time I was feeding her raw and had tried Into the Wild kibble previously. I was convinced a raw diet would fix her bowel movement issues but it actually made it worse. The vet came to the conclusion after interviewing me and looking at her skin and coat.

[KatysMom]

Originally Posted by CamdenMom

No tests were performed. I asked about her stools and the vet looked at her skin and coat. She asked about her diet, at the time I was feeding her raw and had tried Into the Wild kibble previously. I was convinced a raw diet would fix her bowel movement issues but it actually made it worse. The vet came to the conclusion after interviewing me and looking at her skin and coat.

Hope those with more experience will comment.

Since the raw diet seemed to make the smell of her BM worse, you may want to consult with a pet nutritionalist. Although I don't recall foul poop as the reason, several YorkieTalk users have consulted such specialists for different reasons--with good outcomes.

Consider asking the vet to run blood tests to rule out something that might require more than a change in diet. Protein-Losing Enteropathy (PLE) is a condition where "excessive protein is lost from the gastrointestinal tract" ("Protein-Losing Enteropathy").

My late sweetie did have dry skin from time to time. I suspect the nutritionalist consult would be helpful on this point as well. See PetMD, "Keeping the Yorkshire Terries Coat Healthy," for the section "The Food Factor."

Again, hope those with more experience will comment. --KatysMom

[pstinard]

There is nothing wrong with feeding a Hills prescription diet, especially if it is alleviating the symptoms. We feed a dog what is healthy for THEM, not what is healthy for us. Raw food diets are highly overrated.

[Lovetodream88]

Prescription foods are amazing and you can’t just look at ingredients and dogs need different things then humans. I’m not sure why you want to change foods if she is doing so well.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by pstinard

There is nothing wrong with feeding a Hills prescription diet, especially if it is alleviating the symptoms. We feed a dog what is healthy for THEM, not what is healthy for us. Raw food diets are highly overrated.

yes yes exactly!

[CamdenMom]

Everyone has made me feel so much better! I've just read a lot about raw diets and grain-free, few ingredient kibbles. Even on this forum, they are presented as healthier for your Yorkie. This is my first time as a Yorkie mom. I've had two toy poodles that have lived long lives. I just want to do what is best for Scarlett. You have convinced me to leave her on the z/d since she is doing so well. Thanks to everyone who replied!

[yorkiemini]

A couple years ago my Cali had a pancreatitis attack. Everything has been great since then. ICU veter her on Royal Canin prescription low fat kibbles and she has done wonderfully. Her lab work is perfect and she tolerates the kibbles well. Yes, I gasp at the ingredients but have become a real believer in prescription diets. She has had no ill effects from it and continues to do well. So just got do as Lovestodream says, don’t look at the ingredients.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by CamdenMom

Everyone has made me feel so much better! I've just read a lot about raw diets and grain-free, few ingredient kibbles. Even on this forum, they are presented as healthier for your Yorkie. This is my first time as a Yorkie mom. I've had two toy poodles that have lived long lives. I just want to do what is best for Scarlett. You have convinced me to leave her on the z/d since she is doing so well. Thanks to everyone who replied!

They are now linking heart disease in dogs to grain free goods. I learned about the medical side of raw food in my classes and it is just down right scary.