Very good point there. Make just one switch to another food, one with no primary ingredients in common whatsoever to previous ones that didn't suit, and stick with it for a few couple of weeks. So for example go from a meat+rice to a fish+potato and see where that takes her. I could be wrong, but it's possible there isn't enough diversity in the food switches you've tried so far, so switching from something with chicken in it, to another food with chicken in it, isn't going to solve the problem if it's chicken! And call me a cynic, but certainly here in the UK, a lot of vets are on a commission for pushing a certain brand of food. It's not always the objective, professional advice you think it is. Is this the Puppy Chow? https://www.purina.com/products/purina-dog-chow Forgive the snobbery, but based on that web page alone I would not touch it on principle! Why? Because they are hiding the ingredients list! I want to know what's in it. Not this meaningless marketing waffle : "Ingredients and Nutrients In every product of the Purina® Dog Chow® family you will find: 100% of the Essential Nutrients to help support your dog at each life stage A right level of protein for your puppy, adult or senior dog Great taste in every bowl that your puppy or adult dog will love" .... seriously!?
Hi Yolanda, It's difficult for me to give you a definitive answer,questions on feeding throws up so many different answers ,suggestions and opinions. You are feeding Chloe a kibble diet so its really important to feed a good quality one,you also will have cost considerations and availability of the brand in your area.My suggestion would be to ask your vet especially as Chloe is under observation with them at the moment and is going to be having further tests.ivenheard it suggested Vets may be inclined to favour a brand they stock and recommend that but I don't feel too strongly about that..Vets generally stock good quality reputable food brands and my vet stocks as many different brands as a pet shop anyway. A comparison search like this can be interesting http://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk It can offer up suggestions based on questions you answer about your dog and then you can read exactly what the ingredients are...you basically want a feed that is low in grains and fillers .There is another site that a few members have used too,I haven't got a note of it but I will see if I can find it for you. I would cut everything out of Chloe's diet except her kibble until you get to the bottom of it. Where do you live Yolanda ? X
Dexter JohnG Thank you for the input! Yes thats the brand, and I am going to look into changing this slowly as you all say, as you know I am new to this. I just want the best for her. Im going to try the kibble! Thank you all so much! you all have been soon very helpful!
Hi and welcome I had exactly the same with Harley who is now 22 months. She suffered for over 5 months. It took quite a while, but after so many tests the vets couldn't find anything. I spent 2 months trying other foods - I tried 3 different foods before finding one she was fine on. It was wheat free and as natural ingredients as we could get. It was more expensive, but worth it to stop the bloody stools. Harley is now on a barf diet from natures menu - fresh meat and bone mashed together and kept frozen until it's ready to be eaten. Because it has natural ingredients we have no more problems. I hope you manage to get it sorted. Let us know how you get on at the vets
Naya Thank you Very Much for replying! These post give me hope, she had nothing but bloody stools today, but still very active happy puppy. Im going to try what everyone recommends! today is her vet appt. I hope she is ok. Thank you again.
Well Here is my Update! Chloe is now 9.5! She went up from 7lbs. This is good news! Super excited! but she still has blood, exam was great! Now waiting on some lab work! Vet also thinks this could be a diet issue, if this all comes back normal, X-rays are next! The reason why she said to hold off on X-rays because 1. They are expensive. 2. She is so hyper and active playing pup she is not to worried. 3. she thinks this is a diet issue that i have to find the right food for her tummy. So praying Praying praying.... got her currently on Kibbles and I am not taking any chances with any store products, and I am cooking her chicken without any seasoning and so far I see a change, less blood. Praying this works.
So are you completely off store bought food then? I'm a bit confused from your post. If you are you might want to look at the Raw Feeding thread for tips and info. You will need to make sure Raina gets all the nutrients she needs. If it's a diet issue, why would you need X-rays? Or is that just to completely eliminate any other cause? Anyhow looks like you are starting to get some answers, which is good. There are a lot of good quality food on the market now, I'm sure you will find one that will suit your pup, if that is what you decide to do.
Lisa Yes I am going to start taking her off any store food brands for now. The vet said if she continues to have bloody stools she recommends X-rays. Hoping her bleeding stops.
Hello there! Sorry to hear about the trouble with your pup. I am equally confused. What do you mean she is on kibble but not store bought products? And were you adding seasoning to her chicken before? Why are you feeding her both kibble and cooked chicken? I would put her on a quality sensitivity control food like Royal Canin SC21 (I know lots of people write a lot of things about Royal Canin, but I honestly do not think you can beat their sensitivity control food) and feed nothing else whatsoever in addition to that.
JulieT I was thinking of putting her on kibbles at first after someone mentioned on here it may be a good idea, but after much thinking and the vets advice, i am just cooking the chicken myself for now in hopes that her symptoms subside or go away. Sorry for the confusion. I posted that after someone recommended it but after her vets visit i am just going to stick to homemade unseasoned chicken.
Just a little warning. I read your children and Cloe are playing a lot together,and that is very good! But let them have hygiene rules. When it turns out that the diarrhea is from giardia, you and/or the children can get it too! Annemarie
Anne123 Thank you Annemarie, Yes I am so strict with washing hands when they come around her, however they did labs on her stool & they were negative. So she has no Giardia or any other type of worms. But even thought it was negative i still am a germ freak, and its a must to wash hands in my home after being around her and even any other time, especially after bathroom breaks of course and before dinner. Very important! But thank you so much for the tip.
UPDATE: ALL LABS ARE GOOD! My big Puppy now weights 11 Lbs! she hasn't had any blood for 3 days and counting! Praying she continues to do well. Vet told me to start slowly with kibbles and so far so good she is doing great! Happy Lab retriever owner!!
Good to hear that Chloe is improving and gaining weight. Go slowly adding the kibble just to be on the safe side but it sounds as if you might be over the worse
Glad to hear Chloe is improving. My now 6 month Lab, Tara, had all sorts of bowel problems, but these were due to her eating every plant in the garden, including some I did not know were toxic (my old Cocker never ate any of the plants). Clearing the garden solved the problem straight away - not very pretty now, but much safer!
