Switching food=diarrhea

[Sadies Mom]

So........I started switching Sadie on Friday of last week. I am switching from Castor & Pollux to Earthborn Great Plains Feast. I did 75% old/25% new. She did good. I started 50/50 this morning and now she has diarrhea. Should I go back to 25/75 or keep the 50/50 for the next week or until her stool is normal? Thanks

 

[ruthcatrin]

diarrhea as in totally liquid or just really soft? Unless its total liquid I'd just stay at the 50/50 till things firm up.

 

[Sadies Mom]

It is kind of in between soft serv and liquid.

 

[ruthcatrin]

I'd hold off changing back for a couple more days and see, if it continues back up, maybe halfway betweeh 50 and 75 and see what happens.

 

[Sadies Mom]

Thanks. This whole food thing has been a pain in my ars. She seems to be allergic to everything and feeding raw is not an option for us at this time. Had Castor & Pollux been available in anything larger than 15lbs bags and affordable, I would stick with that, but since the only thing she can eat is the Poultry free and grain free, and not to mention that it is almost $50.00 for a 15 lb bag, I decided to give the Earthborn a try. I so hope she will tolerate it.

 

[musicdeb]

Poor Sadie. Hope it starts to firm up soon. Poor Sadies Mom dealing with all the dog foods. Hope this food is a keeper. *crossing fingers and toes*

 

[Tailcreek]

When diarrhea is present the lining of the intestinal tract is inflamed. Until the cause of the inflammation is addressed it is unlikely her stools will change to a better consistency. I'm not sure what your situation is in regards to raw not being an option at this time. Raw food is the only species appropriate food for dogs.

Jennifer
www.tailcreekmastiffs.com

 

[Sadies Mom]

The reason for not feeding raw at this time is that we race on weekends and take Sadie with us. and we camp out at the track so we would not be able to keep the food at the appropriate temperature since we do not have a refrigerator. And as far as her stool goes, she has had firm stool on the Castor & Pollux and the diarrhea started when I whent to the 50/50 mix of old and new. I was just trying to find a kibble that is a little easier on the wallet and since a lot of people on this board recommend Earthborn, I decided to give it a try.

 

[Robtouw]

We have been dealing with diarrhea as well. I've been feeding Cruiser a mixture white rice and boiled ground beef with 1tbs of plain yogurt to help reboot his stomach. After two days of constant diarrhea, it is finally beginning to settle. Tomorrow, I will begin adding 1/4 cup of his kibble to it and building back up from there. I used this method in the past with all of my last other dogs and it worked pretty well.

 

[Robtouw]

Finally the pooping has stopped! We are almost back to normal feeding! Thank goodness! I am tired of cleaning up the blast zones! LOL

 

[Sadies Mom]

I am glad to hear that. We are almost solid here too. I have done the 50/50 all week, and will keep her on that for a few more days and then go to 75/25 on Monday. I have been putting some probiotic powder on her food for the las three days and it is getting better.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Good!

 

[Sadies Mom]

I have already noticed smaller poops and only twice maybe three times per day. I am not jumping for joy yet, but it looks like she will be fine on Earthborn. If it works, it will save me almost $80.00 per month in food, that I can put towards other Sadie stuff....

 

[Smart_Family]

Sounds like things are improving!

 

[Sadies Mom]

Sounds like things are improving!

Yes, we are finally moving in the right direction

 

[Smart_Family]

Always good to hear!

 

[musicdeb]

YAHOOO!! Sadie and Cruiser are doing better!!!!!!

 

[Sadies Mom]

A new problem has come up........She is starving on Earthborn. Even though we are still on the 50/50 mix, the diarrhea is back and she has lost almost 4 lbs this week. She is eating all her food and cleans her bowl like it was going to be a display piece at the Smithsonian. I have tried to give her veggies as snacks, but is just not enough. We had puppy class this morning and she was so hungry at puppy class, that she just wanted to rip the treats out of my hand. Picture a wild animal that has not had food for a while and you get the picture of Sadie. I am at my whits end. I don't know what to do.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Can you up the quantity, over all, a bit?

 

[Sadies Mom]

I can up the quantity, but in the Neuter-thread from yesterday, Smart_Family told me to be extra careful with the calcium levels and phosphorous levels, since she was spayed early. Should I maybe go on a food hunt yet again and find a food with below recommended levels so she can get the quantity she so desires?? I have no problem throwing some more food her way. She has been very irritated the last few days and I think it is because she is hungry.