Food transistion underway!
- Thread starter Cami
- Start date
- Status
Cami
Boxer Insane
UGGG!!
A solid month into the transition.
2 full weeks of straight Acana Wild Prairie.
Two weekends where hubby overfed which created puddle poop.
She had a semi-puddle poop last night and poo this morning was a bit better but we are FAR from where she needs to be. I don't think this food is going to work out at least without a little tweaking!
I can't get her past her original normal which is too soft and with so many instances of worse than normal poos happening I think it is time to throw in the towel.
I like the Acana, she likes the Acana but I don't think it likes her!
I seriously don't know what to do but instead of complicating things and just continuing to try different foods I want to simplify things (if that is possible).
I can add fiber and if that works I will know that her issue isn't so much the food but what it lacks (percentage of fiber).
I can switch to a food which contains a higher fiber content BUT if that doesn't work I won't know if it is the ingredients or perhaps still not enough fiber for her.
I can add another food (higher fiber) to the Acana but again, if no improvement...what is the culprit OR with improvement was it the higher fiber or the lower amount of whatever is in the Acana that doesn't seem to work.
GEESH!
Just typing this I think I have talked myself into adding a fiber supplement (in whatever form). It seems the most simple thing to do and the easiest to change if it doesn't work. I can also *perhaps* lower the amount over time in an attempt to see if she won't need it after a while and once her digestive tract becomes a little less "angry".
So I need to get some psyllium but is there a specific brand or form (powder, wafer, granules, etc?) that is most beneficial for dogs? I know I can get it at any grocery/drug store just didn't know if one was more easily administered. I plan on adding water to it and mixing with food. 1/4 tsp to start with at dinner tonight.
A solid month into the transition.
2 full weeks of straight Acana Wild Prairie.
Two weekends where hubby overfed which created puddle poop.
She had a semi-puddle poop last night and poo this morning was a bit better but we are FAR from where she needs to be. I don't think this food is going to work out at least without a little tweaking!
I can't get her past her original normal which is too soft and with so many instances of worse than normal poos happening I think it is time to throw in the towel.
I like the Acana, she likes the Acana but I don't think it likes her!
I seriously don't know what to do but instead of complicating things and just continuing to try different foods I want to simplify things (if that is possible).
I can add fiber and if that works I will know that her issue isn't so much the food but what it lacks (percentage of fiber).
I can switch to a food which contains a higher fiber content BUT if that doesn't work I won't know if it is the ingredients or perhaps still not enough fiber for her.
I can add another food (higher fiber) to the Acana but again, if no improvement...what is the culprit OR with improvement was it the higher fiber or the lower amount of whatever is in the Acana that doesn't seem to work.
GEESH!
Just typing this I think I have talked myself into adding a fiber supplement (in whatever form). It seems the most simple thing to do and the easiest to change if it doesn't work. I can also *perhaps* lower the amount over time in an attempt to see if she won't need it after a while and once her digestive tract becomes a little less "angry".
So I need to get some psyllium but is there a specific brand or form (powder, wafer, granules, etc?) that is most beneficial for dogs? I know I can get it at any grocery/drug store just didn't know if one was more easily administered. I plan on adding water to it and mixing with food. 1/4 tsp to start with at dinner tonight.
Cami
Boxer Insane
Went to the store today (actually two) and ended up with Metamucil as that was the only thing I could find that I could get in "original" formula with nothing but Psyllium Husk & Sucrose. It says it is "coarse milled fiber".
I hope this is going to be okay!
Other options were sugar free, various flavors or with other things added that I know she doesn't need. I know she doesn't need Sucrose (sugar) but in such a small amount I don't think it is going to make her fat!
I can mix with water and pour over her food (I usually add water to kibble anyhow) or I was thinking that I could add it to her yogurt (about a tablespoon, plain non-fat).
Decisions....decisions....
I hope this is going to be okay!
Other options were sugar free, various flavors or with other things added that I know she doesn't need. I know she doesn't need Sucrose (sugar) but in such a small amount I don't think it is going to make her fat!
I can mix with water and pour over her food (I usually add water to kibble anyhow) or I was thinking that I could add it to her yogurt (about a tablespoon, plain non-fat).
Decisions....decisions....
CoraBoxer
Super Boxer
I feel your pain, and i'm keeping track of your updates. Explosive diarrhea one day last week left me with a huge mess.. on the walls, in the crate, hallway rug, my shoes you name it. My pooper is recovering from antibiotics though.. more so than any change in food. I have to check this antibiotic they gave him. Recovery is taking forever even with probiotics. GL
Cami
Boxer Insane
Leave it to Raine....
Had the fiber ready to go with her dinner last night and she decided to produce a really nice looking poo (the things we talk about here). To be honest it was the most solid poo she has ever produced. While not perfect it was darn close to it. I left out the fiber with her dinner.
She had another firmer poo this morning but still while better it just isn't good enough. Fiber was added to breakfast.
I don't know how much it will help since I only added about 1/8th teaspoon with some water and then poured it over her kibble.
She hasn't gone again today (which is odd, btw).
She also made it from midnight last night till 3pm today before going pee. I don't know what was up with and and it is extremely odd!
Is it strange that I can't wait to see what her next poo looks like? appicon
Had the fiber ready to go with her dinner last night and she decided to produce a really nice looking poo (the things we talk about here). To be honest it was the most solid poo she has ever produced. While not perfect it was darn close to it. I left out the fiber with her dinner.
She had another firmer poo this morning but still while better it just isn't good enough. Fiber was added to breakfast.
I don't know how much it will help since I only added about 1/8th teaspoon with some water and then poured it over her kibble.
She hasn't gone again today (which is odd, btw).
She also made it from midnight last night till 3pm today before going pee. I don't know what was up with and and it is extremely odd!
Is it strange that I can't wait to see what her next poo looks like? appicon
Cami
Boxer Insane
WOW. Just Wow.
Added 1/8th tsp Metamucil to breakfast yesterday and again last night for dinner.
This morning we had a complete and nicely formed tootsie roll poo!!
I hope this continues. The real proof will be when she goes poo on a walk and I can easily pick it up without leaving a messy smear behind.
Going to stick to the 1/8 tsp twice a day for now since that amount made a big difference. Fingers crossed this isn't an odd coincidence.
Added 1/8th tsp Metamucil to breakfast yesterday and again last night for dinner.
This morning we had a complete and nicely formed tootsie roll poo!!
I hope this continues. The real proof will be when she goes poo on a walk and I can easily pick it up without leaving a messy smear behind.
Going to stick to the 1/8 tsp twice a day for now since that amount made a big difference. Fingers crossed this isn't an odd coincidence.
)
Cami
Boxer Insane
I just took what others were giving and having success with and cut it in 1/2 to make sure she was okay with it.
I have an 1/8th tsp measuring spoon but I have bumped it up to a 1/4 tsp twice a day.
No difference in the firmness of her poo with the increase (from the lower amount). I may increase it to see if it makes things better in a week or so.
We are now dealing with another issue. Two episodes of eating grass/vomiting this week (white foam), both times in the am prior to breakfast. That doesn't concern me except to say it isn't normal for her. I know what it is but even with evening and bedtime biscuits being given it still happened. She also vomited a 3rd time this week in the middle of the night and it was pretty much her entire dinner.
That time I "suspect" it was due to something else which I will post about in this thread:
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/dog-health-issues-questions/162621-spay-incontinence.html
Even though eating less of this food is sufficient for her caloric intake (feeding more causes diarrhea) I don't think the 2 & 3/4 cups a day is enough for HER belly to remain "full" and to help ward off the empty belly syndrome. I might start adding a 1/4 cup right before bed or 4-5 hours after her dinner to see if it alleviates the nausea.
Even though her stool is better in that the diarrhea is being kept at bay for the moment the stool isn't solid like *most* dogs produce. It is firmer than on previous foods but still unable to be fully picked up (on a walk for example).
The beginning of the stool is more consistent but the ending is most often a "splat" (love that visual)!!!
I no longer have fears of an anal gland issue however I am not saying that it still isn't a possibility in the future due to the time she has spent not producing a normal stool.
She started her 2nd 15 pound bag this week and I'll keep going with it (already purchased the 3rd) so minus any additional issues or things getting worse we will stick with it for a while. Still haven't made the decision if this will be the food she eats long term or even if I might try adding another food with it.
Cami
Boxer Insane
Now we have "sandy" poop.
As I understand it the Metamucil doesn't get digested and moves through the intestinal track "as is" and is supposed to help bulk up the stool.
At a good 1/4 tsp twice a day with meals it has now started making her stool have a sandy/gritty appearance. Her stool is also pretty dark. Not dark as in I have concerns about it being blood but far darker than the color of her food. Her stool has always been the color of her food no matter what I was feeding so this is weird and must be a result of the added fiber (can't find anything online to support this theory though).
Even though we have seen a bit of improvement on the Acana in comparison to the mixture of Orijen and Instinct it isn't enough of a change to warrant continuing with this food and adding fiber.
I may take the plunge to a food with grains to see if that might be the culprit. She has never had grains minus the food she came home with at 9 weeks. Even a mixture of *something* to the Acana might be a possibility.
I have never in my life had so many issues with feeding! I can't even come up with any of my clients dogs who have had anything like this.
Frustrating!!!
Minus my cat who spent the first 4 years of her life never producing a normal stool this is new to me. In her case though grains were the culprit as it triggers her irritable bowel disease. No grains for her and she is perfectly fine.
As I understand it the Metamucil doesn't get digested and moves through the intestinal track "as is" and is supposed to help bulk up the stool.
At a good 1/4 tsp twice a day with meals it has now started making her stool have a sandy/gritty appearance. Her stool is also pretty dark. Not dark as in I have concerns about it being blood but far darker than the color of her food. Her stool has always been the color of her food no matter what I was feeding so this is weird and must be a result of the added fiber (can't find anything online to support this theory though).
Even though we have seen a bit of improvement on the Acana in comparison to the mixture of Orijen and Instinct it isn't enough of a change to warrant continuing with this food and adding fiber.
I may take the plunge to a food with grains to see if that might be the culprit. She has never had grains minus the food she came home with at 9 weeks. Even a mixture of *something* to the Acana might be a possibility.
I have never in my life had so many issues with feeding! I can't even come up with any of my clients dogs who have had anything like this.
Frustrating!!!
Minus my cat who spent the first 4 years of her life never producing a normal stool this is new to me. In her case though grains were the culprit as it triggers her irritable bowel disease. No grains for her and she is perfectly fine.
- Status