Why is this happening?

[gmacleod]

I'd just go with the hambuger/rice for the moment. It isn't balanced (it contains no calcium) but beyond that, will provide as much nutrition as any kibble - and more than many. And missing calcium for a couple of days isn't going to hurt her.

Thing is, if you give her the kibble as well, then we'll never know if chicken is the problem - because the kibble contains chicken Better to see if we can't clear up that diarrhoea quickly, and then test the kibble again. If it clears up on the hamburger/rice but starts again on the kibble, then you'll know that there's something in that food that isn't agreeing with her (probably chicken, since chicken/rice hasn't helped).

If it doesn't clear up on the hamburger, then I really think it's worth a quick trip to the vet to make sure she hasn't contracted something like coccidia.

 

[mmsimon]

It's interesting because I never before would have thought that chicken would be a problem (her breeder before fed her lamb and rice). I guess allergies are wierd that way. Okay beef and rice it is. Just to clarify though, she does not have diarrhea, it is just mushy. I would not normally be alarmed by it, it's just that we have seen her 'normal' and this is not it. Also, there seems to be a lot and I thought maybe it is involved in her weight loss. The detective work continues

What should the ratio of meat (beef or chicken) to rice be? Thanks again

M

 

[gmacleod]

OK - well, if it's just mushy, it might not be such a concern. And we shouldn't forget that she's been on antibiotics, either, because they frequently have this sort of effect. Still, it's worth giving the hamburger/rice a go, and see how that agrees with her.

The ratio should be roughly 50/50 meat and cooked rice.

 

[mmsimon]

1 last question...

We are talking white rice right? Thanks, I'll leave you alone now

 

[gmacleod]

LOL - yes, white rice. Brown is more nutritious, but we're aiming for bland here to settle the tummy/intestine. So white it is

 

[Jill's boxer]

I have used white mainly for GI issues, but either could work. Brown is healthier in general if you were using it as part of her diet, but as Gmac said, white is probably better for the blandness...

 

[mmsimon]

Okay I used ground beef and white rice and she is not nearly as gassy and it isn't making me cry with it either. LOL. She only went poop once today though (and it was much smaller than usual), in comparison to her regular 3 times. Is this normal with this kind of diet? She also seemed to be straining. Did we go too far? Now constipation? Poor girl :(

I never thought I would talk about poop so much!

M

 

[gmacleod]

Most likely a residual effect of having had loose stools for a while. If you give her the hamburger/rice for another day and things clear up completely, then it's time to transition her back to kibble (just by mixing it with the hamburger/rice in increasing amounts).

 

[mmsimon]

Okay I just looked at her poop in the daylight and it was very soft. But not as bad as with the chicken. I think I maybe need to feed her more. Maybe I should not have done this in the first place as they were just soft. Isn't there variability in dog poop? I have never had a dog before and can only go on very few examples I have seen. I guess I'll stick it out 1 more day.

I can't believe I am talking about this...

 

[gmacleod]

Well, if it is still soft despite the bland diet, you may have to make a return trip to the vet. It's possible there is something else going on there than just the side effects of the antibiotics. If it was just gastric upset, the bland diet should have cured things almost instantly - so that would appear not to be the problem.

The other option is just to wait things out. As you note, it's not actually diarrhoea, just soft stool. That's not ideal, of course, but it's not life threatening either.