Extremely frustrated with food.....

bucksteemom2 · #1 23rd August 2006, 05:13 AM

Ok.... I have been reading like a crazy person at all of the food threads and food sites!!!!!!! I am confused on what to do with Steeler. I can't find a site to rate what he is on by the vet which is Dry ID dog food. He had a horrible problem with diarrhea and was getting dehydrated all the time. We tried all kinds of foods and finally the vet put him on Dry/Can ID with two Salfasalazine pills a day. He is doing great as far as the diarrhea goes. However, he is getting yeast infections in his ears and chews his paws raw!!!! I don't know what to do. If I switch a food again he could go back to the other but If i dont his paw and ears wont get better. I also notice that if he gets two much of the can he throws it up and it just looks like rice that was never digested. Could this mean he is allergic to rice? That would be bad since they all have rice in them

HELP!!!!! I need some advice my vet said he is on the best food now but I know that is not true after reading so much!!!!!!! Please help!!!!!
P.S.
(GMAC you are always full of info. I could definetly use some more if you have a minute. Or anyone else who is full of info you are all awesome and I love this site

)

**gmacleod** · #2 23rd August 2006, 06:04 AM

Well, IVD is a prescription food. It's probably the best of them - but still fairly nasty as far as nutrition goes. There are several different varieties though - which one is Steeler on?

Oh - and what food(s) were giving him diarrhoea previously? For that matter, was food the cause? Or did he have some other issue going on?

bucksteemom2 · #3 24th August 2006, 12:04 AM

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I will have to look at which kind he is on when I get home, its in a white bag. In the past he has been on Iam's (bad I know but he came to us on that) Purina puppy chow, Purina Lamb and Rice, Chicken and rice that I cooked and finally to the ID. It was both food and he has Pancreatitis with an inflamed colon. We tried both ways with the food and meds. So far this combination of ID and Salfasalazine has worked with the Diarhea. My mom watched him a couple days ago and accidentally gave him the wrong food. He know has bad diarhea and vomitting. I am getting it undercontrol now. This just shows that he is so sensativie to other foods!

We have had him on ear drops for the yeast. It will go away for a couple of weeks but comes right back. This makes me think I need to be changing something.
Thanks again for all your help

**gmacleod** · #4 24th August 2006, 03:03 AM

OK

Most of the IVD foods are in white bags, so we'd have to know the exact formula to comment about it.

I suspect it may be this one though: http://www.rxpetfood.com/index.asp?P...n=Custom&ID=77
Which is an OK food, particularly for a prescription formula. But it looks very low in meat and only has a crude protein level (much of which is coming from potatoes anyway) of 19%. That's not actually needed for a pancreatic dog though. How it may help that condition is by virtue of being low in fat (and using oil instead of fat).

There are similar products around that are not "prescription" foods, and that look better quality. But given Steeler's allergies, I'm not sure that similar is exactly what's needed here

Low fat though would be essential.

There are a number of products around that I could suggest. But it's probably best to wait for you to confirm exactly what it is that he's eating. Possibly we can make a decent guess about what his allergy problem might be (there are *many* in the other foods he's had) and think of a suitable alternative that will suit his pancreatitis and avoid the allergy problem all in one.

bucksteemom2 · #5 29th August 2006, 02:41 AM

Sorry, I haven't been able to get on in a little while. Yes, that is the food Steeler is on currently. Any food suggestions, especially low in fat but good for him, keeping allergies in mind, while controlling his pancreatitis would be a miracle

It seems almost to good to hope for

**gmacleod** · #6 29th August 2006, 03:17 AM

Oh, I think there would be several options available to you

That food is basically just a potato-based product, with some low quality meat (by-products

) and that is low in fat. It "works" primarily through being low in fat content, and secondarily by eliminating difficult-to-digest grains (which is an issue for pancreatic dogs, since inhibited pancreatic function affects nutrient absorbtion - and grains are difficult at the best of times).

There are several products around that are likewise potato-based and low in fat (actually using oil rather than fat), but that have higher quality meat ingredients in them.

Some suggestions:

Natural Balance sweet potato/fish: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_f...ct=171&cat=all
Natural Balance potato/duck: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_f...ct=169&cat=all

Those two are probably the best options right now. There are other products around with very low fat content (around the 9% mark) but all of them contain some amount of grain. It's hard to say whether the positive aspect of lower fat outweighs the negative of grains (that's probably something that comes down to the individual dog). Some of those below:
Solid Gold Holistique Blendz (incredibly low fat, but probably needs some meat supplementation): http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_f...duct=301&cat=4
Solid Gold Hund n Flocken: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_f...duct=302&cat=4
Solid Gold Wolfking: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_f...duct=307&cat=4
Canidae Platinum: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_f...ct=513&cat=all

bucksteemom2 · #7 31st August 2006, 05:39 AM

Awesome

We will be trying Natural Balance sweet potato/fish!!!! How long should I keep him on it if his diarhea comes back really bad at first? Thanks for all you help it is so greatly appreciated

I hope it works, keep your paws crossed for us

dharmadoodle · #8 31st August 2006, 05:43 AM

Just wondering if you have tried raw at all?

**gmacleod** · #9 31st August 2006, 06:09 AM

Well, hopefully the diarrhoea won't return! And I'd suggest a gradual introduction to help make that happen.

If it does affect his stools again though, it's really going to depend how much. If it's only a little soft, then a very slow introduction process may overcome it. If it's really really soft though - well, you may have to look at alternative feeding options than kibble.

bucksteemom2 · #10 31st August 2006, 10:47 PM

Ok, we will be sure to start slow. When he gets his spells it isn't just soft it is nasty runny

Thanks so much for all your help

dharmadoodle: Yes, we have tried raw and he threw it up pretty close to immediately. My poor baby with so many health issues. It has really prooved to me that if you don't raise them right as a puppy they end up with all these issues. I still wouldn't trade my sick little rescue

bucksteemom2 · #11 1st September 2006, 12:20 AM

I have read and heard bad things about the Hills ID food. I am so worried this new food won't work. I don't want my baby to be on "cancer in a bag!!!" How scary!!!!! Keep your paws crossed that this works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Buckeye is on Purina Lamb and rice. I think I am going to slowly switch them both and see how they do! Thanks for listening.

bucksteemom2 · #12 5th September 2006, 05:24 AM

That is great

Thanks so much!!! I think while I am waiting on the food to arrive I will definetly try that. Unfortunately none of the pet stores we have close to us carry any Natural Balance

I have had to order it from the internet and if it works then I will just keep ordering in bulk i guess!!! Thanks again