Need food help!!!

maggie7925 · #1 06-24-2009, 06:04 PM

Our 2 (Riley and Greta) are having a lot of trouble finding a food that agrees with them. Originally we were feeding Canidae but with the change of formula they began having bad gas and soft stools. Riley got pretty bad and the vet put him on science diet and forta flora. Within that day his stools were normal. I know science diet is a poor food so we switched them both over gradually to Solid Gold Wolf King. We have gone through 3 bags of the solid gold and both are having really soft stools and bad gas again! They don't seem to have any other issues to go along with the stomach upset. No itching, rashes or licking...

So I'm not sure what to do or what to try at this point. I have boiled up a big batch of chicken and rice to give them for a few days but need to find something else. I've scoured over dogfoodanalysis and the forums here but i just don't know what to go with anymore.

Any suggestions???

ehayes21 · #2 06-24-2009, 06:09 PM

How about picking a food with a single source protein? Wellness has a fish based food and Natural Balance has a few formulas that they offer...Solid Gold might be too rich for them.

mueltrain · #3 06-24-2009, 08:31 PM

I would just keep trying small bags of different stuff til you find something that agrees with them, my dog loves wellness....

BxrMommieNAZ · #4 06-25-2009, 01:55 AM

If your dog did okay on the forta flora you can also add a daily probiotic in their food which may help and even eliminate the soft stools. A human one found in the vitamin aisle of any store is fine.

maggie7925 · #5 06-25-2009, 04:53 AM

Thanks for the replies! Was just feeling so overwhelmed with all the foods out there and needed some reassurance i guess

. I think that the solid gold may be too rich for them too as ehayes21 mentioned. I'm off to the pet store today to look for some foods that are 1 meat source.

BxrMommieNAZ, I didn't realize that they had a human version of forti flora. The vet charges $26 for 30 packets of the stuff. So I need to find some at the store!

BxrMommieNAZ · #6 06-25-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maggie7925

Thanks for the replies! Was just feeling so overwhelmed with all the foods out there and needed some reassurance i guess

. I think that the solid gold may be too rich for them too as ehayes21 mentioned. I'm off to the pet store today to look for some foods that are 1 meat source.

BxrMommieNAZ, I didn't realize that they had a human version of forti flora. The vet charges $26 for 30 packets of the stuff. So I need to find some at the store!

"Forti flora" is really just acidophilus (the good bacteria in yogurt) or a probiotic, it restores the good bacteria in the stomach. I get a bottle of 240 capsules for around $5 and with two dogs getting one capsule at each feeding that lasts me a couple of months.

maggie7925 · #7 06-25-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BxrMommieNAZ

"Forti flora" is really just acidophilus (the good bacteria in yogurt) or a probiotic, it restores the good bacteria in the stomach. I get a bottle of 240 capsules for around $5 and with two dogs getting one capsule at each feeding that lasts me a couple of months.

Good to know! I'll look for some at Wal Mart this weekend.

dbetz · #8 06-25-2009, 08:48 PM

We had a similar problem - we went grain free to Wellness Core Ocean. It's protein is not as high as some of the other grainless foods. After the 1st bag (biggest bag) their poops firmed up to normal and their gas greatly diminished. We now alternate - 2 bags of Wellness Core Chicken and then 2 bags of Core Ocean. We also add 1 tablespoon plain yogurt in their breakfast and Fish Oil caps both morning and night. Many other issues also cleared up - eye goop disappeared as well.

Good Luck - I know your pain!

jrackow · #9 06-26-2009, 07:42 AM

We've had really good luck with Taste of the Wild dry food. Mojo had similar problems on his old food (Nutro), which is why we switched. Seems to be doing well!

As far as the probiotics, what about giving them a little plain yogurt mixed into their food? That might be cheaper than the supplements, I don't know.

BxrMommieNAZ · #10 06-26-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrackow

We've had really good luck with Taste of the Wild dry food. Mojo had similar problems on his old food (Nutro), which is why we switched. Seems to be doing well!

As far as the probiotics, what about giving them a little plain yogurt mixed into their food? That might be cheaper than the supplements, I don't know.

Actually it's not, the supplement runs around $5 for 240 pills (and that lasts me a good 2-3 months with two dogs) where as a container of yogurt runs around $3-$5 and lasts for 2-3 weeks at best. The supplement is definitely cheaper and is a higher concentration as well.