Recurring tummy troubles....

Well, I'm wondering if maybe some of his troubles aren't being caused by the kibble I'm giving him... it's Blue Buffalo Puppy - Natural Chicken & Brown Rice. It seems like we see improvement with chicken and rice and then we take a step back after the reintroduction of the kibble. I always thought that it was the coccidia returning... him getting into the cat food... eating something off the ground outside... eating poop... it never really dawned on me that it could be his kibble.

I asked about a simple ingredient food at the pet supply store today... they sent me in the direction of the California Natural, which after looking into it here on the forums, I'm not so sure I want to give it to him. The only thing is that the Wellness Simple doesn't have a chicken formula and I'm thinking that seeing as chicken is what he's already used to... then it would be best to stick with that.

I'm thinking that I'd prefer to feed him a raw diet once all of this stuff settles down. For those of you who are FAR more familiar with raw feeding than I am... How would you go about it? Should I start as soon as the vet gives me the ok to start adding "food" to the chicken and rice? OR... Is his depressed immune system not ready to deal with what might come from raw meat?
 
Glad to hear that labs are neg for coccidia. Thing is he has had it for while and he probably has residual inflammation there sometimes it will take a while to settle tummy... easy nutrition boiled chicken and rice with some good yogurt and pumpkin is the solution. Keep it until you see stool looking normal and no more vomiting. I also do use slippery elm bark and marshmallow/ Althea officinalis/ could be bought in any vitamin store, those are gentle herbs that soothe tummy problems and ease up digestion.
You will probably have much eiaser time introducing raw food than trying to figure out which kibble fits your pup best. I have started with chicken necks, no skin or fat, and ground meat with veggies/ fruits/ cooked grain. My way of feeding raw is probably more complicated that prey model but it works well for us.
 
I'm thinking that I'd prefer to feed him a raw diet once all of this stuff settles down. For those of you who are FAR more familiar with raw feeding than I am... How would you go about it? Should I start as soon as the vet gives me the ok to start adding "food" to the chicken and rice? OR... Is his depressed immune system not ready to deal with what might come from raw meat?

Get Lew Olson's book, she has lots and lots of menus. I have put a basic guide there --> http://www.clantyre.net/clip/Raw_Feeding.html

Once his gut settles, then stop boiling his chicken, and just hand him the drumstick. He will figure it out. Stick with chicken parts for at least a month, until his gut gets used to that. Include organs in there, liver and kidney (chicken livers are easy). Then slowly introduce other meats. I don't feed veggies or grains, but some do.
 
You will probably have much eiaser time introducing raw food than trying to figure out which kibble fits your pup best.

My thoughts exactly!! Thanks for the tips... I'll be returning the California Natural today :smile2:

Thanks to you too, ClantyreSheltie.... super helpful info/advice.
 
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