should I switch kibble

king buddy · Jul 17, 2009

I have been having a problem with Sweetie having loose stools. Not watery but loose. She hasnt had any accidents in the house but she wakes me up after we have been asleep for only a few hours needing to go have a BM. I can almost set a clock by her . I feed Taste of the Wild roasted bison & venision formula. I have to only feed a grain free diet as my Buddy has severe allergy to corn and wheat and if he was to get ahold of the others food he would get sick. Could the protien in this food be too much for her. She is 8 years old and in perfect health. I do not give table scraps. If anyone has any suggestions please post. All my shelties fur is very soft and shiny on this food but this mom needs sleep :sleepy:

MissSuzie · Jul 17, 2009

I don't know about switching foods, but when Meggie had softer stools after being spayed, my breeder told me to give her pure canned pumpkin with her kibble. Did the trick straight up. Ever since, if for some reason she has an issue I just give her the pumpkin and she's good to go.

I'm afraid I don't know anything about protein, grains, etc. I'm sure others will be able to help you though.

Good luck.

BarbV · Jul 17, 2009

Taste of the Wild is a high quality food. My boys are both on high protein, grain-free and I've had no problems with their stools.

How long have you been on this food? Are the loose stools a recent development? If you only just switched, did you do a gradual transition? If you didn't, this could cause the tummy to act up.

Any other changes? (in lifestyle, food, whatever?)

PitterPatter · Jul 17, 2009

Mine was on the red meat Evo and it just seemed to be too much for her. So I did move her down to the Innova (same manufacturer) but it does have grains. The Evo over a period of a month seemed to elevate her uric acid. I say this because her urine seemed to be irritating her skin.

However, if you are wanting to stay off grains why not pick another flavor? The flavor she is now eating just might be too rich. I noticed Taste of the Wild has various flavors, though I'm not sure why a dog needs "smoked" meat. There are also other brands that are protein, no grains.

If she's only waking you up a few hours after retiring, try moving her feeding schedule back. That way the food has time to work through her system.

BarbV · Jul 17, 2009

PitterPatter said:
Mine was on the red meat Evo and it just seemed to be too much for her. So I did move her down to the Innova (same manufacturer) but it does have grains. The Evo over a period of a month seemed to elevate her uric acid. I say this because her urine seemed to be irritating her skin.

However, if you are wanting to stay off grains why not pick another flavor? The flavor she is now eating just might be too rich. I noticed Taste of the Wild has various flavors, though I'm not sure why a dog needs "smoked" meat. There are also other brands that are protein, no grains.

If she's only waking you up a few hours after retiring, try moving her feeding schedule back. That way the food has time to work through her system.

Good point, as well. It could be that the red meat is too rich. My guys eat Horizon Legacy which is chicken, turkey, salmon and egg (for protein).

Crystal1 · Jul 17, 2009

You may just need to feed her a little less food. Older dogs usually don't need quite as much food as they did when they were younger. Too much food can cause loose stools. Good Luck.

king buddy · Jul 18, 2009

I bought the canned pumpkin and started that. I also bought the salmon flavor Taste of the wild instead of the flavor I was using. Could my change in work schedule be making her upset. I come and go 2 hours ealier and later than before. Otherwise things are the same. She has been keeping me up and down all night long and then when I collapse on the couch exausted she sleeps also then mid afternoon she is needing to hurry and go out. She only gets about 3/4 of a cup a day split in 2 meals as she needs to loose a few lbs. as she is quite fluffy. She has lost a few lbs. But Id loose a few if I was doing what she is doing. She also drinks enough water and she is not loose enough to get dehydrated but im tired and cleaning the bum is getting old ...lol Im really hoping this helps . She has had a stool sample done and didnt find anything unusual. :confused2:

Caro · Jul 19, 2009

Have you tried something with a little less fat? Mine get looser stools with higher fat foods and kibble. If I want to firm them up I put them on the weight loss/maintenance food. The senior food also has less fat.

king buddy · Jul 19, 2009

*Caro said:
Have you tried something with a little less fat? Mine get looser stools with higher fat foods and kibble. If I want to firm them up I put them on the weight loss/maintenance food. The senior food also has less fat.

I think you are on to something here. I was going through the thread Barb V started under food treats & supplements called "just throwing this out here" about food. Some of you were talking about fats and protien. I then went to a link posted by davemise and realized I am giving my dogs a diet that has 32% protien and 18% fat and by the chart thats good for a working dog or one that is very active. I did buy another flavor of the Taste of the wild food I feed and the protien is a lower 25% and fat is 15%. So I am going to keep the canned pumpkin up and search for another food thats in a better range. Like the senior you mentioned. If anyone has some more Ideas Please feel free to jump in here. The more ideas the better. Im looking for a premium food no grains because I have one thats got allergies and its easier to be sure he dont get into it.