A lot of Poop!?!?

[corgimom]

Originally Posted by atowncorgi

I have to say that I'm really happy that I found this site. Everyone has been extremely helpful. I think we are going to start Emma on Natural Balance. Its funny that food like Science Diet is $10 at PetCo while Natural Balance with its better ingredients lists for only $7. Lets hope she enjoys it. I will post pictures and an update as soon as I can. Thanks again everyone!

And I have mentioned this before, but you should be able to get your money back(with a receipt) from the store that you purchased the food at, if it turns out that Emma does not like it. Natural Balance has the 1oo% guarantee on the back of the bag, as I would assume a lot of the higher other quality ones would also.

[atowncorgi]

Emma has been on Natural Balance with a bit of ground turkey breast for the past couple of weeks and unfortunately her BM is not looking so great.

She was just spayed on Tuesday, and her examination and blood tests (that we requested) showed nothing abnormal. I know that these tests do not show the whole story, but what could be going on here - food allergies / intolerance? There is no blood in the stool, but it is more of the "soft serve" variety (sorry for the visual). When we were feeding Science Diet, it was always a good BM, but the frequency was a bit high. On the other hand, she is a very active Corgi - usually playing/walking for 60min+/day.

Do I switch back to what worked even though the ingredients were not great? Do I try another Natural Balance formula - duck and sweet potato (apparently good for dogs with allergies)? I don't want to keep changing her food...just want a happy lil girl

[Dillydoodle]

how fast did you switch her food? you really have to change foods over slowly...Changing too fast can be hard on their system. ALso what variety of natural balance are you using? some dogs have allergies to beef and chicken which is why you see a lot of lamb, venison, fish, duck and various alternate protein sources. I am using the fish and potato one right now with wellness and it is working out well. Another tip is to add a tbs of pumpkin ( ground, unsweetened, like what you find in cans for making pumpkin pie) that is what has helped Dillon go from loose to solid. I personally would not go back to science diet, but that is just me...
Emilie

[Louwants]

When I took my dog to the vet as a puppy because he was limping, they suggested that I feed him Large Breed puppy food because of his joints. He also said, that because of this breed activity level, it wouldn't hurt to continue feeding them large breed food.

[Fluffypants]

Good questions Emilie - how fast the food was switched could have something to do with the stomach upset. And it might be a good idea to switch to another form of protein (something unconventional like lamb or venison).

Jackie has a very sensitive tummy, and we had to do some experimenting before we found the right diet for her (which happens to be Nature's Variety Prairie formula - venison & millet - + a TBSP of pumpkin, which we learned about here on gocorgi). Also, in our many (many many!) vet trips before we hit upon the right diet, my vet mentioned to me (many times!) that there are lots of things that can cause loose stool.

Has she had the problem for the whole time (a few weeks) that she has been on the new food? Or just the past few days? Because if just the past few days - it could be anything from a change in her routine to something she might have eaten while outside. Also - you may want to think about any holiday decorations that you have up right now. Lots of things we put around our house for the holidays are dangerous for dogs.

[MissGambler'sMommy]

Stress can cause a lot of problems, and it doesn't have to be a major stress. Think like a dog, what would bother them, and then multiply it because they can brood on it. Miss Gambler has a sensitive constitution, so I know what I'm talking about here.

[mochamix79]

I must be the luckiest corgi owner in the world. Huw must have a tummy of steel. Huw has not had any problems with poops. They have been formed and regular for the last 10 weeks. Even after vet visits, shots, traveling and staying at other homes, AND, much to my surprise, the three buffet style meals he's had with cat food. The worse was just earlier this week. daddy wasn't watching him at a friends house, and Huw got into the free feeding cat dish. You'd think that with the amount he ate, it would have upset his tummy for a few days. Nope, after he threw it up, his poops were still as normal as ever.

As for Emma, a number of factors could play the part. Did you transition to the new food gradually? Is she on the adult or puppy formula? The spaying and recovery could also be a factor; anesthesia isn't always good for the tummy. Often times finding the right food is a chore and can take a few different brands. The problem with food, is any quick change will cause upset tummys. It could feasibly take one year to try 3-4 different foods. Talk with your vet, read the labels and don't jump to the conclusion that it's not working right away, give it a chance, she may just need a few more weeks of adjustment.