I need some help, nutrition site for homecooking

 I hope someone can help me with this. I've noticed Ashton getting reddish tear stains for about 2 weeks. I've changed his diet to home-cooked about 2 months ago, and since a week ago, changed it with the help of Mordanna (still home-cooked just different quantity and added 2 ingredients). Alphie had hers changed (to Mordanna's diet) about 1 month ago. The vet noticed his tear stains and thought it could be an allergy of some sorts. I'm now noticing Alphie having mild tear staining and dried eye wax as well. Their poop is also mushy, not runny though. This could be due supplements, or a new Chinese medicine since both of them had it the same time. I've added extra pumpkin and probiotics, no difference so far.

I'm curious if this could be a real allergy in something that I'm giving, be it a supplement or something in their diet. (how long does an allergy reaction show up anyway?) OR, a detox stage? Read that it is to rid the body of toxins and so will create gunky ears and tears and maybe even diarrhea and the owner shouldn't be alarmed because it goes away once the dog's system is balancing itself. I don't know which is true, and certainly don't want to ignore an allergy if they do have one.

Lee debbie

Read that it is to rid the body of toxins and so will create gunky ears and tears and maybe even diarrhea and the owner shouldn't be alarmed because it goes away once the dog's system is balancing itself.

  That has never made sense to me. Why didn't the "toxins" cause those problems sooner, when the dog was supposedly getting large amounts if them in his old food? Why would they cause problems now that there's less of them? More than likely, it's an allergy. Goldens are famous for allergies; it could be environmental or food.

   Pumpkin is odd in that it can help to firm stools, or soften them. Maybe you should stop the pumpkin and just use the probiotics for a few days to see if that makes a difference. Are you mixing the magnesium in well? Too much magnesium can cause soft stool, so be sure to mix it thoroughly so one batch of food doesn't have more than another. Does Mordanna's recipe have more fat than what you were feeding them before? Her recipes tend to have more fat than commercial food; the diet she formulated for Jessie was 40% fat (this was before Jessie developed chronic pancreatitis). Too much fat can also cause soft stool.

jessies_mom

   Pumpkin is odd in that it can help to firm stools, or soften them. Maybe you should stop the pumpkin and just use the probiotics for a few days to see if that makes a difference. Are you mixing the magnesium in well? Too much magnesium can cause soft stool, so be sure to mix it thoroughly so one batch of food doesn't have more than another. Does Mordanna's recipe have more fat than what you were feeding them before? Her recipes tend to have more fat than commercial food; the diet she formulated for Jessie was 40% fat (this was before Jessie developed chronic pancreatitis). Too much fat can also cause soft stool.

Did you get any soft stools or tearing when you transitioned Jessie's diet?

The whole "pumpkin will fix everything" has NEVER worked for me.  If a dog is having stool issues/trouble digesting, then I add digestive enzymes to their food.  Typically it works within 1-2 meals, and I keep it up for about 4 days and see if their tummy can handle their dinner by then.

Probiotics... eh...  try a digestive enzyme that handles proteins, carbohydrate and fats.  Does the trick for me!

Lee debbie

Did you get any soft stools or tearing when you transitioned Jessie's diet?

  No, her stools were fine. Jessie has tearing sometimes from her allergies. When she does, I give her Benedryl and it helps. I hope you find the cause for the problems and I'm sorry I wasn't much help.

Lee debbie

There's fish oil, grape seed oil, vit E and D.

Oh gosh, Debbie -- NOT grapeseed oil.  Same problem as grapes -- a no no for dogs.  I have seen some vets use it but RARELY.  Typically the amount of oil in Vit A and E is tiny tiny -- like a couple of drops (not spoonfuls).  Fish oil -- be **careful** -- if it's in capsules be sure to pierce a few and ensure they are NOT rancid.  I've found even human ones can be rancid.  But otherwise -- it typically doesn't take much -- maybe 1/4 tsp. of fish oil.  I typically try to use fish -- sardines usually -- they enjoy them and it's well absorbed and 1 fish a day is typically enough.

But the *amount* of these oils should be relatively tiny -- and too much of them isn't a good thing.  It can easily turn into free radicals in excess.

calliecritturs

Oh gosh, Debbie -- NOT grapeseed oil.  Same problem as grapes -- a no no for dogs.  I have seen some vets use it but RARELY.  Typically the amount of oil in Vit A and E is tiny tiny -- like a couple of drops (not spoonfuls).  Fish oil -- be **careful** -- if it's in capsules be sure to pierce a few and ensure they are NOT rancid.  I've found even human ones can be rancid.  But otherwise -- it typically doesn't take much -- maybe 1/4 tsp. of fish oil.  I typically try to use fish -- sardines usually -- they enjoy them and it's well absorbed and 1 fish a day is typically enough.

But the *amount* of these oils should be relatively tiny -- and too much of them isn't a good thing.  It can easily turn into free radicals in excess.

I've emailed Mordanna about this and haven't got a reply (over the weekend). I have a bottle of prozymes but was advised against using this so I give them a slice of papaya each daily now for the enzymes.

Should I now stop all the oils or one at a time to see if it gets better? Oh and I see some reddish beans in the poop, I can only think it's the beans from the green beans. Probably have to blend these as well. I'm thinking of all possibilities and causes. What kind of pumpkin for instance; we have blue, Japanese, Malaysian etc. sweet potatoes as well; Vietnamese, Japanese or Indonesian. Dog food and supplements, really quite a science..

 I called the vet to tell her I'm stopping the heart qi tonic at least till we figure out what's causing the mushy poop. She says it's ok to stop, but if poop turns runny we need them medicated. But at the end of the day, we need to start them back on the tonic. 

I would not use grapeseed oil at all -- my vet has had me do grapefruit seed (totally different fruit) but she's always steered me away from grapeseed oil period!

2 teaspoons of salmon oil a day??? THAT is a lot.  I've never had Monica tell me to do anything like that much oil in a day. 

Every variety of squash is different -- they all have different calcium/phosphorous rattios.  So use them ALL at different times.  Variety is a huge preventive to getting in trouble.  The color something is, where it's grown, above ground/below ground/fruit of the vine -- those things ALL give different veg different minerals & vitamins.

I don't use the same thing week after week -- I vary the veg every week.

calliecritturs

Every variety of squash is different -- they all have different calcium/phosphorous rattios.  So use them ALL at different times.  Variety is a huge preventive to getting in trouble.  The color something is, where it's grown, above ground/below ground/fruit of the vine -- those things ALL give different veg different minerals & vitamins.

I don't use the same thing week after week -- I vary the veg every week.

ok will do. I'll rotate the different pumpkins and sweet potatoes since it wasn't stated which type exactly, but more importantly, are there any types of each that is a no-no for dogs? 

Just when I thought I didn't smell the ammonia for 2 days, it's back again, not too strong this time, but it's unmistakable. Something's going on in there, I just really hope this can easily be changed with a little tweak in the diet. Otherwise really, I noticed they are quite abit more energetic and don't look as upset and lethargic.

Lee debbie

ok will do. I'll rotate the different pumpkins and sweet potatoes since it wasn't stated which type exactly, but more importantly, are there any types of each that is a no-no for dogs? 

Just no seeds!!!!! -- but sweet potato aren't a squash.  They are a potato actually -- they are the "base" of my dogfood.  Some squash will be too much roughage (like pumpkin) so be aware of how much you are using so you can increase or decrease as need be, but the sweets should be well tolerated

btw -- you don't have to cut out the seeds from courgette/zuchinni or yellow squash.  Just the seeds like in acorn, butternut or pumpkin where the seeds are attached to the stringy matter in the center.  Those you toss (but you don't have to toss the stringy stuff -- that's part of the good roughage)

Yeah I toss the seeds out. Because I prepare in bulk (week's supply) and portion them out, I can't increase the amounts as and when unless I add just extra pumpkin (which I did last few days). Mordanna replied and told me to puree the beans and give bananas. She didn't mention anything about stopping the oils, but I'll probably do so for awhile and slowly put it back. I'm highly suspicious of medications or oils and not amount of veg or rice, because both Alphie and Ashton are having the soft stools. And Alphie doesn't get rice in her diet. Then again it could be an allergy of sorts. I found a scabby wound on Alphie yesterday; which is really surprising, she never has any of these scabs; lumpy cysts yes, but not loose bloody scabs and her fur is the softest of the crew.

I'll heed your advice and get different types of sweet potato and pumpkin to make up the portion for the week and see how it goes. I'm really hoping this clears up soon.