Echo tummy woes

 Which THK formula are you feeding?

She is on Thrive currently. But I've been doing a box of thrive then a box of embark since they are the 2 foods made for puppies.

I just talked to her breeder and she says they do have sensitive tummies and she uses canned pumpkin.  Would I feed that with a meal or as a meal on its own?

 Kes seems to have a sensitive tummy sometimes, so when switching to a new variety of THK he gets half THK and half kibble for the first week and that seems to do the trick.  We've used pumpkin before as well and give a big dollop with meals.

So Erin, do you not feed kibble then once Kes is switched over? 

I know kibble isn't evil but I really do like the idea of "natural diet."    PetGuard is one of my favorites, but I have a place that has acana and orijen and solid gold and the like.

 Nope, he gets straight HK after the switch over period.  We do feed kibble in the morning tho, that's our normal routine.

I would add canned pupmkin & yogurt or kefir to each of her meals.  You might also look towards digestive enzymes.

If that doesn't help then you probably need to remember that not every food will work for every dog.

I have some prozyme I can use along with yogurt.  I talked to Kat at the honest kitchen and she thinks it may be a combination of too "rich" of additions for her along with the excitement of obed/agility class. 

The next thing is- she sits and chews rawhides.... wondering if that could cause the problem?  The soft part of her poo is tanish and goeey (TMI, sorry!)

 Rawhides can def cause tummy upset - I only use the rawhides by Wholesome Hide and haven't had any tummy issues, but I know a lot of other people who use other rawhides that have that issue.

I never give rawhides at all -- Tink was easily transitioned to "durable" Nylabones (the ones that smell like liver) and I like them.

Pumpkin -- nooooooooooooooooooo not a whole meal!!  Hokey Smoke Bullwinkle!!  It's one of those things like cheese is with humans.  A little can 'bind you up' and too much will give you didy-rear you can't stop.  (you said "as a meal" and my heart stopped LOL)

I'm gonna say this again -- America is SOOOOOOOOO in love with chicken and most chicken is SO full of ratty chemicals (no to mention the conditions they are raised in.  But more to the point TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) always teaches that chicken can be an "inflammatory" meat -- that simply means that it's perfectly edible BUT if an animal is on the edge of inflammation -- if things aren't quite 100% then chicken can SURELY push them over the line to full blown inflammation (particularly digestively).

Please -- don't go the meatless route -- that is dangerous.  I don't feed raw but I do homecook.  And you have to be really careful of the **long term** effects of what you're doing.  Grain free is fine -- but even that can be overdone in particular circumstances. 

Get past 'trendy" to what will work long term.

Also -- first and foremost -- you might want to take Echo for a fecal.  You may simply have a case of good old gut bacteria -- lotsa changes at your house and a lot of stress and tension (with your neighbor and all sorts of stuff) and even THAT can cause gut bacteria to form.

Now it would be *my* way to find a good TCVM vet rather than seeking a traditional Western answer ... but even in that, food is of primary importance, but until you know the specifics of what make up Echo's own physiology a consult with a TCVM vet who will listen to Echo's own body and advise you on what to try and not to try might truly help you.

A good TCVM vet will be supportive of both a raw and/or homecooked diet.

Mine are the wholesome hides as well.

I've decided to start  by giving her just THK without any extras with some prozyme to start.  I still need to use training treats but I will try to keep them bland as possible.

Poor thing has had 3 fastflyingoutdogdoorpoopsplosions today.

Callie, you had me laughing out loud LOL.

Ok, not a whole meal, just a spoonful. 

I found a holistic vet and if I can get dh's ok, I'm going to take her in for a fecal and good checkup and see what he suggests. I am not sure if he uses TCVM but I will see.

I agree about it possibly being a gut bacteria as well.

I have the chicken flavored nylabones and the dogs won't touch them.  You really think they'll go for the liver ones?

 and only the teeniest bit of Prozyme it is powerful stuff!

shamrockmommy

I found a holistic vet and if I can get dh's ok, I'm going to take her in for a fecal and good checkup and see what he suggests. I am not sure if he uses TCVM but I will see.

Don't just pluck one out of thin air -- call them, talk to them RESEARCH them ...

http://www.tcvm.com -- that's the Chi Institute -- it's a qualifying agency for TCVM/acupuncture/Chinese herbals.  There is one by zip code and one by state (left hand side of the front page).  If you wanth elp finding one give me a shout. 

You honestly DO NOT NOT NOT want the token "holstic" vet (even if from that list) in a much bigger 'regular' practice.  NO.  That vet is there simply as a 'courtesy' to clients -- but that vet is NOT free to practice the whole sphere of what TCVM really is and should be.    Honestly you want that one vet who is so convinced that TCVM is **the** way to go that it's the ONLY thing they do (or nearly the only thing -- some combine chiro or homeopathy).  But you don't want the vetf who "dabbles" in holistic medicine. 

The big advantage (and I have taken my dogs to many different TCVM vets over the years and I know good ones and bad ones both) SHOULD BE their diagnostic techniques.  Of that initial 90 minute visit they will be with you and the dog ALL that time (or they ought to be).  They have their hands all over the dog comparing and "listening" to how the pulses beat thru various parts of the body.  That's then going to tell them where Echo's 'weak' areas are -- which is likely what is triggering the tummy troubles. 

Remember the real definition of "holistic" is (as Webster's puts it):

 " relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection into parts "

Meaning -- "tummy trouble" may stem from weakness or imbalance in other parts of the body (like the spleen, endocrine system, liver, kidneys, etc. etc. etc.

 Amanda, two questions: 1. What is Kefir? 2. What does it do?