Dog Community

Yeah, I'm thinking that NV raw instincts is a

Posted : 8/30/2006 6:39:15 PM

no-go for Ella. I was pretty dang sure that her HORRIBLE gas and really soft poops were from the antibiotic. She hasn't had any antibiotic since Saturday and her poop has only gotten runnier.
She doesn't have diarrhea but when she goes it's more liquidy than it is solid and she stays in poop stance for FOREVER and walks like that for a bit and goes in different places.
I tried to give her some pumpkin. Uh-uh. She won't eat it. I'm going to try some rice. She's eaten 1 1/2 cups so far today so I have another 1 1/2 cups to give her tonight. What should the rice/food ratio be for her last feeding? Like, 3/4 food: 3/4 rice?

And how long should I give it before I determine that it's not going to get any better and I should just switch her food entirely?
I've been feeding her NV raw instincts for about 2 weeks.
And if it's the food, why would it take 2 weeks to show up this badly? She hasn't eaten ANYTHING else, at all. Not even treats.

kelly_c

Posted : 8/30/2006 6:47:20 PM

I'm sorry, but I'm a little tired and I'm trying to understand your post about the NV Raw Instinct. I just got back from the pet store with a bag hoping to be able to rotate in in with raw. Are you saying your sure now that the diarrhea isn't from the antibiotic, but is from the NV?

chewbecca

Posted : 8/30/2006 6:49:38 PM

Wait.
It's not diarrhea. I mean, unless a dog can still control their bowel movements when they have diarrhea. She just has really runny poop when she goes.
I'm pretty sure it's the food, unless the antibiotic might still be working its way of her system.

sooner

Posted : 8/30/2006 6:49:57 PM

3 cups of Raw Instinct sounds like a lot - how much does Ella weigh? You maybe could try cutting back on the food to see if the stool firms up.

When I was having such a horrible time finding a food that worked for Boomer most people told me to give a food 6-8 weeks to get a true result. in some extreme cases you wouldn't want to wait that long, but in most cases problems will clear up if given enough time.

kelly_c

Posted : 8/30/2006 6:51:07 PM

I'm going to try some rice.

Rice gives my dogs TERRIBLE diarrhea!

Did you gradually work the NV in or did you change the diet too fast?
They told me at the pet store that you have to introduce this to your dog VERY SLOWLY or it will cause upset to their system, especially if they are used to eating grain.

chewbecca

Posted : 8/30/2006 6:53:56 PM

for a 50-100 lb. dog they say it's 2 1/2-4 1/2 or something like that. I know that it starts at 2 1/2 cups for 50 lbs. I usually feed her 3, sometimes 2 1/2 cups.
I guess you're right and I never thought I was over feeding her because she's not much of an eater. I figured she'd limit herself.

*edit*
D'oh. Sorry, been doing school work all day.
She weighs 60 lbs.

ron2

Posted : 8/30/2006 6:56:30 PM

Others here have said that dogs will sometimes go through such a distress at about 2 to 3 weeks, and then they're okay.

chewbecca

Posted : 8/30/2006 6:58:17 PM

No, I didn't do a gradual switch. Idealy, I would have. But she wouldn't eat the T.O. I had her on so I couldn't do a gradual switch. She devoured the raw instincts like it was the best thing ever, so I bought that to get her to eat. She handled it well for a while and then she started vomitting (which I still believe was due to the antibiotic) and then last week she started getting horrible gas and her poops went a light color. I assumed it was all the antibiotic. Now she hasn't had that since Saturday and her poop is runnier than before.

kennel_keeper

Posted : 8/30/2006 6:58:23 PM

If she's having diarrhea, she needs to fast for 24 hours. Then you can reintroduce the food at a lesser quantity and maybe add some pumkin.

chewbecca

Posted : 8/30/2006 7:00:50 PM

ORIGINAL: kennel_keeper

If she's having diarrhea, she needs to fast for 24 hours. Then you can reintroduce the food at a lesser quantity and maybe add some pumkin.

But *stupid question time* is it diarrhea if the poop is simply just runny (liquidy but not watery) and she can control her bowel movements?

Edie

Posted : 8/30/2006 7:05:11 PM

If she's having diarrhea, she needs to fast for 24 hours.

Yep thats what i would do.
You said she didnt eat the pumpkin,try adding a tbs or so of live natural yogurt instead,does she like yogurt? When you re-introduce the NV start off with smaller amounts and watch her poop and work up from there.

kennel_keeper

Posted : 8/30/2006 7:10:06 PM

yes, it is. If it doesn't hold a form, then it's diarrhea. This indicates bowel upset and I would at least fast her for one day. This gives the gut a chance to rest.
This is what I do for dogs in my care while they are boarding. As we know, stress can cause dogs to have loose stool, and boarding can = stress, so, i'll fast them for one day (except for offering pumpkin 3/day). Then the next meal will be 1/3 normal rations + a tablespoon or two of pumpkin 3/day. Offering smaller meals with the pumpkin helps ease digesting and the fiber helps to bulk up the stool. It works like a charm every time.

Good luck!

chewbecca

Posted : 8/30/2006 7:13:45 PM

ORIGINAL: kennel_keeper

yes, it is. If it doesn't hold a form, then it's diarrhea. This indicates bowel upset and I would at least fast her for one day. This gives the gut a chance to rest.
This is what I do for dogs in my care while they are boarding. As we know, stress can cause dogs to have loose stool, and boarding can = stress, so, i'll fast them for one day (except for offering pumpkin 3/day). Then the next meal will be 1/3 normal rations + a tablespoon or two of pumpkin 3/day. Offering smaller meals with the pumpkin helps ease digesting and the fiber helps to bulk up the stool. It works like a charm every time.

Good luck!

wait! Ella won't eat the pumpkin. I've already tried. And I know her. She'd starve for days before eating something she doesn't like. If I tried to mix the pumpkin in with her food, she'd know. Trust me.
Can I try rice instead? What about the yogurt? She might like either of those.
I can do the schedule you said, minus the pumpkin.

kennel_keeper

Posted : 8/30/2006 7:24:26 PM

Rice would be fine, as she just needs additional fiber. But sweet potatos works too, if she likes those. Use extra rice cooked VERY thrroughly (like porage). The secret is to get it all gooey and sticky.

chewbecca

Posted : 8/30/2006 8:22:26 PM

thank you!
Let the fasting begin!
Which won't be a problem for her.