brookcove
Posted : 10/26/2006 2:42:06 PM
For sure Cat natural doesn't add anything to "improve" stool quality. The fact that they don't add anything is a Godsend, in fact.
Couple things you can do:
You can add "trash" - your dog may have "garbage gut" which means your dog is from genetics that are used to thriving on farm trash or village garbage. Sheepdogs, terriers, and other typical "working man' dogs" can produce dogs like this. Adding pumpkin, fiber, green beans, steamed sweet potatoes, fruit or veggies, or something else to amuse your dog's gi can give you a more regular result. No more than one eighth your dog's meal wil do the trick if that's what your dog needs.
Some dogs need a little more variety than kibble offers, especially a bland kibble like Cal Nat (God bless 'em). I add a teeny bit of yogurt or kefir to "wake up" the gut, and after a while you can add teeny bits of cooked or raw meat/bone, or eggs with the shell. The fresh food stimulates sleepy gut flora. GI flora can be reduced or bypassed by stress, illness, training nerves, or travel nerves, in addition to antibiotics which of course kill off beneficial gi flora along with the problem bugs they are targeting.
Make sure, whatever you do, that your dog is drinking plenty of water - number one nutrient needed to keep your dog's gi happy!