Dog Community

TOTW issues :(

Posted : 1/12/2009 9:04:29 PM

I think that TOTW pacific is not agreeing with my dogs. :( They've been transitioned onto it now for 2 weeks.

Gobie has been having loose, muddy stool (he does have a lifelong issue with this, but it seems worse than 'usual';)

Lexi and Darby the bichons have had increasing tear staining, face staining. Darby has started rubbing her face all over the carpet again and Lexi has licked and chewed one area on her front leg, it's turning orange and the skin is red.

I always think I'm doing some favor for them by trying different foods!

Here's my dilemma: We're moving out of state (MD to SD) in 2 weeks so there is not enough time to order my old standby, PetGuard online. I have Innova/Cal. Nat available to me, artemis, solid gold as well. I am so bummed I keep messing them up! Argh!

Once I get to SD, there is a health food store that can order it in for me or order it online again. Which would you choose? Innova? I know I've fed it once before but I don't recall how they did- I usually keep a notebook of what I feed/when and the results but I have no idea why I didn't write this one down!

FYI, the PetGuard has chicken/brown rice mostly and is 25% protein, 14% fat, I don't like to go much higher than that as my bichon girls have both gotten bouts of pancreatitis before.

Thanks for puttin' up with me!! :)

brookcove

Posted : 1/12/2009 10:50:04 PM

For two weeks you can simply prepare rice, roasted or boiled boneless chicken, and a sprinkle of whatever calcium source they'll tolerate. For the move, freeze enough servings to get you through, in cupcake tins (grease them with coconut oil), and then bag up the frozen doggy "cupcakes" for the road in a cooler and for when you arrive and get settled. If you get nervous about their nutrient levels, give them a baby multivitamin every other day or so, or split an adult one (so you can skip on the flavorings and sweetener). Then order your old food and probably the bland diet will have meanwhile ensured that the move doesn't mess up their systems, too.

Good luck! We just finished moving and I"m glad this will be the last one for a while, God willing!

shamrockmommy

Posted : 1/13/2009 8:35:02 AM

Thanks, brookcove. i think that may be my best option for now. I called around to both health stores in the area that have been known to have PetGuard on hand but they don't. Grumble grumble...

brookcove

Posted : 1/13/2009 10:47:36 AM

i'm glad I could help! A lot of people forget that they do have the option, especially with a sensitive dog, on falling back on a simple bland diet in emergencies - whether it's a bad batch of food, transitioning to a new food, or not being able to get to the store, or traveling. A relatively healthy, well-fed dog can go a LONG time without careful attention to balance.

jettababy

Posted : 1/13/2009 11:01:03 AM

sorry its not working for your dogs:-( TOTW has literally been a lifesaver for my bichon because it has none of the ingredients that make her itch and get hot spots. And her tear staining imroved A LOT! Her stools are great too, but then again she never has digestive issues with foods. In fact, TOTW is the only food she can handle...she was a mess on innova, blue buff, cal. nat., etc..

I agree with brookcove just feed her homecooked until you can get Petguard

shamrockmommy

Posted : 1/13/2009 1:22:40 PM

Im going to do chicken/rice topped with some veggies (from our meals) and yogurt. I do have bonemeal and recipes from the strombeck book, so that's no problem. For the move (3 days drive give or take depending on the winter weather) I have to take a cooler with fresh veggies for the guinea pigs (I have 4) anyway, so that won't be a problem. Dunno why I didn't think of just falling back on homecooked for this time being. Thanks again guys. Jettababy- isn't it weird how one sensitive bichon does differently than another sensitive bichon? Oy. LOL

ron2

Posted : 1/15/2009 7:00:12 PM

brookcove

i'm glad I could help! A lot of people forget that they do have the option, especially with a sensitive dog, on falling back on a simple bland diet in emergencies - whether it's a bad batch of food, transitioning to a new food, or not being able to get to the store, or traveling. A relatively healthy, well-fed dog can go a LONG time without careful attention to balance.

And you're an angel. I know we've had other threads about feeding kibble because it's balanced or worried in the homecooking threads about achieving balance but we're usually talking about extended time, such as years. As opposed to getting the dogs to survive the 2 or 3 day move across the country. I agree, just from a layman's logical standpoint. Feed them what they will eat and worry about the balance when possible.