Dog Community

The new guy with questions

Posted : 3/18/2007 6:41:33 PM

Well my wife and i recently adopted a puppy from the local shelter. He's 6 weeks old but I'm not 100% sure what he is. (i'm hoping you can help). I have a few questions as well.

1. What type of food is considered premium? We bought some purina one and then the vet suggested science diet so i bought a bag of that. I did a quick search and found several negative comments about SD on this forum. Cost isn't an issue as i want him to have the best possible food.

2. He was super playful and full of energy when we got him. On the same day we switched him to science diet, we gave him his first dose of drontal plus to ensure he is worm free as well as his first application of frontline. He's been sick ever since then. He was throwing up food for a little while and then just liquids. As soon as he drank some water he would throw up within minutes. His stool has been extremely runny and somewhat like a gel. He has slept most of today and about an hour ago he drank a significant amount of water and has kept it down. He hasn't eaten anything since last night and i am starting to get more and more concerned.

Is there anything i can do or check for?

Thanks, Kurt

raznhavoc

Posted : 3/18/2007 7:41:40 PM

Welcome to the forum...He's a very cute puppy!! Any name yet?? If I remember right though, I think Frontline is for dogs 8 weeks or older. Maybe he was just too young for those meds? Ok, just went and double checked my answer. It is for kittens and puppies 8 weeks +. As for food, Science Diet gives the vets "incentives" to sell their products. If you check out the list of ingredients and then compare it to, say Nutro Ultra or Eagle Pack Holistic, you'll see a huge difference. This opinion is very controversial, but I have never fed my dogs puppy food. Currently I have a 5 month old jack russell and he's never had it. The higher amounts of protein in puppy food aren't necessary and the dog can grow up healthy and happy on a food that has 22% or 24% protein. It was ddeveloped as a marketing gimmick to increase pet food sales. Don' t mean to overload you with info!! In short, I would reccommend Wellness (any variety chicken, lamb, fish), Innova, Eagle Pack Holistic...I would wait to change his food after he gets to feeling better and has time to acclimate into the house. Sorry if I've scared you away. Keep us updated to how he's feeling and keep taking cute pics[

].

Kurt Brinker

Posted : 3/18/2007 7:41:42 PM

UPDATE:
Due to growing concern, we paged the vet on duty and brought him to the clinic. The vet thinks its mainly just a change of home coupled with his recent surgery (neuter) and change of diet. He is going to give him some medicine to reduce the nausea and keep him overnight to monitor him. His temperature is fine and they took a stool sample. That temperature probe really woke him up. [

] Hopefully all goes well tonight and we can bring him back tommorow.

theresamat

Posted : 3/18/2007 7:43:58 PM

Hi Kurt, welcome to the forum. That looks like one lucky little puppy, I love all the pictures. He is just adorable. Have you picked a name yet?

I'm really sorry to hear he's feeling so bad. My advice honestly would be to call the vet right away. It could just be his tummy is upset with the food switch, but with a lot of vomiting and soft stools, laying around all day....I would call right away. It could be something serious too and I would really worry about him getting dehydrated.

I hope someone more experienced sees this soon and has more advice for you. Again welcome to forum and please keep us posted how he's doing. He is just so cute, I wish I could hug him!

Kurt Brinker

Posted : 3/18/2007 7:44:50 PM

ORIGINAL: raznhavoc

Welcome to the forum...He's a very cute puppy!! Any name yet?? If I remember right though, I think Frontline is for dogs 8 weeks or older. Maybe he was just too young for those meds? Ok, just went and double checked my answer. It is for kittens and puppies 8 weeks +. As for food, Science Diet gives the vets "incentives" to sell their products. If you check out the list of ingredients and then compare it to, say Nutro Ultra or Eagle Pack Holistic, you'll see a huge difference. This opinion is very controversial, but I have never fed my dogs puppy food. Currently I have a 5 month old jack russell and he's never had it. The higher amounts of protein in puppy food aren't necessary and the dog can grow up healthy and happy on a food that has 22% or 24% protein. It was ddeveloped as a marketing gimmick to increase pet food sales. Don' t mean to overload you with info!! In short, I would reccommend Wellness (any variety chicken, lamb, fish), Innova, Eagle Pack Holistic...I would wait to change his food after he gets to feeling better and has time to acclimate into the house. Sorry if I've scared you away. Keep us updated to how he's feeling and keep taking cute pics[].

I have seen innova mentioned several times on here and i think thats what i will go with.
His name is Tito!
Thanks for your reply
Kurt

theresamat

Posted : 3/18/2007 7:45:30 PM

Looks like I posted the same time you did. Im so glad to hear you took him in to see the vet!
I hope he feels better soon.

Kurt Brinker

Posted : 3/18/2007 7:51:13 PM

I went to the innova site and there is a store less that 5 minutes away that sells it! We are going to pick up some innova puppy dry tommorow morning and get rid of the rest we have here.

Kurt Brinker

Posted : 3/18/2007 7:59:31 PM

Few More Pics

Bullymom

Posted : 3/18/2007 9:36:32 PM

That is one cute litle guy! Sorry he isn't feeling well.[

] Hope he gets better soon! I thought that animals needed to be 6 months old before they were fixed. Maybe some vets do it sooner. Keep us updated on how he is!

Kurt Brinker

Posted : 3/18/2007 9:50:33 PM

Vet called and said he is sleeping and so far is ok.

I can't decide between innova and the karma organic food right now. Innova is 5 minutes down the road and karma is a little over an hour but thats not really a factor. i am thinking maybe innova puppy till he gets a little bigger and then switch over...

Jennifer Goble

Posted : 3/19/2007 7:47:07 AM

My dog has done great on the Innova EVO and the only reason I am not continuing to feed it is that we are in the process of switching to a raw diet. Innova is a great product. And 5 mins away is good. Sometimes its hard to find these premium foods locally.

Does your pup have some basset or corgi? Looks like he has short legs. But maybe its too early to tell.

Kurt Brinker

Posted : 3/19/2007 9:00:35 AM

Vet just called and said he is barking and eating again! My wife is going to pick him up during lunch today and we'll grab some innova this evening.

Stacita

Posted : 3/19/2007 9:05:48 AM

Hi Kurt,

I'm glad your VERY cute puppy is doing so much better. I second (or third) the recommendation for Innova Puppy. It is a quality food which mine did extremely well on, and she's a healthy senior now.

Vivian

Posted : 3/19/2007 12:06:30 PM

Welcome to this forum Kurt, your dog is a real cutie. Innova is great I feed this to my dog, April. It is a good food, and your dog will love it I'm sure. Glad your pup is doing so much better.

mrstjohnson

Posted : 3/19/2007 3:10:26 PM

The cuteness is killing me. He is just so adorable.

I fed my Charlie Innova puppy, now adult and he does great on it. At first his poop was a little soft (not runny), but still scoopable. After a few days he was great. Just read how much you need to feed him since it is a higher quality, you don't have to feed as much. I know you said it doesn't matter how far you have to drive, but trust me when you realize you run out at 8:50 at night, 5 minutes away makes a difference [

]

Good luck and I am glad he's feeling better!