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Food for a bad stomach

Last post 10-08-2007 9:45 AM by MonkeyPastore. 9 replies.
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  • 10-07-2007 11:09 PM

    Food for a bad stomach

    My one year old springer spaniel seems to have a very delicate stomach. He gets diarrhea a lot. And a lot of gas. He has trouble gaining weight. He's had detailed bloodwork done and everything is normal. He's been on different kibble (Innova Evo, Natural Balance duck and potato, California Natural salmon, Solid Gold Holistic, Solid Gold Barking at the Moon. I think that's all). He's also prone to getting Giardia (he spends a lot of time at dog parks), but is currently negative. I feel so bad for him. He acts fine and like nothing is wrong, but it can't be good for him to have diarrhea so often. Are there any foods any of you can suggest? I was going to try Nature's Variety Prairie Chicken and Rice. Any advice would be great.

     

    Thanks! 

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  • 10-07-2007 11:22 PM In reply to MonkeyPastore

    Re: Food for a bad stomach

    My first step would be to quit feeding kibble, altogether. A high quality canned or home prepared (maybe using a premix) diet would probably help. I would *not* start a dog with that type of a stomach condition on a raw diet, even if I wanted to, until he was doing better. I wouldn't even offer raw chewies or treats.  

     

    Aloe vera juice is very beneficial to my dog with stomach issues. Digestive enzymes have helped in the past, but not NEAR as much as the aloe juice. A friend of mine recently recommended Activia yogurt. She uses it for one of her dogs who has IBD. It helped him a lot, so I decided to try it. I've only been using it for a week, so I dunno how it'll go. It hasn't made her explode, so that's a good thingSmile

    Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003)
    Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008)
    Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)
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  • 10-07-2007 11:26 PM In reply to MonkeyPastore

    Re: Food for a bad stomach

       Hello and welcome to the forum; I think you may need to use a prescription food to settle your dog's digestive system; Royal Canin (IVD) makes some good ones for dogs with sensitive stomachs. There are some members who have dogs with IBD and prescription foods helped settle their dog's digestion; after awhile they were able to slowly put their dogs back on a simple food like Natural Balance, but only after being on the prescription food for awhile. At any rate I wouldn't try the Nature's Variety because it has too many ingredients for a sensitive stomach.

    Life isn't about waiting through the storm; it's about learning to dance in the rain.

    Janice
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  • 10-08-2007 12:17 AM In reply to jessies_mom

    • Cita
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    Re: Food for a bad stomach

    It sounds like he might be allergic to something in the dog foods - have you thoroughly checked the ingredients of all the kibbles you've tried to see if there were any particularly noticeable overlaps? Have you tried an elimination diet of any kind yet, or just the kibble?

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  • 10-08-2007 12:27 AM In reply to Cita

    Re: Food for a bad stomach

    You could try cooking some lamb and rice, maybe a bit of pumpkin. Something very simple, then add to it.

    Whatever you do, do it very slowly.

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  • 10-08-2007 7:26 AM In reply to sallya

    Re: Food for a bad stomach

    Typically dogs with sensitive stomach's do well on limited ingredient foods like Natural Balance's Potato & Duck, fish or venison, or IVD Limited ingredient diets.   I would definatley try one of those.

     

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  • 10-08-2007 7:27 AM In reply to sallya

    • Myra
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    Re: Food for a bad stomach

    I would try one of the prescription canned foods, or a bland home-cooked diet (chicken/rice or lean hamburger/rice, all very well cooked)  and see if his stomach improves.  If so, then you can very slowly try adding in other foods, one at a time.

    Myra
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  • 10-08-2007 8:55 AM In reply to Myra

    • chasza
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    Re: Food for a bad stomach

    I would add in qualtiy probiotics, and use a food that does not have grains in it.  Dogs can have problems with different types of food, but grain is high on the list.  Now, I can't do grain free kibbles without adding in extra well cooked veggies b/c my guys need a little more fiber (don't ever use onions, don't use alot of broccolli or spinach at any one time).   A note about aloe vera juice:  it has to be a special kind that has been processed to rid an ingredinet out of it.  Normal aloe vera juice will actually cause diarrhea.  I did try it once in small amounts.

     Another thing would be to give slippery elm to coat the stomach.  I don't recommend using it long term b/c coating the stomach will reduce the nutrient absorption, but to help in healing the gut and giving it a break while it heals might be helpful. I use NOW brand capsules and can take out of capsule and add in a small bit of water and he should lap it up.  Otherwise, can use the capsule about an hour before mealtime.  

    Away from mealtime, use l-glutamine (NOT l-glutamate).  Remember the "mine" part is good, as in "healing "my" stomach.  It shoudl help to heal the intestingal lining.  I had to use the l-glutamine and Good probiotics to help my allergy girls stomach.  I hope this helps.

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  • 10-08-2007 9:41 AM In reply to chasza

    Re: Food for a bad stomach

    chasza:
    A note about aloe vera juice:  it has to be a special kind that has been processed to rid an ingredinet out of it.  Normal aloe vera juice will actually cause diarrhea. 
     

     

    Ah, yes. I forget... I use George's. It's awesome.  Works wonders, for Em. 

    Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003)
    Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008)
    Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)
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  • 10-08-2007 9:45 AM In reply to chasza

    Re: Food for a bad stomach

    Thank you all for the suggestions. The reason I took him off the Natural Balance Potato and Duck was because of the recalls (I know it was for their canned food, but it was a little scary to use the same company). I think maybe he should go back on that though. He did handle it the best.

    He is currently taking something that promotes good bacteria (it's downstairs in the fridge and I don't know the name off hand...something the vet recommended and was available at health food stores) and a little aloe vera juice is being added to his food. 

     

    Thanks again for all the suggestions. I'm going to print this out as a reference in case the NB Duck and Potato doesn't work.  

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