Calling All Dog Food Experts
 

I have come to the conclusion that it has to be the food causing my dog's poop issues. Now the golden is scooting(never done this before, just started), the oldest one is fine, and the GSD has pudding poop(this started this morning). They are on Fromm and when they weren't doing well a couple weeks ago I got them the duck and sweet potato with hopes that that would be easier to digest. They have been getting just the regular Fromm for the last couple days, because I'm trying to pinpoint the issue. I have been rotating them, which could be problem number one...Can you guys tell me what ingredients would be the problem? I'm listing both dog foods and I can't figure it out? Do they need more protein or is it to much? They all were doing well with the regular Fromm until a couple weeks ago:( I have noticed that the GSD has much better poop if she gets some raw meat...beef cubes, chicken backs, etc, that is where I'm thinking more protein is needed, but the golden and the other dog do not do well with those things:confused: I have never been this confused about food, I need to find something that works for all of them. Cost is not an issue. Should I switch to a different brand completely? I did order that Sunday Sundae stuff, which I believe will help, should I just wait for that? Help:(

Duck and Sweet Potato

Duck
Duck Meal
Pearled Barley
Sweet Potatoes
Brown Rice
Oatmeal
White Rice
Whole Dried Egg
Millet
Dried Tomato Pomace
Safflower Oil
Wisconsin Cheese
Flaxseed
Carrots
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Apples
Green Beans
Chicken Cartilage
Potassium Chloride
Cranberries
Blueberries
Salt
Monocalcium Phosphate
Calcium Sulfate
Chicory Root Extract
Alfalfa Sprouts
Yucca Schidigera Extract
Sodium Selenite
Folic Acid
Taurine
Parsley
Vitamins
vitamin A acetate, Vitamin D3 supplement, Vitamin E supplement, Vitamin B12 supplement, choline bitartrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, L-Ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin
Minerals
zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganous sulfate, magnesium sulfate, copper sulfate, cobalt carbonate, calcium iodate, sorbic acid (preservative), ferrous proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, magnesium proteinate, manganese proteinate, cobalt proteinate
Probiotics
dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product

Fromm Gold

Duck
Chicken Meal
Chicken
Brown Rice
Pearled Barley
Oatmeal
Menhaden Fish Meal
Chicken Fat
Lamb
Russet Potatoes
Dried Tomato Pomace
Whole Egg
Salmon Oil
Wisconsin Cheese
Flaxseed
Brewers Dried Yeast
Alfalfa Meal
Carrots
Lettuce
Celery
Chicken Cartilage
Monocalcium Phosphate
Salt
Potassium Chloride
DL-Methionine
Chicory Root Extract
Calcium Sulfate
Yucca Schidigera Extract
Sodium Selenite
Vitamins
vitamin A acetate, Vitamin D3 supplement, Vitamin E supplement, Vitamin B12 supplement, choline bitartrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, L-Ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin
Minerals
zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganous sulfate, magnesium sulfate, copper sulfate, cobalt carbonate, calcium iodate, sorbic acid (preservative), ferrous proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, magnesium proteinate, cobalt proteinate
Probiotics
dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product

Scooting? I would check either for parasites (which can also cause pudding poop).

IMO, since Fromm is a pretty good food, it is unlikely both dogs are having issues with the food. And if they are, it may not be the same ingredient affecting both dogs. There really isn't any definitive way for US to pick an ingredient.

If you really feel it's the food, try a LID food with only a couple ingredients like a fish and sweet potato.

If by "scooting" you mean dragging his butt across the floor, then he probably has worms of some sort. Get him in to the vet for a fecal test and a dewormer and I'll bet the problems will be resolved.

The weird thing is that his poop is fine, I thought maybe something with the anal glands?? Usually problems with the anal glands are due to the poop and if its firm enough to express them while its coming out. This kinda made sense to me because he just got over a bug and his poop just got back to normal. A fecal would not be a bad idea, I think I'll do that.

Well, I certainly wouldn't consider myself an expert by any stretch, but if they had been doing well on the same food up until recently then I may consider something other than the food being the issue. It would be odd for two dogs to develop an ingredient sensitivity at the same time, though I suppose it could be possible. Has anything else changed since they started having problems? Less exercise, some new stress, eating something outdoors that perhaps has upset their stomachs?

Maybe try adding a spoonful of pumpkin to their meals and see if that helps. You might try cutting portion size back a bit too. Over feeding can cause loose stools as well. As long as it isn't full diarrhea I wouldn't worry too much. If it doesn't pass by the time you're getting close to the end of the current bag then maybe look at switching foods again.

I know that, but I'm wondering if any one ingredient stands out to be an issue for anyone else. I will make their poop perfect...one way or another:D

They get the smallest portion allowed per the bag and most of the time they don't finish that. There is a dog that has been coming around and using my dogs potty area(private property and another battle), I wonder if that dog might have something and now my dogs got it? I'm sure they have sniffed his poop and pee...in fact it was driving my dogs nuts. All they do is sniff when we go outside now:( We also have geese but I\'m careful and make sure they don\'t eat that poop, they aren\'t big on eating stuff, but they do sniff lots. And the two dogs with the problem are the sniffers. I\'m sure my oldest one has done some sniffing and she had loose poop last week, which is odd because she never has loose poop...Maybe it is the other dog? Which worms can be contracted by just sniffing? And all of this started right about the same time that I caught creepy guy on my property letting his dog go to the bathroom.:mad:

Changing foods often causes problems. I have had good luck with Acana and TOTW.
Scooting can be caused by swollen anal glands that need to be expressed by the vet.
Very stinky, but common, process.

Roundworms can be contracted by sniffing. Are your dogs on monthly Heartworm medication? Most Heartworm preventatives also protect against roundworms.

I think that this might be a case of some kind of parasites due to these other dogs in the neighborhood that use my property as a pooping ground. The dog\'s get heartworm medicine every month that also covers roundworms and hookworms, is that enough coverage/maintenance for those two worms? What are the other worms that can be contracted through sniffing poop? If this is the case, my dogs will have to constantly be dewormed because I don\'t foresee these people stopping their dogs from pooping where they poop:(