food making him sick?

bcdudley · 09-02-2011, 02:05 PM

We got Cody 2 weeks ago. He is now 13 weeks old. The breeder was feeding him Victor puppy food and she told us he was doing well on that. The first night bringing him home, I ran to Walmart and bought a small bag of Iams to get him through the night and breakfast. The next day, I went out and bought a bag of Blue Buffalo Wilderness puppy food. We had him on it for a week and, while he would gobble it down in a matter of minutes, he never seemed to feel well and he had really bad runs. Last weekend, I spoke with the Vet and they said to try something different. I went to the store and got Natural Balance Alpha for puppy through adult.

He does not have the runs anymore, but he also hardly eats and I am starting to see his ribs and backbone the last day or two.

Last night, I mixed a little Blue Buffalo in with his Natural Balance and sure enough, this morning, the runs were back. I also tried a little canned pumpkin, but he would not touch the food unless he was really hungry.

I hate to switch him again, but I want to find what is best for him. If I do switch him again, I will try Orijen if I can find it. Otherwise it will be Innova or TotW.

Should I give it more time or go ahead and make the switch?

Emoore · 09-02-2011, 02:09 PM

Wow. . . . . four foods in two weeks. That's what's upsetting his stomach. No wonder he doesn't eat. Don't switch him again. Find one food and stick with it, for at least a month. I'd choose either an All Life Stages food or a Large Breed puppy food. Not Totw or Blue Buffalo wilderness; those both have too much calcium for a GSD pup. Blue Buffalo adult or LBP, Natural Balance LBP, Orijen or Innova LBP or Innova adult. Just pick one and stay there.

bcdudley · 09-02-2011, 02:14 PM

I don't want to switch him again, but I am concerned he is not eating enough of the Natural Balance Alpha. Should I just leave him on it and see how he does? The Natural balance is not puppy food. It says it is for all life stages, puppy through adult.

Eiros · 09-02-2011, 02:15 PM

Lots of dogs get GI upset when switching foods, especially if done frequently or abruptly. Maybe pick a food you want to try and phase the old one out for a few days? The runs might stop after a couple days.

A lot of people complain that their puppies get the runs with higher protein food (Orijen seems to be a common one but I know there are others.)

Also, make sure he is tested for worms and parasites, including Giardia (a symptom of which is cycles of soft and firm stool)

Emoore · 09-02-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcdudley

I don't want to switch him again, but I am concerned he is not eating enough of the Natural Balance Alpha. Should I just leave him on it and see how he does? The Natural balance is not puppy food. It says it is for all life stages, puppy through adult.

He's probably not eating because his tummy hurts. Why are you feeding him grain-free? It's really hard to find a grain-free food with appropriate calcium levels for a large breed pup. Orijen LBP is the only one I'm aware of.

bcdudley · 09-02-2011, 02:30 PM

I am feeding grain free because everything I had read up until this point and everyone I spoke with recommended grain free food.

Best Grain Free Dog Foods

I wanted to start him from the beginning on Orijen LBP, but I could not find anybody that carried it locally until a couple days ago. That is why I went with Blue Buffalo.

Emoore · 09-02-2011, 02:38 PM

Nah, do some more research. If your pup does fine on grains and doesn't have a grain allergy, there's no reason not to feed a high quality grain-inclusive food. Grain-free doesn't mean higher in protein and lower in carbs; it just means they use potatoes or sweet potatoes instead of rice. Potatoes are not inherently better for dogs than rice. The high calcium levels in most grain-frees are much worse for a growing pup than grains are.

WVGSD · 09-02-2011, 04:15 PM

If you are in Texas, that is where Victor Premium Dog food is made. According to their website, they are grain-free. If the breeder was feeding this dood and the puppy was doing well, you might want to seriously consider going back to the Victor dog food. Just a thought . . .

Emoore · 09-02-2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WVGSD

If you are in Texas, that is where Victor Premium Dog food is made. According to their website, they are grain-free. If the breeder was feeding this dood and the puppy was doing well, you might want to seriously consider going back to the Victor dog food. Just a thought . . .

Victor makes some grain-free and some grain-inclusive. My dogs eat Victor, but the one that's not grain-free. I wouldn't feed Victor grain-free to a pup because they don't give the calcium levels. OP said the breeder was feeding Victor Puppy, which has grains. It's a good food, though; and OP could certainly consider going back to Victor Puppy.

http://www.victordogfood.com/hi-pro-plus/

bcdudley · 09-02-2011, 05:44 PM

I would have no problem going back to Victor, except there is not a dealer around me or on my way to and from work. The closest one is at least a 30 minute drive, at least according to the web site you posted. I will check around some or maybe check into buying it online.

Would it be bad to switch him back to it now since it has already been switched a couple times in the last few weeks?

09-02-2011, 02:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
bcdudley New Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 15	food making him sick? We got Cody 2 weeks ago. He is now 13 weeks old. The breeder was feeding him Victor puppy food and she told us he was doing well on that. The first night bringing him home, I ran to Walmart and bought a small bag of Iams to get him through the night and breakfast. The next day, I went out and bought a bag of Blue Buffalo Wilderness puppy food. We had him on it for a week and, while he would gobble it down in a matter of minutes, he never seemed to feel well and he had really bad runs. Last weekend, I spoke with the Vet and they said to try something different. I went to the store and got Natural Balance Alpha for puppy through adult. He does not have the runs anymore, but he also hardly eats and I am starting to see his ribs and backbone the last day or two. Last night, I mixed a little Blue Buffalo in with his Natural Balance and sure enough, this morning, the runs were back. I also tried a little canned pumpkin, but he would not touch the food unless he was really hungry. I hate to switch him again, but I want to find what is best for him. If I do switch him again, I will try Orijen if I can find it. Otherwise it will be Innova or TotW. Should I give it more time or go ahead and make the switch?

09-02-2011, 02:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,214	Wow. . . . . four foods in two weeks. That's what's upsetting his stomach. No wonder he doesn't eat. Don't switch him again. Find one food and stick with it, for at least a month. I'd choose either an All Life Stages food or a Large Breed puppy food. Not Totw or Blue Buffalo wilderness; those both have too much calcium for a GSD pup. Blue Buffalo adult or LBP, Natural Balance LBP, Orijen or Innova LBP or Innova adult. Just pick one and stay there. __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

09-02-2011, 02:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Eiros Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 128	Lots of dogs get GI upset when switching foods, especially if done frequently or abruptly. Maybe pick a food you want to try and phase the old one out for a few days? The runs might stop after a couple days. A lot of people complain that their puppies get the runs with higher protein food (Orijen seems to be a common one but I know there are others.) Also, make sure he is tested for worms and parasites, including Giardia (a symptom of which is cycles of soft and firm stool) __________________ Blackjack - Black and tan GSD 4/23/11

09-02-2011, 02:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,214	Nah, do some more research. If your pup does fine on grains and doesn't have a grain allergy, there's no reason not to feed a high quality grain-inclusive food. Grain-free doesn't mean higher in protein and lower in carbs; it just means they use potatoes or sweet potatoes instead of rice. Potatoes are not inherently better for dogs than rice. The high calcium levels in most grain-frees are much worse for a growing pup than grains are. __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

09-02-2011, 04:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
WVGSD Master Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 999	If you are in Texas, that is where Victor Premium Dog food is made. According to their website, they are grain-free. If the breeder was feeding this dood and the puppy was doing well, you might want to seriously consider going back to the Victor dog food. Just a thought . . . __________________ Shannon Max - rescued GSD - adopted Dec 22, 2010 to the Bridge on March 7, 2012

09-02-2011, 02:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
bcdudley New Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 15	I don't want to switch him again, but I am concerned he is not eating enough of the Natural Balance Alpha. Should I just leave him on it and see how he does? The Natural balance is not puppy food. It says it is for all life stages, puppy through adult.

09-02-2011, 02:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
bcdudley New Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 15	I am feeding grain free because everything I had read up until this point and everyone I spoke with recommended grain free food. Best Grain Free Dog Foods I wanted to start him from the beginning on Orijen LBP, but I could not find anybody that carried it locally until a couple days ago. That is why I went with Blue Buffalo.

09-02-2011, 05:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
bcdudley New Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 15	I would have no problem going back to Victor, except there is not a dealer around me or on my way to and from work. The closest one is at least a 30 minute drive, at least according to the web site you posted. I will check around some or maybe check into buying it online. Would it be bad to switch him back to it now since it has already been switched a couple times in the last few weeks?

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