finding the right food. - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

Dobiebane · 12-05-2012, 12:00 PM

hey, so when i first got my pup(8.5 weeks old), ill admit i just bought some dog food from target(purina maybe), and he was fine on it for few weeks until he ate something one day and got sick and the vet had me switch him to boiled chicken and rice for a little while. I took advantage of this time to switch my boy to a better dog food. I purchased taste of the wild, sierra mountain formula(lamb)., i slowly started weening him off rice and chicken, starting off with only 1/2 a cup for 3-4 days(4x a day), 1 cup for 3-4 days, 1.5 cups 3-4 days, then moved him to completely on kibble.

As of right now, hes 15 weeks, and eats between 1.5-3 cups per sitting(i let him eat for max 10 min or until hes bored with it, but usually finishes rather quickly) 4 times a day.

To say the least..he still has the runs, and hes been introduced to the new food since november 24. As of a few days ago, i started doing 2 cups of kibble, mixed in with water and some rice, and its been making his stools a lot more firm, but not 100%.

Do i need to switch dog foods? or should i just stick with it? Im open to all suggestions what to do/what type of food i should put him. Should i just keep putting some rice mixed in with his kibble, or should i try something else?

thanks(im also talking to my breeder and vet, but love as much input as possible, just want this fixed

!)

Coco Loco · 12-05-2012, 12:06 PM

Good luck. I found it very hard to find a food that worked for Coco. I tried almost every "high quality" kibble around and she was always gassy with loose stools. She was also so skinny. I switched her to raw when she was about a year and this has worked so well for her. Raw can be intimidating at first and it's not for everyone but its what works best for her.

LindaH · 12-05-2012, 12:07 PM

You're overfeeding him, which will cause diahrrea/loose stools.

How many calories does that food have a cup, 430 or so??? I would only be feeding morning, noon and evening and probaly only about 1.5 cups per feeding. Not sure about that as some foods you have to feed more than others, but 6 cups a day of TOTW is way too much.

Also make sure you are either feeding an all life stages food or a large breed puppy food. Don't give the regular puppy food as they promote fast growth which you don't want for a large breed puppy. The LBP foods are formulated for a slower growth.

There is a sticky in the puppy section about "overgrowing your puppy", read it and it should help you out somewhat.

Dobiebane · 12-05-2012, 12:34 PM

383 cal per cup, and its for all life stages. Ill lower his feeding and see if it helps. Thanks

Anton-Caesar · 12-05-2012, 12:41 PM

maybe try a TOTW chicken formula

LindaH · 12-05-2012, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anton-Caesar

maybe try a TOTW chicken formula

This is a good suggestion.

OP, I meant to add that lamb is not a good protein to raise a large breed puppy on as it does not seem to build muscle like some of the other proteins. Chicken is an easily digested protein.

Sometimes a pup will have a sensitive stomach. Time will tell what you have.

Also when you switch foods, go with 1/4 of new food to 3/4 old for two or three days, then to 1/2 new to 1/2 old for two or three days...slower if he shows digestive upset, then continue on with the 1/4 increments till a total switch is made.

Asmit · 12-05-2012, 12:49 PM

Wow, that is way too much food. You've got to find the balance between how much to give him, how much he actually needs, and what level just runs right through him. Most young dogs when fed too much of ANY food will have the runs.

Dobiebane · 12-06-2012, 01:57 AM

Stools are already firm, thanks for the help.