Bear, how is your guy
Submitted by Carol and Griffin on June 25, 2010 - 8:32amdoing with his loose stools?
I ordered a book that is helping me to adjust some things in Kofi's diet.
Raw Dog Food....Make it Easy for You and Your Dog by Carina Beth MacDonald.
She recommended very simple for the first week. Then ad small amount of veggies (good advice on what kind of veggies). Enzymes and probiotics to help moving things through the digestive tract at an appropriate speed.
Every dog is different, changes in stool is common when doing any sort of diet switch.
I'm changing Kofi over also. I think there will be some "gestamation" as I adjust her along the way.
Just relax and have fun with it as the girls have suggested.
Let us know how it's going. I mostly post raw on the general forum. It just seems like I get quicker response sometimes.
Good luck,
Carol and Kofi
I got an e-mail from you but...
I was unable to open it due to not having access? Don't know how to get access.
Bear's stools are still somewhat the same. I think I just went right for it instead of going slowly. I think I added veggies too quick.
Thanks for recommending that book. I will look into that.
I am so used to giving him fish oil and glucosmine pills, it is hard not to give it.
If you have any further suggestions, please let me know.
Oh, one question, can I ask butcher for just bones by themselves? Do they sell that? I think maybe I am giving too much meat. The bone is wrapped around meat.
Thanks for any advice!
In the book she addresses that.
Are you feeding chicken? That seems to be a good thing to start out on.
I have checked with my local butcher who DIDN'T have chicken parts, just this morning.
The recommended a grocer that I had never heard of. It was in the heart of downtown where people do a lot of soul cooking. That place was awesome! I bought two family packages of backs (w/some necks). Turkey necks, beef necks, chicken breasts, wings, all in family pkg. I came out with three large bags and the cost....$23.
Carina feeds alot of chicken backs. So far I have only fed chicken and grind bones and all in the food processor. She said raw bones full of marrow can cause loose stools. If it persists or is bad, and your bully is otherwise in good health, she recommends feeding canned pumpkin (plain, no spices). The small amount you were giving may not have been enough. She said several tablespoons each feeding for a medium size dog. I mixed it with Kofi's meal the day she had diarrhea. It does a wonderful job of absorbing water from the colon. Strange how pumpkin works for both constipation and diarrhea, but I always keep it on hand.
Maybe you should e-mail Ari and Nate to ask about how to access your messages.
Also, I post about food on the general forum since it seems to get a faster response. We have some great experience with feeding raw, as you have found out. Still lots of trial and error. I'm just learning but will be glad to share what I find works for me. I think that's the thing. Every dog is different.
Good eating to Bear!
Thank You for...
Your response. I have been feeeding Bear chicken leg quarter bones in the AM and boneless chicken breast in the PM. I was giving him pumpkin but one of the girls said I don't need it due to the bones firming up the stool. I have stopped giving pumpkin but stools still a little runny, I think I need to up my bone content.
Keep me updated on how your bullie is doing!
One recommendation
was not to introduce legs and thighs for awhile.
But I'm just learning too, so keep us me posted too.
Actually, I ground up backs for Kofi tonight, and put a chicken neck in her bowl. She immediately took it to the rug. I tried to get her to wait while I put an old quilt down. She thought I was gonna take it away, so she gulped it down, probably whole.
It's a learning experience for sure.
But Kofi loves the raw! That surprised me how she went after that neck.
lol! not tying to butt in, but that was funny...
About Kofi gulping the neck down so you couldn't get it. Sophie does that when she thinks I'm gonna grab something from her:-) too funny!
Amy and Sophia