Kibble for sensitive stomachs

[BerryBye]

Hi there,
I have been feeding my guy TOTW – Wetlands for 8-12 months, and he was doing really well on it until recently. He was having really loose stool so after a trip to the vet to rule of any medical issues (fecal test and a round of antibiotics), the vet recommended I try him on “Gastroâ€, a feed for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

(Ingredients: Corn, Rice, Lamb Meal, Potato Protein, Dried Egg Powder, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavour, Flax Meal, Cranberry Meal, Monopotassium Phosphate, Pea Fibre, Salt, Fish Oil, Sodium Silico Aluminate (Zeolite), Calcium Carbonate, Dried Brewer’s Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Fructo-Oligosaccharides, Bacillus Subtilis Dried Fermentation Extract, Choline Chloride, Brewer’s Yeast Extract (Source of Mannan-Oligosaccharides), Vitamins (DL-Alpha-Tocopherol [Source of Vitamin E], L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate [Source of Vitamin C], Biotin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride [Vitamin B6], Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Riboflavin [Vitamin B2], Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement and Vitamin D3 Supplement), Trace Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulphate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulphate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate and Sodium Selenite), L-Glutamine, L-Carnitine and Beta-Carotene. Naturally Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract and Citric Acid)

So he has was on that for about a week and everything firmed up, I assumed the antibiotics had done the trick, so I slowly transitioned him back to TOTW. Within a day he had runny stool again – so I switched him back to the “Gastro†and everything went back to normal again.

So since I do not want to keep him on this very expensive (and not very good quality) feed from the vet, my question is, what high quality kibble have you guys had good experience with – for your sensitive dogs? I was thinking of trying Acana lamb based, because that’s the protein source in the “Gastroâ€.

Oh and we aren’t going raw or home cooked yet, so kibble suggestions only please

Thoughts? Thank you!

 

[Hillside]

Have you tried a fish based food? Saga has stool issues on anything with red meat and HORRIBLE gas on chicken based food. Fish seems to work best for her. Lamb isn't actually very easy to digest, it is usually recommended because it is a novel protein source.

California Natural has some very simple and easy on the tummy foods, but were recently bought out by P&G. Wellness has a Simple line that might work for you too.

 

[Bailey08]

I second the fish, or maybe venison. Lamb is higher in fat and so not generally recommended for dogs with gastrointestinal issues. Sorry, I can't help with actual kibble recommendations.

Did your vet do another fecal after the first round of antibiotics? Sometimes it takes more than one round -- e.g., giardia is pretty persistent.

 

[BerryBye]

Thanks for the input!
What do you guys think of Now! Adult or Go! Salmon? Here are the ingredients:

Now! Adult
De-boned turkey, potato flour, pea, apple, whole dried egg, pea fibre, tomato, potato, flaxseed, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E) , natural flavors, salmon, de-boned duck, sun dried alfalfa, coconut oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), carrots, pumpkin, bananas, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, papaya, pineapple, grapefruit, lentil beans, broccoli, spinach, cottage cheese, alfalfa sprouts, dried kelp, flaxseed, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, lecithin, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, vitamins: ( vitamin E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vit. C), niacin, inositol, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, beta-carotene, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement) , minerals: (zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, iron proteinate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), taurine, DL-methionine, L-Lysine, chicory extract, lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus casei, enterococcus faecium, bifido bacterium thermophilum, dried aspergillus niger fermentation extract, dried aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, yeast extract, yucca schidigera extract, marigold extract, garlic powder, L-carnitine, dried rosemary.

Go! Salmon
Salmon Meal, Salmon, Oatmeal, Whole Oats, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols [Vit. E]), Oat Fiber, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Dried Kelp, Vitamins (Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Niacin, Vitamin C, Inositol, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamnine Mononitrate, Ribolflavin, Beta Carotene, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12), Minerals(Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, **Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, **Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Chicory Root Extract, Lactobacillus Acidopholus, Lactobacillus Casei, Enterococcus Faecium, Bifidobacterium Thermophilum, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract

 

[Hillside]

Personally, I would try to stick to ONE protein source and as simple as a food as you can find. Of those two, I would go with the salmon.

 

[xpaeanx]

I'm not sure what your budget is... since you were already on TOTW, why not just try the fish formula?

Ingredients:
Salmon, ocean fish meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, canola oil, salmon meal, smoked salmon, potato fiber, natural flavor, salt, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, dried fermentation products of Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

Taste of the Wild : Products : Dogs : Pacific Stream Canine Formula


ETA: When I was feeding kibble, I had great sucess with a fish kibble and a bit of canned pumpkin. Perhaps that's worth a try for you?

 

[vanillasugar]

I was actually going to recommend the Go! Salmon, I'm glad it's been posted already. I recommend this a lot at work to sensitive dogs, it seems to do well for them!

 

[OutlineACDs]

Also order the digestive enzymes from NaturesFarmacy. They worked wonders on mine. Really helped firm up the poops and helped with stomach upset.

 

[ihartgonzo]

The magic behind Vet prescribed Gastro food is that it's packed with stool firming chemicals... it is NOT getting at the real issue, which is a food intolerance/allergy. D:

I recommend Orijen fish. Super duper good! Starting with a grain-free fish based food will help you eliminate allergens, as very few dogs have fish allergies.