Changing food for older dog.

CorvusCorax

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For background:
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/harringtons-lamb-and-rice.767202/

I never did make the change.
Fast forward almost a year, older dog had been having bad guts for months, started with a week/ten day long bout of the runs in April and then every month or so, was wormed, antibiotics etc. Had narrowed it down to eating a cat poo or having been in a very deer-heavy area.

Was at the vet this evening and he thinks it's dietary as it clears up as soon as the tinned Chappie comes back out. Stool sample was negative.
Vet thinks I should feed dry Chappie?? And that the JWB is too rich for him now he's retired. I also suspect a touch of stress due to getting an unexpected and unwanted (by him) little brother.

When he gets these episodes, it's very gassy/explosive and liquidy.
The other dog will be staying on JWB. Any recommendations welcome.
 
I would follow the vet's advice. I don't like the smell of Chappie and i didn't know that they made a dry version but I have known for more than 50 years that vets often recommend it for dogs with diet related problems. The first I knew of was a boxer with inter-digital 'blackheads' which cleared up when the diet was changed to Chappie.
 
Try adding tree barks powder from dorwest herbs. It’s very old fashioned slippery elm that slows digestion slightly allowing better absorption. It can be used as a weaning paste for puppies too. I used it with good results on a dog with chronic colitis.
 
Thanks guys. I normally starve and then pop him a couple of charcoal tablets, start on the Chappie for a day or so and then switch back to the kibble.

PaS, the tins turn me, don't like the idea of feeding them long term :o but agree, older school vets have a very good word on it.
 
My dog has similar at the moment. She’s 12. Hers is intermittent. The vet also thinks dietary. I’ve changed her to fish variety of food as I usually feed Lilly’s kitchen variety trays and I’m thinking it’s one of those flavours. She also has Eden dry which I don’t think is the issue. I’ve ordered some Natures Menu Mackerel flavour so will see how that goes.
 
Thanks. He's 'only' 8.5 but this is weird for me as he's always been very robust. Only sick once in his life and that was three years ago. He's still in very good form/not miserable or lethargic.
 
I feed Eden and it suits the 2 year old and the 12 year old, but have also heard good things about Pooch and Mutt sensitive and I think it's quite widely available now. I add tinned unsweetened pumpkin, It is useful for both constipation and the squits. I hope you find a solution. 🐾
 
I have, for various long and boring health-related reasons, changed the big dogs on to about 70% Eukanuba Caring Senior and 30% Natures Menu True Instinct raw. I never in a million years thought I'd be feeding something like Eukanuba but they look good on it and the sky has yet to fall in. ;) Chappie may be the answer!
 
Tinned chappie is the only thing that keeps Teds tummy settled, but I've never touched the dry stuff. I really rate the wet food.

For dry food I use Burns (Sensitive potato and Pork I think( as its the only one Ive found with low enough fat/protein to avoid liquid bum incidents...
 
Has he been tested forIBD?Sounds familiar,we swapped to an anti allergenic biscuit,yellow sweet potato and greek yoghurt,which worked well for a long time.we have lately started her on "pred",a small dose and reducing,doing well and back to her bossy self!
 
I fed Chappie for donkey's years after my first springer had a dodgy tummy and all the dogs that followed did really well on it. Fed tinned as well as the dry and none of them died an early death from eating the dried food :)

I did swap fairly recently (3 years ago maybe) to Autarky for the benefit of the Rufus dog because of his anal glands. I wanted a food with more fibre and Autarky has the highest fibre around, whilst maintaining low protein for older dogs. All of them did well with this but Willow has now developed bladder stones. Well, struvite crystals to be more precise so she's had to swap to Chappie full time.

She does get 'exited' runny poos so I've recently started giving her natural yoghurt or Greek yoghurt and it's firmed her up a treat. She's still not super 'firm', like the other two but it's a vast improvement.
 
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