rice and burger feeding plan

[ladycricket]

Sorry about the title, I hate thinking up subject names

Ok getting ready to feed Jake the elk and rice to help out his tummy. I thought of some questions in the process:
1. do I feed him the whole 1 lb and 3 c. of rice in one meal?
2. How many times a day should I feed him this meal?
3. Since I am feeding him elk would it be too much of an upset to switch back and forth with some venison also?
4. Also, when should I start adding the kibble? When the stools start becoming firm? And then do I gradually do the 20/80 ratio like I was switching kibble?
I'm sorry if my questions are lame. I never had a dog with an upset tummy before and searching the forums didn't answer my questions. I just want him to get better. Thanks.

[spidey]

I'd start with frequent small meals (I'm pretty firmly in the "at least two meals a day" camp anyway - I don't like feeding dogs a whole day's rations in one meal), like divide what you'll feed over a day into four or five meals if you can manage that, but at very least two or three. However, it might be a good idea to fast him for 12 hours or so before you start - it's normally wise to rest the gut. I'd feed him the rice mixture until he has normal, formed stools again, then gradually start mixing the kibble in - start with just a handful and gradually increase it, if he gets runny stools again in the process, go back to the point at which he had firm stools. Do keep in mind that it's possible that the problem is with the kibble - he simply may not tolerate it at all - no matter how good any given diet is, it doesn't suit every dog. I would not switch back and forth between elk and venison - they are different meats and the goal here is to provide a bland, unchanging diet until his system sorts itself out.

[Rottlva]

Are you feeding a kibble type mixture of elk or vennison, or is this something you bought/ cooked yourself??

If it is the latter, is this supposed to be blander then boiled hamburg?

[Ilovemypuppy]

Excellent advise spidey :o)))))

Rottlva....I would suggest that elk or venison is a better meat than beef for a number of reasons, but the big one is no growth hormones or antibiotics are used with elk or venison. I would think both would also be lower is saturated fat..another plus.

[ladycricket]

Originally Posted by Rottlva

Are you feeding a kibble type mixture of elk or vennison, or is this something you bought/ cooked yourself??

If it is the latter, is this supposed to be blander then boiled hamburg?

The elk and deer are our own kill from last year. I'm not sure what you mean by kibble. do they make kibble with elk and venison??

I just need to add a little vent. My dad just makes me so mad with his know it all attitude. He said "I guarantee you will kill a dog feed it that much meat, too much protein" I retorted "you realize dogs are carnivores?" He didn't say anything just gave me a p$$ off look. Then told me to put his dog in her little bitty kennel so she won't get what Jake has Granted, there is a slight possiblity that he could have a virus or worms but I'm pretty sure its just too much food switch. He'd probably keel over if he knew I gave her a raw soup bone the other day.

[ladycricket]

Originally Posted by Ilovemypuppy

Excellent advise spidey :o)))))

Rottlva....I would suggest that elk or venison is a better meat than beef for a number of reasons, but the big one is no growth hormones or antibiotics are used with elk or venison. I would think both would also be lower is saturated fat..another plus.

Yep and less or no cholesterol. We have a beef we had butchered last fall, he was a natural raised beef, as in no horomones or antibiotics and he was lean too. But we have a lot of elk and deer and will be getting 2 more in a couple months, so if I need to keep feeding it to Jake that's ok, we will have plenty. I may just have to look into raw.
Thank you all, excellent advise I appreciate it!!

[lblax]

Originally Posted by Ilovemypuppy

I would think both would also be lower is saturated fat..another plus.

you do realize that fat is good for dogs and there systems process it diferently than ours and they dont live long enough to get clogged arteries...

[spidey]

Originally Posted by lblax

you do realize that fat is good for dogs and there systems process it diferently than ours and they dont live long enough to get clogged arteries...

Good point Larry! I think in this case, somewhat lower fat content might be good for the duration of the bland diet, since it's probably easier on an upset system, but in general, fat is good for dogs (not just good, but necessary).

[lblax]

did anyone ever think pepto bismal?????it works, its cheap

[ladycricket]

Originally Posted by lblax

did anyone ever think pepto bismal?????it works, its cheap

LOL LOL nope! I overreact when my babies get sick, guess I did it with Jake too. So what kind of dose would he get?

BTW Elk is cheap to us, its already in the freezer and other then the cost of the hunt and work put into butchering ourselves, its free.
If wild game is low fat that would it be a bad idea to use it for raw feed? We are getting 2 elk this year, plus AJ is bow hunting for deer right now (I may get one in rifle season too). I've considered seriously researching raw and if we have extra meet from this fall I would be eager to try it. I'll move this to another thread if needed.

[Urska]

I had big problems with my AST female (very much the same you described) and she practically grew up on rice and fish. It is very easy to digest and it doesn't upset the stomache. And I overcooked the rice at first. After 3 months I gradualy switched to another meat source (beef) and today she eats practically everything (kibble, cooked, diary product, vegetables, fruits).

Please don't ever forget to chec if the dog has IBD when he has an uset stomache and runny stools for a longer periond of time (my friend lost a 2 year old collie not long ago).

[ladycricket]

Thanks Ursaka, but I really think its just him trying to adjust to so many food changes, going from what he had before the shelter, then at the shelter, at the foster home (IAMS) to us with Nutro and then Canidae all in a few months time. If the burger and rice doesn't help I will be sure to take him to the vet.

[rottnelmo]

Originally Posted by lblax

did anyone ever think pepto bismal?????it works, its cheap

Yes, mylanta is better though. I would give about 6 to 8 cc's if the stool is really loose. How much does he weigh??? Elmo weighs 97 pounds and that is what my vet recommened when he had his bad bloody stool several weeks ago. Other wise if it is just soft, probably at 3 to 5 cc's. Just squirt slowly into the mouth (without a needle, obviously)

BUT mylanta or pepto wont necessarily clear up the belly discomfort it will just mask it. I would do this ALONG with the burger and rice.

Ps. I LOVE elk meat...I want some!

[Rottlva]

Lady Cricket, often times allergy diets will be made with venison because this is a meat not too many dogs come in contact with, thus haven't developed a sensitivity too...

As for catching your own meat and feeding it to the pup... Excellent! I wish I had resources to do the same!

[Urska]

Originally Posted by ladycricket

Thanks Ursaka, but I really think its just him trying to adjust to so many food changes, going from what he had before the shelter, then at the shelter, at the foster home (IAMS) to us with Nutro and then Canidae all in a few months time. If the burger and rice doesn't help I will be sure to take him to the vet.

Could you check with the foster home if he had any problems back then? The main reason for IBD is feeding kibble and only kibble to growing pups (starting with a breeder).

My rott (6 months old) can eat everything and has no problems. Every day he eats kibble, curd with honey or yoghurt, cooked meal (I use turkey, beef, fish) and all different kinds of vegetables and carbohydrates. I also give him raw meal twice a week. When he came from a breeder he was mostly on kibble and I slowly switched him to other food over 2 month period.

Keep us posted on how he progresses !