Over fed = other issues?

[aseemom]

OK I think I might be a little nuts or my imagination is in high gear, but here I go.

Asee, 8 months old, seems to be the queen of loose stools. Several hundred dollars of vet bills and 2 months of California Naturals Lamb and Rice later, no answers and still loose stools. (We have done just about every thing recommend to others on this form). We go to the vets for bi weekly weigh ins. I was about ready to implement the BARF diet to see if that would help. Well. . . . despite my vets assurance that Asee was a good weight I think it her ribs are a little to difficult to find so I cut her food back from 2c twice a day to 1 3/4 c 2x a day. OMG!!!!! For the last week her stools have been GREAT! We haven't gone this long with this many solid stools!!!

It gets better! Since I cut back on her food her behavior has been stellar!! SHe used to be a little slow on the INSIDE command now she is right on. Her focus has been great and on me!!! Her leave it has been solid.

Now am I nuts to think that this might be a sign that I am now feeding the correct amount or maybe I have inadvertantly (sp sorry) changed something else that Asee has picked up on that I haven't noticed?

I should have mentioned Asee is well exercised both mentally and physically. I really couldn't up her exercise so I had to cut back on her food a little.

[Miabella]

Nope, you are not nuts. Overfeeding can absolutely lead to loose stools. It looks like you may have figured out your mystery!

[aseemom]

OK now this is what makes me mad!!! I have many time asked my vet if she seems overweight, as Asee is my first pup in a very long time and my first Rottie, the vet said no she is just fine. . . in fact she is kinda slim . . .

But then the vet does't know much about my choice of food and would perfere science diet I think I will perfer a new vet!

[spidey]

Many vets are very reluctant to tell owners their dogs are overweight. Some people take it personally and some will even stop going to a given vet if that vet tells them the truth about their dog (someone I know overfeeds her dog and swears up and down that the dog isn't overweight (it is) mainly because her vet has never said he's overweight). Also, remember that so many dogs are overweight, it's very likely that a few extra pounds isn't really that big a deal to many vets (when I worked in a vet clinic, the dogs we saw which were both at an appropriate weight and fit were by far the minority, but mostly we only mentioned serious weight issues).

Yes, overfeeding definitely can cause loose stools (and truthfully, your dog may well have NOT been really overweight and just managed to maintain a reasonable weight because of the loose stools, who knows?), and good for you for taking this matter into your own hands.

I don't think you need a new vet because of this, if you are happy with the vet in other respects. Many vets don't care that much about nutrition (and truthfully, it's just one of MANY things which are important for health), I never really talk to the vet about nutrition, personally, I don't think most vets know all that much about it unless they're really into nutrition, and nutrition is one of the areas I feel pretty confident about my own knowledge in. I want my vet to be a good diagnostician, stay current with the latest research (like the newest vaccine and heartworm protocols), be a reasonably good surgeon, etc. On the list of "what I value most in a vet", "knowledge about dog food" does not appear, if a vet knows about nutrition, that's gravy, but it's very far from a requirement. If your vet is a good vet in the areas which REALLY matter (in my opinion, anyway), I don't see why you need to change.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by aseemom

OK now this is what makes me mad!!! I have many time asked my vet if she seems overweight, as Asee is my first pup in a very long time and my first Rottie, the vet said no she is just fine. . . in fact she is kinda slim . . .

But then the vet does't know much about my choice of food and would perfere science diet I think I will perfer a new vet!

spidey's comments re: some vets being hesitant to tell clients their dogs need to lose weight is on target. These vets don't want to level with people for fear they will leave in a huff--"My dog isn't overweight/fat/obese--my Fido is big boned!" so they say nothing.

I listen to what my current vet says about nutrition and what to feed because she knows her stuff--I looked for Dr Donna long and hard! But, other vets--they didn't know what they were talking about in the area of dog food. I've never looked upon my vets as a source of info on dog nutrition/dog food because, with the single exception of my current vet, they all disappointed me.