Gassy Dog- Which Food to Change To??

[Joshie'sMom]

I am thinking about switching from Canidae to Eagle Pack Holistic. I've read some good things about Eagle Pack. Josh has been eating Canidae for a while, but he has such bad gas. It must be the Canidae because we are very careful with him and don't give him people food, etc. We also give him the Nzymes to help his belly, but still horrendous gas, and still has problems with is anal gland. I wonder if the Eagle Pack will alleviate these problems?

It's a shame because when he was a puppy we fed him Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy (per the Vets' recommendation) and he was sooo healthy on that food- no anal gland problems and no farting. But then I found out from this site that Eukanuba isn't a good food for him so we switched. I don't know what to do...

[brunie's mom]

Try the Eagle Pack Holistic...try to pick a protein that is not in the Canidae All-Life -Stages food. Canidae has turkey, chicken, lamb and fish...it could be one of these proteins that is causing the gas.

I believe there is one that is all fish in the Eagle Pack Holistic line...give that one a try and see what happens.

Gina

[Joshie'sMom]

Gina, thanks. Right now he eats the All Life Stages. We know that the canidae lamb & rice alone causes worse gas so the lamb is a no-no, and we've tried the chicken & rice alone, and that didn't cause as much gas but made his anal gland even worse because his poo wasn't firm at all. It seems that he either has really bad gas and only some anal gland problems; or hardly any gas with major anal gland problems. It all depends on the food. He hasn't been "normal" as far as the gas/anal glands since we took him off the Eukanuba. I don't want to give him a poor quality food though, so I don't know what to do. So frustrating... and I don't want my poor little guy to be sick, ya know? I was just looking at all of the ingredients in the Eagle Pack food, and some of those (carrots, apples, etc) we know from experience will cause gas. So we will have to find something else. Or just stick with the Canidae... because he's healthy. It just stinks, excuse the pun haha, that we can't find something with no side effects. I am not talking about a fart here & there, he farts all day. He doesn't seem to mind, but we do. They are room clearing (& even worse when he was on the lamb & rice alone)... which is fine this time of year when the windows are open, but soon we will have the AC on and have to suffer haha!

[Joshie'sMom]

Just wanted to add...
When he was eating the Canidae Chicken & Rice and had the soft poo & therefore the anal gland problems, we added a small amount of oatmeal to his food and that solved the anal gland problem because it firmed up his poo... BUT it gave him the room-clearing, knock-you-out gas. So we can't win! lol :)

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Joshie'sMom

...Josh has been eating Canidae for a while, but he has such bad gas. It must be the Canidae because we are very careful with him and don't give him people food, etc. We also give him the Nzymes to help his belly, but still horrendous gas, and still has problems with is anal gland...

I'd be changing my dogs' food if any of them had a problem even remotely like you describe. Gas is a often a sign of incomplete digestion--Josh's system is having a hard time with something in Canidae. There are so many good foods readily available that it's a pity to suffer.

It sounds as tho you have a good idea of his list of food no-no's. Have you thought about putting him on a raw diet?? June 26, 2007 I switched our foster and two personal bitches to raw (due to the foster's issues as per my vet), following the raw prey model. I've discussed Sailor's issues when he was on kibble and the extraordinary success he's seen on his raw diet--you could pull these up via a search.

[Joshie'sMom]

Thank you, AngelBunny!

I know, I feel so bad for my little guy. We have tried other foods. We've tried all of the Canidaes, we've also tried Innova, California Natural, and another I can't remember the name of (maybe it was Wellness). All great foods. We allowed enough time with each, but he just has such a sensitive stomach I guess. Our vet just tells us "it's the nature of the breed... Rottweilers are gassy dogs" because I have asked about it of course.
I'm really trying to figure something out. I certainly want him to be healthy and not in any pain (from the gas)... I just hate to keep switching his food, ya know? That isn't good to do either, right? My poor Josh :(
The Vet always tells me what a healthy boy he is though... good weight, etc. No problems at all except the gas. And like I said I have been using the Nzymes which is supposed to help with that. Maybe it would be even worse without them? Ugh. I hate this :(

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Joshie'sMom

...Our vet just tells us "it's the nature of the breed... Rottweilers are gassy dogs"...

This hasn't been my experience. I've had Rotties since 1984 as my only breed of dog. For the past 10 years we've been active in Rottie rescue, fostering one male after another.

Josh's issues--as you well know--stem from the fact he's being fed something that his system can't handle.

I sympathize completely.

Until foster boy Sailor started on his raw diet, I was at my wit's end. He failed to thrive on 3 months of Canidae, then 3 months of CA Nat. He's the first foster we've had who didn't bloom like a rose on a diet of good kibble.

Until Dr. Donna suggested he be fed raw, I was frantic.

The food for Josh is out there. The trick is to find it.

[Joshie'sMom]

I've never done the raw diet & I'm afraid I'd mess it up or not give him enough of what he needs, etc. I'd rather give him a good 'already prepared' food. I just don't know which.

The other thing that I completely forgot about that could be causing the gas/anal gland issues is the Cosequin we give him for his joints. We started that a while ago because he was limping so we took him to the vet, they found nothing... took him back a couple months later & asked them to X-ray & they still found nothing (got a 2nd opinion to be sure). The 2nd Dr said he thinks that Josh had a torn ligament in his front leg that he keeps re-injuring, and to take it easy for a month (no walks even). That was interesting! lol. But it worked, he healed thank goodness. That same Vet also suggested that since Rotties are suseptible to joint damage, we start him on a joint formula. So I did my research & liked the Cosequin DS the best. It has helped him heal quicker if he starts limping again (the problem is we live in a stupid bi-level house and to get outside you have to go downstairs & Josh FLIES down them! We are moving next year though & making sure we buy a regular house lol). Anyway, sorry for the looong story there, but my point is that the Cosequin could maybe be giving him gas, but he needs it for his joints. My poor baby! I try to be the best mommy I can, but what can I do?

[spidey]

I would switch to a grain free food. Grain is a huge culprit in gas, IME.

[Joshie'sMom]

I think Canidae is grain free but I could be wrong, so I am going to check it right now. Thanks!

[Joshie'sMom]

Their site says:
No Corn, Wheat, Soy, Grain Fractions, Fillers or By-Products and Naturally Preserved

Ugh. There's got to be a food out there, or a supplement for my Joshie :(

[brutus'mother]

Originally Posted by Joshie'sMom

I think Canidae is grain free but I could be wrong, so I am going to check it right now. Thanks!

Canidae is a great food but it is NOT grain free.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Joshie'sMom

I've never done the raw diet & I'm afraid I'd mess it up or not give him enough of what he needs, etc. I'd rather give him a good 'already prepared' food. I just don't know which.

One might argue that "already prepared" foods aren't good for Josh! He's been fed a couple of them and has had problems.

Freeding raw is much simplier than I thought it would be. There are plenty of sites on raw feeding. The thing to do is feed as wide a variety of meat and bones, fish, and organs as you can.

[spidey]

You can also feed one of the frozen prepared raw diets if that's of interest to you.

[Joshie'sMom]

Originally Posted by brutus'mother

Canidae is a great food but it is NOT grain free.

Canidae's website says No Grain Fractions... doesn't that mean it's grain free?