need a substitute for Purina EN

[fostermom]

I'm considering fostering an older gal that someone left tied to a vet's door...I normally feed my crew, including my old lab, Eagle Pack or Innova but the clinic this girl is at said she didn't seem to be able to handle "richer" foods (got diarhea) and was doing well on Purina EN...looked it up and really don't want to use this! Does anyone have a dog that needs a bland diet and what are you feeding? Thanks.
Here's the info on Purina EN:
Purina Veterinary Diets EN GastroENteric

The role of dietary management in canine gastrointestinal conditions is to provide a proper balance of total nutrients while meeting the special dietary needs of the patient. Dietary fats from long chain triglycerides (LCT) can be one of the most complex nutrients to digest, and fermentation of undigested fats can contribute to diarrhea. Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) provide a readily digested and utilized energy source. Feeding a properly formulated diet designed to be highly digestible yet restricted in long chain triglycerides may be beneficial in the management of certain gastrointestinal conditions while meeting the nutritional needs of the animal.

Diet Characteristics
Purina Veterinary Diets® EN GastroENteric® brand Canine Formulas provide complete and balanced nutrition for growth of puppies and maintenance of the adult dog and have been formulated to achieve the following characteristics:

Added Zinc
Increased antioxidant vitamins E & C
High digestibility
Low LCT content
Low fiber
Source of MCTs (22-34% of fat)
Source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
Medical Indications
Diets with these nutritional modifications have been recommended for dogs with some forms of the following conditions:

Enteritis, gastritis, and diarrhea
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Lymphangiectasia
Pancreatitis
Hyperlipidemia
Malabsorption and maldigestion
Hepatic disease not associated with encephalopathy
Medical Contraindications

None

Ingredients (EN Dry Dog Food)
Brewers rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, meat and bone meal, coconut oil, animal digest, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, soybean oil, fish oil, salt, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid (source of Vitamin C), zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, manganese sulfate, vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, folic acid, vitamin B3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.

[KatarinasMom]

Maybe California Natural? I've seen it being suggested for pets with sensitive tummies, so maybe it would be worth a try.

[bliss7373]

California Natural would be my choice. Maybe one of the Natural Balance allergy formulas if that doesn't work out.

[fostermom]

Thanks...California Natural is the one I was thinking too but haven't fed it before.

[Ayoka]

I would try the cal natural and if that fails, I'd consider home cooking for this gal.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Ayoka

...I'd consider home cooking for this gal.

I'd go one step farther.

I'd feed her raw.

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by AngelBunny

I'd go one step farther.

I'd feed her raw.

I understand that dogs with more sensitive tummies have an easier time with cooked than raw. Either would be better than purina!!!

[sweetlee]

I would also try CA Natural.
Also, probiotics may help her tummy.
I use dogzymes powder from naturesfarmacy, one two pound tub lasts a VERY long time, I just started my second one in a year and a half.
Some people have ok luck with the acidophillis caps from Walmart, but I have found that the dogzymes are much better.
I use the CA Natural lamb and rice and have good luck with it.
After reading the ingredients on the EN I wouldn't feed that to well, my dog. Pun intended.
YUCK!!!!!
I would still be careful if you bring her home to try and switch slowly and mixing the foods, this girl isn't used to much meat protein at all if she has been eating that crap.


Sharon

[fostermom]

I've never fed raw ...I have always given kibble and added a protein to it (chicken, cottage cheese, etc)...am very uncomfortable knowing what would be balanced and complete. I was just at the store looking at California Natural...there's really not much in it! Chicken and rice and I think flaxseed...that's pretty much the only ingredients! That got me nervous too. Not sure how this can be complete either. For those who've used this, how have your dogs done on it?
Some of my other senior fosters I've fed satin meatballs (ground beef, oatmeal, total cereal, eggs, molasses, etc) but they seem pretty emphatic that she didn't do well on "richer" foods and had diarrhea.

[shybird]

California Natural is great for a bland diet. I had Schatz on it for over a year after she was sick. She had bad diarrhea and did the cooked chicken and rice, would get normal so I try her back on Innova and she got diarrhea all over again. Dr kept me cooking for her for 2 months and them said to try dog food again. I went right to CN chic and rice, adding it 1/4 cup at a time till she was just eating that. She did well on it. Still shiny. I put the rest of them on it and everyone still looked good. After a year she was able to eat the Innova again.

[brunie's mom]

California Natural is a great food. It is a complete food....and high in calories. The reason it is a good food is because it is so simple...only the couple ingredients. I have one customer, that had a dog with a very sensitive stomach...constant diarrhea . The vet put him on canned I/D diet...this was a big dog, and costing them about $5. per day to feed...not to mention lugging cases of cans in and out of the car, washing the cans for recycle,etc. I had him boarding with me here for 3 months and with the owner's permission put him on California Natural kibble (Chicken & Rice as well as the Herring& Sweet Potato)...he did wonderful. He's been eating the California Natural for 3-4 years now....and the owner's are always so greatful that I got him off the yucky canned vet food. His coat also improved, and he sheds way less...and his stomach is always perfect for me.

He's a big dog, and only eats 2 cups per day (weighs about 90 lbs)...so feed less.

Gina

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Ayoka

I understand that dogs with more sensitive tummies have an easier time with cooked than raw....

The OP noted her dog didn't seem to be able to handle "richer" foods (got diarhea)...

This was one of the issues our foster, Sailor, had on 3 months of Canidae, followed by 3 months of CA Nat.

I saw him poop at least 6 times/day. Some BMs were normal, then the next one--sometimes minutes after the first--would be soft. Then the next BM would be a combo of normal, pudding in consistence, followed by the squirts.

This roller coaster went on for 6 months before I put Sailor on raw in June 2007. His digestive problems disappeared and haven't returned.

My vet thinks he is grain intolerant.

Perhaps the OP's dog is similarly unable to handle grain and cooking the dog's food will have nothing at all to do with the dog's underlying condition.

Originally Posted by Ayoka

I...Either would be better than purina!!!

I'm with you on this!

[sweetlee]

I doubt it's a grain intolerance looking at the EN ingredients. Brewer's rice and corn is pretty starchy stuff.
I like the California Natural because it does have few ingredients, the main one being lamb meal, or chicken meal.
My boy has a super sensitive tummy and he is doing very well on it.
He weighs 95 lbs and I feed him 3 1/2 cups daily divided into two feedings.
Good luck, I know that tummy problems can be a nightmare until you figure out what will settle well with your new foster.

Sharon

[Ayoka]

Bear does't have any real gastro issues and I have fed California natural Lamb AND chicken varieties with no problems at all. Bear is fairly active and I didn't notice and drop in weight or other differences that you would tend to see in a dog that really needs the calories/nutrients. The only reason we've gone grainfree is that with the amount I have to feed him, EVO or Orijen work out better price wise.

[fostermom]

They started her on Science Diet AD and said that gave her diarrhea... and that she was doing fine on Purina EN so I'm thinking it's not grain intolerance since I had to look several ingredients down before I found anything other than grain. I will get the California Natural...is one better (blander) than another ie, lamb vs chicken vs herring? Would it be best to start her off on the chicken since I'm thinking that's the protein she's probably acclimated to?
I just got a call from them...I had asked that they do a chemistry panel on her...they now think she has a kidney infection and ear mites...her ALT is elevated...but otherwise they were happy with her blood panel. I'm really thinking she might be younger than they originally thought...her teeth actually look good...but clearly deaf and arthritic (and very, very skinny!). I'll be picking her up Friday.