Sensitive Doodle Tummy
Sensitive tummies are a frequent topic of discussion and questions. For years, I’ve directed families to treat conditions like a food allergy or too much variety. However, after ready a recent study, I’ve concluded that we may need to explore other causes. The advice was not to jump to the allergy conclusion. Instead, look to a component of the disagreeable diet; too much fat, the amount or poor quality fiber, are two examples that can lead to gastrointestinal upset.
The first step is to have the vet run a stool check. Once you know your Dood is free from parasites, let the journaling begin. First, don’t alter what you’re feeding and record EVERYTHING your dog eats for two weeks. . That means every nibble of cheese, a lick of peanut butter, food your kiddos drop on the floor. Also, record the stool consistency every day. You’re accumulating information for the baseline to compare in the next phase.
Step two, eliminate EVERYTHING except the kibble that you’ve been feeding. Now is not the time to switch foods, even the flavor. All family members need to be on board – sneaking a treat won’t help the dog. If you have young kiddos, have the dog in another room during meal times to avoid floor cleaning. Finally, record stool consistency, even if you don’t notice a change. If your dog typically has one sloppy stool a week, stay in this phase for two weeks. If, during this two-week test, your dog doesn’t have any signs of an upset tummy, begin adding the treats back one at a time and watch to see which one causes an upset. If your dog has sloppy stools daily and you don’t see any improvement after one week, it’s time to look for new food.
When searching for new food, rather than a prescription diet, try minimal ingredient food. When shopping, look at the labels and search for one that is lower in fat and has a good quality fiber. We recently switched our kennel dogs to Nature’s Domain from Costco. Our house dogs have been eating Taste of the Wild for 11 years. Make a slow transition over a week and then repeat step two, feeding only the dry food and recording stools. When you see improvement, don’t add anything new for at least two weeks. Then slowly add one treat at a time and watch for any changes in the stool.
You can add water to the dry food for treats during the restricted diet phase and allow it to absorb. Then drop dollops on a cookie sheet and bake them to form a cookie. Be strong, stick to the plan.
There are some definite signs of a food allergy, and they’re easy to spot. For example, you will notice constant paw licking and chewing, repetitive yeast ear infections, and redness around the anus. In addition, skin issues, such as hot spots, are symptomatic of a contact allergy.