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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    It's a poopy situation

    So we have Bear on the food his breeder was using. He loves his food and eats it well. He's gaining weight and his puppy coat looks ok. His stool test was negative and he was given Heartgard as a dewormer at the beginning of the month. His poop is formed and he doesn't have any trouble going. A lot. Like, 10-12 times a day or more. I'm worried that he's not getting enough nutrition. Could he be holding it and letting it go in small increments? Our breeder said that his weight is on point but her girls, on the same food, poop 3-4 times daily. She suggested waiting on it for now since everything but the quantity is good. She did mention that he might need a different food.

    I'm so sick of poop.

    Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do?


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  2. #2
    Best Friend Retriever
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    No experience, so not much help.
    Rocco always gone once or twice a day, usually just once. With a clean bill from your vet I would seriously consider changing food.

  3. #3
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
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    Do you have him on a good probiotic/ digestive enzyme? Sounds to me like you need to slow that food passage down. How much are you feeding total per day and in what increments? How old is he now?
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  4. #4
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by windycanyon View Post
    Do you have him on a good probiotic/ digestive enzyme? Sounds to me like you need to slow that food passage down. How much are you feeding total per day and in what increments? How old is he now?
    I do not have him on probiotics or enzymes but could easily add them. Maverick gets both. Per our breeder he is getting 3 1/3 cups daily at 12 hour intervals. It's the same feeding times that she had them on. He is still 10 weeks.


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  5. #5
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bernie View Post
    No experience, so not much help.
    Rocco always gone once or twice a day, usually just once. With a clean bill from your vet I would seriously consider changing food.
    DH and I were discussing changing the food. It just doesn't seem like he's using it properly. I do hesitate to start on that roller coaster though.......But we'll definitely change if our breeder and vet both think it's necessary.


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  6. #6
    Best Friend Retriever
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    Quote Originally Posted by Meeps83 View Post
    I do not have him on probiotics or enzymes but could easily add them. Maverick gets both. Per our breeder he is getting 3 1/3 cups daily at 12 hour intervals. It's the same feeding times that she had them on. He is still 10 weeks.
    What probiotic/ digestive enzyme do you use? Know nothing about them and may discuss with it the vet someday.
    Don't blame you with the food roller coaster, it can get a little crazy.
    3+ cups a day for a 10 week old sounds heavy, but I wouldn't argue with anyone, I may be spoiled cause Rocco has never been a big time eater.

  7. #7
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    The amount you are feeding sound spot on for his age, and he is a growing boy that will eat much much more per day before his growth slows. So, I don't feel it is the amount of food, or the food itself even. They go through so much stress when they go to their new homes, sometimes it is a simple as a different water source that has enough/different microorganisms in it that it causes mild symptoms like this. Could be a low grade coccdia or giardia (which is notorious for Not showing up in fecal samples, it has to be sent out for an Eliza assay to find the antigens in the stool), that is causing frequency but not more severe symptoms.

    I started my last litter on Probios at weaning and still have my current 5 month olds on it daily. It's a powder and not very expensive, Amazon has it. This has produced the best stools my litters have ever had, and I didn't think anything was wrong with them before. These guys have been going 3-4 times a day since 8 weeks, firm perfect stools, and now 2 times a day, and they are eating 5+ cups a day plus lots or training treats right now.

    Edited to add, the probiotics are so good and the digestive system so healthy they can and do fight off coccdia and giardia more effectively on their own.*

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  9. #8
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
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    Agree w/ Shelley-- it could just be the change in routine, water source (tap water vs well water is hugely different) etc. Sometimes it's just a bacterial overload from the soil etc they come in contact with too. I'd not change food if that has worked for the breeder.

    I have been using BacPak plus by N-zymes for YEARS here (adult dose is only 1/8 teas / day). I start my babies on Benebac or Doc Roys (comes in a gel form) right at birth and switch over to the Bacpak once pups are eating gruel. All of my adults get them daily for life.
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  11. #9
    Senior Dog dxboon's Avatar
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    The first few weeks on their immature systems can be tough, which is why a lot of folks rush to change food (often unnecessarily), but from how you describe what's happening with Bear, I don't think it's a food issue. Also, based on Bear's lines, it sounds like you are doing a good job with feeding him the proper amount to keep him bloomy and allow him to grow to the full potential of his pedigree. Changes in water sources are a huge culprit in digestive troubles for small puppies (and sometimes adult dogs too -- which is why you'll see a lot of people bring in water from home if they travel for shows instead of using local water at the hotel, show site). I think adding a good probiotic will help you.

    My latest puppy went through similar issues when he first came home this summer (also a clear fecal from vet), but adding probiotics (at home I have Nature's Farmacy Complete which was developed by a Newfoundland breeder for her puppy people, and I have packets of Fortiflora) and a splash of raw goat milk yogurt (I use Steve's Real Food brand which contains a little coconut flour and chia seed for anti-fungal and omega-3s respectively, amongst other benefits) cleared any issues up very quickly. My pup turned 5-months old today actually, and we've had no problems (knock wood). He looks really promising for his age, and all systems work as they should.

    Add some probiotics and give his little system some time to strengthen. Also, don't be afraid to feed your boy! A lot of people will advise you to cut back on his food when they hear stuff like this. That's not necessarily the culprit. Puppies from many lines need a goodly amount of calories to blossom into looking like their dads and grandpas. I'm sure your breeder is giving you lots of great advice on stuff like this. Hang in there!

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  13. #10
    Senior Dog ZoeysMommy's Avatar
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    I have had a lot of success with Benebac personally. Just a thought and I don't know if it would make any difference but you mentioned that you are feeding him every 12 hours if I read correctly? Maybe feeding him 3 times a day would make a difference?

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