Bouts of Diarrhea

[Sophiesmom]

My lab is 8 years old and for the last couple months her stools will be solid and then she’ll go a day or two with on and off diarrhea. Her appetite and energy is good. I’ve had her on Natures Logic dry and canned for two years now. I took a stool sample to the vet and no parasites and her health is excellent. I wonder if I need to gradually switch her food to ones for sensitive stomachs? If so, what’s a good brand? Please don’t recommend Hills or Royal Canin! She was on that when she was two for bladder stones and she constantly threw it up!

[Black Labbies]

Hi, welcome to the board.
Yes, I would switch her to a sensitive and Limited Ingredient Diet. Natural Balance makes some of these. You could also look at simple ingredient freeze dried diets. Also, look into giving Sophie a good probiotic daily with her meals - to balance the good flora in her stomach and intestines.

Please don’t recommend Hills or Royal Canin

I agree, although these kibble are "vet approved", not ALL vets approve of them, as they have bad ingredients in them.
All the best with Sophie!

[smartrock]

Hi and welcome!

I guess from your post she was on her current food for a year or so without any GI issues? And with nothing changing in terms of her food, she has started having intermittent diarrhea? Is there any chance she might have eaten anything she shouldn't out in the yard? Chewed on sticks or found a dead critter that she gobbled down, a passing neighbor giving her treats that don't agree with her or any of that other typically labby stuff that might have caused the diarrhea? If she did well on the Nature's Logic for a long time before starting to have some intermittent diarrhea, I'd be looking for some other cause than the food, but I guess food sensitivities can develop over time.

Mine eat ProPlan Sensitive Skin and Stomach, the salmon variety, but I also rotate in some Royal Canin Lab formula just because I like to know there's more than one brand they can switch to immediately if a problem arises with one manufacturer. I also do not feed grain-free food. There's also a Lamb and Oatmeal formula of the ProPlan sensitive skin and stomach line.

Hope you figure it out!

[SunDance]

If the diarrhea is on and off, I'd be suspecting something Sophie's getting into, too. Unless you sometimes go heavy on the canned, in which case it might just be too much of that (presumably) richer formula. Or if you mistakenly give her more food for the day.

Good luck and welcome to the board!

[SamsonsMom]

Hi, welcome to the board.
Yes, I would switch her to a sensitive and Limited Ingredient Diet. Natural Balance makes some of these. You could also look at simple ingredient freeze dried diets. Also, look into giving Sophie a good probiotic daily with her meals - to balance the good flora in her stomach and intestines.
I agree, although these kibble are "vet approved", not ALL vets approve of them, as they have bad ingredients in them.
All the best with Sophie!

My boys were on Natural Balance Limited lamb --- I think Natural Balance had production issues earlier this year because they ran out! I was not at all happy. I couldn't find it anywhere. Chewy wasn't even able to give an estimate on when it would be back. I was livid because I didn't have a supply to mix in when I had to get new food. I will never go back to that brand. I learned my lesson so as Covid is spiking significantly here in Ohio, I am 2 bags ahead of all my foods and supplies.

[lovemylabby]

There is a prescription food that does wonders for diarrhea and helps to get your dog back on track. It is called Hill's Prescription Diet Digestive Care with turkey. It is a canned food that you can only purchase from your Vet. It really works! I would use this for about 5-7 days and then slowly transition back to regular food. I know you mentioned no Hill's, but this is the canned variety. I used it many times with excellent results.

[barry581]

With this being an intermittent issue, I'd try a probiotic before I started switching foods. Switching foods can cause the problems you're trying to fix. I've used Purina Fortiflora in the past and it's worked well.

[Berna]

They checked for parasites, but did they check for bacteria in the stool? Also, did they check for giardia since it's not included in the regular tests?

[Sophiesmom]

I will ask my vet if they checked for bacteria and Guardia. Would giving plain yogurt to her work for a probiotic? She has some silent but deadly farts that will clear a room! Lol

[SunDance]

I always just used plain nonfat yogurt with my pups who could tolerate dairy. I found, though, that a lactose intolerance really DOES make a difference for yogurt tolerance (not what is normally thought). If she's lactose intolerant, the yogurt will just add to the deadly part of your experience.