Change in food = more poop :(

[amz155]

The "Pet Food" thread that started a while ago was kinda the kick in the butt I needed to look into changing Simon's food to a better brand. He is 4 and has always been fed MediCal Preventive kibble.

I was a bit overwhelmed with all the good food options. I chose to start with Acana Grasslands (grain free). Simon liked it, no complaints. Then I decided to try Acana Lamb & Apple (not grain free) which was a bit lower in fat. He's been on this food for about a month. I've noticed that he seems to poop more ever since switching him to better food-usually three times a day now (used to be 1-2 times/day). I thought that switching him to a better food would make him poop LESS.

Also, lately I've started noticing that his stools are a bit slimy/mucousy. It doesn't happen all the time, but often enough to make me wonder if this is the right food for him. The stool is not soft, just the out outside is slick.

Any advice?

I'm definately willing to try another food but with so many choices I don't know what to try next. I've read so many different things: high protein foods not being good for small breeds.....high fat food not good for Schnauzers....grain free foods being too rich....:confused:

Its also been suggested that the mucousy stool may be a sign that my dog may have a parasite or colitis :confused: If no one would have suggested this I would have not thought it at all and just thought the slimy poops were due to a change in food.

My original short list for foods included Orijen, Acana and Wellness CORE. Other options were Fromm, Taste of the Wild and Blue Buffalo.

[goofball]

Get a stool sample checked out.

If that comes back as clean, then you need to change your food for him. While it's nice to change food to something that's better overall, it's not if it's not better for him.

Believe me, having a dog with a sensitive stomach is no fun. I went through about 5 different brands and types, and multiple visits to the vet to find out what was going on. Food that I had fed my previous dog was no good for this dog. Not even close. Once I did find something that worked for both of us, it doesn't get switched.

[amz155]

Get a stool sample checked out.

If that comes back as clean, then you need to change your food for him. While it's nice to change food to something that's better overall, it's not if it's not better for him.

Believe me, having a dog with a sensitive stomach is no fun. I went through about 5 different brands and types, and multiple visits to the vet to find out what was going on. Food that I had fed my previous dog was no good for this dog. Not even close. Once I did find something that worked for both of us, it doesn't get switched.

Thanks. How did you know for sure the food was right for him? The food he was previously on had no ill side effects. It was my decision to mess with a good thing because I read that the food I had him on wasn't the greatest in the long run.

[bionicbadger]

I've noticed that he seems to poop more ever since switching him to better food-usually three times a day now (used to be 1-2 times/day).


Why did you change from 1-2 times to 2-3 times/day? Have you tried going back to 1-2 times?

Also why is that not consistant? I feed my dog 2x a day, every day. Never 1 time, never 3 times. My brother feeds his dogs once a day. Whatever you pick, just be consistant.

Also, when introducing new food, make sure that you mix the kibble with the existing food. Don't just switch over cold turkey.

[rockthecasbah]

Why did you change from 1-2 times to 2-3 times/day? Have you tried going back to 1-2 times?

Also why is that not consistant? I feed my dog 2x a day, every day. Never 1 time, never 3 times. My brother feeds his dogs once a day. Whatever you pick, just be consistant.

Also, when introducing new food, make sure that you mix the kibble with the existing food. Don't just switch over cold turkey.

I think the OP meant the poop has gone to 2-3 times a day, not feeding him as such.

[amz155]

Why did you change from 1-2 times to 2-3 times/day? Have you tried going back to 1-2 times?

Also why is that not consistant? I feed my dog 2x a day, every day. Never 1 time, never 3 times. My brother feeds his dogs once a day. Whatever you pick, just be consistant.

Also, when introducing new food, make sure that you mix the kibble with the existing food. Don't just switch over cold turkey.

I have always fed the dog once in the AM and once in the PM.

I meant that now on the new food he poops usually 3 times a day, where on the old food he'd go 1-2 times max. And now each time he poops, he quantity is greater. Along with the increased frequency, that = a LOT more poop>:(

[Lucky Ducky]

Maybe you are too poop focused.

If the dog is healthy and vigorous, no signs of illness, he's okay.

A bit of 'slime' is okay, the bowel lining is slimy for things to move along.

Don't keep changing the food, that will cause problems.

Seems like you are very undecided on what to feed him based on what others post.

You decide, then let him eat one food a couple of times a day.

If you keep switching, it could create a problem.

I think that foods with grain make a bulkier (not more) stool.

All living creatures poop so I don't understand the bit about making 'less poop'.

[jchin]

I don't think you've given it enough time to really tell. Right now, he's still adjusting to the new food. How long has it been since you switched the food? I would at least give a month before deciding on anything. Did you do a gradual switch?

When I switched my dog from Iams to Orijen, it took about a month before things got settled down.

Also, is he pooping more in volume? If he is, it could also be a sign of overfeeding. When you switch to a higher quality brand like Acana, you need to feed less of it than a lower quality food since it has more calories. I find msyelf to always feed on the lower side of the recommended feeding guide on the bag.

I wouldn't be too concerned right now because his poop problem is not full-blown diarrhea. There are things you can do to help firm his poop up during the transition period, but I wouldn't worry too much about it. If he's not itchy, throwing up, or having diarrhea, I would just hold off and see how it goes. Switching right now might be more harm.

I get how you feel, I'm constantly looking at my dog's poop.

As to the bit about making less poop, the theory is that for a higher quality food, because there's less fillers in the food, the dog should absorb more if it, thus generating less waste.

[amz155]

Maybe you are too poop focused.

The dog's stool is a sign of many things. I'm not worried that I'm being over focused on his poop.

If the dog is healthy and vigorous, no signs of illness, he's okay.

Well, I can tell he doesn't LOVE the food and mucousy poop CAN be a sign of illness, parasite or colitis for example.

A bit of 'slime' is okay, the bowel lining is slimy for things to move along.

But I *think* the mucous could mean that the food is oging through his sytem way too fast.

Don't keep changing the food, that will cause problems.

I agree, I don't want to flip flop but sometimes its takes a few tries to find a food that is right for a dog.

Seems like you are very undecided on what to feed him based on what others post.

I'm undecided based on his reaction to this food and there being many good foods out there, but not all good foods being right for my dog.

You decide, then let him eat one food a couple of times a day.

If you keep switching, it could create a problem.

I think that foods with grain make a bulkier (not more) stool.

All living creatures poop so I don't understand the bit about making 'less poop'.

From what I've read over and over, better food often results in less poop.



I don't think you've given it enough time to really tell. Right now, he's still adjusting to the new food. How long has it been since you switched the food? I would at least give a month before deciding on anything. Did you do a gradual switch?

He has been on the new food for a month now. Did the gradula switch, over about two weeks or so.

When I switched my dog from Iams to Orijen, it took about a month before things got settled down.

Also, is he pooping more in volume? If he is, it could also be a sign of overfeeding. When you switch to a higher quality brand like Acana, you need to feed less of it than a lower quality food since it has more calories. I find msyelf to always feed on the lower side of the recommended feeding guide on the bag.

Yes he is pooping more in volume. Sometimes now one BM will be the same in volume as two of his old BMs when he was on the poorer quality food. I do feed on the lower end of the recommended fedding guide and feed the amount they recommend for lesser active dogs.

I wouldn't be too concerned right now because his poop problem is not full-blown diarrhea. There are things you can do to help firm his poop up during the transition period, but I wouldn't worry too much about it. If he's not itchy, throwing up, or having diarrhea, I would just hold off and see how it goes. Switching right now might be more harm.

Since I just recently opened a 15lb bag of the Lamb & Apple and the bag got thrown out, I'm kinda stuck with this food for a bit anyway.

I get how you feel, I'm constantly looking at my dog's poop. Ya gotta, lol.

As to the bit about making less poop, the theory is that for a higher quality food, because there's less fillers in the food, the dog should absorb more if it, thus generating less waste.

I think I'll have his stool tested and if its negative I'll keep him on the food an keep a close eye.

[jchin]

Sounds like you have a plan. Food and dogs are tricky. I'm very lucky in that Orijen works very well for my dog, and it was my first switch. You're right, not every food works for every dog. Sometimes it takes a few try before you find the right one. My only caution is to give it enough time before you're sure.

I have heard that it can take some time before the dogs pass all the old food out of their system. Is he having at least one less slimey poop a day?

Don't worry about him not loving it. If it's the right food for the dog (ie. if he's healthy on it), you shouldn't cater to his taste. Some dogs are just picky, haha.

Let's just say watching poop pays off. Last year, I saw blood in my dog's poop. Took her to the vet right away and turns out she had a colon infection. If I didn't catch it so early it could have gotten way worse. It scared me so badly that now I watch it like a hawk.

[amz155]

Let's just say watching poop pays off. Last year, I saw blood in my dog's poop. Took her to the vet right away and turns out she had a colon infection. If I didn't catch it so early it could have gotten way worse. It scared me so badly that now I watch it like a hawk.

Exactly. This is how I caught roundworm in my dog when he was a puppy.

[setell]

ahahaha I thought I was the crazy one checking out my baby's poo to see if anything goes out of the ordinary. I find that my doggy diary is really helpful in figuring out exactly when things go wrong. My doggy diary usually has info like how much my dog poo (how many stools), what time he did it (I know exactly how many hours after eating he needs to go poo now!!), what day he did it, outside/inside, texture, colour. If it's not the normal excretions then I can tell the vet exactly when it started. But I'm also a weirdo too as I write down everything he does during the day from how many times he pee/poo, what he eats, how much he eats, what dogs he saw, when he had a bath, brushed teeth etc.

[jackie999]

Mucousy poop is nothing to worry about. Could be the weather, could be pup is just getting adjusted to a different food. Happens with mine on and off. For what it's worth, I try and keep my minis fat content under 12% ..and it's not easy. My senior orijen is a little high right now..but it's summer and I'm thinking they'll work it off. But some mini breeders disagree...the threat of pancreatitis is too great in a mini to take the chance. I will be switching back to solid gold soon and expect to see the mucous stools again for a month or so. When I switched too fast a year or so ago (eagle pack to solidgold) I had the mucous with blood in the poop...my vet wasn't too concerned..blood in poop isn't as important with dogs as it in with people. Just because your dog seems fine on the existing food is no reason to leave them on it. One of my first minis was on that 'vet' medi-cal preventative and had years of colitis. I lost her at 8 years to intestinal cancer. I won't feed that vet food again.
That's just my opinion for what it's worth...

[amz155]

Mucousy poop is nothing to worry about. Could be the weather, could be pup is just getting adjusted to a different food. Happens with mine on and off. For what it's worth, I try and keep my minis fat content under 12% ..and it's not easy. My senior orijen is a little high right now..but it's summer and I'm thinking they'll work it off. But some mini breeders disagree...the threat of pancreatitis is too great in a mini to take the chance. I will be switching back to solid gold soon and expect to see the mucous stools again for a month or so. When I switched too fast a year or so ago (eagle pack to solidgold) I had the mucous with blood in the poop...my vet wasn't too concerned..blood in poop isn't as important with dogs as it in with people. Just because your dog seems fine on the existing food is no reason to leave them on it. One of my first minis was on that 'vet' medi-cal preventative and had years of colitis. I lost her at 8 years to intestinal cancer. I won't feed that vet food again.
That's just my opinion for what it's worth...

Thanks for the advice. Its always nice to get input from another Mini Schnauzer owner:D