I had Dom off of raw for a couple months for whatever reason. Prior to that, he was eating raw for almost a year with no problems.

Switching him BACK to raw has been a problem so far. He was eating kibble + THK as a gravy + salmon oil + probios with solid stool. After his last meal of kibble, I fasted him for 24 hours and then introduced chicken backs with no skin or fat and a dollop of THK + probios. It averaged out to a bit under his daily requirement weight-wise but I figured less food would be easier on his system.

He's had three episodes of diarrhea so bad he was running frantically to the door whining because he could barely hold it. Seriously thin pudding poop was the result.

I'm afraid to add anything because I don't want to overload his system with ingredients he isn't used to. This dog had a sensitive gut as a pup. I gave him some Immodium just to help him out.

Should I just stick to my plan, reduce portions, and give it a day? Or should I throw in some rice or potato flakes to bind him up? I'm thinking about dumping everything but the chicken backs and probios and trying to add ONE binding ingredient... Then see where it leaves us.


What would you do?

 Quote: Jessica Pedicord

It averaged out to a bit under his daily requirement weight-wise but I figured less food would be easier on his system.

Clear this up for me.

Are you feeding one meal a day?

If so, I would go to 2 meals a day.

I would also cut the amount of food at first to make really small meals. If he acts hungry, you might try splitting the daily amount into 3 meals for the first couple days to a week.

Twice a day. Only a couple backs at a time plus less than a cup of THK. Three meals would be really tough to do with my schedule

It would be expensive, but I would start with THK alone because he's been eating it. Then slowly add the other raw later.

 Quote: Jessica Pedicord

Twice a day. Only a couple backs at a time plus less than a cup of THK. Three meals would be really tough to do with my schedule

That's fine. 3 isn't necessary, just a suggestion.:smile:

Is he currently having diarrhea? Get the diarrhea under control first. Soothing diet to bind things back up. Or if you think going back to what you were feeding would cure the current diarrhea, do that. Whatever it takes to get his stomach calmed down and under control.

Then I would probably cut each meal in half for a day or 2 and see what that does. And continue with removing the skin and fat from the backs at first, too.

That meal cut seems drastic, but I don't see any other obvious triggers from your post.

Connie, what say you?

His morning poop wasn't what I'd like to see but it wasn't as horrific as what he was having last night. I could clearly see THK in it. Disgusting, I know.... But I am thinking I may back things up even more and cut out EVERYTHING except chicken backs (skin and fat removed). That way I've only got one ingredient to keep track of. If the chicken is the culprit, then I'm up a creek.

"introduced chicken backs with no skin or fat and a dollop of THK + probios. It averaged out to a bit under his daily requirement weight-wise but I figured less food would be easier on his system."


But in what amounts to a brand-new diet, we don't generally start right in with his required amount (or even "a bit under"). That is, the first few new meals are small, skinned, one ingredient, while watching poop. I'd put my money on too much too fast.

Everything Michael said is right on. What was the last poop like? If the most recent poop (or the first one today) is the described diarrhea, I too would go straight to a 12-hour fast and then an anti-diarrheal diet, and stick to it until there were 100% logs, then introduce the skinned backs in very small (half size) meals.

The antidiarrheal diet's base is very very overcooked soupy white rice (in case you want a shopping list). A little plain canned pumpkin is good to get too. You probably have poultry that some white meat can be taken from to make the rice palatable if necessary or bait drinking water.

 Quote: Michael_Wise

 Quote: Jessica Pedicord

Twice a day. Only a couple backs at a time plus less than a cup of THK. Three meals would be really tough to do with my schedule

That's fine. 3 isn't necessary, just a suggestion.:smile:

Is he currently having diarrhea? Get the diarrhea under control first. Soothing diet to bind things back up. Or if you think going back to what you were feeding would cure the current diarrhea, do that. Whatever it takes to get his stomach calmed down and under control.

Then I would probably cut each meal in half for a day or 2 and see what that does. And continue with removing the skin and fat from the backs at first, too.

That meal cut seems drastic, but I don't see any other obvious triggers from your post.

Connie, what say you?

I say ditto.

 Quote: steve strom

It would be expensive, but I would start with THK alone because he's been eating it. Then slowly add the other raw later.

I would have too, but now it sounds like the kind of squirts that needs intervention.

I second the canned pumpkin if you can get some.