I have an old sick dog. Doc says she has issues with her bowel control. Me and my old vet believe she may have different internal issues.
Anyways, i'm feeding taste of the wild right now.
Shes a big girl, 75 pounds, so i buy big bags. They last about a month.

Anyways, my old vet says 31 protein may be too high for her if shes having these internal issues..
Hes a raw feeder, and recommends a high pro diet to normally healthy dogs.. So i know hes not just being anti high protein or anti raw.

Anyways, been thinking about changing foods...

Any advice?
Shes not sensitive (that i know right now)to anything.
And shes tried many different foods.

What food u recommend?

I have been thinking hard about trying out acana, surprisingly, its one of he very little foods we HAVENT tried yet!

Also, been thinking bout going back to The Honest Kitchen for another try. (its been years sense shes been on it)
Though it might add up to a small fortune for me.

And also, i cannot feed raw.
Thanks for the help in advance!

I consider The Honest Kitchen to be an excellent food.


What's going on? Is it diarrhea? Or inability to control bowels regardless?

Whatever you decide on, Brianah, I'd urge that you start with small snack-size meals, and not one or two large meals per day, at least during the transition.


But please post back and tell us if it's mainly diarrhea.

You'll get suggestions, and support. Fortunately, there are many senior- and food-experienced folks here. Even info on balanced home-cooked diets .... or maybe on THK add-ins that agree with her.

My ancient Cairn Terrier has been doing great on raw for the last 7 or 8 years. She is now 16 yo and heading steadily to 17 with gusto. If I had to switch her off of raw, I'd opt for a home cooked diet.

IMHO, kibble (of any kind) are very difficult to digest for some dogs. Are these problem chronic or a recent development?

Along with THK, there are quite a few other dehydrated raw foods that might be appropriate. I'm also a huge proponent of some good supplements - B-Natural's Digestion Blend is a very good one.

 Quote: Brianah Maloney

I have been thinking hard about trying out acana, surprisingly, its one of he very little foods we HAVENT tried yet!

If you are thinking of Acana, You would need to stick to their single ingredient, Lamb & Apple, or Duck & Pear, for the lower 25% protein (both contain oats). The classic & regional lines have 31+ in protein.

What issues is she having?

Moved here from http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=33779&page=1#384924

 Quote: Brianah Maloney

.... Hey guys, its actually 12% when given to the dog.
Force that is.
http://cdn.thehonestkitchen.com/media/wysiwyg/content/nutrient-profiles/FORCE-nutrient-profile.pdf

I knew i got 12% from somewhere..
So, it is low when hydrated and served to the dog.

Let me check the others to see protein content when given to the dog (hydrated)

How do your dogs do on JUST the honest kitchen?

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I don't know if anyone here feeds THK without add-ins. (I'm not sure, but I don't recall anyone saying they do.)

With active dogs (and certainly working dogs), I think that most people serve THK with add-ins, generally meat (raw or not), to the tune of about a half-cup of add-ins to each cup of dry (unrehydrated) THK.

But it's complete and balanced without (except, of course, Preference, made for use with a specific meat for, say, an allergic dog).

I think even THK says that they recommend the add-ins for active dogs.

I'm thinking that I'd still include maybe half of the usual add-ins, and I would use a very efficient protein for this girl (like poultry breast).

Can we read more about whether the problem is mainly diarrhea?

Thanks for the quick replies!

Luckily no diarrhea for us!
The poor girl has been having issues with the "front end".
Sorry to confuse you with the misleading original post! I meant to say urinary control in the original post.
I also meant to say shes on a 32% protein food at the moment.
And its Taste Of the Wild. I have many reasons why i don't feel so confident feeding TOTW.. But i wont get into it right now.

She normally is a trooper with switching foods. I'm not too afraid to go back to something i know she did okay with in her past.

16!? Older than my little sister! Obviously you have been doing something right!

Well, i can't afford many of the dehydrated foods sadly.
I have bought addiction as a "treat" for her.
I have heard about sojos, but not in love with ingredients for the price.

I have thought about Grandma Lucy's's dehydrated, and i could afford it! But i'm not so sure about the amount garlic in it. (She had a 1200 vet bill, i believe the garlic in nupro caused.) I would give it a try as a treat hare and there, if i could get a free sample or something. And if she did do well, i would give it a full on trial.
Anyways, i'm ranting.

I would like to keep away from many grains. She tends to have less (almost none) seizures now that shes clean of them. Coincidence or not?
Been looking at Acana Grassland 31% protein.

I know i did say i wanted a lower protein, as my old vet told me.. But I feel like i'm willing to give this a try, as i feel more comfortable with the company. (vs Diamond pet food's TOTW)

Sorry, i know i'm confusing.. I'm just worried about my dog, and confused.

Thanks for the help, again.

We get it about being concerned and confused.


Then the issue that's triggering the food change is vomiting?

And are you hoping to find the best diet for bladder-sphincter incontinence, too, with the vomiting taking immediate precedence?



And no bowel control problems, right?


Is there actual food in the vomit (not just yellow froth)?


How long has this been happening? How often?


How many meals a day are you feeding?

No vomiting.

Shes a special case.. I.. would have to type down a few pages..
But to summon things up.
Shes been on a cheap kibble food. Had many health issues.

Along came urinary issues to top it.
I changed many many vets. No help.

Finally found a "good" vet, he agreed to change foods pronto, that exact day. and gave me pills and papers to go along.
All i could afford that day was TOTW (after paying vet bill keep in mind. I went directly to the store.)

Weeks later, she seems to do a little better here and there, then maybe worse some days, then better.
Along came discharge to join in with her other urinary issues.

Sadly, when i called to make vet appoit. i learned my vet moved cross state....
So, i picked any vet who could see her.
This new vet, she completely believes my dog was just having incontinence issues, and discharge from something related to that?
I'm currently looking to go to a new vet as soon as i can.

Its just been a LONG road with this poor adopted dog.

But... i myself feel like maybe if i DID change foods, she may feel better, as the discharge came during the change of food. AND to top it off i have heard enough about TOTW and diamonds quality of ingredients and recalls and more.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Moved here from http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=33779&page=1#384924

 Quote: Brianah Maloney

.... Hey guys, its actually 12% when given to the dog.
Force that is.
http://cdn.thehonestkitchen.com/media/wysiwyg/content/nutrient-profiles/FORCE-nutrient-profile.pdf

I knew i got 12% from somewhere..
So, it is low when hydrated and served to the dog.

Let me check the others to see protein content when given to the dog (hydrated)

How do your dogs do on JUST the honest kitchen?

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I don't know if anyone here feeds THK without add-ins. (I'm not sure, but I don't recall anyone saying they do.)

With active dogs (and certainly working dogs), I think that most people serve THK with add-ins, generally meat (raw or not), to the tune of about a half-cup of add-ins to each cup of dry (unrehydrated) THK.

But it's complete and balanced without (except, of course, Preference, made for use with a specific meat for, say, an allergic dog).

I think even THK says that they recommend the add-ins for active dogs.

I'm thinking that I'd still include maybe half of the usual add-ins, and I would use a very efficient protein for this girl (like poultry breast).

I cant afford addins AND THK.
I cant store much meat in the first place, so even if i could afford it..

So, i need to decide if this is TOO low protein for my dog..?