Quote: Sharon Empson

Since I am a poop watcher

Would you believe that some weirdos watch birds or stars or butterflies?!

 Quote: michael_wise

 Quote: shody lytle

Interesting about holding back a protien source. I'll remember that, just in case.

I went too willy nilly feeding everything I could get my hands on.

I'm gonna' have to feed crow or something weird if he ever has to have an elimination diet.

Now that I've thought of it I'm gonna' have to hold myself back from feeding crow.......

This is too funny - and I'll sympathize with you Michael! I never ever considered withholding a "safety" protein source... I suppose there are still many meats out there I haven't tried feeding Oscar yet, but I would certainly count them in the "exotics" category - thus should my dog ever fail on all the staples, it's going to be pricey switching him onto bear shank or python steak, at over $50 a pound!!

~Natalya

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I'd probably be including a little plain pumpkin (not other orange squashes), too.

Connie, what's punkin got that butternuts don't?? (or maybe what DOESN'T it have...)

~Natalya

 Quote: Natalya Zahn

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I'd probably be including a little plain pumpkin (not other orange squashes), too.

Connie, what's punkin got that butternuts don't?? (or maybe what DOESN'T it have...)

~Natalya

Less sugar.

 Quote: connie sutherland

Less sugar.

Good to know! I'll keep the "squashes" to my self then!

~Natalya

Actually, this would be a good thing to research more thoroughly one of these days.....

But I stood in the aisle of the grocery store once at around Thanksgiving time reading the labels of canned pumpkin, canned sweet potato, and canned butternut (or maybe hubbard; I'm not positive). That's the only time of year when the store I use has all three.

Pumpkin's sugar content was miniscule compared to the other two.

Fresh might be different, and other strains (if that's what you call them) of squashes might be different..... and this was not exactly major research. However, it was a big pointer, for me. I used to think they were kind of interchangeable.

There are three or more reasons not to give the dog sugar. Teeth, of course, and sugar-fed cancers, and diarrhea. Dogs who are prone to diarrhea are often triggered by salt-heavy, sugar-heavy, and fatty foods.

JMO.

 Quote: Sharon Empson

shody: Since I am a poop watcher and examiner when my dogs go, what does it mean when there is mucus or liquid at the end of the stool? Asking in case I ever see any.
Thank you

With this dog, there was a question of possible obstruction. So you would want to see perfectly normal poops, in shape and size and consistency.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Would you believe that some weirdos watch birds or stars or butterflies?!

Dorks.

Been off line for a while, thanks for the advice. I'm waiting for a call today to see if I can get a case of chicken backs, so things are moving. I should keep him on the chicken and rice for a week, you think, just to be safe? And would that be from the original onset or the relapse Saturday? I'm thinking from the relapse, which would make this Sat. The official "going RAW" day, if that's what you reccommend.

Yes, my names Shody, and I'm a poop watcher. I hate when my husband takes him out, I'll ask about the poop & he says "I don't know, it's out by the back fence" or where ever, and I'll have to go look. OK, not always, but any time I think he may be off for sure.

Warning: the following is a graphic description of poop:

The only thing I have noticed about his stools is they are not a whole log, more like chunks in a row. Not quite balls. Rather compact, not hard at all, yet, not too soft, they are formed. No liquid involved. Lighter in color by far than on kibble, but not what I would call "pale" Again I assume this is because what he is eating is so much closer to natural, and is digestable? I haven't been brave enough to check the odor, but it isn't overwhelming me as I watch him go, which sometimes it had before, so I'm assuming less. I've been happy with the poops.

He was playful last night and was bugging the teenagers (like that's hard to do). His expression is much better. Ridgebacks have extremely expressive faces, and he had been in perpetual mope for a while, now he looks happy again. When do you think it would be safe to resume his walks and training? I have been afraid to give him any treats at all, and he misses them! Maybe home dried chicken treats would be OK at this point?

Thanks for all the great help and support. It means a lot to me.

 Quote: shody lytle

When do you think it would be safe to resume his walks and training? I have been afraid to give him any treats at all, and he misses them! Maybe home dried chicken treats would be OK at this point?

If he's feeling up to it, I'd say go ahead and slowly start your "routine" again. For treats, you could take some of the boiled chicken chunks (which I assume you make in batches and have extra in the fridge...) and cut them into little bits - we know this is not offensive to his tummy, and with RRs, I don't think it's the novelty of a pet store "treat" per say that gets them excited, it's simply FOOD - whenever they can get it! I'd just go easy and not feed him too much at a time...

So glad he's feeling better! And good luck with preparing for his first raw meals this weekend - can I come over and watch him eat??! (ever since we started raw I just love to watch my dog chow down on his "species appropriate" meals... it's strangely satisfying).

And, er, thanks for the in depth poo description - it all sounds appropriate to me (the color, size and firmness all change dramatically when you make the switch to good whole foods, and you'll see more slight variation once you start changing the meals up and adding new ingredients or changing the percentages of bone to meat - as long as it's well formed, it's all good!).

Cheers Shody,
~Natalya