If you want to go raw, here is how I'd go about it.

Your diarrhea triggers are going to be too much food, too much fat, too much organ meat, or too much of something new. That is the "DON'T" list.

Puppies will be fed 5-10% of their body weight. It is best to spread that amount over 4 small meals.

In the beginning it would be a good idea to start at the 5% food amount. You'll eventually work up to the 10% or whatever amount that your puppy needs. Up the food amount slowly as you see that he is tolerating the new food. If soft stool starts, then you know you went too fast and you need to back up and go slower.

The best first food, IMO, would be chicken backs that have all the skin and fat removed.

 Quote: Jessica Pedicord

I realize that I'm probably driving you guys crazy

Not at all!!! When we're trying to help with food related diarrhea, or switching somebody to raw, these updates are nice. Lets everybody know exactly what is going on and how to help.

Let us know if you decide to try rawfeeding. Start out like I outlined and let us know how his poops look. After he gets to the proper amount of food we can outline how to add new foods.

Just remember, start everything small and gradually increase. Only start making the meals bigger when you see that his stomach is tolerating the new food and he is making nice, firm stools.

That all make sense?

 Quote: Michael_Wise

The best first food, IMO, would be chicken backs that have all the skin and fat removed.

Ditto! One ingredient at a time, with no additions until you see the poop from the last one.

If you can't get backs, post back.

P.S. Venison is not part of the beginner raw diet with a diarrhea-prone dog. It's OK; it will be later. Just keep it in the freezer for now.

I am ecstatic! Dom hasn't had any diarrhea at all in over a week. I ended up just putting him back on Blue Buffalo so I could take the time to teach my husband about raw. That also gives me a little time to stock up on ingredients. The chicken backs are a little hard to find so I might need a back-up item. Any advice?

How did you re-introduce the blue buffalo to get these great results?

Good job!

What kind of chicken RMB's can you get?

Well he was on boiled chicken and rice for several days so I stopped his food for about 12 hours. Then I started at 1/8 cup kibble per serving, about 4 times a day and Probios once a day. After every hard poop, I bumped up his portion size slowly until he is back up to the feeding guidelines which is 3 cups a day. Even with just a week of these feedings, his body condition has improved and he's no longer looking TOO thin.

So I've been shopping around for raw items to stash in my freezer so that when I make the switch I am not running around trying to find things. I have a lot of chicken quarters that I got a great deal on. Chicken backs and necks I am having a hard time finding. Other than those, I can get whole chickens of all sizes (I can always cut them right?), chicken wings, chicken thighs, breasts (bone-in)... Thats all I can think of at the moment. I will probably remember more after I've had more coffee!

And again, I really appreciate the help! This is something I have been wanting to do for a while now and the only thing holding me back was that I had no one to give me that extra little nudge.

Out of those choices, bone in chicken breast would be my next pick.

You will be able to feel all the bone in the breast. There will be a big portion that doesn't have any bone in it that is just meat.

For the beginning of the switch you will want to cut off that hunk of meat. You're just trying to make the bone content a little higher at first. Later on, after he is having good poops and obviously tolerating the new food, you can start leaving some of that meat on.

You can save the meat for later meals, or even better, have grilled chicken breast for a few nights in a row.:smile:

You'll also need to remove all the skin and excess fat for the beginning, too. Same thing, you can start adding in a little at a time once you see his stomach is tolerating the new food.

Preferably do one thing at a time. Up the meat first, then the fat, etc.

The important thing is to do all this in small increments and only increasing something or adding something new AFTER you see good poops from him.

I guess you can tell that the recurring theme here is "SLOW AND IN SMALL AMOUNTS".

Starting out with small meals would also be a good idea this time, too.

What kind of stores do you have available to you? Any smaller grocery store, not big places like Wal Mart?

Where are you located? Maybe there is a rawfeeding co-op near you.

I ask, because chicken breast can get expensive. You'll be able to move to cheaper cuts after the switch. I like the bone in breast because it is a softer bone that should be easier on a first timers stomach. Backs are, too. And a lot cheaper.

Let me know, maybe we can help you find some backs.

 Quote: Michael_Wise

You'll be able to move to cheaper cuts after the switch. I like the bone in breast because it is a softer bone that should be easier on a first timers stomach.

Forgot to add that the lean meat of a chicken breast is also easier for a first timer's switch.

Chicken 1/4er's, with their darker, fattier meat, will be a fine item later on. But for a dog with a little history of loose stools it is better to stack the odds in your favor.:wink:

I thought I'd post an update for you guys...

My pup is doing great. I've got his eating problems under control. Here are my observations over the last month.
-He needs small portions. You guys called it! If he eats too much at a time, he gets diarrhea.

-He eats (way!) too fast! This has been a problem since I cut back on his portions. I've been feeding him 1 cup 4 times a day. This does not seem to satisfy him. He is always ravenous! Things I've been doing to slow him down: feeding him a handful at a time, or putting it in one of those slow release balls that he's got to push around, or even adding a lot of water to the kibble. It forces him to slow down or he gets a nose full of water... We call it bobbing for kibble. Its just crazy how he gulps without chewing...

I guess both of these problems will be solved by raw once he gets through his 2 remaining bags of kibble, I plan to make the switch, at least partially.

I know the general opinion is not to be on a mixture of raw and kibble, but I am curious if anyone out there is doing it with success?

 Quote: Jessica Pedicord

... I know the general opinion is not to be on a mixture of raw and kibble, but I am curious if anyone out there is doing it with success?

Actually, the general opinion I hear people express is that it's OK and that many people do it. I know that many DO do it with no problem.

Here's the thing, though: The ones who do have a problem have a very bad one.

I don't recommend it.

Here's a story about it (not the only story like this on this board):

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=33&Number=248711&Searchpage=1&Main=23947&Words=kibble+Alyssa+Myracle&topic=0&Search=true#Post248711

I'm so glad that you got your boy's diarrhea under control! We can walk you through your switch to raw, too, when you're ready, so it can go smoothly and with no recurrence.