Hello!

I have been lurking on this incredibly informative site for several weeks, soaking up loads of excellent information. I have a 4 month old female Dobe pup (from a German working line) who arrived 1 month ago. I immediately transitioned her from dry kibble to raw, following the Leerburg Puppy diet on this site and adjusting the amounts for her weight. I also include all the supplements as suggested and an organic egg (she leaves the shell) every other day. Overall, it's gone incredibly well, the pup looks fantastic and she eats with enthusiasm. She now weighs 34.5 lbs (was 28 lbs upon arrival).

My concern is that I've noticed that the pulverized veggies included in her dinner tend to give her the runs. The organ meat had the same effect, even in very small quantities. I discontinued the organ meat, deciding that I could introduce that at a latter date. But I'm reluctant to discontinue the veggies. What I've done instead is to include approximately 2 tsp of canned pureed pumpkin with each of her 3 meals, then add the pulverized veggies with dinner. This solves the problem but if I decrease the pumpkin, the problem reoccurs.

The veggies I'm using are what we eat ourselves: organic spinach, celery, carrots, broccoli sprouts, etc, that I food process with a little water.

I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experience? Is including pumpkin something I can continue indefinitely, or should I try to slowly decrease the pumpkin. Is this a puppy thing, or so you think she'll always be sensitive to veggies?

Lastly, how critical is the organ meat, and any tips on trying to add it without causing the runs??

Thanks in advance for any info,
Mich

I kinda doubt that it's the produce you listed.

But what I would do is cut out the carrots (high sugar and not particularly beneficial anyway), make spinach occasional only (oxalic acid), and use more soft green produce like zucchini guts, other soft summer squashes, parsley, carrot tops, celery tops, and the like. You can also use very tiny amounts and take a week or even two to get to the (still small) amount you want to feed.

But I'm guessing that it's a fat issue. I'd remove skin and extra fat at first and add it back in slowly and gradually, watching the poops.

The dog needs organ meat, but the most common diarrhea trigger (after overfeeding, period) is too much organ meat too fast. This too can be started at tiny amounts. Stick to the amount you start with until you have several days' worth of perfect poops before increasing it.

You can even chop a chicken liver and use a teaspoon to start with.

"Balanced" is something to work towards over a week or two, when you start.

P.S. I do use pumpkin occasionally in small amounts as a good source of prebiotics (with the probiotics of good plain yogurt).

Thank you Connnie for more excellent info!

I'll cut out the carrots, cut waaay back on the spinach, and cut back the total veggie amount.

I'll also start removing all the fat and skin that I can from the mornining RMB meal (typically chicken necks and backs).

I'll start adding back in chopped organ meat a teaspoon a day at lunch with goal of "perfect poops"...I can tell that term is destined to be a hit in my household - LOL!

Just an update. I made a veggie puree of the combo Connie kindly suggested above and froze it in ice cube trays. I feed her two veggie cubes at dinner. I did the same with chicken liver, and feeding one cube at lunch. I am removing as much skin and fat as I can by hand from the RMBs at breakfast.....and so far it's working like a charm!!

Today rated a nearly "perfect poop", so I'll begin increasing the amount of liver in a couple of days. Many thanks again Connie for helping me solve the problem.

But I do have another two questions, one of which was posted by another member, but hasn't received and answer. When is it advisable to switch from 3 feedings a day to two?? Is it strictly an age thing, or is it based on some other factor??

Also, how do you guage if you're feeding enough? My Dobe pup is 4 months old and just under 35 lbs. She had too much rib showing IMHO when I got her 1 month ago at 28 lbs. But I know that too thin is better than too fat at her age. She looks great now, you can still see her ribs just a bit, but her pelvis doesn't look as scrawny as it did a month ago. What makes me concerned is that her half brother is 5 days younger and weighs nearly 10 lbs more. Is this typical variation between sexes and individuals, or should I increase the amount I'm feeding? Or should I just be content that she looks great?

Thank you in advance for any replies!

 Quote: Mich Young

Or should I just be content that she looks great?

Mich,

I never quite understand people comparing their pups and dogs to others<g>. Each one is an individual, and as long as your pup is healthy, vital and weight-appropriate for it's frame, build, exercise level, etc., then what does it matter what her brother weighs?

It sounds like you're fine tuning is having excellent results.

I don't remember exactly when I switched my GSD pup to two meals a day. It's been a long time and I'll have to look into that again myself when I get my next pup. Four to six months seems to ring a bell for me, but it's probably related to when they're able to eat enough at two meals to supply enough of their energy needs. If someone better versed doesn't come along soon with a better answer, perhaps you could just start a thread with that specific question, which would catch someone's eye. (I assume you've checked the search function on this site? Seems to me it'd be a question that's been asked before, probably many times<g>.)

leih

 Quote: Mich Young

What makes me concerned is that her half brother is 5 days younger and weighs nearly 10 lbs more.

A male? And she is a female? And is he on kibble?

Two huge factors, never mind individual body types and metabolism and height and length.

 Quote: leih merigian

.... I switched my GSD pup to two meals a day. ... Four to six months seems to ring a bell for me, but it's probably related to when they're able to eat enough at two meals to supply enough of their energy needs. ...

Yes, that rings a bell to me too.

Thanks everyone for the input - much appreciated!

I do have another question...I've been pulling/cutting as much skin as I can from the RMB's as per Connie's suggestion. Should I continue this practice or should I slowly add the skin and fat attached to the RMB's back into her diet??

Thanks again!