Help with loose stool/dog food recommendations

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Originally Posted by canadaman30

Besides food, your water may be an issue. If your on well water you may have enough minerals to cause the dog grief. Our dog gets the runs from the well up north but not from home.

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My lab had the same problem but now i use tap water from the city and all good

I had the same issue with my Pudelpointer. Breeder was feeding Nutrena Loyall. Mid Tier and not readily available where I live, so I weened him over to Acana.
Stools were same/consistent/soft for a while but seemed ok, until at a check up the vet said he had impacted and infected anal glands due to soft stool. we went through a rotation of high end brands, trying grain free, poultry free, "baked" kibble, etc, etc, for weeks, (along with a shot of antibiotics for the infection, and a round of forti-flora).
I wasn't able to find a kibble that worked, so broke down and tried a raw diet. Within a week, his stools were hard as rock, and barely bigger than my thumb (compared to MASSIVE kibble dumps). Left in the yard overnight, you can step on them and they turn to dust.
I feel like a vegan cross-fitter when I talk about raw food, but it worked for my pup. It's expensive and inconvenient, but it's good nutrition. I was using Canisource Grand Cru (expensive low temp dehydrated kibble) as training treats, and even more than a handful of that in a day, and his stools would go back to soft.
I'm feeding Big Country Raw, and the dog loves it. There are a couple pet stores selling it nearby, or they do direct sales with free delivery (with minimum order)
For treat heavy training sessions we use freeze dried raw food from Open Farms, which is also very expensive, but doesn't seem to bother his digestive system, and probably what I'd end up going to if I ever decided to not do raw anymore.

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Originally Posted by Snowwalker

Pumpkin pie filling + Sugar + Nutmeg ( kills your dog)+ milk( also not good for pup) makes pumpkin mix.

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This is exactly what I meant by canned pie filling .... should have stated no, no, no due to the sugar, etc, in the ready made pumpkin pie filling.

Thank you everyone. He can control his movements as he is in a kennel for 5 to 6 hours a day. But very gassy at night. Talk about a mood killer when he is lighting up the bedroom all night! every few days its a cow patty mine field out in the yard. Im counting 4 to 5 soft stools a day some times.

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Originally Posted by Dakota Creek

This is exactly what I meant by canned pie filling .... should have stated no, no, no due to the sugar, etc, in the ready made pumpkin pie filling.

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Canned pumpkin mix....most disgusting thing ever invented.

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Originally Posted by Snowwalker

Canned pumpkin mix....most disgusting thing ever invented.

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I beg to differ. My 7 month old son put me off of sweat potatoes after he ruined his entire outfit at a Blue Jays game several years ago. :silly:

I'm assuming you taken in a stool sample to the vet - the dog's. :) Loose stools can indicate Giardia or anther internal parasite.

Inflammatory bowel disease, food allergy/intolerance, intestinal parasites, clostridial colitis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth , pancreatic insufficiency
You should see your Vet again. If they have no other recommendations than diet change you could see another one.

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Originally Posted by kickingfrog

I beg to differ. My 7 month old son put me off of sweat potatoes after he ruined his entire outfit at a Blue Jays game several years ago. :silly:

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I am sure it was wonderful.

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Originally Posted by be2man

Inflammatory bowel disease, food allergy/intolerance, intestinal parasites, clostridial colitis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth , pancreatic insufficiency
You should see your Vet again. If they have no other recommendations than diet change you could see another one.

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Well said.