The Question,
“Hi there! I”m trying to choose a food that will help my Bernese mountain dog puppy with his loose stool problems, but the more I look at different brands, the more confused I get. Can someone help me? He was originally on Iams, and didnt do well with it, so he was switched to Nutro Ultra Holisitic. He’s been on that for a little over a month now, and he’s still not any better. The vet has cleared him of any intestinal problems, and has suggested that he needs a food with higher fiber. He was thinking Blue Buffalo, but internet research and discussions with canine nutritionists has just made me more confused than when I started. I know that when I add pumpkin to his diet, his stools improve, but I dont want to use that as a long term option in case it masks illness in the future. He hasnt been getting treats lately as we’ve been trying to get him sorted out, just some canned pumpkin, and a spoon of cream-cheese to make him take some antibiotics he was prescribed. He no longer receives these while we’re sorting this out. Thanks!”
~Ashley
The Answer,
“In this case, before we talk about food, we need to think medical causes. Puppies very commonly have worms, even if their stool samples test negative. Running multiple stool samples (with fresh feces) and running a fecal culture is important. Many times, I will just deworm the animal to be sure that that base is covered. I use a dewormer that treats many different worms, coccidia and giardia.
There was also a mention of antibiotics. I never use antibiotics in a puppy as this has long term side effects on the GI tract. So, adding in supplements to heal the lining of the GI tract, as well as, digestive enzymes and lactobacillus is imperative, regardless of the cause of the diarrhea. I’d also suggest that supplements that boost the immune system are used. Specifics on all of these can be obtained from your local holistic veterinarian, including proper dosing.
Lastly, it doesn’t matter what food you feed as long as it is a “clean” all natural human grade quality food. If the GI tract is healthy/healed, then a high fiber diet is not necessary. Fiber is just a band - aid for the colon, not a cure. So, please consult a holistic veterinarian in your area.
Thanks!
~ Dr. Sandra Miller
