Best Food?

Basenji Feeding
Log in to reply
  • P

    My B has a very sensitive digestive system. The Vet has him eating Purina Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric and Forti Flora for his diarrhea and we mix in Nutro that the breeder recommended. He still has occasional loose stool and was wondering if anyone had any food recommendations or thoughts on his current diet?

    0
  • NemoN

    After reading the ingredient list I don't really know what is that beneficial about it to make it good for a sensitive digestive system. Perhaps they are suggesting the brewers rice is, IDK. What other types of food have you tried in the past? Perhaps there is a pattern, such as protein sources or corn, etc. that is causing the problem. One of my dogs had an issue with chicken and once I got him off that protein source, he was fine.

    http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showproduct.php?product=1318&cat=all

    Connect with the Basenji Club of America on Facebook

    http://www.facebook.com/basenji.org

    0
  • nobarkusN

    I just read the ingredients and this is really a bad food! No wonder his stomach is upset. You need to educate yourself on what's quality. Try to get away from foods with any type of grains. Corn gluten is the worst in this list!
    Is there a pet feed store there? They usually carry foods like Taste of the Wild, canned tripe and foods without grains.

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

    0
  • NemoN

    I don't think it's definitive that removing grains would necessarily fix the upset stomach issue. True, a better food without corn and a higher protein content would be preferable but if the dog has an allergy to a specific protein source that wouldn't address the issue (not saying that is the case here). I went through a range of foods when I was trying to figure out the issue with one of mine, one food a vet brand with corn and grains, and he did great on it. It fixed the problem because it was not chicken-based. After learning what the issue was I have now been able to move to better quality foods. I feed grain-free now but I wouldn't really have a problem going back to high quality foods with some limited low-allergenic grain sources.

    Connect with the Basenji Club of America on Facebook

    http://www.facebook.com/basenji.org

    0
  • DebraDownSouthD

    Food allergies are a common issue. How old is your dog? Allergies to proteins are as common as to grains.

    I suggest you switch slowly to a limited diet like Wellness fish and potato. Give a good probiotic such as Fastrack to help develop healthy gut bacteria. If the issue is allergies, even treats need to be limited to fruit or veggie types or fish based. IOW, small protein or grain treats can set the dog off. Try it for a good solid month to see if there is improvement. If there is, slowly try adding in variety… 1 food a WEEK to see if it causes issues.

    I agree with the others, the ingredients in the vet food are awful
    http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showproduct.php?product=1318&cat=7

    Debra

    0
  • tanzaT

    This food, IMO, is just fillers to bind the stool, I don't think it addresses the real problem. Again, I am NOT a Vet, but just based on years of experience.

    What tests have been done to find the underlying cause of the loose stool and sensitive digestive system? Have they tested or treated for Giardia? My OJ suffered what we thought (and the Vet too) with sensitive digestive system until we tried just treating him for Giardia with Flagyl (Pancur is also widely used with great results). It never showed in the tests (positive for Giardia) but that is many times the case.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • P

    Thanks for the information on Giardia. I had never heard of it and after researching it seems like a possibility and I will be looking into it.

    I will also look at the diet suggestions.

    This is why I joined this forum. Each dog is unique, as well as each breed and everyone's feedback helps!

    0
  • P

    Interesting that you had a problem with loose stools, Pat, because I had exactly the same but with a puppy who was eventually discovered to have Giardia. It did take us a very long time though and in the meantime the pup was suffering.

    It also happened to a friend of mine herself who for years had a stomach problem that finally was discovered to be a Giardia infection. Because of my experience with the puppy, I had jokingly suggested the problem to her as well.

    0
  • tanzaT

    @Patty:

    Interesting that you had a problem with loose stools, Pat, because I had exactly the same but with a puppy who was eventually discovered to have Giardia. It did take us a very long time though and in the meantime the pup was suffering.

    It also happened to a friend of mine herself who for years had a stomach problem that finally was discovered to be a Giardia infection. Because of my experience with the puppy, I had jokingly suggested the problem to her as well.

    Yes… Giardia "hides" very well..... Many Vets will write it off to a sensitive digestive system when in fact it is not. Like I said with my OJ, once it was cleared up, he could eat anything...

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0

Suggested Topics

  • KipawaK

    Food recall

    Basenji Feeding
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    8k Views
    sabaS
    Ive just put one of my guys on TOTW, and just bought a bag yesterday. Thankfully this bag appears to not be affected, BUT… I have 4 sample packs, one of which is open and has been fed to the dog... I cant find a Production Code box on any of the sample packs ??? Should I just chuck them out, or does anyone know how I can check to see if these are contaminated ??? ETA Im in Australia, and have heard nothing about this recall, until I came here today...
  • pennypenP

    Dog Food

    Basenji Feeding
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    4k Views
    pennypenP
    @Ellusionz: I've just swapped my dog to Wellness Core. It's high in protein which I was told is really good for the basenji breed with how active they are. Also grain-free. But they say it shouldn't be fed to dogs younger than a year. They sell it at Petco. There's also the regular Wellness that Petsmart carries thats been rated just below the Core. I researched the ingredients in the brands on dogfoodchat.com I thought about going with a high protien …. i'll deff look into that for next time after this huge bag is done :)
  • dmeyD

    Dry food and real food!

    Basenji Feeding
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    4k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Fran, what does BAB after your name stand for?
  • AJs HumanA

    Changing food

    Basenji Feeding
    21
    0 Votes
    21 Posts
    7k Views
    barklessk9B
    I would highly recommend the fish oil. As I stated before in a previous post, I put Zak on a grain free diet and added fish oil pills daily and a Cosequin DS (glucosamine & chondroitin) capsule sprinkled on his food each day for arthritis and he has not had a problem with arthritis since. There are foods with these supplements included, however, it is my understanding that they are just sprayed on the food. My vet had in the past suggested for my senior dogs at least 1000mg fish oil daily for cognitive health and the arthritis. For Zak and some early kidney disease he is showing she is recommending, and I have also read on line, 100mg fish oil per 10 lbs. of body weight (2500 mg daily). I don't think you're going to find the best level of fish oil supplement in a kibble. Oh, and his coat this year is sooooooooo soft! :)
  • H

    Food Question

    Basenji Feeding
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    @agilebasenji: If you and your vet are happy with their weight, I would not change the amount you're feeding them. However, my pups need more calories in the winter to maintain their weight. Treats - my pups love sweet potatoes and raw (or cooked) zucchinis. sometimes dogs like green beans or carrots. at my house, tri-ing is really bad about taking the carrots, chewing them up and spitting them out all over the place. Yea, thanks Jet. Otherwise, they also like cheese, waffles, eggs, etc, but given you pup's allergies, you may not want to try the later. LOL…. leave it to the "Tri-ing" to make a mess out of the carrots!!!!
  • bellabasenjiB

    Homemade food…

    Basenji Feeding
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    5k Views
    youngandtiredY
    I have now switched from Blue Buffalo food to Merricks wet and dry. The Blue Buffalo was hard to get, I had to buy it out of town. I get Merricks locally, and Sahara absoutely eats it better than all the rest. She is a picky eater and doesn't have a big appetite, but man oh man is she waiting when it is meal time now. She cleans her dish, a new thing for her. I am very happy, I use the dry also with about 1/4 cup of wet mixed in. I add alittle warm water to the dry (it makes it's own gravy) heat the wet alittle and add to the dry. Yes, I know Sahara is spoiled b/c I heat her wet food but what the heck, she is worth it, only takes a few seconds. Merricks is pricey $2 per can but I make it last for about 4-5 meals. Anyways, if you read the can and bag of the dry you will see what I mean, it is very good dog food and the family that has the company has been in business for 3 decades.