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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Seeking firmer dog poo! Vet against raw for my wcs

100 replies

willogswoo · 27/10/2021 09:44

Morning everyone!

I have a 15 week working cocker spaniel.

He came to us on Royal Canin medium puppy. However his poop has always been quite soft and leaves an unsightly stinky residue on walks.

We have tried wainwrights (absolute awful farts on this and even sloppier poo on Salomon one) James wellbeloved (awful awful poo) and lastly on vets advice some Burns grain free but still have loose poo.

Everyone has suggested a raw diet but my vet is really against it. I explained I would not be doing it myself but buying a complete from somewhere like Paleo or Bella and Duke but she was not happy.

Any advice on food for firmer poo?

OP posts:
Returnoftheowl · 27/10/2021 09:54

The only think we have found so far is a raw food diet I'm afraid.
On kibble my pup's poo is horrendous.

Kitsmummy · 27/10/2021 09:55

Raw all the way!

littlebilliie · 27/10/2021 09:58

I researched raw and the bacterial risk increase was untenable for our family.

CoachBeard · 27/10/2021 10:03

I’d say ignore the vet and try raw. We had a dog with dreadful allergies and she always had a bad tummy and itchy skin. Tried everything. Finally tried raw, against the vets advice and within a few days everything had calmed down. Switched to raw for all three dogs and have continued with the next dogs too. I would never go back.

BrilliantBulb · 27/10/2021 10:05

I’d honestly go raw.

rbe78 · 27/10/2021 10:05

My rescue had awful soft poos until we realised she had a chicken intolerance (learnt that the hard way by giving her dried chicken breast as treats one day - next day was NOT pleasant!).

We switched to a food without chicken, and her poos were instantly firmer.

We also use a kibble with a very high protein content, so she doesn't need as much of it - this further reduces and firms up poos. Mine now have just two firm poos a day. I suspect many converts to raw compare raw to crappy cheap kibble packed with fillers, which will always give nasty poos.

(FYI, we use Eden Holistic kibble, which is 80% meat, 20% veg, grain free. She's 29kg and only needs 300g a day - less than half the amount she needed of the kibble she came to us on. We switched from Original to Country Cusine to fix the chicken issue. The working dog version is basically identical to the regular, but cheaper as it is VAT free.)

kennythekangaroo · 27/10/2021 10:05

We had our dog on gentle dog food which is a cold pressed dry food and the closest we could get to raw.

We now use natures way another dried food which is locally made.
Both foods have worked well for him and he has never had poo problems. We are very conscious about feeding the correct amount for his weight which doesn't look very much at all.

Firesidefox · 27/10/2021 10:08

I would go hypoallergenic. We had the same issue with our dog and the vet suggested Purina HA and it has made all the difference.

YorkiePud25 · 27/10/2021 10:13

Raw all the way. We have a dog who always had loose poos and itchy skin. The vet was dead against raw, spouted loads of rubbish about how the dog will basically spread salmonella and kill us. We ignored him, did our research and do DIY. We also found a new vet who's better educated.
The dog is now happily into his 5th year of raw and is in great condition... he still gets the odd biscuity treat mind.

Lightningrain · 27/10/2021 10:14

We had similar issues with kibble. The best seemed to be Millie’s Wolfheart but even still he was letting off awful smells and every few days his poo would be soft.

We switched to raw about 2 months ago and honestly it’s the best he’s ever been in terms of his digestion. He was a bit fussy as we transferred him over (we did a single protein per week to check for any intolerances/dislikes) but wolfs it down now he’s on the completes. We feed a mix of brands (Naked Dog, Natural Instinct, Paleo and Cotswold) and add some extra supplements (Dorwest Keepers Mix and bits of whatever fruit/veg we have in that’s ok for dogs).

From the research I did it sounds like some vets are against it because people don’t do it properly (particularly DIY) and the dog ends up with deficiencies.

LeaveYourHatOn · 27/10/2021 10:17

Why is your vet against raw? Is it specific to your dog or just a general against-raw-attitude? If it's the former, then perhaps discuss with the vet what exactly the problem is. If it's the latter (which I strongly suspect), ignore and possibly think about changing vet.

So many ready-made dog foods are absolutely appalling for dogs nutritionally, I think the idea that feeding your dog a natural raw diet could somehow be worse is laughable.

Billybagpuss · 27/10/2021 10:19

We use canagan. She def has the best poo on the field.

coronabeer · 27/10/2021 10:23

If you don't want to try raw, maybe try upping the protein content of the kibble, as another poster suggested. My dog's poo is fine as long as he stays above 25% protein.
Try maybe Pooch and Mutt or Canagan?

Cockle1234 · 27/10/2021 10:23

Had the same with my WCS at that age. I'm also not interested in raw. Switched to butternut box and they instantly improved. Watch the treats as well, they could set mine off so used the same brand safe ones till she was about six months old. She's 18 months now and can eat anything, I think she just had a fragile belly as she was growing

coronabeer · 27/10/2021 10:24

Cross posted with the poster above. Agree that Canagan is good.

Anonaymoose · 27/10/2021 10:25

I agree, it's sounds like an allergen problem. Hypoallergenic would be your best bet. You need to research the dangers of raw feeding to humans if you want to try it as strict hygeine is required . You absolutely shouldn't feed raw if you have young children or anyone immunocompromised in your household.
I work in a vets and we ask all clients to inform us on entry if their pet is raw fed as we have to take extra precautions, especially if we have pregnant staff.

Original poster
willogswoo · 27/10/2021 10:35

@littlebilliie

I researched raw and the bacterial risk increase was untenable for our family.
This is one of my worries as I have an 8 year old son. Although we do not let the dog lick our faces at all and we are scrupulous about hand washing after petting etc
OP posts:
Original poster
willogswoo · 27/10/2021 10:37

@rbe78

My rescue had awful soft poos until we realised she had a chicken intolerance (learnt that the hard way by giving her dried chicken breast as treats one day - next day was NOT pleasant!).

We switched to a food without chicken, and her poos were instantly firmer.

We also use a kibble with a very high protein content, so she doesn't need as much of it - this further reduces and firms up poos. Mine now have just two firm poos a day. I suspect many converts to raw compare raw to crappy cheap kibble packed with fillers, which will always give nasty poos.

(FYI, we use Eden Holistic kibble, which is 80% meat, 20% veg, grain free. She's 29kg and only needs 300g a day - less than half the amount she needed of the kibble she came to us on. We switched from Original to Country Cusine to fix the chicken issue. The working dog version is basically identical to the regular, but cheaper as it is VAT free.)

Thank you that is great to know. I did check the website for Eden but said it recently had to change its guidelines to suitable for adult dogs and not all ages
OP posts:
ImperfectTents · 27/10/2021 10:37

Butternut box is great.

Original poster
willogswoo · 27/10/2021 10:38

@kennythekangaroo

We had our dog on gentle dog food which is a cold pressed dry food and the closest we could get to raw. We now use natures way another dried food which is locally made. Both foods have worked well for him and he has never had poo problems. We are very conscious about feeding the correct amount for his weight which doesn't look very much at all.
I do wonder if the guidelines are way off because he is 7.3kg and 15 weeks. His dad is 20kg and so I go off an expected weight of 18kg but he pops so much it must be too much food
OP posts:
Newfluff · 27/10/2021 10:40

That is a lot of change in a very short period of time. Like a pp I won't use raw due to the bacterial risk.

Original poster
willogswoo · 27/10/2021 10:40

@LeaveYourHatOn

Why is your vet against raw? Is it specific to your dog or just a general against-raw-attitude? If it's the former, then perhaps discuss with the vet what exactly the problem is. If it's the latter (which I strongly suspect), ignore and possibly think about changing vet.

So many ready-made dog foods are absolutely appalling for dogs nutritionally, I think the idea that feeding your dog a natural raw diet could somehow be worse is laughable.

She said it is due to the bone content and she has had to sort many blockages due to bone. X
OP posts:
Iheartmysmart · 27/10/2021 10:40

I’ve fed my show cocker on complete raw for the last 5 years without any issues. Just treat it how you would raw meat you are preparing for family meals and be scrupulous about cleaning up afterwards. My dog isn’t allowed to lick faces as that’s pretty gross regardless of what you feed.

Original poster
willogswoo · 27/10/2021 10:42

@Cockle1234

Had the same with my WCS at that age. I'm also not interested in raw. Switched to butternut box and they instantly improved. Watch the treats as well, they could set mine off so used the same brand safe ones till she was about six months old. She's 18 months now and can eat anything, I think she just had a fragile belly as she was growing
Thank you. I think my one is just such a hungry horris which doesn't help so sometimes not sure if he has eaten something he shouldn't have
OP posts:
Original poster
willogswoo · 27/10/2021 10:44

@Newfluff

That is a lot of change in a very short period of time. Like a pp I won't use raw due to the bacterial risk.
I know and I am sure it has not helped one bit but was advised certain foods from pet shop, vet, a friend etc just want him to be settled in his tummy
OP posts: