BC 2 year old diet advice wanted again.

[deka]

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Had a nightmare getting her to have a balanced food since I got her, she has/had phases of accidents and this seemed to slow down about 8 months ago when she was changed to a different brand and given food supplement then recently having accidents again.

But last week I had some chicken breast I need used up so cooked it and diced it and just had a literal few pieces of kibble and also added a drop of fish oil to her meal, zero accidents, tiny poops, she is calmer and a big one is on the dry food after her main meal around 5pm she could then drink as much as 2 pints of water in evening sometimes more and that meant she wants out during night for a pee, I'd actually say closer to 3 pints of water just in evening but daytime when she didn't have food she ignored the water bowl.

She was on Asda chicken flavour kibble.

Before the advice seemed to be just look for best food within budget but I don't know what is best for her, dry food or tinned, or raw.

 

[JudyN]

You've had lots of suggestions for diets before, none of which seemed to resolve all her issues. If you've tried the 'good foods' and raw feeding to no avail, you need simply to look at the dog you have and feed her what seems to work best for her.

 

[deka]

Well the raw diet I gave her before was just cooked chicken mince I got from local butcher, it's finding the balance that is difficult i.e her drinking a lot in evening is a bit of a pain as she may go from not wanting out much if at all during daytime to wanting out often in evening.

 

[JudyN]

If you think she's drinking excessively you should see a vet as there are medical conditions that can cause this.

 

[excuseme]

Have you actually used Raw food on her or home cooked meat. Once the raw product has been cooked it's benefits and various protiens are altered and can be destroyed.
Tinned products have about 80% moisture content.A
Actual Raw meat (NOT cooked) is also naturally high in moisture too.
I do believe that home made diets with gently/blanched cooked meat is better than kibble.

Have you ever tried putting an amount of dry kibble in a bowl and then add as much (measured) water to this that is required to completely "soak" the dry kibble, you may be surprised just how much water is required. This may explain why kibble fed dogs have to drink so much water !
All dry food and not enough water to drink could be harmful to the kidneys.
Have you visited a vet as @JudyN has suggested.
I am not saying that our vets are experts in our dog diets (they are not) but they can perform tests to check that the kidneys are functioning correctly and in good condition.

 

[Tinytom]

You can buy natures menu raw that is a complete food ...its not expensive and is very good ...

 

[deka]

Been to a vet many times and they just feel her to make sure shes not blocked, test her urine which comes back clear and don't do much else.

When I say she drinks a lot, she just doesn't seem to want to drink in daytime only after her evening meal at which point she drinks a lot over the next few hours until bedtime.

Though I have my suspicions its water quality it's a little cloudy at mine and when I take her on holiday or visit family they have better water and she drinks less even though she is probably more active.

 

[Flobo]

Have you tried getting a water filter jug? My water looks like milk sometimes when it comes out of the tap, so I always filter it. They are quite inexpensive and you don't have to change the filters as often as the manufacturers make out...( IMO)

 

[excuseme]

As well as providing a large bowl full of tap water 24/7, we have a couple of containers outside (one at the back of the house and one at the front ) which are kept full mostly by natural rain water. The girls can choose which they drink.

 

[excuseme]

Have I read your first post correctly, I believe you mention that her last feed is around 5 pm and that it is an all kibble feed. !!

 

[deka]

Sorry didn't see the most recent replies.

I have tried various diets and this certain brand of kibble seemed to work best at least until recently.

The only consistent thing in each situation seems to be water related though could be something else i.e things like noise sensitivity.

 

[terr'ierjusell]

The brand feelgood has pure ingredients, Like nature's menu cheaper less hassle, and it is about 1.30 a pouch, keeps inthe fridge for 3 days once open. It's good for my dog a terrier who is 9 months old

 

[excuseme]

All kibbles are very dry, (unless you purchase a "moist" variety) and if this is your last feed of the day it probably relates to why your dog is drinking a lot more during the evenings as you have mentioned.

 

[Zoomies supplements]

Had a nightmare getting her to have a balanced food since I got her, she has/had phases of accidents and this seemed to slow down about 8 months ago when she was changed to a different brand and given food supplement then recently having accidents again.

But last week I had some chicken breast I need used up so cooked it and diced it and just had a literal few pieces of kibble and also added a drop of fish oil to her meal, zero accidents, tiny poops, she is calmer and a big one is on the dry food after her main meal around 5pm she could then drink as much as 2 pints of water in evening sometimes more and that meant she wants out during night for a pee, I'd actually say closer to 3 pints of water just in evening but daytime when she didn't have food she ignored the water bowl.

She was on Asda chicken flavour kibble.

Before the advice seemed to be just look for best food within budget but I don't know what is best for her, dry food or tinned, or raw.

Check out all about dog food you can set your budget and find a kibble for your dog and then visit the one you like and order most have different food size options

 

[deka]

Bit of an update on her habits, 2 weeks ago I went on holiday for a few days with relatives, the 1st night she wanted out during the night but for the rest of the days she was fine, I left her at relatives for 10 days as I was unable to take her on my own holiday and she didn't want out during the night at all bar 1 night when they ran out of food so bought a cheap dry food and she wanted out 3 times that night, to be expected and that was 3 days ago and today she had watery poop.

She had 2 pee accidents at relative one was more understandable as it was on a mat and I notice she thinks small doormats are pee mats due to me using them during potty training, the other was one evening when she wanted out twice in a short period. No poop accidents.

Today she came back with me and was very exicted and I went into the bathroom and when I came out I saw a patch of wee on carpet and my girl staring at me, she had only gone out about 30 minutes before and peed in garden though about 10 minutes before she had the accident I had a neighbour at the door and she was over excited, which is when I tend to notice she has the rare pee accident.

One of my big theories is water, whenever I take her on holiday or to a relatives for a few days she only wants out during the first night and had no or maybe at most 1 accident the water at my house is a faint bit chalky, not white but more it takes time to settle when you pour it and when done is it clear but it looks very faintly chalky enough so if you weren't told you don't notice it.

 

[Flobo]

If you still think it is water related have you tried using a water filter as I suggested previously? At least if you try this for a while, you will find out if it is related or not.

 

[deka]

Water related is a big part of what I think it is, but maybe also anxiety, keep meaning to buy a water filter and just forget.

I haven't been feeling great myself last 3 months,

Anyway another thing to bring up is at relatives she was able to run around garden off lead and it had a external light at mine it is a tiny garden with no external light and almost every time I have her on lead, during the day in past I have let her off lead and she happily poops but doesn't seem to want to poop when on lead in garden unless desperate i.e first thing in morning and thus she has poop accidents in evening/during night

She seems to be ok if I walk her into the field or to a patch of grass outside a shop 2 minutes away, my garden has zero lighting in it so she may not feel safe going there but she also has distractions like cats and foxes that pass by my garden.

 

[Flobo]

Yes, anxiety related was my other thought...

 

[deka]

The other way to assume anxiety is I know dogs can eat their poop but she waits until I get into bed or goes to another room and then poops then eats the evidence she never eats her or other dog poop outside and if I turn on the light when I know shes having her accident she tries to eat quicker and if she notices me stand up she then runs and hides.

 

[deka]

Interestingly also so far she isn't wanting out during night but bar Friday and Monday she is pooping at bottom of my bed every day at bedtime she seems to outright refuse to poop in garden at all but peeing is fine.

At relatives and on holiday she happily pooped no problem only differences was she was off lead in relatives garden and on holiday it took her a minute or two on walk to find a spot to poop.