Hello! My dog, Morgen, is 8 years old, half-Alaskan Malamute, half-Border Collie/Red Heeler. I've had him since he was a puppy.
He was eating Science-Diet (I know now that's not really that good for him), but developed an allergy to grains.
He was on a raw diet with no grains for about a year, but developed an intolerance to chicken (wouldn't eat, had diarrhea). So we switched him to a diet that consisted of fish, partially-cooked egg, quinoa (high in protein), carrots, and yogurt/cottage cheese. He did well eating, and no more diarrhea, but in the meantime he'd lost some weight.
Based upon tons of personal research, we switched him to Orijen 6 Fish and he loves it! He gained 4 pounds in 1 week, and if he were to gain another 8 I'd be happy. He weighs 42 now. He has always gone to the bathroom (BM) after eating and, except for the chicken-diarrhea, his stools are always firm.
He still has regular, healthy BMs with the Orijen 6 Fish, but his water intake has increased dramatically. There is a definite correlation between his starting the 6 Fish and his water consumption increase.
I'm thinking that because I wanted to "fatten him up", and gave him 1.5 cups twice a day instead of 1 cup twice a day, he may have been getting too much of something in the food (like humans can have too much Vitamin C) and his body was trying to flush it out.
So I backed him off to 1 cup twice a day. His BMs are still good, no diarrhea, but he still drinks a lot more water than he used to.
I know dogs can get diabetes, and excess water consumption is a sign, but there's a correlation here between that and switching to the new food.
If he was getting too much of something, some nutrient or vitamin, wouldn't it give him diarrhea?
He's still very active and happy and doing well, other than this change in water consumption.
Thanking you in advance for any feedback!
Jane
P.S. Morgen is an indoor dog. He only goes out for bathroom, walks, and visits to Grandpa!
He was eating Science-Diet (I know now that's not really that good for him), but developed an allergy to grains.
He was on a raw diet with no grains for about a year, but developed an intolerance to chicken (wouldn't eat, had diarrhea). So we switched him to a diet that consisted of fish, partially-cooked egg, quinoa (high in protein), carrots, and yogurt/cottage cheese. He did well eating, and no more diarrhea, but in the meantime he'd lost some weight.
Based upon tons of personal research, we switched him to Orijen 6 Fish and he loves it! He gained 4 pounds in 1 week, and if he were to gain another 8 I'd be happy. He weighs 42 now. He has always gone to the bathroom (BM) after eating and, except for the chicken-diarrhea, his stools are always firm.
He still has regular, healthy BMs with the Orijen 6 Fish, but his water intake has increased dramatically. There is a definite correlation between his starting the 6 Fish and his water consumption increase.
I'm thinking that because I wanted to "fatten him up", and gave him 1.5 cups twice a day instead of 1 cup twice a day, he may have been getting too much of something in the food (like humans can have too much Vitamin C) and his body was trying to flush it out.
So I backed him off to 1 cup twice a day. His BMs are still good, no diarrhea, but he still drinks a lot more water than he used to.
I know dogs can get diabetes, and excess water consumption is a sign, but there's a correlation here between that and switching to the new food.
If he was getting too much of something, some nutrient or vitamin, wouldn't it give him diarrhea?
He's still very active and happy and doing well, other than this change in water consumption.
Thanking you in advance for any feedback!
Jane
P.S. Morgen is an indoor dog. He only goes out for bathroom, walks, and visits to Grandpa!
