Anyone have any issues with Natural Balance dog food?? - Page 5

Okay, recently I noticed that some of the poops in the dog yard had a black coating on them, while the inside of the poop was a normal brown colour. The alarm bells went off: a black, tarry coating is a sign of internal bleeding, usually an ulcer in the stomach or small bowel.

So, yesterday, I took a sample off to the vet for testing. I automatically assumed the poops were coming from my old guy, Ranger. The vet's office wanted to do a standard 'wellness' fecal on the sample. I said no, no, I don't think parasites are the problem.  The vet was not available for a consult, and I had a client coming in for boarding, so I couldn't wait for him to finish with his current patient. I asked them to have him call me.

Of course, he called at the EXACT same moment the client walked in the door with their dog!    I asked him to call me back in 10 minutes, but he never did.

This morning, I was doing yard cleanup while the dogs were pooping, and lo and behold, it was NOT Ranger who was producing the black coated poops! It was my girl with the allergies, who was JUST switched to NB a few weeks ago! 

Whoah. I am SO NOT HAPPY!

Waiting for the vet to call. If this is being caused by the food, testing the stool sample for parasites is INDEED a total waste of money!    And, regardless of whether it's the food, or something else, a black coating on the poop is NOT NORMAL!! 

Sunsilver,

I am headed back to work right now. I will PM you tonight... I have some info for you...

Jyl

Thanks, Jyl! The worst part of this?  The food seems to be making a difference already in the amount of scratching and licking she's doing! 

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/07/26/a-great-tool-for-dogs-with-rumbling-tummy-gas-diarrhea-or-vomiting.aspx

Blitzen,

Great article. I have used the test that they are talking about resently. Dr. Dodds and Dr. Becker have alot of great info. I have watched ALOT of Karen Beckers videos... they are AWSOME

What does the test cost?

$280

Sunsilver,

I sent the PM to you

For over 40 years Jean Dodd has been the best thing that ever happened to purebred dogs IMO. The GSDCA has appointed her to serve on their Health Committee. What a smart move.

In the end, paying under $300 for a food sensitivity test will be the cheapest money you ever spent, Sunsilver. Til  you get done switching foods and  trying figure it all out, you willl have spent much more and will know for sure if it is food and not something she's inhaling.

Blitzen, I have pretty good proof it's food sensitivity.

1) Her mouth, anus and ears itch. All 3 symptoms are typical of food allergies. Her gums are also very red when she's having bad itching problems. I doubt THAT would be caused by environmental allergies!

2) After switching her to a chicken-free formula (Zinpro) I thought, well her allergies aren't that bad, and even with the switch, she's STILL itching, so maybe it's not 100% the food, so for the few days I'm away, I can combine the food she's on wiht the one Ranger is eating, to avoid the inconvenience of taking two bags of dog food with me.

Within less than a week, she started to ITCH LIKE CRAZY! 

3) The improvement I've seen in the time she's been on the limited ingredient diet, is quite significant, so that's ANOTHER bit of proof it's food-related!