Taste of the Wild & Vomiting - Page 1

I tried to search the database for info on problems/symptoms with TOTW.  I obviously must have done something wrong because I couldn't really find anything - even though I've replied to some of these posts?!?!

Anyway, up until Monday I had no issues with this food.  I still like the food as a matter of fact but may switch to another fish based food.  I opened a new bag on Monday am and fed my female.  She threw the food up sometime mid morning when my pet sitter came to let her out.  It didn't look like any of it had been digested.

Tuesday morning she seemed to eat it fine.  Threw up some water and a few kibble chunks when I came home this evening around 6:00 but I thought it was because she drank her water too fast.  I hope she didn't get sick and reabsorb it during the day (sorry to be graphic).   Now, this evening when I fed her the evening meal at 8:00 - she was reluctant to eat her food and she's ALWAYS been a voracious eater.  She did finish it and within 30-45 minutes she threw it up again.

I cooked some rice and chicken broth for her which she devoured.  I know others have had problems with diaherra (sp.) and mentioning the formula/kibble size changing along with being nervous about purchasing it because it was manufactured by Diamond.  

My husband is adamant about never feeding this again to her. My male is fine as he eats EVO but I only had a minimal amount of TOTW mixed in with his food as I was going to transition him to TOTW.   I still think I will take her in tomorrow to have the vet test her liver function etc. just to make sure everything is ok.  I'll be calling TOTW and the place that I purchased it from.  Hopefully, I can get a credit towards a new bag of EVO until I can transition to Orijen.  I just hate switching food cold turkey like that but also hate the thought of her being sick after every feeding of TOTW.

Would be curious to hear of others issues with this food.  I wonder if it was an isolated incident with a bad bag of food?  If that's the case - how often are defective bags shipped?  The thought of that really freaks me out!

Why do people bitch about corn then turn around and feed rice?
Makes no sense to me.
I have had problems with one dog and fish based food in the past.
I hope you find something that works for your dog soon.

I tried a sample of this to my regular food and it caused dirrehea and vomiting.
So, even at a sample, I would never do again.

there is a doggy virus going around.....

diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy

all 4 of my dogs got it one after another

took about 10 for each to completely get over it........

There are so many factors that could be an issue here.
It would be tough to pin it on the food without having it analyzed. I would definitely send some in to the manufacturer if they ask for it.
One thing that I wish the pet food manufacturers would do a better job of informing the public about is how easily kibble can spoil if it is exposed to heat. The preservative, depending on type, is easily broken down due to excess heat. This is especially the situation when a natural preservative is used.
A bag of pet food can spoil if you buy a bag of food on your way to work and leave it your hot car during the day. It can also happen in a warehouse that is not properly ventilated or does not have air conditioning during hot summer months, or simply a pallet of food waiting on the loading dock in the hot sun to be loaded on to a truck.  Most of those bags might be okay, but, think of what could happen to the bags on top in direct contact with the sunlight. Unfortunately this leaves many variables as to who could be to blame. Food can transfer from between two to five warehouses before it reaches the store shelf and then your pet's food bowl. This is why it is so tough to just say that it is a bad batch of food and likely the whole batch may not be bad.

Good luck with your pursuit. At least you are trying by feeding your dog's better quality food. When I have used TOTW I have had good luck with it. I also used the Salmon formula.
I hope that your dog is healthy and this gets straightened out. Please let us know the outcome.

OGBS - great point on the heat playing a factor in the chemical breakdown.  That's funny that you mentioned it because I hadn't seen your post yet and when the vet for the manufacturer called me back - I asked her about the heat.  I purchased the bag on Thursday evening and forgot to retrieve it from my car until either Friday night or Saturday morning so that certainly could have been a contributing factor.  

Coincidenally, the vet for the manufacturer and I both live in the same suburb of Atlanta.  Small world.  Long story short - she also feeds TOTW and her bag had the same batch code as mine...except she hasn't had any issues.  I really do think it was an isolated incident to that bag.

I am trying Arcana now.  They also make Orijen.  Orijen was still fairly high in protein like EVO and it was over $70+ per bag so I opted for the fish based (grain free) Arcana which was a little more affordable at $60 per bag.  She ate is just fine tonight and has been fine with the rice and broth mixed in.  

My fingers are crossed.  Just a quick sidenote - I was VERY impressed at how well the manufacturer responded to my phone call this morning.  I guess I just figured they'd basically blow me off but they were very responsive and their follow up was not what I expected.  I was pleasantly surprised to say the least.

I had to switch cold turkey to Orijen at one point & had no issues, wish I could get it now...Arcana is supposed to be just as rigidly controlled by Champion as Orijen...& that company is quite responsive to customer questions as well, got a return phone call from a vice -ceo after I sent an e-mail questioning availability.....I simply can't risk feeding my dogs anything made by diamond or contracted to be made by diamond, they have 2 strikes, I don't need, can't afford a 3rd....presently feeding Evo, dogs doing well. jh

Jackie:

That is too bad that you don't have a distributor close by for the Orijen.  Was there any way the company could ship the product to you or do you have to buy in mass quantities?  I was happy to see that Champion offered grain free varieties AND 2 different protein levels.  Good to know that Champion is responsive as well to inquiries.