A whole new set of questions, sorry:(

[BAMCB]

I tried kibble the first days and she would not touch it. That is why I went to raw. I've read that Benadryl can cause constipation so I will stop that and do another cider rinse to try and curb the itching. I am also checking into probiotics, can anyone suggest some forms that may be good?

 

[angelbears]

Then stay with the raw. I've gotten the probiotics from the vet but you can get them a lot cheaper from the store. I'm not sure what brand to get. Get the human kind not those labeled for dogs, supposedly they are the same thing but cost more when labeled for dogs. Hopefully, someone will chime in with a specific recommendation.

 

[maryl]

Go to your pharmacist and ask for acidophilus. Also all that protein can put quite a strain on the kidneys causing a change in urine production. How old is she? Is she drinking enough water? Benadryl is also hard on the kidneys.

 

[BAMCB]

I have a really good probiotic for myself and it's in a capsule that can be open up and the powder poured out, would this be ok? Last week we did some blood work and her liver and kidney levels were spot on. We were both happy and surprised! She is definitely drinking a lot of water but it is all relative(my last dogs have been small-medium). She likes the baby pool filled and will take long drinks from it.

 

[angelbears]

I would give her the probiotic that you have. Hopefully, that will get her gut back in balance.

 

[BAMCB]

Great! Thanks I am going to give that an hour before her morning antibiotic to let it start. Any suggestion on how much to give? One tablet is suggested for an adult and I have to admit I am a few pounds heavier lol

 

[angelbears]

Found a good article. I would give her the dose that you take.

The Benefits of Probiotics for Your Dog - Whole Dog Journal Article

 

[BAMCB]

Found a good article. I would give her the dose that you take.

The Benefits of Probiotics for Your Dog - Whole Dog Journal Article

Thank you, that was a good article. And the recommended probiotic at the end is the one I have so even better! Lol

Only 1 dose and we have a poop! Started out formed and ended up liquid. Not sure where to go at this point. Should I try bone again and hope it is not regurgitated? Or no more probiotics for awhile?

 

[angelbears]

If it were me I would keep on with the probiotics at least until she is finished with the antibiotic. Unless she gets the screaming shits! She may not be eating because she is so backed up. Getting her regular just might get her appetite back. I would try a small amount of bone. If she regurgitates it, as gross as it may seem wait a couple minutes to see if she will try to eat it again. It is very common in raw feeding.

When starting to feed raw, with some dogs you have to go really slow. You measure time in weeks not days. One protein(chicken) that's it. Give her abused body time to adjust. Slow and steady.

You are really doing great. She is so lucky to have you!!!

 

[TricAP]

Benadryl can be a big constipation problem for some dogs and people. For the itching see if you can find Vetricyn Hot Spot Spray - some farm stores carry if you can't find it in the pet type stores and don't want to wait to get it online. Works great - no horrible smell and isn't harmful if ingested. None of our dogs will tolerate the smell of any vinegar.

Don't stress too much on the poop if everything else is going well. These big pups seem to take longer for any adjustment that comes into their life and your girl has had several in a very short amount of time. Angelbears is right to measure time in weeks not days when feeding raw. Hang in there!

 

[BAMCB]

Eating regurgitated meat is not that gross to me now if my daughter sees it? Hahaha
I have figured out that it's the ground turkey she likes. I've gone to fine chopping the chicken breast and mixing it with some ground turkey. I'm out now though so hopefully she has transitioned to just chicken. I also tried a half of chicken back this morning and it has not come up as of yet
Thanks again everyone. Your advice and time is so greatly appreciated

 

[BAMCB]

Ok. I think I may have found the issue about not eating. I know everyone advises to start with chicken but I am thinking she does not like chicken. Is that weird? She turns her nose up to it. She did eat her ground turkey(no regurgitation) and LOVES turkey tails(used as bribes to get her out of the vehicles). Hubs is smoking 20# of pork butt tonight and she is going nuts in the kitchen trying to get some. I gave her a small chunk(she spits chicken chunks out immediately) but loved this. So, just go with her lead? I am very worried because I believe she is losing some weight and she has NONE to lose:/

 

[TricAP]

Could be worth a try. None of our tolerate pork - tried half dozen times and always get it back up. But each dog is different in what they like to eat.

Questions about the chicken you are feeding her - do you rinse it? What about skin? The reason I ask is that most chicken is treated with an antibiotic wash and maybe injected with salt to enhance the flavor. I've found that a 20 minute soak in cold water gets the salts to come out and then a slime forms on the chicken - that's the antibiotic solutions coming off. Rinsed under running water does the trick. If I get in a hurry and don't so this our 3 won't eat the chicken either. You can also try a quick searing of the chicken -just enough to get the smells going might help too to get her to eat.

 

[angelbears]

Quick sear is a great idea. Cane always preferred his meals warm. I never did it with bone in meats.

I would go ahead with the turkey but I would stay on that and that only for a week(any combination of turkey). Is her pooping better?

 

[BAMCB]

I am conscious of buying natural chicken that has no additives and not packaged with preservatives or in any solutions. I will give the soak and rinse a try as well as a sear today. But if she does not eat it or regurgitates and leaves it I am going to have to feed the pork. I can see she has lost more weight and do not want to continue the fight of feeding chicken with her only losing more weight. We had hubs surprise 40th bday yesterday so Friday night(after regurgitation of chicken and no good meals for a few days) we tried a couple chunks of pork. She gobbled it and kept it down. Saturday morning we gave her pork for breakfast and she gobbled it and kept it down. Then same last night. I am finally able to get antibiotics in her regularly. Is there any particular reason I should not continue with pork if this is what's working for her? I know it's a richer and fattier(though I trim the fat off) meat but it does not seem to effect her at all.
As for the poops, she has not had one since her probiotic a couple days ago. We have been very busy with my pa's burial(long drive and someone had to come let them out) and then the party(another long day away) and did not want her to have runny stools and have to poo in her cage. We will be home like normal now and can/will give it daily.
Her check up for blood work and scheduling her spay/tumor removals is Thursday. I would hate to have the dr tell me she is losing too much weight and cannot go ahead with it.

 

[TricAP]

WOW - you've had a whole lot going on in your life! She might be picking up on some of that stress too - so maybe multiple reasons for her regurgitation and not wanting to eat. If I remember right she hasn't been part of your family for all that long right? These big babies are some of the most emotional dogs I've ever been around. Seems any little change can bring on upset.

No reason not to feed pork that I know of or have read about. I know for us they just don't stomach it for whatever reason.

Have you tried making satin balls for her to help put some weight back on?

 

[BAMCB]

Yes, only 2 weeks tomorrow. In the beginning she was kind of distant wanting to be in her crate mostly. She would go outside to pee but run back to the door and head to her crate. The situation she came from was not good at all. She was outside in the horrible heat and humidity with medical issues not being tended to and living on an obviously small amount of food. I think she loved the air conditioning and having her safe "den" but still being near the action. We keep doors open on crates in our living room, though I would close her's if I noticed the other dogs sitting outside of it she has really started coming out of her shell now and likes to be with us. Rarely sits in her crate now she refused kibble the first days so decided to try raw with her. Kept her portions smaller thinking it would be a bit for her stomach to acclimate to regular feedings. I figured the raw diet was just taking her a while to adjust to but considering how much she loves the pork, tolerates the chunks(not needing it ground) and has never regurgitated it and am really thinking it is chicken she does not like or maybe has a sensitivity to. I gave another dose of probiotic this morning so hoping another BM will follow shortly.
You guys are so awesome here! Taking the time to help others on their journey to raw and caring for mastiffs in general is very gracious of you and truly appreciated by me

 

[BAMCB]

Question: could Chica possibly be absorbing an over abundant amount of of the meat she's getting? She has received such a small amount of bone that maybe she has no waste? She will go to the vet for her check on Thursday and we can X-Ray her if needed but I am still just so boggled as to her lack of poop. Any opinions on this?

 

[Liz_M]

Well raw poops are much smaller but she would eliminate something. I'm assuming you don't have a stethoscope in the house so listen to her gut with your ear to her belly.You should be able to hear gurgling and squeaking, normal gut noises. If nothing but silence with several checks over the course of the next day or so, I'd maybe move up the vet visit. Could be an obstruction. Google intestinal stasis too; sometimes very temporary in dogs.

Chances are no big deal though. Stress (both your family and her) plus major changes in her life in the last two weeks could just be messing with her digestive system.

 

[BAMCB]

Fantastic idea Liz M! I do have a stethoscope and could hear some gurgling I am much more at ease. Thanks so much!!