Hi guys

My new Leo pup is now 5 1/2 months, he was hand-reared so has always been a bit under the average weight for his age, but as he's put on a steady 1.5kg each week we've had him I'm not too concerned by this. 

I gradually introduced Eukanuba large breed puppy, which he's now been on for 4 weeks, he's still on 3 meals a day.  He's always hungry, and never turns his nose up at anything.  

The reason for my concern is he does occasionally vomit after his breakfast, after a few minutes pacing and whinging, (only breakfast, and it's only a little he's bringing back up i.e. not the whole meal), his poo also seems to get sloppier over the course of perhaps 10 days, which is promptly cleared up by a couple of days on chicken and rice.  He's wormed to date.  He's a very quiet pup anyway, but doesn't seem 'poorly'.  We're attending obedience, swimming and ring craft on a regular basis which he enjoys, and all seem to be bringing him out of his shell a bit.

I have on a few occasions seen small stones in his poo (he's never left unattended so he's a sneaky little monkey!), he also has an amazing ability for sniffing out dead birds on walks!!  He has been to the vets but they're obviously not concerned as they just put him back on the chicken and rice, and dont think medication is necessary.

Could it just be that I'm feeding too much?  Or that the food doesn't agree with him?  I'm sure it's nothing serious but I'm definitely paranoid after what we went through with Rugby, and the vets are sick of the sight of me!

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Usually sloppy poos on a regular basis is down to feeding too much , which could also be why he brings up a little after eating ..especially if he is a good eater and doesn leave it when he is full.
Have you been regularily worming him?
If he eats little stones (which all my dogs did as puppies) and birds I would abe a little concerned about a stone being stuck or a bone of a bird if you are really worried get a second opinion of course they would probably have to use an anaesthetic to take a proper look which could be expensive so its either take your vets word for it or ask for more investigations.

Food wise I dont like eukanuba I feed arden grange  http://www.ardengrange.com/ as with everything else it down to choice.

As it's only his breakfast he vomits with could it be he's very hungry so he's bolting his food to fast - that can cause vomiting (I would get this occasionally with my last adult dog if his first meal of the day was later than normal or if he had a tasty addition to his bowl). If it is then feeding his last meal a little later or his breakfast a little earlier may help with the vomiting.

Sloppy pooh from too much food I would have thought would be apparent at every pooh, not every 10 days? It may be that the food slightly doesn't agree with him, so it takes continual feeding of it to build up an effect, or simple dietry indescretion every now & then ?

Hi StarryEyes, thanks for your reply

If he had something stuck would he be throwing up more regularly, rather than just after breakfast?  He's picking the stones up off the driveway and they're small and smooth so the vet said he didn't think he'd have a problem passing these, and he's certainly not eaten the birds but I did wonder if he could have caught something nasty from picking up the carcass (but would the symptoms go away by simply putting him on chicken and rice?)

He's been wormed every 4 weeks as advised by the vet. 

He does occasionally 'wipe' his bum after pooing, and when pooing he quite often stays in position for a while afterwards as though he still needs to go - could these have any connection?

I've been thinking of changing his food, so thanks for the info on Arden Grange, I think I'll give this ago and see how we get on.

Hi mastifflover, after a couple of days on chicken and rice his poo is back to normal and stays like this for a couple of days back on Euk, but then gradually gets more sloppy, until I resort to chix and rice again.  He doesn't appear to eat any faster first thing in the morning (we've timed him!), but I did wonder if was having a large meal on an empty tummy?  In addition to his regular meals he's given small bits of apple, and carrot, baked liver (for training), teaspoon of probiotic on his food, and a daily glucosamine tab, but nothing else (well, the odd bit of donkey poo/horse poo/rabbit poo..............infact any poo that's within easy reach!!  Maybe I've found my answer?)

Sounds like his system doesn't agree to the Eukanuba. Think I'd change him onto something other than that, keep him on the new one for at least 4 weeks and see if that makes any difference. He's possibly intolerant to something in the Eukanuba, maybe lamb, turkey or grain etc?? If he's fine with fresh chicken maybe try him on a complete food with chicken in it. What does the Eukanuba you are feeding, have in it?

Hi Susie,

crumbs you need diet issues with the new mini monster like a hole in the head!

It does appear that the cause may be diet related and worsened further by greedy eating habits perhaps.  After a few days of chicken and rice to allow his GI system to settle and heal internally, I'd introduce a different food ideally one with as few ingredients as possible - i.e. not one which has every form of grain/cereal that you can think of in there and one which doesn't have meat proteins from multiple or undisclosed sources.  The less ingredients the more easy to identify possible intolerance/sensitivity issues should they occur.

The stone eating is a  nightmare - I've had three like that and they're so dang quick at gulping them down!  Fortunately if the stones are small and smooth in a larger breed they often pass them without any obvious sign of discomfort.  If larger stones/pebbles they generally throw them up in the wee small hours (preferably on a cream carpet/suite/duvet LOL)  Thankfully (VERY thankfully) despite numerous such events over the years I've never had one which ended up with a blockage or a tummy full of stones - the worst had eaten 3 in a short space of time and I became hawk-eyed every time any were near an area where they had easy pickings.

I'd also try and slow down his eating if you can - perhaps split each of his daily meals into three or even four portions and add each portion a few minutes apart so that he's not wolfing it down and causing himself to 'burp' up food he's pretty much inhaled.

HTH, best wishes Teri :)

I know Teri, what's going on???

It doesn't matter how many times the specialist tells me Rugby's was hereditary, and was inevitable, it just seems too much of a coincidence for my liking.  I've always been careful with what I feed them but I'm starting to think it must be something I'm doing, or something they're picking up off our land (although Tizzy nor Rugby were ever scavengers).

Tizzy has taken well to JWB (lamb and veg) and she's absolutely fine again now, thank goodness.  I'm sure, with the little man, it's the Euk he's not getting on with but was so confused as to what to put him on next.  Have looked at a few but they didn't have 'large breed' variety and was worried he may not get everything a growing boy needs from a standard food?  Arden Grange have a large breed puppy - do you think this may be suitable?

Will try portioning his food as you suggest - he does eat ever so quickly.

> but I'm starting to think it must be something I'm doing, or something they're picking up off our land (although Tizzy nor Rugby were ever scavengers).

Cut yourself some slack Susie :)  I'm sure it's all something and nothing with the new pupster and a few minor adjustments will resolve thingd.

I haven't used Arden Grange myself but others speak highy of it so why not give it a go :)

Thanks Teri.  Will keep you posted....................again!!
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