Hi. Harvey, 12 week old Cav has had bad diarreah since Tuesday morning. Had him at the vets today and he's now on a 5 day diet of chicken, boiled rice and probiotics. I have been feeding Naturediet for the past 2 weeks and he was fine on it until Tuesday. I'm wondering if it's possible that the food could go off as he doesn't eat it all at once and it's down for 2-3 hours and that's what's made him ill. I'm in two minds as to whether to try him with a dry complete food and maybe a boiled chicken breast each day. My vet has recommended Hills puppy complete but I've heard on here that a lot of people don't rave about it,something about a high cereal content? Burns and James Wellbeloved seem very popular but I also have a leaflet on the Hills natures best range which sounds good - I would love some advise on what to do....just want the best for my baby. Also, vet said that feeding moist food isn't going to do his teeth any favours in the future.

Advice is really appreciated

Hayley xx

Which food is best to use can vary a lot between individuals,one brand may suit one dog but not another, so it's hard to advice in that sense. However I would NEVER leave the food down as long as you do -if i isn't eaten after 10 minutes it should go! He'll learn to eat up then, and like you say, it isn't a good idea to leave meat down for that long. This time of year it isn't too bad, but in the summer you can get blowflies in it within an hour -I know because it happens with my cats' food if I'm not careful.

Thanks for your reply. If I only left the food down for 10 mins he'd be starving and scavinging all the time! Tonight with the chicken and rice, it's gone in minutes!! Don't know what to do for the best, maybe if I feed him little and often?? I know that dried food would take him longer to eat. Don't want to try him on too many foods as I believe that this can cause hypersensitivety.

How often are you feeding him at present? At his age he needs to be on at least 4 meals a day but maybe for a small breed such as this 5 might suit him better.  Certainly whatever the frequency he should be able to get all he needs down him within about 20min max.  If he is not able to do that and he is starving in between I think you need to assume this food is not suitable for him and ought to consider a change because, as Goldmali says, it is not safe to leave wet food out this long and not really desirable with dry either as it leads to poor eating habits in my opinion.  Mixing chicken breast with a complete is not desirable either unless in very small quantity as any more will upset the overall balance.

He's on 3 meals per day, 8am, 2pm and 7pm that's how he came to me. Vet advised the chicken and rice 6 times per day in small amounts which is suiting him fine. I would feel better feeding dry as his Spaniel ears fall in his dish when he eats and they stink and are permenantly crusty with the naturediet - something that I was prepared to put up with so long as the food suited him. After reading up on all the different foods, Burns sounds very good so I will possibly try it. Thanks for the help.

Hayley

Unless you feed dry food dry rather than soaked I think you will find the Spaniel ears will still get mucky. Have you thought of a snood (or a cut off popsock) whilst he is eating to stop the ears falling in the food - it certainly works with my Sussex Spaniel, although she does look a bit silly! With regard to the food if you are finding ND is causing a problem I would opt for Burns as a second choice.

Thanks Pedlee. I have been to my local Burns stockist this morning and he has given my a sample pack of mini bites. Will try him and start weaning him on to it on Wednesday and just stick with the boiled chicken and rice in the meantime, he's loving it and his poo is a little better already. Regarding the pop sock - good idea but I can't see him accepting it!! Hopefully he will be ok with the dry food.

Thanks again

Hayley