Hi,

I have a year old Lab/Dalmatian cross who has been prone to tummy upsets ever since we got him just over 2 months ago. After finding he was allergic to almost all commercial foods, and a bout of gastroenteritis, he was put on a low-allegen prescription diet. The vet said to try him on something new after a while and see how it goes.

Well I am currently trying out meat and bones (both cooked and raw), fish and vegetables, and fruit - his stools have never been better, his coat is shinier than ever however his energy seems to have dropped significantly and he's grumbling a lot.  He's fine when we go out, he runs etc.. but in the house he's content to fall asleep - which has never ever happened before. Could it be the diet?

PS - he scavenges and eat things he shouldn't too - plastic wrappers, tumble drying sheets etc... He threw one of these up 2 nights ago but nothing since. I'm frightened something is VERY wrong, although there are no real signs of him being ill. HELP!

It could be that he is content on his new diet, and he isnt getting lots of stuff he doesnt need (colourings etc) so he is able to settle rather than climb the walls because he is hyper.

JMO :)

Thanks for replying!

I'm just not so used to a well behaved and quiet dog. Every other time he's been quiet is because he's had a raging tummy ache.
I think I just need some re-assurance that this diet is good for him because I'm reading so many conflicting arguments. 

I can only give you my opinion, based on my experience of feeding Barf.

When I first swopped to Barf some 2 yrs ago now, my dogs went through a detox, this lasted for about 3'ish months from memory. Symptoms included dull coat, itchy skin, watery eyes but these were the worst symptoms and because they had been on tripe and the odd raw chicken wing before that, I don't think that they suffered as much as a dog that would have been fed on a previous commercial diet. So you may find that his body is doing the same and will continue to do so until he's cleared out.

My dogs are now the picture of health and the Shepherd that I had until very recently although was 7yrs, she looked and acted like a dog of 2 yrs! Her coat was shiney, no stiffness and her teeth and breath were magnificent. She was a very different dog before I changed diet.

I agree wholeheartedly about the food colourings and artificial stuff that could have been making him hyper, now you will be able to see your "true" dog ;) if this was what was changing his personality.

Mine also get raw eggs with shell in their dinner once a week, fresh oily fish like mackeral, sardine, salmon, herring etc. offal, ie, heart,lung or liver once a week, although my 2 have decided that they don't like it so I have to "hide it" in their food :rolleyes:

As has been said on here numerous times before, you are looking for a balance in diet over time, not in one day or one week. I also vary their diet as much as possible so that no 2 days are ever the same.

JME, hope this helps :)

Lucky boy's got mackeral and a little veg tonight!

Your experience sounds really familiar - he has a very shiny coat, but he's very itchy and his eyes have started to 'sleep' mucus which he never had before.
So it sounds like he's detoxing then! He's good though - he'll pretty much eat everything I put down for him so if I stick with it, hopefully I'll have a happy and healthy boy in a couple of months.

Good Luck with the BARF diet Dee Dee,Our girls have been on it for years  and are all fit & healthy. Our mongrel is 12years old and looks and acts like she is a  2 year old. Her coat is lovely and glossy and she's as bright as a button, she suffers a bit with arthritis now, but she is still able to look after the other girls,English Bull Terriers, she keep them all in line and grooms them. I'm sure your animal will be fine, after all natural is best and a varied diet is best. After all we'd get a bit fed up and ill having the same things to eat day after day.
Regards Ellie

Dee dee,

Do you think it possible that his previous diet made him hyperactive?

Stacey

Quite possibly - he was EXTREMELY hyper. Although I think he was also very frustrated with having constant tummy ache and not feeling very well all the time. Coupled with the fact that he was rehomed with us only 2 and a half months ago and castrated pretty much immediately - all in all I think he's generally starting to settle down now. (He has been through the mill hasn't he?!)

He's definately enjoying his food a lot more, but his energy is going down - he starting to have a lie down halfway through a walk, and his coat is getting very itchy. I sprayed him with some tea tree mix for itchyness this morning but do you think it could be the detox?