The dreaded "what food" question as well as other things!

[coralee]

Sorry guys, it's me again! Soooo many questions!

Harvey came from the breeder on Hills Science Diet puppy, which he loves, and scoffs in seconds! His poos have been perfect (easily picky-up-able) and he seemed to be thriving. We went and bought more, and there was a free "gift" with the food of Hill's puppy treats...fab we thought.

So, we continued to feed (from the new bag) and give the treats to him. Over the past 3 days, his poos have become much more looser - until this morning when they were literally just mucus  - after panicking, I called the vets, made an appointment, and have taken Harvey to see them. They say he has colitis (Sp?) - and he's now on antibiotics.

I just wondered;

I've heard all sorts of stories re: Hills and wonder whether I'm doing more harm than good feeding it to him, even though he seems to love it. I don't know whether it's the "treats" that are causing the sensitivity or the new bag of food causing it, I suppose that will just be a process of elimination.

Although a beautiful puppy with 100% of the time having the wind up his bum and playing - he also seems a little too overactive in fits and bursts. He will dart around the place, jumping and ducking and banging his head on all sorts of things (I worry he's going to give himself brain damage!) I've heard it said that Hills can cause hyperactivity...does anyone else have any experience of this. Also, Harvey's play biting is still very hard...although he's doing it less and less (down from 100% of the time to about 70%!!) When he's having his hyper moments, his play biting is really quite painful...Could this be due to hyperactivity, or is it just that I've not been training him properly and need to work on that?

I think I'm going to change his food gradually (Burns??) but I wondered whether anyone else had experienced this - Hills giving tummy upsets, hyperactivity, etc??

As always, your wonderful advice is appreciated 

[black taz]

Taz is on Hills scientific and has been for about 18 months.  Before that i had him on Bakers and he was realllllllllly hyper - changed him to Hills and he calmed down almost overnight. 

I currently have by 16 week old lab on James Well Beloved but she doesnt seem overkeen on it, and i am going to change her to Hills as when she is older i want them both on the same food.  I was thinking of putting Taz on JWB instead, but his coat is so fantastic and his behavour very good that i don't want to mend what isnt broken.

As for the play biting, i can only suggest the usual walk away/stop the activity.

I buy very few treats - i make a lot of pilchard cake and Frolic food is very good for training - you can break each piece into about 6 and much cheaper than normal treats.

[Helen]

when was his 2nd Jab?

[coralee]

lol, had to google "Frolic Food" thought it was something even more scientific! Will definately bear that in mind. Is there a recipe on COL for Pilchard cake?? Sounds divine! 

He had his second jab quite early - which is yet another issue I've had to take up with the vet! (but we won't go in to that!) so he had it 2 weeks ago.

[Jessie_Pup]

Would not use Frolic for training treats full of colors and additives.  Have you tried making Tuna bread instead?

[coralee]

Not tried tuna bread...need to hunt down recipes and get my pinny on (that'll shock the OH as I really don't do (aka not allowed to) cooking (not very good at it and suits me buckets that OH does it!  )

[black taz]

Pilchard Cake recipe:

2 cans of pilchard in tomato sauce - mushed up
2 eggs
1 crushed clove of garlic (optional)
grated carrot (optional but does bulk it out)
s/r flour - just add enough to make it similar consistency to sponge cake

poor into baking tray and bake in the oven at about 170 for 20 - 30 minutes (until cooked)

i then cut it up and freeze in individual portions

Tuna cake & liver cake can be made the same way, but tuna does work out expensive and liver stinks!

[coralee]

Thank you - I shall definately try this!