Clooney's Mommy
Newbie
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| 07/01/2008 1:35 PM |
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Hello! I am a semi- new owner of an adorable rat terrier named Clooney (as in George Clooney), and he just turned 1 on June 19th. He was eating Eukanuba small dog dry food, and just this past weekend I switched his food to eukanuba Naturally Wild Turkey multi grain dry food. I noticed he has been peeing way more than normal the past few days- like once every hour- having accidents all over the house which is not like him. I also give him Whole Meals food bones once a day, but he has had these before with no reaction. Also he has been licking his paws a lot and twitching his fur on his lower back. He would not go to sleep last night no matter what I did- he was very restless and couldn't get comfortable. I'm wondering if he is having a food-allergy reaction to the Eukanuba food.
From the research I did, some people report how bad Eukanuba can be for dogs. He was originally on Wellness dry food, but it was too fatty for him and gave him diarrhea. Any suggestions? I was going to switch to boiled chicken and rice for a week then try a new brand of dog food. Help!!!! |
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Mitzy's Mom
Alpha Feist
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| 07/01/2008 1:46 PM |
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Sounds like maybe 2 things going on here...the peeing could be a urinary tract infection. The licking of paws sounds like allergy, possibly food allergy...did you switch him to Eukanuba from Wellness? Are you sure that the Wellness gave him diarrhea? Regardless, any multi-grain food can cause allergies to act up if the dog is prone to that (I have a rattie like that) and if the food has corn it - can really cause allergic symptoms.
I would have him checked by a vet for UTI and then consider a food with a single source of protein and carbs. I feed Natural Balance duck/potato for this reason (my allergy dog) but there are many other "allergy" formulas in other high quality brand foods. JMO
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom
www.ratbonerescues.com; www.newrattitude.org |
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RatsRule!
Ratastic
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| 07/01/2008 1:50 PM |
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| personally, I wouldn't make any sudden changes in diet. Changes should be gradual (3 parts old & 1 part new, then half and half for a few days, then more new than old etc) I would definately recommend- as many others will - changing from the brand you are using. Do some research before you switch. There's a lot of bad stuff out there, but some good too. you might also be interested in reading a book abut cmmercial pet food called Pet Food Nation. Its a real esy read- nothing complicated at all. (I'm not pushing it on anyone) I just found it very intersting and am gradually moving away from commercial food altogether. Good luck!! I'm sure others will have some really great advice. |
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~~ Life is awesome when you share it with a couple of Ratties! ~~
Terri, proud mom of Chloe & Bonnie!
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Ratbone Rescues Application Coordinator
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tiggarat
Bratty Ratty
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| 07/01/2008 1:50 PM |
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I don't know if increased peeing is part of grain allergies.  But the chewing and overall itchiness and diarrhea are signs of grain allergies (although something else could be going on, but since this started when you switched foods, I assume it's grain allergies). Eukanuba is not a great food, there are a few worse than that, but there are so many better foods than that.
There are several great grain-free foods out there...my ratties were on Innova EVO, but are now on Canidae All Life Stages. Getting his stomach back to a healthy state by feeding him a bland diet of chicken and rice before trying new foods is a good idea.  |
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Lisabeth
furbabies: Lucy and Molly (1 1/2 yr old decker ratties), and Rosie (3 yr old dobie)
Buddy - gone but never forgotten.
"I don't think he has any idea he's a dog, really. Of course, he thinks he has a rather odd figure for a man" - Dodie Smith |
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Clooney's Mommy
Newbie
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| 07/01/2008 1:57 PM |
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Thanks so much for the advice everyone! I want to post a picture of my little Clooney for you guys, but I'm not sure how to do it on this website.
I will definitely look into other brands for him, and do a Chicken and Rice diet for a few days. I read on another dog- owner website that someone's rat terrier had uncontrolable peeing as part of the allergy from Eukanuba (some chemical in it is a diuretic and causes bladder control problems). I will also have him checked for a possible UTI, but I really think it is from the food. My dog-walker recommended Innova EVO too. I will buy him whatever it takes to make him happy. He is not the biggest eater- but he takes his time with it and eventually eats all his food. Hopefully once I change his diet around these symptoms will subside. There was definitely something bothering him last night.. he was not his normal self! I know my little Clooney well! |
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RatsRule!
Ratastic
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| 07/01/2008 2:07 PM |
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go the the new members spot (in red- left side) it will help. I had trouble too- the big thing is- make sure your pic is under 125 KB and that the file is a jpg (lower case) and you should be fine. Can't wait to see the pic!
Good luck with the diet change. The Inovva EVO is the kibble I currently feed my girls- along with other non-commercial food. It's really good. Sounds like you are a very proud rattie owner and Clooney is lucky to have you. |
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~~ Life is awesome when you share it with a couple of Ratties! ~~
Terri, proud mom of Chloe & Bonnie!
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Ratbone Rescues Application Coordinator
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Mitzy's Mom
Alpha Feist
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| 07/01/2008 2:14 PM |
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| You know, I thought about the chemicals in some of these really bad dog foods causing trouble in the bladder but I couldn't remember the specifics of what I had read. I would defnitely get him off the Eukanuba asap. |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom
www.ratbonerescues.com; www.newrattitude.org |
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Clooney's Mommy
Newbie
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| 07/01/2008 9:32 PM |
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| Well here's the update.. now I noticed that Clooney definitely has little red bumps under his fur on his back- almost like hives or some types of rash. You can't really see them, but I can feel them when I pet him on his sides... I noticed the bumps because his fur looks different.. all lumpy kind of. Other than that, he is acting totally normal.. he is munching on a bully stick now, and he ate all his boiled chicken and white rice for dinner, and had a normal poop... so he is obviously suffering from some kind of allergy to something. I feel terrible! Poor little guy! |
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Clooney's Mommy
Newbie
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| 07/01/2008 9:39 PM |
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| test to see if the picture of clooney comes up... . |
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Lucy's Mommy
Ratastic
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| 07/01/2008 9:58 PM |
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| Sorry for the trouble after you changed your Eukanuba. We've always fed Lucy Eukanuba, ranging from puppy to regular adult food to now, weight loss. She's never had an issue. Hope everything works out OK for the little one. |
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tauney4
Pack Leader
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| 07/01/2008 10:24 PM |
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| my moms dog is half rattie and he has allergies and for those allergies she goes to wal mart and buys a cortizone spray that is put out by hartz it really helps her dog alot. i hope you find a solution for your rattie!!!! |
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Clooney's Mommy
Newbie
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| 07/02/2008 9:50 AM |
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| Thanks! I will try the Cortizone spray. He was up all night again- with the "itches"... I feel so bad that he is uncomfortable. Hopefully it will go away in a few days.!!!! |
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Clooney's Mommy
Newbie
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| 07/02/2008 9:57 AM |
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Oh I'm so excited- Clooney's picture came up!
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 07/02/2008 11:01 AM |
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| I know under "normal" circumstances you would switch a dogs food very slow. But in my opinion, in this case where he is so drastically affected, I would immediately stop the Eukaneuba and feed something else. He may have slight loose stools for a day or so, but in comparision to how miserable he is, it would be worth it. Hope he feels better soon. |
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Sarah
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bluedog
Rat Royalty
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| 07/02/2008 5:51 PM |
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My lab was on Beneful when we got him - he started getting itchy and losing the hair on the inside of his legs. We discovered he was allergic to the cedar in the nice new dog bed we got him! make sure it is not environmental.
My dogs were on EVO (my first choice to switch to) - too rich but very good food (I have my cats on it and they love it), just not a good fit for us, and now on a combo of Wellness Original in the AM and NW Naturals Raw in the PM. You'll find a good food that works - just adding the info that it could be environmental. |
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Christine
Mom to Michael & Charlotte
Moose (lab), Paisley (rattie), Clark & Lois (tolerant kitties) |
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Ski
Ratastic
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| 07/03/2008 6:51 AM |
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Posted By Clooney's Mommy on 07/01/2008 1:57 PM
Thanks so much for the advice everyone! I want to post a picture of my little Clooney for you guys, but I'm not sure how to do it on this website.
I will definitely look into other brands for him, and do a Chicken and Rice diet for a few days. I read on another dog- owner website that someone's rat terrier had uncontrolable peeing as part of the allergy from Eukanuba (some chemical in it is a diuretic and causes bladder control problems). I will also have him checked for a possible UTI, but I really think it is from the food. My dog-walker recommended Innova EVO too. I will buy him whatever it takes to make him happy. He is not the biggest eater- but he takes his time with it and eventually eats all his food. Hopefully once I change his diet around these symptoms will subside. There was definitely something bothering him last night.. he was not his normal self! I know my little Clooney well!
I read something like that also, only it was melamine poisoning. Supposedly melamine acts as a diuretic and increased urination is a symptom. In the incident I read about, the dog owner found out too late and the damage couldn't be reversed. I, too, would stop feeding the Eukanuba immediately.
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MurphyDog
Ratastic
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| 07/04/2008 3:43 AM |
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You know, it might be worth the piece of mind just to take him to the vet and have him checked out. The rash is concerning, and may be a reaction to something else, not just his food.
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Mitch and Murphy Hancock (the dog)
"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck |
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