Poor Heffalump has been on an exclusion diet to try to figure out what he can and cannot tolerate. We've pretty much been through the available protein sources - usual and unusual - with little improvement to his IBD. The next novel protein to try is insect.
I bought a can of the brand my vet recommended. H2 didn't object, but for me the stench was unbearable. I honestly could not get through spooning it into his bowl without retching.
So before I start buying food that I end up tossing in the bin - do any of you feed an insect protein based wet food, and if so, can you recommend a brand that does not smell too bad?
Bonus points for brands containing as few ingredients as possible other than the protein source - for instance only one carb, and none of the fol-de-rol so common in 'boutique' brands today.
While not insect based, Obi (my berniedoodle) is quite delicate, I get him millies wolfheart (delivered to Germany, and picked up).
He's currently on Forager " without : Gluten, Grain, Rice, Chicken or Eggs, Beet Pulp, Synthetic Preservatives and Additives"
If you want to try some MW, pm me and I'll mail you a portion or so. I may have 2-3 bases of protein (one is salmon - that tends to be my goto, but he gets bored of that).
Right now I am concentrating on single protein foods, as I need to test/eliminiate one protein source at a time as I learn what does, or does not, trigger H2's IBD episodes.
MW looks like a great food, though - I'll keep it in mind if/when we get through this elimination phase.
Tangentially related side note:
Have any of you noticed that some of the better dog food brands seem to be pulling out of the Swiss market?
Now that I am going through the search again, it seems that some of the brands I had used with good results a few years ago with othe dogs are now getting hard to find. The bigger retailers seem to have dropped or shrunk the range of some of the premium brands (Terra Canis, Escapure, Magnusson, Ziwipeak, etc.) - really frustrating. I hope we are not heading back to the bad old days of a decade ago when choice in Switzerland was so limited.
Maybe it's time to finally set up drop shipping in Germany...
I really struggled when I move Obi here... he's always been on 70:30:0 diets (millies have single protein too, but I never managed to identify what caused his upset tummy... it seems brand related rather than protein based... so Im thinking grains or some additive).
Previously, I would buy 10-12 bags and drive them down, but now with swiss paket, it's easy. 35 mins to the border and they are literally just over the border.
Not saying it’s the same condition but maybe feeding him a more veg based diet might help. Randomly Lewis Hamilton says his dogs health has massively improved since he put him on a vegan diet.
Interesting point. I'm not ruling anything out, but as the IBD (biopsy confirmed IBD) is recent, PKU probably isn't a factor. From my limited understanding of PKU in people, the condition is present at birth. But I'll put that on my list of things to ask the vet.
The suggestion of an insect-based food goes to your idea of a meat intolerance as a possibility. I'll also ask the vet about trying a vegitarian diet - he's always had veggies added to his food, and likes them.
Has your vet suggested trying with a vegetation food? Before anyone gets upset, yes dogs are carnivores but I did know a Greater Swiss who couldn’t tolerate anything other than a veterinarian formulated hypoallergenic vegetarian diet. Was it ideal? No. But he was alive and relatively healthy for him. Unfortunately he never did tolerate animal protein of any kind, do hope that is not the case for your sweet pup!
Wow I’m obviously not reading well today. Do definitely ask your vet about that. From my granted limited research on insect protein foods, there seem to be a lot of bacteria and fungi and other little critters than can cause allergies and intolerances.
Quick suggestion as we have a great pyr who went through all the single protein foods, I cooked, etc. on and on. We finally landed on Hill's Z/D. The proteins are split. It's expensive & comes only from the vet, but after sticking with it and ensuring has nothing else ever (not one bite -- even grass), he's gained to a normal weight. Good luck!