[K H]

We’ve been feeding Wellness Senior Complete Health to our dogs for seven years on the advice of a trainer with canine nutrition education. Our newest dog is passing large amounts of smelly gas, so we consulted our veterinarian. (We don’t think it’s pathological. She’s missing some front teeth and so gulps extra air while eating.) They suggested we find a dog food with less than 21 percent crude protein. We were shocked to find out that our “low protein” senior dog food was packing 22 percent minimum crude protein!

So we began looking for something new.

We found the BalanceIT Guaranteed Analysis Converter, but it only lets you set a minimum instead of a maximum.

How on earth do we find a dog food that actually has less protein than that?

We are doing this on the advice of a veterinarian, so please don’t argue with us about the wisdom or otherwise of doing this.

Thank you.

[Patricia A]

KH I’m confused with the reasoning that your vet advised a low protein diet . How would that solve the gas problem caused from the gulping of food. Maybe one of those bowls where the dog is forced to eat slowly . Did your vet give you an explanation why she would benefit from a low protein diet. Myvet actually told me to up the protein with fresh meat added since older dogs get muscle mass waste and need the extra protein.
(When dietary protein intake is inadequate, protein will initially be depleted from skeletal muscle, accelerating muscle wastage. General guidelines of 2.55g protein/kg bodyweight (BW) for healthy dogs and 5g/kg BW for cats have been suggested, but senior animals may need up to 50 percent more than this (Churchill, 2018). Although still an ongoing area of investigation, an increased intake of protein appears to be of particular benefit and has demonstrated a reduction in sarcopenia in dogs and cats (Laflamme, 2018). As yet, however, no optimal protein level has been determined. )

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Patricia A.

[K H]

Well, the dog in question is not elderly. Her teeth are traumatically damaged (she’s a rescue, so details are uncertain), not due to age. She’s about four years old now (the youngest member of the pack).

Wellness Senior has done well by our dogs, regardless of age (and we’ve had ’em down to about one year). Flissie doesn’t seem to have lost any of her massive muscle mass (she’s a American Staffordshire Terrier). Perhaps we should look into something higher protein for our elder statesman (nine-year-old Winston), so thanks much for that advice. (We want to keep him around and healthy as long as we can!)

As for getting Flissie a bowl that makes her slow down, she’s already the slowest eater. It’s just that lots of air comes in as she eats. They all have private crates where they get fed, so competition is not a problem, but Flissie still seems upset at not being able to eat as fast as the other two. The others never try to steal her food (crates are sacred in our pack), but she’s still feeling the stress. I’d hesitate to slow her down more. We might try slowing down the other two in fact. Maybe she’d gulp less at least.

Does anyone here know any other ways to reduce flatulence? The stink if not the quantity of gas? It’s that which is making life difficult for the human members of the pack.

Thanks!

[haleycookie]

Lowing protein and raising carbs is going to result in a fat old dog.

The gassy dog is likely sensitive to something in the wellness. I would try to transition to another quality food and see if getting away from the chicken in wellness may help the gassy dog.

Edit: or if you’re happy with wellness with the older dog just feed gassy dog a different LID food.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by haleycookie.

[pugmomsandy]

KH,

Look into a probiotic/digestive enzyme supplement. 22% protein is considered low considering kibble can contain 18-60%, and the minimum to be dog food is 18% for adult maintenance.

I sprinkle in occasionally some Honest Kitchen goat milk+probiotics into my senior’s food or sometimes he eats raw green tripe.

https://www.chewy.com/s?query=digestive%20health%20%26%20probiotics%20for%20dogs&nav-submit-button=

[pugmomsandy]

Lotus Senior/Special Needs Regular Bite and Senior Small Bites are low in protein (20% dry matter).

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