Expert: Have4Paws - 1/15/2011

Question
I just switched my 6 year old female beagle to Dogswell Nutrisca. This is grain free, potato free food that has just come out with great reviews. I think it might be too rich for her. She has gas, which is not uncommon, but she also smells. I don't know if it is burps, or (she is a poop eater) if she just ate poop. I am feeding her a heaping 1/2 cup 2 times a day. This food is 30% protein. My vet is OK with any dog food so I really can't ask him. I just would like to know a good dog food for a beagle.

Answer
Hi Sue, I dont know anything about this food, havent heard of it, perhaps it is  regional, I am in CA. My personal favorite is Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance. He makes a "limited ingredient diet" with no grains, no preservatives and using only novel proteins (proteins a domestic dog would never come in contact with) This especially is good for beagles who are very allergy prone dogs, in fact almost all beagles have some type of skin or food allergy.  This has been the closest I have found to the prescription allergy foods the vet sells for $95 a bag!! My current beagle boy has horrendous food allergies and this causes constant ear infections and eczema.He is currently on duck and potatoe (which by the way potatoe and sweet potatoe are prescribed as they are seldom allergic to these)and his symptoms are 70% better. There is no cure unfortunately. The smell and gas means your beagle is allergic, this is her systems way of reacting to the food. As well when you changed your beagle to this food did you do it gradually over a couple of weeks? If you just switched it in one day it would be the reason for the gas etc. This fast change can cause gas, stomach upset, diarrhea etc. Anytime a food is changed it must be done slowly, starting with literally a few pieces to eventually the change out. This should take at a minimum 7-9 days. If you did do this properly then this tellsw you she is still allergic to the food she is getting. You may have to try a few to see the best results but PLEASE always do it very slowly when you change, you should let her be on one food for at least 2-3 weeks to see the results. Frequent changing can also cause GI upset.

You didnt mention how much your beagle girl weighs, if she is over 25- lbs a heaping half cup twice a day is too much food. If she is plump then I would cut it down to 1/3 cup twice a day, which also gives room for a few treats or rawhide etc. The other thing you can try is feeding her three times a day if you are around, same amount but less at each feeding, sometimes having food in their stomach all the time is helpful for GI upset prone dogs. You want your beagle to be lean and fit, plump beagles expire earlier, I have had many who were 15 years old before other issues (like cancer) forced me to put them to sleep. The more fit you keep her the better and it will prolong her life. Of course she needs a lot of exercise, beagles are very active. BUT they also live to eat so you ahve to be careful, a beagle will eat if you let them until they literally POP!

As far as the poop eating, yeah this is a problem and provides for nasty breath and not good for their teeth or GI tract. Suggestions: 1) pick up the poop more often or preferably as soon as she does it 2) ask the vet for FORBID which is added to her food and makes the poo smell and taste nasty 3)you can get Charcoal tablets at the pet store for your dog that freshen breath. I also have used a canine antibacterial mouthwash to eliminate any bacteria growing, it comes with an applicator that makes it so you can just squirt some in their mouth.

Hope this all is helpful, write back if you need more info.