Need advice: switch off Royal Canine Hypoallergenic DR21

[siloquita]

Hi guys,

I have a 2,5 yro Estrela Mt Dog. She’s currently on Royal canine hypoallergenic dr21 since she was around 7 months of age. After a Giardia episode her stomach was not the same any longer. Seen several vets and they recommended this kibble, which works fine for her stomach. All vets said that she might grow out of this “digestive insensitivity “or that she won’t, nobody actually knows. Her symptoms begin with half firm, half runny stools, after a while evolving in all runny poos.

I’d like to try swapping foods to see if she can take it. My other 2 are now on Markus Mühle, before on Wolf of the Wilderness, Taste of the Wilderness, Natura Diet, Fish4dogs etc. Tried several brands since one of the other 2 was a fussy eater :).

Anyone had similar issues and swapped to another brand? Was thinking of going for the cold pressed Hypoallergenic Lupo from MM.

[Dottie]

I can’t find Royal Canin Hypoallergenic DR21 in the Dog Food Directory so have accessed the ingredient list from their website:

Rice, hydrolysed soya protein isolate, animal fats, minerals, hydrolysed poultry liver, beet pulp, soya oil, Fructo-Oligo-Saccharides (FOS), fish oil, borage oil, marigold extract (source of lutein). Crude ash: 8.4%. Crude fibre: 1%. Crude oil fats: 19%. Moisture: 9.5%. Protein: 21%.

Is there any reason why you are wanting to change from this? We have a thread here on feeding dogs with a sensitive digestive system which might be helpful.

Cold pressed food could be a good option but you need to take the transition very slowly. On the Guru website they recommend up to two weeks transition for some dogs who need it. Lupo Sensitive 24/10 ingredients are as follows:

[i]Dried chicken meat (ground) 33%, potato flour 32%, parsnips (dried, ground), beet pulp, milk thistle 5%, cold-pressed blended vegetable oil 5% (linseed, rapeseed, borage oil), seaweed meal, salmon oil 2%, dried moor extract 1.5%, dried chicory 1.5%, mineral clay 1% , dried nettle leaves 1%, dried dandelion leaves 1%, yucca schidigera.
Additives:
Nutritional additives:
Vitamin A (10,000 IU/kg), vitamin D3 (1,000 IU/kg), vitamin E (200 mg/kg), vitamin B1 as thiamine mononitrate(4.0 mg/kg), vitamin B2 as riboflavin (8.0 mg / kg), vitamin B6 as pyridoxine hydrochloride (4.8 mg/kg), vitamin B12 (48 mcg/kg), biotin as D-(+)-biotin (252 mcg/kg), folic acid (0.40 mg/kg) , niacin (24.1 mg/kg), pantothenic acid as calcium D-pantothenate (8.0 mg/kg), vitamin C as L-ascorbic acid (140 mg/kg), choline chloride (1.200 mg/kg), iron (180 mg/kg), cobalt (1.2 mg/kg).

Trace elements:
Manganese as manganese (II) oxide (48 mg/kg), copper as copper (II) oxide (10 mg/kg), zinc as zinc oxide (65 mg/kg), iodine as calcium iodate (1.6 mg/kg).[/i]

It seems to be a suitable choice, especially as it has dried moor which from what I have read can help with digestion. If you decide to try it, choose a small bag and transition slowly. We would be interested to hear how you get on with it as your experience might help other pet owners.