Baloo's possible food sensitivity... or not?

[Deleted]

Hey!

So about a month ago it was suggested by Sherry that I try and take Baloo off any source of Chicken to see if it was possible the source of his smelly poops and "once in a while" loose stools. She suggested 2 weeks.

So I did.... nothing changed really.... just kept getting slowly better (as it did while on the chicken). In the meanwhile I was feeding mostly lamb, but with venison, beef, and turkey.

Then, after two weeks of slow improvement, but no change from how it was before I took the chicken away, I chose to add chicken back in to see what would happen. Then it would confirm a chicken sensitivity if he starts getting worse...

But he never got worse. He just got better faster! Now, he still smells a bit more than the girls, but nothing like before... I tried taking every other meat source out for a few days see if I would notice any changes... nothing.

He's now at the point where last time I saw looser stools has been over a week ago, and poops are slightly smellier than the girls, but barely noticeable... And he's back on the exact same diet that he was on a month ago before I started pulling meat sources out and he's doing wonderful!

So, is it safe to assume chicken isn't a problem for him? Nor is either of the other meat sources? And that the problem may just be that it was slow for him to adjust to the raw?

Also, side question: Ever since her operation in October, Meeko's poops have been about 50% seedy (like one poop will be 50% good, 50% seedy, all mixed together...)... is it ok to assume this is normal for her because of her meds and JL?

Thanks!

[Sherry]

For Balloo- I think we can safely say it was simply a longer adjustment period With Meeko, yes. It's the meds and jl

[Deleted]

I think Sherrys right, seems like switching stools

It could also be he can do good on the protein for a short amount of time but has flare ups after extended exposure. So as long as chicken is rotated and only fed for 1-2 meals he's good (hope that makes sense - in super sleep deprived).

[Sherry]

That's a very good point Jackie! It could well be a sensitivity that takes a while to build up, as in too many meals in a week.
If that is the case, I think I'd just leave it out of the diet entirely. Can't remember just where I read it, but sensitivities can make them more prone to things like IBD later on.

[Deleted]

Oh, ok! I'll be sure to check on that! If he gets worse again, I'll be ready!

I'm becoming a poop expert with all this. My fiancé thinks I'm crazy because whenever I take the guys out, I have a ferretone bottle, and a flashlight to inspect every poop that was left during the day and every new ones produced before play time... ;D

At least the ferrets don't seem to mind me poking through their toilet all the time