Stomach Upsets and Four Meals a Day

Our current rescue Ridgeback came to us at about 2 1/2 years old. He had had a particularly traumatic puppyhood and young life.

He is now pretty 'bomb-proof' but in the early years many things could send him into a state of pure terror - certain smells, men, people wearing hats, shadows, raised voices, bicycles and so much more.

He was still very thin and weak when we took him home, and SO afraid... and that was after being cared for and spoiled with individual treatment and love, for six weeks by a breeder member of the breed Rescue Trust [RRWT] with her dogs.

His ill treatment started at around 4 months old and went on until the RSPCA rescued him [either at 11 months old, or after 11 months in time - not sure on this detail] they had a hard job with him, but eventually he went out to a new owner. This rescue failed... the RSPCA had him back and that was where the breed Rescue Trust was contacted and took him on.

When we got him he was being fed dried food for 'sensitive' stomachs. That food went out of production! We had to change to another food, and he seemed to lose weight slightly then. Also he had still had occasional bouts of diarrhoea and sickness which didn't help stabilize his weight.

He stole food whenever he had the remotest chance... usually it was a flour based item like bread or cake - this was what he was supposed to be allergic to! But it didn't seem to upset his stomach in any way.

It was recommended by the vet after a bout of diarrhoea that he be fed 3 small feeds of a bland food to help settle his stomach - it worked for a small time. But still the occasional stomach upsets.

Later it got to be 4 smaller feeds daily... but with this regime he could eat virtually anything. As long as his meals were divided into these four small portions and spread out at about 4 hourly intervals he could enjoy any suitable foods.

We now believe that his problem all along was due to his starvation and ill-treatment as a puppy... so his stomach didn't develop fully and large meals just don't suit him. [Maybe like stomach stapling in reverse!] Anyway he has been on this regime for some years now and IT WORKS.

Do what suits your pet... you will get to know their individual requirements. Give them adequate exercise, and don't let them gain excess weight.

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NOTE:
When your vet recommends a bland diet - the norm is boiled rice and chicken.