Probiotics and raw diet

LTS3 · Nov 24, 2016

Leroy's been on probiotics for the past week. I'm using the Natural Factors Double Strength Acidophilus & Bifidus 10 Billion one at the cat recommended dose of 1/2 capsule twice a day. Leroy's poop is still super stinky

I thought poop was supposed to be less stinky on probiotics

Or maybe since Leroy's an Aby nothing will ever make is poop less stinky

Should I try a different probiotic? He's eating NV frozen with a little raw / pre-mix added in. I have tried just the raw / pre-mix before and it made no difference in his poop, plus it wasn't filing enough for him no matter how much I gave him to eat.

mrsgreenjeens · Nov 24, 2016

Have you tried using a Digestive Enzyme? I have no idea if that might help or not...just throwing it out there.

I saw you mention about his stinky poop in another thread and I was really surprised. I wonder if Nexabiotic might help. Don't know why a different probiotic would make a different, but you never know.

LTS3 · Nov 24, 2016

I considered Nexabiotic but Rawfeedingforibdcats.org notes that it contains maltodextrin which can cause allergic reactions. Leroy is sensitive to all sorts of random stuff so I didn't want to risk it. Seafood toothpaste gives Leroy bald spots

I have not tried a digestive enzyme but it's worth looking into.

lisamarie12 · Nov 24, 2016

LTS3 said:
I considered Nexabiotic but Rawfeedingforibdcats.org notes that it contains maltodextrin which can cause allergic reactions. Leroy is sensitive to all sorts of random stuff so I didn't want to risk it. Seafood toothpaste gives Leroy bald spots:rolleyes2

I have not tried a digestive enzyme but it's worth looking into.

You may want to look into Renew Life, it's one of the recommended probiotics on the raw feeding for IBD Cats list. I used Nexabiotic with Mikey, (my Aby-mix) rescue. I was also concerned about the maltodextrin, however, Laurie G said the amounts are very minute. I switched him over to Renew Life but after this bottle, I might go back to Nexabiotic. Another one to consider, although it's a pet probiotic (so lower strains of bacteria) is Wholistic Feline Digest.

If it's not the NV raw that's giving him stinky poo, or the homemade raw, since you mentioned you tried feeding homemade raw exclusively and it didn't make a difference, could it be the premix?

Have you tried just using your own supplements instead of a premix? Which meats were you using that Leroy didn't get filled up on?

LTS3 · Nov 25, 2016

LisaMarie12 said:
If it's not the NV raw that's giving him stinky poo, or the homemade raw, since you mentioned you tried feeding homemade raw exclusively and it didn't make a difference, could it be the premix?

Have you tried just using your own supplements instead of a premix? Which meats were you using that Leroy didn't get filled up on?

I've tried both Better In The Raw and Alnutrin and neither made a dfference in the poop. I'm currently using Alnutrin for meat and bone with various meats. I'm a bit lazy to do individual supplements

When I was doing exclusively raw / pre mix (back when NV discontinued the dog / cat raw and hadn't come out with the new cat raw yet), it didn't matter which meat I used. Leroy never got full. Chicken, beef, goat, duck, llama, turkey, rabbit, etc.

lisamarie12 · Nov 25, 2016

LTS3 said:
I've tried both Better In The Raw and Alnutrin and neither made a dfference in the poop. I'm currently using Alnutrin for meat and bone with various meats. I'm a bit lazy to do individual supplements :anon:

When I was doing exclusively raw / pre mix (back when NV discontinued the dog / cat raw and hadn't come out with the new cat raw yet), it didn't matter which meat I used. Leroy never got full. Chicken, beef, goat, duck, llama, turkey, rabbit, etc.

I'm sorry to hear that, I'm sure you've had him checked out to make sure there is no health issue going on bc I know you take super care of Leroy from what I've read.

What do your instincts suggest it could be causing the smelly poo?
The supplements aren't all that more time consuming, I initially thought the same as you. I'm using whole carcass grinds now from HT, the quail and mouse. I just add 5 things per catinfo. Also, Marta, at Alnutrin, was kind enough to offer her advise on supplements to me, I wanted to use alnutrin but Mikey tested high positive for egg allergies.
Anyway: vit B complex, vit E, taurine, fish oil, light salt with iodine.
Hope you get to the bottom of what's going on.

lisamarie12 · Nov 25, 2016

P.S. Might there being a common ingredient in both the BITR and Alnutrin premixes that cld be the culprit? Maybe an intolerance to a certain ingredient?

LTS3 · Nov 26, 2016

I haven't used BITR in at least a year now. The independent pet store I mostly go to only has chubs with bone and organs so I've been using Alnutrin with a capsule of fish oil added in.

BITR Ingredients: Egg yolk, calcium lactate, beef liver powder, gelatin, whey protein concentrate, psyllium husks, EFA from fish oil, taurine, kelp, barley grass powder, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin E succinate.

Alnutrin for meat and bone Ingredients: Egg yolk powder, taurine, iodized salt, vitamin E, iron amino acid chelate, copper citrate, manganese amino acid chelate, zinc oxide, vitamin D3, vitamin B12, vitamin B1.

Maybe it's the egg yolk? Or fish oil?

Or something in the NV but Leroy has been eating NV since he was weaned and his poop has always been stinky. I don't think his poop is anymore or less stinky on the NV cat raw than it was on the old NV dog / cat raw. The breeder did tell me that purebred Abys in general have sensitive tummies and while some have normal stools, they may be intolerant to certain foods. That's why she fed raw and recommends buyers also feed raw or a high quality canned food diet.

Neither cat will eat Rad Cat, Primal, and Stella and Chewy's so trying those are out. Saw a new brand of raw at the pet store today and bought it to try. Will start a new thread about that.

The vet isn't concerned about the stinkiness as long as Leroy is pooping just fine. He's fine with me using probiotics and I'm sure adding a digestive enzyme would also be fine.

If I were to use individual supplemens, how would I do that with 2lbs of ground meat and bone?

lisamarie12 · Nov 28, 2016

LTS3 said:
I haven't used BITR in at least a year now. The independent pet store I mostly go to only has chubs with bone and organs so I've been using Alnutrin with a capsule of fish oil added in.

BITR Ingredients: Egg yolk, calcium lactate, beef liver powder, gelatin, whey protein concentrate, psyllium husks, EFA from fish oil, taurine, kelp, barley grass powder, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin E succinate.

Alnutrin for meat and bone Ingredients: Egg yolk powder, taurine, iodized salt, vitamin E, iron amino acid chelate, copper citrate, manganese amino acid chelate, zinc oxide, vitamin D3, vitamin B12, vitamin B1.

Maybe it's the egg yolk? Or fish oil?

Or something in the NV but Leroy has been eating NV since he was weaned and his poop has always been stinky. I don't think his poop is anymore or less stinky on the NV cat raw than it was on the old NV dog / cat raw. The breeder did tell me that purebred Abys in general have sensitive tummies and while some have normal stools, they may be intolerant to certain foods. That's why she fed raw and recommends buyers also feed raw or a high quality canned food diet.

Neither cat will eat Rad Cat, Primal, and Stella and Chewy's so trying those are out. Saw a new brand of raw at the pet store today and bought it to try. Will start a new thread about that.

The vet isn't concerned about the stinkiness as long as Leroy is pooping just fine. He's fine with me using probiotics and I'm sure adding a digestive enzyme would also be fine.

If I were to use individual supplemens, how would I do that with 2lbs of ground meat and bone?

Since Leroy has had the smelly poo since he was a kitten - and you started him on NV, I'm thinking maybe it doesn't have anything to do with the food, but rather, the odor is just something unique to how Leroy digests food? It sounds like your breeder gave you some insight on this. I worked with Instinct for almost three years - and fed Mikey Instinct raw for several months. I never heard anyone say their cat had stinky poo on Instinct raw. Mikey never had smelly poo on it either. (But he's had other stomach issues - vomiting first meal of the day, etc. Probiotics and a small amount of food the first meal of the day takes care of that problem.)

As long as your vet doesn't seem concerned, it's likely not something to worry about.

As far as the supplements, I followed Dr Pierson's recipe as well as feline nutrition. Marta (Alnutrin) confirmed the following was fine (for whole carcass grinds - mouse / quail, however, the same supplements are listed for ground / organ / bone from Dr. Pierson and FN):

For 2.5 lbs (adjusted slightly for 2 lbs - if there is a little excess, other than the salt, it's not too big of a concern b/c these vitamins are all water soluble):

2.5 lbs, add:

1 cup water
5000-10K fish oil (anchovy / sardine oil) per Dr. Pierson, 2K okay if cat doesn't like fish - I use 2K.
Vit E, (I could only find liquid E with no soy added): 200 IU (per Marta: "You can use less vitamin E (approximately half of the original amount). You don't need to add any magnesium.")
Taurine powder: 2000 mg
B complex (per Dr. Pierson, if B complex - 50, 1 cap, B complex 100 1/2 cap). I have Jarrows and the b vitamins are all over the place, some 25 mg, others 100. So I just add one full cap since B's are water soluble.
1 teaspoon light salt with iodine.

It's pretty straightforward, not time consuming at all really, other than poking fish oil tablets.

LTS3 · Nov 29, 2016

LisaMarie12 said:
Since Leroy has had the smelly poo since he was a kitten - and you started him on NV, I'm thinking maybe it doesn't have anything to do with the food, but rather, the odor is just something unique to how Leroy digests food? It sounds like your breeder gave you some insight on this. I worked with Instinct for almost three years - and fed Mikey Instinct raw for several months. I never heard anyone say their cat had stinky poo on Instinct raw. Mikey never had smelly poo on it either. (But he's had other stomach issues - vomiting first meal of the day, etc. Probiotics and a small amount of food the first meal of the day takes care of that problem.)

As long as your vet doesn't seem concerned, it's likely not something to worry about.

The smell bothers me more than it bothers Leroy. I wish Leroy would actually cover up his poop so it wouldn't smell so much

Emma eats the exact same food and her poop is pretty much odorless.

The recipie seems pretty straightforward. I'll have to look into the prices of the supplements and make a list of brands to buy.

LTS3 · Feb 9, 2017

Just an update - I started Leroy on Renew Life Ultimate Flora Extra Care Probiotic 30 Billion yesterday. He's had one whole capsule so far, two 1/2 capsule doses. His poop is noticably less stinky

It still smells like poop but it's definitely not the room clearing smell anymore. Maybe the extra bacteria strains and higher CFU count in the Renew Life is what Leroy needs.

mrsgreenjeens · Feb 10, 2017

LTS3 said:
Just an update - I started Leroy on Renew Life Ultimate Flora Extra Care Probiotic 30 Billion yesterday. He's had one whole capsule so far, two 1/2 capsule doses. His poop is noticably less stinky

It still smells like poop but it's definitely not the room clearing smell anymore. Maybe the extra bacteria strains and higher CFU count in the Renew Life is what Leroy needs.

Wow! How interesting. And so quickly! Frankly, I'm amazed that just after one day the smell is already better. That stuff must be amazing

. So...did Leroy have any issues eating the food with it in there? I know whenever I switch probiotics, Tinky can usually tell something is different and goes on a temporary food strike

I have to very slowly introduce anything, which is so annoying (doing it now actually), because I don't really want him to be short on his probiotics.

LTS3 · Feb 10, 2017

mrsgreenjeens said:
Wow! How interesting. And so quickly! Frankly, I'm amazed that just after one day the smell is already better. That stuff must be amazing

. So...did Leroy have any issues eating the food with it in there? I know whenever I switch probiotics, Tinky can usually tell something is different and goes on a temporary food strike

I have to very slowly introduce anything, which is so annoying (doing it now actually), because I don't really want him to be short on his probiotics.

Leroy's a walking trash can / vaccuum cleaner so he eats anything. He didn't notice the Renew Life in his food. He pooped again not long ago and still no room clearing stink

lisamarie12 · Feb 13, 2017

LTS3 said:
Just an update - I started Leroy on Renew Life Ultimate Flora Extra Care Probiotic 30 Billion yesterday. He's had one whole capsule so far, two 1/2 capsule doses. His poop is noticably less stinky It still smells like poop but it's definitely not the room clearing smell anymore. Maybe the extra bacteria strains and higher CFU count in the Renew Life is what Leroy needs.

That's excellent! I really like Renew Life, I've been using the 15 b with Mikey, only half a cap a day but minimal odor.

I'm so glad to hear RL is working out for Leroy!

lavishsqualor · Feb 13, 2017

I tried my cats on Evo canned once and Thirteen's poop was absolutely horrific. Atticus's was normal but Thirteen literally cleared the room. Imagine the stinkiest poop possible--now imagine someone setting that stinky poop on fire! If Thirteen pooped at night and used the litter box in our bedroom it would wake us up. I'd have to get up and dispose of her poop or there was no going back to sleep. My vet said that some proteins, even if they are great, just don't agree with all cats. Man, I will never forget that smell. Yuck.

Probiotics and raw diet

LTS3

TCS Member

Thread starter

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats

LTS3

TCS Member

Thread starter

lisamarie12

TCS Member

LTS3

TCS Member

Thread starter

lisamarie12

TCS Member

lisamarie12

TCS Member

LTS3

TCS Member

Thread starter

lisamarie12

TCS Member

LTS3

TCS Member

Thread starter

LTS3

TCS Member

Thread starter

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats

LTS3

TCS Member

Thread starter

lisamarie12

TCS Member

lavishsqualor

TCS Member

Latest Posts

Connect with us