Black Labs = sensitive stomachs?

Question

My gf has a black lab that she says has a sensitive stomach. She buys really, really pricey food that is purchased from the vet. She wigs out anytime the dog eats anything human (the dog is tall enough so that sometimes he snatches food from places he shouldn't).

I've had dogs my whole life (though not black labs) and have never experienced a "senstive stomach" dog. I don't know if she's being paranoid and is over-babying this dog (she babies him in other ways too), or if the breed is truly known for stomach problems. When the dog eats human food, he seems fine to me but she "sees" problems afterwards that I don't.

What is it: Is she over stressing about the gastro-intestinal needs of the dog? Or am I not sensitive enough about the dogs sensitive stomach?

Answer 1

There ARE documented food allergy's, food sensitivities and irritable bowel syndrome in dogs of all breeds. Dogs with any of these problems may truly seriously need to avoid anything but the diet they can do well on just as much as a human with a peanut allergy need to avoid peanuts! the consequences potentially can be severe, even fatal if they get the wrong foods.There are also owners with a projected hypochondria onto the dog (happens to children too). There are also insensitive folks who tell people with allergies that "its all in your head" and even go so far as tricking them into eating say a peanut containing food - sometimes with fatal results.
Hard to tell exactly what scenario you're dealing with over the Internet. it could even be a halfway thing - dog need to seriously avoid a lottta human food but she overreacts to even crumbs

PS By the way one of my coworkers has a Irritable Bowel Dog - shes on pricey food from the vet school - not science diet so folks don't ASSUME. And even if it was-- put it this way, Science diet may not be the best food for most dogs but no one else makes diets tailored to as many diet responsive conditions - believe me as the owner of a dog with a chronic health problem (NOT diet responsive), if I'm ever in a situation where that "crap" fillers and all is gonna keep my dog alive and reasonable healthy its no contest.

Answer 2

First off the breed is lab, not "black lab." Despite what many will claim there is no difference in traits of color variations. I own a chocolate lab and volunteer with a lab rescue. I've met hundreds of labs (of all colors, ages, sexes) and color does not determine a thing. Every dog is an individual, so yes some dogs have sensitive stomachs - not all black labs have sensitive stomachs and not all labs have sensitive stomachs.

My 9 month old lab will eat anything from people food to the cheapest dog food to bugs and her own poop - the one thing she won't eat is a lot of holisitic foods, I can't figure it out - the first we tried really upset her stomach (Natural Choice) and the others (Nature's Variety -raw and kibble; Innova), since she just won't touch - she literally just won't touch it - she picks out her old kibble (Royal Canin) and leaves the other behind. And this is a dog that never turns down food.

So just because she will eat cheap food and people food, I don't give it to her. Sure she gets the occassional marshmallow or bit of beef jerky, but on a regular basis she gets her food and her treats. It is what is healthiest for her.

Answer 3

Hi, I used to have a yellow female purebred Lab. We got her when she was a puppy. A breeder saw her when I was down at the park running with her. She was about 90-95 pounds, but no fat. Just sleek and well muscled. He said she was the biggest female Lab he had ever seen. But I used to go down to the park and run with her all the time. It sounds like your dog probably needs some company in the backyard to play with him, Labs are usually full of energy. As for a collar, I've never been fond of harnesses. I had taken my dog to Hal Wheelers school. They don't train the dog, they have you train the dog in the class. They had everyone use a close linked choke chain of the proper size for the dog while walking the dog and a leather collar for the normal collar. You want close linked so that the loop the chain goes through moves smoothly over the links. To put the choke collar on properly, you normally walk a dog on your left side for heeling. The loop should be coming from underneath the dogs neck so that when you lower the leash the collar will automatically loosen. When you walk the dog it should be placed just behind the ears, you will feel a bump in back of the ears on the neck. The collar sits just in front of that. That's the best for walking a dog, very easy to control, and no, your not really choking your dog. I don't remember what we used to feed her, this was almost 20 years ago. From the AKC Website: Size, Proportion and Substance Size--The height at the withers for a dog is 22½ to 24½ inches; for a ***** is 21½ to 23½ inches. Any variance greater than ½ inch above or below these heights is a disqualification. Approximate weight of dogs and bitches in working condition: dogs 65 to 80 pounds; bitches 55 to 70 pounds.

Answer 4

Impossible. Labs are known for eating almost everything. I think she's just being paranoid and over-babying her dog since you mesioned "in other ways." Even if the dog did have a sensitive stomach, he won't die the next day if he ate human food. Treats should be given every now and then you know :]

Answer 5

I have labs, both black and yellow and neither of them have sensitive stomachs. The only problem we have ever seen was a friend came over and brought treats once. They were rawhide bones, which we don't give and both dogs got diarreah and horrible gas. Other than that, my dogs eat everything. My puppy even ate chocolate once and was fine.

Answer 6

if the "really expensive food from the vet" is named SCIENCE DIET.. I can guarantee you its crappy food...
saddly vets do not have the time to learn about ingredients or different brands so they reccomend and sell what ever food approaches them to sell it.. and often its a crappy food..

read the lable - does the food contain any "by-products" ? this is a sure sign its crappy food - by-products are typically beaks feet and feathers.. and can include cancerous tumours... does the food contain corn, wheat, or soy?? all cheap fillers.. known to have problems...

anyhow.. I cannot recommend a food without knowing what country you are in...

NUTRAM lamb and rice is best if you are in Canada...

- YES labs, or any dog, can have a sensitive stomach....

Answer 7

Black has nothing to do with it. I have a Chocolate that had to be given blood because an Nsaid bored a hole in his stomach and he bled out on me.