u/Willing-Dragonfly-65

I have a 6-year-old chocolate Lab who has had his fair share of medical adventures. 😂 He has a sensitive stomach, and he was born with a rare disorder called Reflex Dyssynergia (RD), which causes frequent UTIs.

For years, we thought his UTIs and stomach issues were food-related, so he was on Hill’s prescription Hydrolyzed Protein + Urinary Care. It was $208 a bag and, despite all that, he still had stomach issues and UTIs.

Eventually, our vet figured out that the RD was actually causing the UTIs, so she gave us the okay to switch him to regular food.

He’s been on Kirkland Chicken for about 5 months now, and thankfully the UTI issue has been resolved. BUT… now we’re having anal gland issues. His stools just aren't firm enough to naturally express them.

I’ve tried Glandex and adding pumpkin, but neither has made much difference. I’m starting to wonder if chicken may be contributing to his sensitive stomach.

So, what food would you recommend for a dog with a sensitive stomach who needs firmer stools/has anal gland issues?

I’m not looking for a raw diet. I have immense respect for people organized enough to remember to thaw their dog’s food… I can barely remember to thaw our own. 😂

He’s also not picky. He’s a Lab. He will literally eat anything. 😂

Would love to hear what foods have actually worked for your dogs!

Every year Costco always puts Men's O'Neil, Hurley or Nautica T-shirts on sale and I always buy every color for my husband. He's a Costco clothes man, with a Dad bod. lol.
Did I miss the sale this year? I see them online, and its still a good deal for a t-shirt, but they usually go on for 3.00 off at the beginning of the summer. Such a silly thing to whine over, I know, but he's a big guy and the XXL fits without having to spend an arm and a leg on big and tall stuff.
They had other T-shirts on sale, but not these plain cotton ones etc. I will just have to have my fingers crossed they aren't skipping the discount this year and it is still coming.

I originally posted this in response to another thread, but it was a few months old and I’d really love to hear other parents’ thoughts. Sorry in advance for the novel.

My daughter is in Grade 4 (10yo). She’s a very soft, sensitive soul. Yes, she can be a bit of a diva sometimes, but mostly she’s the type of kid who is deeply aware of other people’s emotions — to the point that if someone else is crying, she’ll cry too. Every teacher she’s had describes her as kind, sensitive, inclusive, and sometimes a bit of a social goofball who likes making people laugh, even at her own expense. I will say that she is sensitive in the way that criticism is taken very hard and right to her heart.

This year school feels completely different socially. Last year it seemed like everyone played with everyone at recess. Now there are GROUPS, and you are either IN or OUT. Suddenly everything is about who is wearing what, what’s cool, who’s popular, and who’s considered a “loser.” Honestly, I thought this level of social hierarchy came later in school.

She’s in a friend group of six girls, and there’s one girl (“Jane”) who basically controls the social ranking within the group. Depending on the day, someone gets pushed out. And when I say pushed out, I mean full-on Mean Girls “you can’t sit with us” behaviour. They make comments about clothes and other things clearly meant to make someone feel small or unworthy. The leader starts is and the others follow suit.

Some days my daughter comes home happy saying, “Jane was super nice to me today!” Other days she gets off the bus in tears because she spent recess alone and nobody would talk to her.

I’ve encouraged her to branch out and make other friends. I’ve set up playdates with other kids she seems to connect with. But every day she goes right back to this same group. I know she doesn’t “like” being treated this way — I think she’s just hopeful every morning that today will finally be the day she’s included. She’s even said things like, “I do and wear all the same things they do, and it’s still never enough.” It absolutely breaks my heart. And hey, there will be a 2 week span of no meanness happening - however I think it is probably just happening to another girl in the group or someone else in general depending on the leaders preference.

I think part of it is that her actual best friend doesn’t go to her school because of the school boundaries, even though we live close to each other. On the really bad days she says, “BFF would never be this mean to me. Why can’t she go to my school?”

And I know this behaviour is specific to this school group because we have a cottage up north where she has another group of friends. That group has normal kid friendship issues and growing pains, but nothing like this. This school dynamic just feels next-level mean.

I’ve talked to her about self-worth, about not chasing friendships, about finding people who make her feel good about herself. Nothing really seems to stick yet. Mondays are especially hard lately, and I think she’s starting to get anxious stomach aches in the morning over school.
I have her in a swimming club and she has friends there, and she also has friends from our cottage area- it is just the friends at school she has these issues with. So between the hours of 9am-3pm I never know what her day will be like because its never the same.

Right now I’m honestly just grateful school ends in four weeks so she can have a break from all this. I’m hoping over the summer I can help her build more confidence in herself, but I honestly don’t even know where to start. Again, sorry for the novel, any advice or thoughts I would LOVE to hear.

*PS-We read Real Friends by Shannon Hale and it was great a good teaching tool for sure.