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My dog's groin is puffy & gassy after new food. Is it the brown rice?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Male | neutered | 8 years and 10 months old | 80 lbs

Years ago the vet recommended grain free food. A few months ago after news talked about grain free food being bad for the heart, we switched from Fromm Salmon Tunalini Grain Free to Coast + Range Beef with brown rice. I thought the ingredients in C+R seemed good, but for the last 6-8 weeks, his groin has been puffy/saggy. He's also gassy & not excited to eat lately. The vet did not feel anything unusual inside. Could this be from the brown rice? Thoughts on the food? Recommendations? Thank you!

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 3rd, 2019

Certainly this food is much better than grain free! But Coast and Range is not a brand I typically recommend. It sounds like this food isn't agreeing with Rocco. I'd put him on a brand like Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina ProPlan, or Iams.

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