I just adopted an adorable 10 month puppy 5 days ago. I don't know what he was fed at the shelter, but he is now eating a nutritious, dried dog food. I know switching foods is a shock to dogs' systems, but it seemed unavoidable considering the situation. My question is: how long will it take for my puppy to get used to his new diet? He has loose stools all day long. It's driving me nuts!
2006-10-12 04:35:57 · 8 answers · asked by cmhansen24 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
It should take around a week or 2 since you aren't able to mix it w/ the old dog food.You could try mixing some rice and yogut/cottage cheese in with his food which will help bind him up and make the stool a little firmer.
2006-10-12 04:38:44 · answer #1 · answered by Meggz21 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you had a veterinarian check the dog? If not, I would suggest doing so. Dogs have many reasons for loose stool first rule out intestinal parasites and other medical issues, by having your dog checked by a veterinarian and then discuss the issue with the veterinarian. Yes, changing food can cause what you are noticing but many shelter feed what ever they get donated so this may not be the issue in your dogs case. A veterinary check up is in order.
2006-10-12 04:50:41 · answer #2 · answered by reispinscher 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing to do would be to call the shelter and find out what they were feeding him, and mix that food with his new food for 4 days. The formula is day one: 25% new 75% old Day 2: 50% new 50% old Day 3: 75% new 25% old and finally Day four: 100% new.
If you cannot do this...you need to "reset" the puppies digestive system by taking away all his food for 2 hours, and then only feed him cooked ground hamburger and rice in small portions throughout the day until his stool returns to normal. Then you need to do the formula I posted above, only substituting the "old" food with hamburger and rice.
2006-10-12 04:45:05 · answer #3 · answered by Jezah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At the end of the second day, he should get back to normal. (If he doesn't, you might consider phoning the shelter and asking what brand of food they've been using. Then you can mix in his old food with new food to ease him into the situation a little easier.)
Good luck. New puppies rule!
2006-10-12 04:40:24 · answer #4 · answered by Black Parade Billie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Three diet changes can be overwhelming to a dogs system. Just be patient, limit the amout of dry food they eat, and try to workin some bland meals. Rice and boiled chicken, for example.
2016-03-18 08:12:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it take around two weeks to be complety used to it. You may need to have him checked for worms if the loose bowels keep up. Rice, plain with no salt or butter, will help with the loose bowels but other than that don't give him any human foods.
My vet told me that dogs' kidney's can't process the ingredients in human food.
good luck with your new pup.
2006-10-12 04:49:02 · answer #6 · answered by KAREN A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask the vet...the puppy will get used to the dogfood..i switch my cats catfood up just so they can get a new flavor and taste and nothing bad has happened
2006-10-12 04:44:45 · answer #7 · answered by I_Taste_Like_Candi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what are you feeding him?
2006-10-12 04:46:40 · answer #8 · answered by freedove06 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋