CHANGING FOODS

[LORRIE PAULUS]

Happy Monday morning!  I have a question about changing foods.  We decided to transition Rosie from Iams Puppy to Blue Buffalo.  I started last Sunday with a 75 old/25 new mix and worked down.  Yesterday was the first day that she got 100% new food, her stool changed color a little and was lighter than normal but as of last night was still formed.  About 2:30 this morning she woke up, which she never does, and I took her out and she went #2.  At 4 am, when I got up for the day, I took her out and she went #2 again and seemed to be having some issues.  I went out and looked and her stool looks like a soft serve ice cream consistency.  I am wondering if I transitioned her food too quickly--we did it in 7 days and I am thinking that may be the issue.  Otherwise she's fine.  I am going to call the vet this morning to see if it's OK for me to add a little pumpkin to her food to harden it back up, but I'm wondering if I should back track and go back to 50/50 for a few days and gradually take her down for another week, which would be 2 weeks total.  Has anyone else experienced issues when transitioning?  How about the pumpkin idea?  She seems to have a sensitive stomach, which I am not used to.  My Springer ate Pedigree, which is probably a horrible food,  her whole life and had no issues!

[J&J]

Definitely add pumpkin! It's no problem at all, tastes delicious, and will fix the problem :). We keep a couple of emergency cans of Libby's 100% pumpkin in our pantry for any occasion involving upset tummies. Including when we switched foods.

[Patti Golden]

I was told by one breeder that she recommended Blue Buffalo.  This was the same breeder who wanted to send me home with a puppy on antibiotics because his stool was a little softer than she'd like.  I did not get that puppy.  But I went home and researched the internet on Blue Buffalo and found horror stories.  I decided to not feed it.  Just do your research.  Having said that, I saw two absolutely gorgeous Burmese Mountain dogs in Petco and asked the owner what she fed.  their coats were luxurious.  She feeds them Blue Buffalo.  So it might just be an individual thing.  I am just not willing to take a chance.  Just an FYI. 

Good Luck!

Patti

 

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

When we switched Hurley's food we took at a minimum 2 weeks and he did fine.   My thought is you might have made the switch to quickly as you wondered.   Cooked rice added to his food will help minimize and eliminate the loose stools.  Portion would be 1 cup of cooked rice to 1 cup of dog food.  Gradually lowering the amount of rice as his stools become more normal.

[Sue and Buddy]

I have used Blue Buffalo for years. Buddy was raised on Blue Buffalo puppy food and now eating the basics adult formula. If you still have the old food, you might go back to a 75% new and 25% old. Another factor might be the amount of food you are feeding. Feeding too much can cause pudding poo in puppies. Cut back a bit and see if that helps.

Pumpkin is fine for puppies. To be honest Buddy had a very sensitive tummy until he was over 6 months. He's much better now.