Changed Dog Food ... Apparently Too Quickly

[Rachel & Gatsby]

I feel like such a jerk.

 

When I got Gatsby, I transitioned him from Purina Puppy Chow to Wellness Super 5 Mix Just for Puppy.  It was slow, and we didn't have any problems. 

 

A couple of months ago, I switched him from that to Wellness Large Breed Puppy food, because I mistakenly thought it's what he needed, because he's of his breed; I was worried about his bones and growth rate (my post on that is around her somewhere and was very helpful).

 

After information from that post and talking to other people I know, I decided to switch him back to the Just for Puppy Mix.  The nutrional information seemed better anyway, especially since we're estimated he's not going to weigh much more than 70lbs, if that.

 

I must have totally misjudged how much of the Large Breed Puppy food I had left, because it's the end of the first week, and I'm left with nothing but his new formula.  He's been fine for the past six days, but tonight - just a couple of hours ago - he got diahhrea.  Prior to that, today his waste has been normal, but it was the first day he got nothing but the new food.

 

The only explanation I have is that it wasn't gradual enough, because, as I mentioned, he's been on this formula before, for several months.  No issues.

 

I'm just a dummy, and didn't do a good job judging how much food I had left.

 

Suggestions?  ):  How long will this last, does anyone know?

 

Other than that, he acts totally normal.  Obnoxious, playful.  Hyper. He's the same Gatsby.  I just hate the idea that I screwed up his digestion, even for a short time.

 

-Misfortunate Puppy Parent

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I wouldn't blame yourself; it doesn't sound like you did anything wrong. A week ought to be enough to transition, especially since it was a food he'd had before.
See how he is tomorrow and if he still has diarrhea, try giving him a spoonful or two of canned pumpkin with his meals.
Hopefully, he'll be back to normal in a day or so.

[Rachel & Gatsby]

Thanks Karen. (:

That makes me feel a little better.

Every morning he gets a spoonful of plain yogurt. I heard that yogurt and the canned pumpkin do the same thing? With that said, should I go ahead and do the pumpkin despite the yogurt?

We put him on the yogurt because once we went back to school, and he was crated more often, we noticed his poo was mooshy afterwards. It still had form, but it wasn't what usually took place. He wasn't a fan of the crate back then, so we figured it was stress. The yogurt helped.

I don't know if that was pertinent to this, but I thought I'd share in case it was.

Thanks again.

So glad I found this forum. I was at another, and my questions would go weeks and months without acknowledgement because it was so inactive.

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

I totally agree with Karen. Canned pure pumpkin should do the trick. It is a whole different thing from the yogurt. The pumpkin adds fiber which will help regulate his digestion. Yogurt with active cultures should have probiotics - which is totally different.

My collie has a sensitive stomach and it took 3 weeks for me to gradually switch his food. Sometimes the change just needs to be a little more gradual than others. :-)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Deborah nailed it.Yogurt can help digestion because of the probiotics, thereby improving stool quality, but the fiber in ther pumpkin is what helps firm it up. Two different things. Some people do give both on a regular basis.

[Rachel & Gatsby]

Thanks, ladies.

As of this afternoon he stool was totally normal. I haven't heard from my sister yet, as she takes him out one last time before she goes to class. But I'm confident it's fine now.

Don't know what it was about, but it had me freaked.

Thanks for the info on the pumpkin. I might start adding that to his diet anyway, with the yogurt.

You're lovely!