Puppy Diarrhea...in need of advice.

[Chelsie]

Hi all,

My goldendoodle, Sam, is 18 weeks old.  I decided to switch dog foods so my doodle and Chorkie could be on the same formula and just have a better quality food, we were on ProPlan.  I decided on Acana Regional-Grassland.  We started the transition almost 2 weeks ago.  The first few days Sam did great.  Then he had mucus diarrhea a couple of times.  I called the vet and they said to just go slower with the transition.  I also went back to the store I bought the food and they recommended a Digest 911, an equine formula but they assured me they use if for there dogs and cats.  I started the transition over at a slower pace and using a little of the digest 911.  Sam seemed to be doing find and then a couple of days later he had some mucus, but still diarrhea.  I used a little pumpkin in his food then.  The next day he would have a perfectly formed poop.  2 days later, today, he has diarrhea again.  It was bad enough that he woke me around 4 am to go outside.  Sorry for tmi, but it was a rather large pile of soft poop.  Then again at 7 am he woke me to go out and had diarrhea.  This time it seemed like he was struggling to poop a little.  He always was a slower pooper, but this morning he would squat for awhile and nothing or just drips would come out, then he would move and try again.  I feel bad for the poor guy.  He seems to be acting normal in all other areas, he drinks his water and plays the same.  Does anyone have advice for this?  Is it still the food?  Has anyone have another food option I could try?  I am tempted to stop using the Acana.  Any thoughts would be wonderful!    

[Julie and Charlie]

My puppy eats a grain-free food, but his treats include oats, barley, and rice. He does occasionally eat rice if we have some leftover from a meal. I try not to feed wheat and corn, but I'm sure someone along the way snuck them in something he's eaten. I try not to get too worked up about small amounts of anything, except the obviously not-ok, like grapes, onions, garlic, etc.

Mine loved the bland diet food as well! For about a month after I got him, he ate his kibble, but I got the sense he really didn't want to eat. After a vomiting episode (unrelated to the kibble/food), he had to fast for 12 hours at the recommendation of the vet. That night, he started gobbling the bland food the second we put it down, and ever since, he's been really interested in food, including his kibble. Not sure if that really was the solution, but I thought it was kinda odd.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Chelsie, any updates?

[Chelsie]

Hi Jill,

Sam is doing much better. We haven't had any diarrhea since last Friday when I put him on the bland diet. He still is consuming the bland diet though I have slowly started mixing his new kibble in. Does this sound like it wouldn't be bacterial because his diarrhea is gone do you think? So I think we are on the mends with him. I will keep an eye in him, but for now it looks good. Thanks for your concern.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Did they ever test for giardia?  We went through a situation VERY similar to yours when Woody was a puppy.  We had two fecal tests done within a week of each other.  the first one showed nothing..we switched vets, the new vet ran another fecal, and that test came back with giardia.  I was so angry that it was originally missed, but my new vet explained that sometimes it takes longer to show up.  My point being, maybe you should have another fecal run, to see if it is bacterial.  It is an unfortunate thing for Sam to go through, but luckily you have the help and advice of all the people here at DK.  Thank you for keeping us posted, and good luck!