puppy food???

[Lisa Marin]

i have a 3 1/2 month old (30 pound) puppy that has been on the wellness large breed puppy food with soft stools and a bout of diarrhea and upset stomach last week. i am looking to change his food and wonder if anyone has any ideas. My older GD is on the wellness CORE but I understand that is not good for pups! I want to switch his food while he is on his antibiotic to ease the change. Any ideas....Thanx so much!

[Mara, Sadie & Zoe]

Sadie came to me from the breeder on Wellness super 5 and I eventually switched her because of all the loose poops and gas. We eventually settled on Fromm four star and it made a big improvement. She is 2 1/2 and we feed the Fromm with some Honest Kitchen.

[Lisa Marin]

So far the Acana wild prairie has been working for Tucker. his stools have been perfect and loves the food.  I was worried that it wasn't "puppy" food but I am told that all stages food is fine for such a young pup.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yep, there is not a big difference in the nutrients between puppy formulas and adult formulas, and they all provide at least the minimum amounts of vitamins and minerals that are required to support life. I'm glad Tucker is doing well with the Acana.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I agree that it is sometimes just trial and error.  All of these different foods discussed (aside from Nutro, Science Diet, in this discussion) are good foods.  For instance, my Peri had runny stools with TOTW (grain-free, which usually makes poo better!).  She does wonderfully on Fromm.  As Karen said, you just can't tell 100%.

Lisa, I agree you don't need to change a thing while your puppy is on meds.

[Chloe, Finley & Mama Shelley]

My pup is on TOTW, and has always had great firm stools. I also give my dogs a little pumkin every now and then along with a little plain yogurt a couple times a week also. Seems to work great..

[Lisa Marin]

Thanx everyone for all of the help. I am so happy that I changed tucker to the Acana...I am in the process of switching my other dogs as well.  The only concern I have is that Tucker gobbles up his food (the recommended amount) and acts like he is starving!  When I say gobble I mean it....he eats it up in 15 seconds or less! Should I give him more since he is a pup and probably needs more calories and does anyone have ideas on how to slow him down with the eating?????

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Make sure first that you are feeding the correct amount for both his size and weight. It is important that he be getting enough calories to support his growth.

If he is getting enough, you can try placing a large round object in the center of his bowl, so he will have to eat around it. There are bowls specially made like this for dogs who inhale their food. You might also consider adding canned sodium free green beans to his meals. They add almost no calories and help fill them up by providing bulk and fiber.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I was just looking at the feeding guidelines for the Acana puppy food as compared to the Grain-free ALS formulas, because the latter don't have puppy feeding guidelines. The calories per cup between the two are are very similar, but the recommended feeding amounts are much higher for young puppies. You might try finding the feeding guideline that fits your pup for the Puppy and Junior formula, and then feed that amount of the Prairie, since the calorie content is almost exactly the same.

[Lisa Marin]

Thank you Karen. I did that tonight and he seemed happier....still gobbled it all down way too fast though:)