Puppy 7 weeks old food advice ... notice some blood in stool

[Shelley & Beans]

I have a few questions, we just brought our new puppy home he is just over 7 weeks. First his breeder had him on small breed Royal Canin puppy formula. I would like to feed him Blue buffalo life protection small breed puppy. Is it okay to transition him at this time.. I hear you have to feed him what he came with for 2 weeks. But since he hasn't been eating for very long would it be okay to mix with a little bit of what he came home with and transition him over a week like you do with older dogs.

Also his stool is rather runny, and I have notice a little bit of blood. Could it be this Gardia? I live in Canada.. haven't heard of this before until your site said how common it is. Should I be concerned? Is giving him pumpkin at this young an age a good idea and how much? 

Also what kinds of treats can you give a puppy this age, natural choices such as apple, cheese, yogurt, p. butter? 

What can you put in his kong, Is it safe to fill with the above mentioned treats or should I just use his kibble like I have read for the most part here on DK.

At what age is it safe to start feeding him treats found at the store? Being careful that they are for young puppies, the bag I have ( Pet Greens treats)small dogs training, puppies says 12weeks. Is it safe to give him this ealier? I also have N-bone puppy teething treats chicken flavor. 

I know you experts on this Food site... Namely a certain individual who's name starts with K... are bombarded by us novices and our questions.. I did do a little research but didn't find much for little ones as young as mine. I thank you in advance. 

[San Yong]

Hi there. Congratulations on your new puppy.  My fur kid has a sensitive stomach and chances are yours does too.  I think it's part of the doodles breed.  When we got Omie at 8 weeks, we fed him what the breeder provided for a period of time until he got board of it.  His stools were fine.  We started to feed him something else but he ended up having alot of gas and runny stools if not diarrhea in the house and threw up. We ended up buying Natures Variety limited ingredient dry kibble.  I suspect that he is allergic to either chicken and maybe turkey.  Lamb, duck seems to work for us. His stools are fine.  He is turning two.  Omie is a picky eater so we ended up putting a spoon of canned food (Merrick) and that seems to work.  

Once in a while, I treat him with peanut butter, cheese and apples without the skin.  Sometimes I put oatmeal and 'plain' yogurt as well.  In the Kong we put peanut butter with biscuit.  they love liver.  Milkbone makes Omie's stomach upset.  

Everyone has to start somewhere.  I'm a first time dog owner as well.

Good luck. 

[Amber and the doods]

I'm sure others will answers all of your questions much more thoroughly than I but just wanted to say congrats on the new pup.  I personally would not change his food right now.  He's going to be scared, lonely, and adjusting to new life for a few weeks and would not want to add an upset tummy to the mix.  Blood in the stood does sound like parasites to me.  There are many more common ones than giardia that can cause blood stools, roundworms and hooks also being popular and common in young puppies.  Just my two cents. Good luck to you. :)

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I'm sure Karen will be around soon, but I know she says that you typically shouldn't change your pups food for the first 2 weeks.  Since you are already having problems, I would wait to make any changes until you get the stool issue cleared up.  If you are seeing blood in the stool, you will want to call your vet.  Your puppy is very young so something is obviously going on and you will need to take a stool sample in to them.   I personally wouldn't give other treats right now since you don't know what is causing his stomach distress. 

Have you already had your pup into the vet for his 1st puppy check up and shots?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Absolutely do not change one single thing about his food for at least two weeks. No new treats, no people food, regardless of how natural or healthy it might be.  I would tell you that even if his poop was firm and there was no blood, but as it is, you need to get a fecal culture done ASAP. Something is not right, there should never be blood in the stool of any dog, let alone one this young. It sounds like he does have giardia and/or worms.

If the fecal does show giardia, be sure to insist that the vet give you Panacur; the drug is Fenbendazole, in case the brand name is different in Canada. Do not buy any food or probiotics from the vet. You can give a tablespoon of plain unflavored fat-free yogurt with his meals three times per day. Make sure that you do not give the yogurt within two hours of any medications. It is essential that you do give the yogurt if he is put on meds.

Use his kibble as treats and/or in his Kong for now. You can also give a tablespoon or two of pumpkin with his meals after you have the fecal done, regardless of the results. But the fecal needs to be done first, before anything else. 

After two weeks, and a clear fecal, you can start transitioning to another food. Don't make more than one change at a time. This means that if you intorduce a new treat, leave the food alone, and if you start transitioning the food, don't introduce a new treat.

Return the N Bone treats to the store. Here are the ingredients: Soy protein concentrate, wheat gluten, gelatin, corn gluten meal, chicken meal.

I would not be surprised to hear that somewhere on the packaging, there are the words "made in China" or "product of China", which must be avoided at all costs. But regardless, you never want to give any dog wheat or corn gluten or soy protein concentrate, let alone a very young puppy. This is the best way to start digestive issues and possibly even food allergies.

You have years and years to give your puppy new foods and treats. I know it's hard to wait, but it's necessary.

Please let us know what the fecal shows.

[Shelley & Beans]

Thanks everyone, especially you Karen... I knew that I was told not before 2 weeks by you but your last statement said it all we are just so excited that we forget how tiny their stomachs are and how sensitive.. All treats are put away, I will be garbaging the N-bone treats, and we will be sticking with Royal Canin for 2 weeks at least... 

It is so nice to have this site to go to and I feel everyone here can be trusted to have the best interest of our pups in mind when they are giving advice.

Much appreciated!

 

[Star and Goldie]

I switched my puppy to Blue Buffalo as well! She really seemed to like it! Good choice :)  My breeder had her on Purina Pro Plan and once I got out of that 2 week period and learned how bad that food was I was excited to switch her over... and so was SHE!!!