Okay on crappy food, loose stools on the good stuff

Dillon'sMom · 03-08-2010, 09:45 AM

Dillon is 4 months old. When I got him the vet gave me a bag of Science Diet and, not knowing any better, I switched him over to it from the even crappier food he had been eating. The switch took about a week and he never seemed bothered by the change in food at all. Since then (thanks to you guys) I have learned how bad SD is so I decided to switch him to Blue Buffalo. I noticed an improvement in the softness and shininess of his coat almost immediately. I also noticed that his stools were pretty soft. I have been slowly switching him over for over 3 weeks now and it's not getting any better. I have heard that it can take up to a month for a dog to get used to a new food so I guess my question is, am I just expecting too much too soon? I want to give BB a chance but I also don't want to keep feeding him something that doesn't agree with him. I am going to get some canned pumpkin today (I've been to three stores in the last few days and they only carry it seasonally...I finally found a place that has it) so I'll try a little of that starting tonight, but I don't want to always have to add pumpkin to his food.

Also, every Sunday night for the last three weeks he has whimpered in his crate to be taken out about every two hours and each time I take him out and he has diarrhea. He is VERY active on the weekends and doesn't get nearly as many naps as during the week so could that possibly contribute to stomach problems?

Finally, he is pretty thin and the vet told me to start feeding him more than the 3 cups a day I'm already feeding him. It seems like any time I do that his stools get worse. I don't want to have an anorexic dog but I don't want an upset tummy either.

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any advice!!

**2wildboxers** · 03-08-2010, 11:35 AM

Not every food works for every dog. I've heard Blue Buffalo can be too rich for some dogs. I'd give it a couple of more weeks or so and see if it gets better. If not, then maybe pick a different one and give it a try. It's all about trial and error. I've tried several foods, some work, some don't. Good luck!

christineorr · 03-08-2010, 11:13 PM

You could try to add some digestive enzymes as well to help with the transition. It'll help him break down and absorb the nutrients better.

Muay Thai Kick BOXER · 03-08-2010, 11:58 PM

We had the same issue. Yoghurt was the cure.

Dillon'sMom · 03-09-2010, 01:26 PM

Well, I think I figured out the Sunday night diarrhea problem. Every weekend I spend some time at my boyfriend's house and Dillon loves running and playing in his back yard. I was talking to one of his neighbors who has dogs and she said that there are TONS of rabbits around the neighborhood and her dogs eat the rabbit poop (yuk!) and get diarrhea for a day or so. I'm going to keep him out of the yard this weekend and see how Sunday night goes.

I bought some yogurt and am going to try adding that to his food starting tonight to see if it helps.

TysonBeckford · 03-09-2010, 04:16 PM

Ty loves rabbit poop. It ticks me off when he I catch him outside eating it. I now have to do two types of poop patrol (dog & rabbit).

Dillon'sMom · 03-11-2010, 03:17 PM

The yogurt is working like a charm for the food transition. Thanks!!

Brian131 · 03-15-2010, 05:13 AM

Yogurt works great. We've used it and had great results. I am about to transition Bella (19 weeks) from Iams to Blue Buffalo. Hopefully she will not have any digestive problems. She doesn't have any problems with Iams, but I want to switch her.

Can anybody suggest any other foods that are of similar quality as BB that I can have as a back-up? We have a Petsmart locally, which carries BB, but not sure if they carry any of the other highly-rated foods.

Also, Tyson Beck, beautiful Boxer. Love the markings.!

03-08-2010, 09:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dillon'sMom Experienced User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 207	Okay on crappy food, loose stools on the good stuff Dillon is 4 months old. When I got him the vet gave me a bag of Science Diet and, not knowing any better, I switched him over to it from the even crappier food he had been eating. The switch took about a week and he never seemed bothered by the change in food at all. Since then (thanks to you guys) I have learned how bad SD is so I decided to switch him to Blue Buffalo. I noticed an improvement in the softness and shininess of his coat almost immediately. I also noticed that his stools were pretty soft. I have been slowly switching him over for over 3 weeks now and it's not getting any better. I have heard that it can take up to a month for a dog to get used to a new food so I guess my question is, am I just expecting too much too soon? I want to give BB a chance but I also don't want to keep feeding him something that doesn't agree with him. I am going to get some canned pumpkin today (I've been to three stores in the last few days and they only carry it seasonally...I finally found a place that has it) so I'll try a little of that starting tonight, but I don't want to always have to add pumpkin to his food. Also, every Sunday night for the last three weeks he has whimpered in his crate to be taken out about every two hours and each time I take him out and he has diarrhea. He is VERY active on the weekends and doesn't get nearly as many naps as during the week so could that possibly contribute to stomach problems? Finally, he is pretty thin and the vet told me to start feeding him more than the 3 cups a day I'm already feeding him. It seems like any time I do that his stools get worse. I don't want to have an anorexic dog but I don't want an upset tummy either. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any advice!!

03-08-2010, 11:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
2wildboxers Advanced User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 980	Not every food works for every dog. I've heard Blue Buffalo can be too rich for some dogs. I'd give it a couple of more weeks or so and see if it gets better. If not, then maybe pick a different one and give it a try. It's all about trial and error. I've tried several foods, some work, some don't. Good luck! __________________ Mom to Buster, 2 yr old brindle and Olive, 1 yr. old reverse brindle Sweet Roxy, waiting at the bridge, April 10, 2000-April 10, 2009

03-08-2010, 11:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Muay Thai Kick BOXER Experienced User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 102	We had the same issue. Yoghurt was the cure. __________________ Flash - Our new addition!

03-09-2010, 04:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
TysonBeckford Experienced User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Brownstown, MI Posts: 216	Ty loves rabbit poop. It ticks me off when he I catch him outside eating it. I now have to do two types of poop patrol (dog & rabbit). __________________ This is Ty trying to look innocent.

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03-08-2010, 11:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
christineorr Power User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Crown Point, IN Posts: 687	You could try to add some digestive enzymes as well to help with the transition. It'll help him break down and absorb the nutrients better.

03-09-2010, 01:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dillon'sMom Experienced User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 207	Well, I think I figured out the Sunday night diarrhea problem. Every weekend I spend some time at my boyfriend's house and Dillon loves running and playing in his back yard. I was talking to one of his neighbors who has dogs and she said that there are TONS of rabbits around the neighborhood and her dogs eat the rabbit poop (yuk!) and get diarrhea for a day or so. I'm going to keep him out of the yard this weekend and see how Sunday night goes. I bought some yogurt and am going to try adding that to his food starting tonight to see if it helps.

03-11-2010, 03:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dillon'sMom Experienced User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 207	The yogurt is working like a charm for the food transition. Thanks!!

03-15-2010, 05:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
Brian131 Intermediate User Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 56	Yogurt works great. We've used it and had great results. I am about to transition Bella (19 weeks) from Iams to Blue Buffalo. Hopefully she will not have any digestive problems. She doesn't have any problems with Iams, but I want to switch her. Can anybody suggest any other foods that are of similar quality as BB that I can have as a back-up? We have a Petsmart locally, which carries BB, but not sure if they carry any of the other highly-rated foods. Also, Tyson Beck, beautiful Boxer. Love the markings.!