Hi, I have a 5th month basset who has been on Luaths dry dog food for past few weeks. His stools are now pretty soft and he is occasioanly sick. I have been looking online to see what would be best to try next and I am confused! Conflicting advise and opinions everywhere. Anybody have any advice.

What was he being fed on before you changed him? Was his previous food causing him problems too as it could be something he is intolerant to? I tried to have a look for the ingredient breakdown on the Luath's food but couldn't find one?

We feed Challenge (www.challengedogfood.com) and I know that there is at least 1 Basset breeder using this successfully and rearing litters on it. Its hypoallergenic, gluten,wheat,dairy free so might be worth a try.

Alex

Ingredients - Brown rice, chicken, millet, oats, chicken fat/oil, peas, carrots, spinach, sunflower oil, spirulina, seaweed, oregano, green tea, parsley, vitamins and minerals

Thanks for your response. Breaders recommended lots of food, was on Purina Pro plan, as well as tuna, corn beef, cheese etc....... felt it might have been a bit overload for his wee tummy and the dog trainer recommended Luaths. Think this must be giving him the runny stools so want to change but want to make sure try something good.

Thanks

Could you not go back to the Purina without all the other bits and bobs?

If your pup arrived with no poo problems I would go back to the food the breeder used.  Foods like cheese and corned beef are very high in fat (too much can cause soft poo or worse) and should not be fed to puppies, IMO.

When your pup is back to normal for a period of time, if you want to switch foods that is the time to do so.

... groomers, trainers, etc. ... none of them are experts on food!   Just opinionated dog lovers, like the rest of us here :-)

Hi elvispup

I'd be inclined to go back to the original food that the pup's breeder used - and like Isabel without the added 'extras' any one or more of which could be unsettling the pups system :)

If there were issues on the original diet (without tipbits included) then by all means look to alternatives but it's all too easy to fall into the trap of switching brands and varieties within brands too soon meaning we lose the ability to work out what is potentially causing a problem.

Over feeding is also very likely to cause loose stools - if you're using a lot of training treats for example it may be better to reduce the actual amount of each meal to compensate for the 'goodies' element :)

HTH, best wishes Teri 

Thanks for all the advice, hadn't considered the overfeeding or training treats. Thanks

Let us know how things go please :)  Hopefully youngster will settle soon.
Good luck, Teri

Update - Took dog to vets today as still not quite right. Been put on antibiotics as thinks he has bacterial infection. No sooner home than he poo'd and it as full of long white worms! It was horrible and more came out for a wee while after. He was due to be wormed this week so luckily had the tablets. Phoned the vet ( very helpful man had given me his mobile) and he has advised to worm him now, he will need done every two weeks at moment. He reckons this condition has been with the dog since we got him from the breeders, i'm not happy as our poor dog is now not well and I have two young children to also worry about. Aghhhhhhhhhhh

Hmm - wasn't the pup's worming up to date when purchased and did you not continue with that?

Sounds pretty awful, perhaps the wormer used did not cover the type of worms this poor mite was infested with :(  Everything crossed for you this is now under control and pupster is on road to recovery :)

Best wishes and thanks for the update.
Teri

Hi, worming was all done, all up to date. Was pretty horrific and feel v sorry for poor pup ( and myself!!!). He now seems to be on the mend, no more worms, solid poo's and and on antibiotics in case of bacterial inf. Have to worm again in two weeks and two weeks after that, then hopefully that will be end of it. Vet has put him on science plan.

thanks

Sounds as though it's been pretty horrific for you and the pup!  Glad things are on the up for you both :)
best wishes, Teri

Hi George, thanks very much for your response. Pup has now settled, think it was definately not food related however it's good to know for any future problems that overfeading can have that effect.

The Luath's food going doing great with my friends dog, hoping to wean mine back on soon.

Thanks