Hi I have a puppy labrador who is subject to loose stools at the moment she does not have the runs where she is going more frequently than normal but each time she goes her stools are quite soft and not always formed in nature.  Can anyone out there suggest anything I could give her to firm them up I am aware that this has been caused by a change in her diet but she has been weaned onto her new food but it appears to have happened when she has been soley on her new food.  I have gone back to adding some of her old food back to her new, if your following me!!  but without success at the moment.  She is very well in herself playing with our other dogs her coat looks well and her nose is cold and wet and she has no loss of appetite and her stools are not mucousy.  Any advice greatly recieved.

If she don't have real runny poo then I would just give it a bit- can take a couple of days for her to get use to it- also if its really hot their that to can give her loose stool (does with mine a lil). if no change then maybe she just doesn't agree with the food. Way back I had Tiva on Iams chicken and her stool remained loose- not runny but not really formed- switched her food back then to Eukanuba lamb n rice and she did great on that... Then went from Nutro- Orijen and Go but I don't feed them anymore- found Go to be very rich cause their stool always stayed real soft.

Now I switch their food to a new brand everytime I need food- but now its all good food nothing by P&G- we now have a lil health type food  here for dogs all top quality food which I love...

http://metropetmarket.ca/

> Now I switch their food to a new brand everytime I need food

Which is what nobody recommends!

Why not?

Copy & pasted:
                Changing Formulas or Brands of Food is Hard on Your Pet's Stomach
Pet food manufacturers have a vested interest in perpetuating this myth - they want a customer for life!  Variety is crucial and is also what nature and evolution dictates.  A healthy dog or cat can switch foods from meal to meal easily and without issue, provided they are high-quality foods.  Generally, the more variety your pet eats, the more variety they can handle (just like us!).  If your dog or cat has been eating the same food for an extended period of time, it is wise to transition new foods gradually to avoid stomach upset and/or diarrhea.  Digestive enzymes (like Prozyme) can help dramatically when switching foods by maintaining a healthy gastro-intestinal system and providing maximum absorption of nutrients.  If your pet experiences 'upsets' when changing foods, slowly introduce more variety into their diet.

Since I have started doing this my dogs are fine- do not have soft stool anymore and they are not sensitive with their tummy's anymore either. You always keep a lil of the other food and slowly change them each time. My crew seem to really enjoy this and they are always getting something new, plus it is all high quality food- just like raw feeding do you feed the exact same food all the time? I am sure one time chicken another lamb ect- is that not switching it up? Just like people you would get bored of eating the same food all the time and you would not get the proper nutrition balance from always eating the same meal every single day. I also give them our food as long as it has no spices ect on it- its a great way for me to supplement their kibble and they think they are getting treats. My crew adjusted great to me doing this and they are 9, 10 and 12 years old and they seem alot healthier and more energetic since I have started doing this.

                                                                                  

>Can anyone out there suggest anything I could give her to firm them up I am aware that this has been caused by a change in her diet but she has been weaned onto her new food but it appears to have happened when she has been soley on her new food.

Sometimes this is associated with the volume you feed.  Make sure you weigh her portions and reduce her meals by 5g to see if it makes a difference.  I'd give it a couple of days to be sure but I used to find it had an immediate effect with my youngster when he was a puppy.  5-10 grammes adjustment was often all it needed

Hope it helps :)

Dollface.

I have always wondered if feeding the same food to our dogs month/year after year has exasperated many sensitive stomach and bowel problems. If I were to eat the same thing day after day, I'm sure I'd get problems.

> Digestive enzymes (like Prozyme) can help dramatically when switching foods by maintaining a healthy gastro-intestinal system

Variety I think is better for a healthy system. Good luck.

"Can anyone out there suggest anything I could give her to firm them up"  In such a situation with no likely health issues or unsuitable diet causing the problem I use plain wheat bran, a cheap and easily available source of dietry insoluble fibre.The bran will pass through the system virtually undigested absorbing water on its way, so bulking up the stools. I give my puppies weetabix or shredded wheat if they have slightly loose motions. Probably more nutritious than plain bran but not quite so effective at firming stools.

I do find if by feeding slightly to much feed it will make pup or adult loose....cut down slightly.
Try some veg for pup as this will help too.

Some dogs seem to to ok with this but some don't, I used to have a GSD who HAD to have the same - even very small amount of different resulted in severe squits but at same time I had a xbreed who only had 2 foods till he was about 7 (kibbles& bits&bites - I think) when he lived with some American friends who got food from BX then Repnor for about 5 yrs with me. He got very itchy and rashy, vet suggested he had developed a reaction to the food so we swapped him to JW ok for 6 mths then he went off it - For his last 6-7 yrs I only ever bought small bags of food for him and he would have 3 different foods in 2 days (fed twice a day).
He never had any 'poo' trouble and thru the summers did well enough at exemption show to keep himself in food for about 5 months out of the year :-D.
Chris