Just as I get past the stage of motherhood where your babys poo is an obsession, I'm now moving onto the puppys 'business'!

Earl (17 week RR) is on the same dried complete food as the breeder was feeding him (Purina Beta Large Puppy) and he doesn't have any other food scraps, but I've noticed over the past 4 or 5 of days that his poos are getting runnier and runnier.  Yesterday it was like watching 'Mr Whippy' at work, but today they seem even runnier.  He seems to need to poo every hour or so, but does dribs and drabs all over the place, which is a bit tricky with a toddler sharing the same garden.  I'm spending most of my day clearing up after him - it looks like a herd of cows got in :-(

Otherwise he seems fine, drinking the usual amount, got the same energy.

Should I be taking Earl to the vets, or doing something else to sort out his stomach?

Thanks for any advice.
Helen

Have you increased the quantity recently - eating too much can result in runny tums?

I did increase it about 2.5 weeks ago as per the instructions on the bag of food.  If it is this, should I decrease it again and then increase it slowly.  I didn't think, I just upped his feeds straight to the new amount.
Thanks.

Hi Helen
Beta would not be my first choice for a complete food - but I am sure that others would disagree.  You could try reducing the quantity a little bit, or maybe feeding more smaller feeds.  How many times a day are you feeding him now?  When I used completes in the past, I got good results with Techni-Cal, Royal Canin and Nutro so would rather recommend those.  I did try Beta once and got runny tums with my pups.

I have no idea about complete feeds.  Way back in the day we fed our last RR tinned meat and some biscuits!

I'm only feeding Beta as that's what he always had:-)  He has three meals a day at the moment.  I'm happy to go with other recommendations; do you have a favourite out of the three you've mentioned?  I'll get a bag and try gradually changing him over.  Hopefully that will sort the poor lad out.

From the experiences of many posters it would appear that instruction given by the manufacturers on most foods are extremely generous to say the least.  It may be that this food is no longer suiting him but it might be worth trying a small reduction first before trying to introduce a new food when his stomach is a little disturbed already.

Great, good idea - thank you.

I'll decrease the amount and just keep an eye on his condition to make sure I've not 'overdone it'. 

Thanks for the advice - all sounds really obvious stuff, should've thought of it myself really - DOH ;-)

Helen

Hope he improves :)  If it doesn't work out and you feel you need to change feeding large breed puppies is a very complex business and the jury seems still out on a lot of the views expressed in this area.  Other large breed owners will have more advise that I can give in this area but if you liked the condition of the breeders animals I don't think you can't go too far wrong is seeking their advise in second options.

Hi Helen
You are very sensible to have kept him on the food the breeder was feeding - changing foods when pups move on to their new homes is a bad idea.  As I said, and Isabel obviously agrees, you could try reducing the quantity first and seeing if that helps.  If you feel the quantity is right for him, maybe try 4 smaller meals for a few days and see if that helps.
Of the foods I suggested, I liked the Techni-Cal - I reared my last litter on that, just before I started Barfing.  However, it is not always easy to get hold of. 
Let us know how you get on ...

If you are going by the amounts on the manufacturers feeding guide, the problem is likely too much food, as they tend to be on the very generous side.  I have found with my own and other peoples experienced that their dogs need half to two thirds of the amount on the feeding guides.

the body condition of your pup is the best guide.  He should not be plump bu t have his bones covered.  You should,be able to feel them easily but not see them.

Hi Helen,

Apologies for hi-jacking your thread but it might be pertinent; since the start of the hot weather our 3y GSD seems to have lost all control over his bowels.  OH had to leave the dogs alone for a couple of hours on Tuesday and came back to the Augean Kennels (well he said it was a Herculean task to clean it all up - thank God for the Vax Rapide). Similar situation on when I got up on Wednesday morning (thank God and all the little angels for the Vax Rapide...) and I know it's him because Miss Thing is crated at night.

He has no change in diet (Naturediet/JWB) and is otherwise unaffected - still as lively/gormless as ever.

Just wondered if anyone else has this phenomenon? 

Cheers,

Linda

Might be the heat setting off some little nasty bacterial problem.

Hi Helen - just wondering how he's doing today - any improvement?

I think so, we're back to the 'Mr Whippy' stage now, so hopefully he'll continue to firm up as the days go by :-)

I am now giving him 4 meals a day rather than 3, and have cut each feed to about a third of what he was having before.  I'll keep an eye on his condition and up the feed if he looks like he needs it.

Appreciate the advice from everyone.  Will definitely let you know when Earl and his bowels are working more harmoniously again!!!

Helen

Just to let everyone who offered advice know that Earl is back to his usual self - many thanks to all of you :-D  Seems just reducing the amount of food/feed has worked. 

Earls sends sloppy kisses to you all,
Helen

Oh good - I was wondering how he was doing.