My 8 week puppies are a bit loose and runny, it was last night and this morning. I haven't fed them anything different. They're absolutely fine in themselves, running, fighting, playing, still have good appetites. But should I perhaps starve them for a meal? They are due a rice pudding meal at lunchtime which they don't usually eat much of anyway, they don't like the milky things I've tried to feed them. Shall I give them it, give them just a little goats milk, or just leave the water available and feed them as usual at suppertime?

Stupid question I know, and I'm sure the answer's 'no' anyway, but this isn't commercial rice pudding, is it - with all the masses of sugar added? Just that I've known some people feed this (rather than make their own rice pud for the pups), not realising that sugar is a laxative ...

To be honest, at their age I'd ditch the milky meals - they don't need them any more - and just feed meaty meals, with water available 24/7.

At 8wks old my pups get their normal food, I never, ever give any of mine rice pudding. I start them on mashed down puppy food and as they get older I put in less water so by the time they go to their new homes they are eating the kibble as it should be and I only give water as a drink.

When were they last wormed? that can also cause stools to be a bit loose and jelly like.

It's low sugar rice pudding, and apart from goats milk it's the only milky meal they'll eat, and of course they need the calcium. I'll start phasing it out if normal meals will be ok though. I mix puppy kibble with the meaty meals (they don't like it soaked though!) but it's always the last bit to go!

They were wormed last night but were a bit loose before hand, they were no worse after the worming. I think it's improving a little this lunchtime, they are certainly not feeling ill, they've just been galloping all round the garden and through the house at amazing speeds for such tiny dogs!

If you want to continue with a milky meal, try making your own rice pudding with the goats milk and no sugar.

They shouldn't need extra milk or extra calcium Lucy if they have fed off mum for weeks and are fed a good quality food. I never give my pups milk in any form, I found it always made them loose so stopped doing it.

Oh well, my friend who's bred these breed for 25 years always has meaty and milky feeds, but perhaps I'll phase it out and go for 3 meaty meals and just a little goats milk at bedtime. :-)

I fed  low sugar rice pudding as a last meal before bed it went down well , had no upset tummies just a good nights sleep!! :)

we never give milk in any form either cus of the upset tummies

I,ve never had any problems with goats milk - either in puppies or adults

i meant rice pudding, plain milk etc didnt mean goats milk. sorry

Well, I had part of a tin (in lidded container in fridge!) left so thought I would use it up and gave some as usual for lunch, along with a handful of kibble, which they usually leave half of at their meaty meals. They gobbled the lot up! They're so unpredictable!! Still a bit loose and smelly but not so bad today. :-)