hey

i have a black lab puppy who's about 3 months old.  The breeder said to feed him dry food so he's on Jolleys own puppy mix, he was on this at his previous owners.  However, it doesn't seem to be agreeing with him.  I've never known a puppy to poo so much in one day!!!  I'm now getting a little bit cheesed of with clearing up poo so am now starting to change is diet.  I've kept some of his original food and mixed it with a pouch of pedigree puppy food.  Can anyone help?!

I'm now getting a little bit cheesed of with clearing up poo

:D :D.......thats a puppy for you ;)

What are the poo's like? How many meals is pup having? How much in each meal? I would say if you change/add pedigree you will making the problem worse (as in smell, type and quantity)

Hi Archiepup

I've never heard of Jolley's so can't comment on the quality - but, usually, the better quality the food, the less waste product (poo!) you will get.  I am not a huge fan of completes any more, but my pup that I recently bought had been reared on Hill's puppy food and so I kept her on that for some time.  I've been perfectly happy with the way she is developing, and the amount of poo!  It is expensive but I believe that puppies should always have the best.  They only go through puppyhood once :)  There are lots of good quality foods that people here would recommend.  The brands I've successfully used to rear litters and to keep my adults, before switching my other dogs off completes were Techni-Cal, Nutro and Royal Canin.  I'm sure you'll get lots of other suggestions, though :)

I think this is it...

Jollyes Lifestage Puppy/Junior:

Chicken meat meal (min 36%), rice, corn, chicken oil, barley, fish meal, whole egg, sugar beet pulp, brewers yeasts, whole linseed, salmon oil, vitamins, minerals, DL-methionine, rosemary. Protein: 30% Oil: 20%

Doesn't look too bad as far as completes go (certainly much better than Pedigree Chum!), although some dogs have a problem with linseed/flaxseed (makes my colitis prone dog poo mucusy cowpats). Have tried it myself (flaxseed, not the dog food :D) as it's meant to be a good supplement for vegetarians and I was doubled up with cramps, bloated, and had explosive diarrhea

A normal adult dog will poo several times a day, multiply that by four for a puppy.  they are little poop machines.  they have small stomachs and that age that age are probably eating in nutritional terms double what a sedentary adult would be.  Not only that but their digestive systems are not as efficient at extracting the nutrients, and depending on the quality of the ingredients in their food and how digestible these are will depend on hoe much is excreted as waste.

If the poos are well formed and firm, then how often the pup goes is how often it needs to go.

If the poos are sloppy and very smelly you are probably overfeeding the pup or the food disagrees with him and it is all going through practically undigested.

I would expect a pooey nappy from a human infant with every feed, and a human infant takes 18 years to reach adult size, a puppy double its weight in the first month you have it.

If you have toliet trouble chopping and changing food will only make it worse. I would stop the pedigree pouches regardless though, in my experience and from what I have heard from others pedigree tins and pouches are a nightmare for toliet trouble.

How often are you taking the little pup out to loo?

First of all thanks for all your replies.

Puppy goes outside, whether or not he's showing signs of needing to go, every half hour or so.  I will take him off Pedigree as none of you seem to like it much, I always thought it was a good brand.  Archie has three small meals a day but am not sure whether this is too little or too much?  Am new to this puppy lark!  Would it be better for him to be on dry mix all the time?

It is a 'well advertised brand', but at best average quality wise.

3 meals a day is right for your puppy.  I havn't come accross Jolleys before but the ingredients don't look too bad.
Puppys do poo a lot as others have said and if you go onto pedigree which is not the good brand people are led to believe you will more than likely have more poo and maybe loose too.
If your pups poo is firm and he is doing well on the food body wise then I would stick with that.

hi thanks for your reply.

Archie seems to be doing good on the jolleys food and poo seems to be firming up a bit.  Can't believe I'm talking about poo over the internet!!?  Anyway, someone has recommended Baxters' food to me.  Do you know if this is any good?  Also someone told me to burn some toast and crumble it in his food.  apparently the charcoal will help bind his poo's.  does this sound right to you?

Hi Archiepup

The contents of Jolley's sound ok.  Were you happy with the condition of your breeder's dogs?  If so, it's probably worth sticking with it.  Do you think it's possible that you are overfeeding Archie?  Too much food often leads to runny tummies.  The guides that are given on the sides of dog food bags tend to be on the generous side.  Maybe it's worth a chat with your breeder?

Best of luck
Carina

Hi Leigh,

I have never heard of Baxters food but you may be reffering to Bakers dog food. Please do not give your puppy Bakers or as an adult either. It is awful food, filled with colourings, preservatives etc, worse in my opinion than floor scrapings.

I would keep your pup on a good quality food, a complete food is exactly as it says 'complete' so you do not need to add pouches etc. Chopping and changing foods will end up with a pup with very runny motions.
Good luck with him