Hi, we adopted our dog about 3 weeks ago from a rescue centre and are, to a point, inexperienced owners. He's a 10 month old Labrador/Dalmatian cross who, at the moment, has a rather upset tum with VERY loose and runny stools. It seems to be getting worse - just got in to find he'd messed in the kitchen, twice. =(
I suspect his diet has somewhat changed since the move - we've tried to introduce him slowly to BETA dry food this week and this could well be the problem. But we're also finding it difficult to keep him from hoovering up all the bits of food/sweets (including wrappers) that he finds in the streets when we take him out. Can anyone suggest something to get his tum back on track and healthy again??
Also - I don't want to feed him on commercial rubbish everyday - He needs a rounded diet but BARF sounds a bit controversial as there are so many differing opinions..what to do!?! 

There is nothing rubbish about the majority of commercial foods :) they provide an assured rounded diet.  The vast majority of dogs are fed on these diets and the vast majority of dogs do very nicely thank you.

Thanks for your reply but have you any suggestions on how to get his tum back on track - is there anything i can feed him to make him less 'runny'?

FWIW I thin the best commercial diet is for dry food Burns and for wet food Naturediet.  Both are on the BUAV approved site which means no animal testing has been carried out at all in the supply chain and neither contain BHA/BHT ethoxyquin, preservatives, colourings, flavourings or other unecessary items like yeast (although one Burns variety contains SBP).

Both have websites and both will deliver.

I would try either of these along with live yoghurt and Slippery Elm/Tree Bark Powder to soothe the gut and repopulate the gut with bacteria which is being stripped by the squits.

You may wish, if the problem continues to have him allergy tested.

thanks - i'll try that - in the meantime i think i might take him to the vets. Thanks for your help!

As Tohme has said, live yoghurt is very helpful in repopulating the gut with beneficial bacteria, the bacteria will multiply very rapidly in the warmth of the gut so you should only need to give a little as dairy stuff can cause upsets in them selves.  One of my dogs had a very sensitive digestion and I found she tolerated Beta extremely well along with Chappie tins.

Thanks, I might continue with the beta then as it's only been a few days (and only a couple of weeks since he's moved in) maybe another change would upset him further.
I'll definately give him a teaspoon of yoghurt tonight though.

I have to add that Burns gave my dog the runs but foods like Nutro & Arden Grange have given him the firmest poopers yet.  Different dogs do better on different diets, it's finding one that suits & BARF gave Curtis colitis!!!  :(

Canikur available from Canine Chemists is a kaolin based palatable tablet.  I have just used this on my old girl who has had a very upset stomach (Not like her) for the past 3-4 weeks and the improvement is great but I got mine from my vets.

Oh poor Curtis! =(
I have to admit that i'm a bit wary of BARF - but i guess it must be just a process of elimination with Bradley's diet until we find the right one. But will definately be trying foods with more natural ingredients in them.
I'm seeing the vet tomorrow so hopefully he'll be able to offer some advice and prescribe something like Canikur - I'll make a note and take it with me.  
The fact that he ate a mini milkyway in its wrapper and a lollypop (in its wrapper) that some children had dropped in the street are definately worrying me but that was a good while ago (over a week) - if he was going to be ill with that then it would have been sooner do you think?

dee dee,

My one attempt at BARF was my only attempt and I will leave it to those who dogs seem to do ok on it.    I had overheard someone with the same breed I own, saying that since she'd been feeding her dogs on raw chicken wings they'd put weight on so that's why I decided to try Curtis on them.   So after colitis was diagnosed at the vets - post chicken wings - I've just tried to find the best complete to suit him.  The 3 girls seem to have a more cast iron constitution.

Burns didn't agree with either Mia or Curtis, Mia thrives on Nutro, Curtis thrives on Arden Grange/Pets at Home complete.  The oldies are now on a meat & mixer diet as Asti is gradually losing her appetite and she seems to be more keen on this.    

Started to introduce Burns to my boys food a couple of weeks ago. Everything has been fine and today was his first day eating just Burns. So far so good. I've been amazed at the difference with his toilet. To start with he's passing much less, and before he'd always pass some solid stools followed a couple of minutes later by a much softer stool. Now it's just one little perfectly formed pile !. He's had lots of tummy problems in the past (sickness, not diarrhoea) and I got fed up with the vet giving him injections and antibotics. Blood tests showed nothing abnormal. I'm hoping now that I've done the right thing by changing his food (was on Hills Natures Best), but at the moment I'm pleased I have.