Loose stool.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Loose stool.

    My buddies 9 week old Boxer's been having consistent loose stool, somewhat like pudding and he's a bit concerned. He's on Orijen puppy and I'm wondering if I should switch to a food with a bit more fiber like Innova (not EVO). Thanks!

    • Gold Top Dog

    It would depend. Did the loose stool start with the switch to a new food? Sometimes overfeeding can cause loose stool. I would check the suggested amount. Also, if they didn't properly transition the pup to a different food, that could cause it. He could give the pup some canned pumpkin (NOT pie filling - but 100% pumpkin - a tablespoon a day).

    Don't all 9-week-old puppies have pudding poop? Mine did. If he's been checked by a vet (which he should still be getting his puppy shots) and has been wormed, it should clear up. If not, then the vet has to look deeper. Figuratively speaking, of course. Wink

    • Gold Top Dog

    Has he been to the vet?  Has he been dewormed?  Is he feeding too much?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Pudding poop sounds like it could be coccidia.  Its common in pups under 6 months of age and is treated easily.  But, definately needs to be treated because it could lead to dehydration which is dangerous especially at that age.  Time for a vet visit.

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    Coccidia in a nine week old pup would be water butt, not pudding.  There's also a fairly unmistakable odor like very ripe tennis shoes.

    This sounds suspiciously like overfeeding.  If he's simply going by what's on the package, just back off (as much as half) and see whether the poop gets better.  If that doesn't work, then definitely get to the vet. 

    If pup is not up to date on shots and worming, a checkup is also in order. 

    • Gold Top Dog

    My pups had loose stool for the first week or so when first starting the Orijen puppy. It cleared up, and they have very nice poops now. I would check the fecal, and make sure he's been properly dewormed.

    • Gold Top Dog

    aprobably the food is too rich.  You may need something with beet pulp in it like eukanuba,  I know this sounds like an oxymoron but I have fed Innova (which my dogs could never tolerate by itself) mixed with about a quarter cup of iams or eukanuba and that did the trick on their digestive tract.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Momoftwo, if beet pulp is helping your dogs, then you also can add a prebiotic like inulin to condition gut health, without the need to artificially stabilize fluid absorption as is the case with the beet pulp.  If then your dogs require bulk, as well, it will be possible to look for a food which offers more insoluble fiber without the "ick" factor of, say, Iams (sorry, but it's hard to forgive a food for charging so much, for so little - I feed Diamond myself so it's not like I'm a snob).  Or you can add a fiber source, whether through fresh veggies, or something like psylium.  For me it would be an easier approach than having to store two foods and double the measuring work.

    • Puppy

    I agree that overfeeding is the likely culprit. Other issues to consider are whether the food was switched too quickly, whether the puppy just had shots, is the puppy stressed out (did he just pick it up?). I don't think I'd go switching the food again so quickly unless there is an allergic reaction. Try the pumpkin and cut back on the portions. Orijen is high in calories, so even though it may not look like you're feeding enough, it is nutritionally adequate.