Is it ok for a Puppy to have Diarrhea after Changing Food?

Diana Williams: Is it normal for a puppy to have diarrhea after changing their food?
I recently switched my 5-month-old Shih Tzu from Science Diet to Wellness and was instantly hit with that dreaded puppy diarrhea! Is this the new food and how long will this last?

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Answers and Views:

Answer by darlene r
Probably the food. when changing a dogs food, you have to first mix in a little of the new food with the old, and then gradually increase over a couple weeks. Feed your dog small amounts of the old for three days, then mix in a little of the new and see how it goes.

Answer by Kayteeare
A sudden change of a dog's primary diet can be hard on both their stomachs and their eating habits. Changing your dog's diet should be done gradually and over a period of at least four days (preferably longer).

On the first day of change, you should have plenty of old dog food left. Add three-quarters of their old food, and one-quarter of the new food. You should do this for at least two days. After two days or so, add in another quarter, so you have half old food, half new food. Again, keep it at this level for another two days or so. Then add in the third quarter (one-quarter old, three-quarters new), and finally you can phase out the old food completely.

What happens if you don't do it gradually?
Stomach Cramps
Heartburn
Indigestion
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Refusal to Eat

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Answer by lissett
Yes, puppy having diarrhea after a change of food is common.
What you need to know is that if you are going to change your dog's diet, you need to do it gradually.
It's just like people eating regular food then switching to organic, some get the runs or even stomach aches because it's a new food that the body has never dealt with.

Next time, use 75% of the old food and 25% of the new food the first day, and over the next 3 days, gradually add 25% more of the new food until it is all the new food and no more old. If you do this, diarrhea won't come knocking on your puppies back door.

Answer by LYNN W
Yes, it's normal. Wellness is a lot richer and has more meat in it than science diet so it will cause diarrhea for the first few days. You can add 100 % pure pumpkin that you can find in the can to help with diarrhea. It only takes about a tablespoon per meal to help add the fiber he needs to bulk it up.
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