My puppy wont eat his food and has runny poop.?
Hi, I adopted a rottie puppy a few days ago and I think they were feeding him ol’roy or something, I called to ask but the shelter employees said they weren’t sure… He’s 8 weeks old and I’m giving him puppy science diet for large breed dogs right now and he wont eat it. He’ll go nibble down maybe 4-5 pieces and not eat anymore for the rest of the day. On top of that went I take him out to potty, he has really runny yellow poop. Our vet says he’s probably just nervous, but I’m beginning to doubt that explanation. I’m going to buy some other food tomorrow, try to find some puppy food that he’ll like. I felt so bad that he didn’t really eat today that I gave him some roasted turkey. Do you think I’ll be able to switch him gradually to the science diet from a food that he likes more if I just keep adding more and more science diet in place of whatever he wants? I don’t if that makes sense. He’s not urinating or having very many bowel movements today either, and he seems to be pretty sleepy all day. If I can’t get him to eat anything tomorrow, I’ll have my husband take him back to the vet. Is there anyone who has experienced this?
Thanks for all the advice, I have no idea what his old food was though :/ I think the shelter just feeds the dogs whatever they have from donation.
Since he came from a shelter and still is a puppy the diarrhea may be caused by worms. Even if he has been wormed before, it is a good idea to get him wormed every so often as a puppy. Second, yes your vet is right, he may have diarrhea because he is stressed. Think about it, he has had a very major life change; new family, new house ect… Also an abrupt change in diet will also cause diarrhea. It is often recommended that if you are going to change their food to do it gradually over 7- 10 days. By mixing the foods, gradually towards the end of the switch the new food takes up more of the mix and the older food becomes less. The reason he may not be pooping as much is because he is not eating much. Also the diarrhea will dehydrate him quickly, thus no urine. He may need sq fluids. You should call your vet’s office and tell them everything that is going on.
louvre | May 17, 2009
Our little Pomeranian/chihuahua mix was prescribed Hills prescription food (similar to science diet but more developed for diets and by RX only) and she is picky and doesn’t want to eat it. We have to give her some of her previous science diet w/some of the RX mixed in ’til we can use only the RX food. A vet visit is still a good idea and thank you for rescuing a pooch that might otherwise not have had a home :}
not 2 B fooled | May 17, 2009
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bldavies92 | May 17, 2009
If you just got your puppy a few days ago then he is not use to the new food you are giving to him. Some dogs do not like science diet or other kinds of foods. Heis poop is most likely runny because when you change foods you need to mix some of the old food with the new food so they can get use to it, and sometimes it will still make their poop runny for a little bit. It should go away once he is use to a type of food. I highly suggest taste of the wild. Its a little spendy, but its one of the best and it is gain free and for all life stages. I switched a while back and it made all the difference! One more thing you can do is take a poop sample into the vet. They can test if for pretty much everything and they like you to take one in when ever you get a new puppy. This will let you know if he is sick or its just nerves or its the food. Its also cheaper than a trip to the vet. Hope this helps and good luck with your new puppy!
loveabullBullies | May 17, 2009
Hello, I had the same problem with my dog when I first got him! He was a 8 week old Chihuahua, and when we took him to the Petco store to buy dog food and such, they told us if he has diarrhea, then feed him some cottage cheese or cooked rice. Dogs can actually eat cottage cheese because it is non-fat, and it is also fed to pregnant dogs for that level of calcium it contains. Also people use cottage cheese in their dog’s food for a low-residue diet.
It can be hard just to believe ANYONE in yahoo answers, so if you have doubts you should really call your veterinarian or even a Petco/Petsmart store and ask for one of their vets there, or anyone with knowledge of dogs; like a trainer.
I am a dog lover, and my dog actually has diarrhea right now, we give him cottage cheese and cooked rice.
Also keep in mind that it’s a remedy for your dog’s diarrhea, NOT a diet.
Good luck!
jLAM | May 17, 2009
I DON’T THANK ITS THE DOG FOOD. IS HE THROWING UP ANY? MOST ANIMALS WE SEE FOR THE SHELTER GET PARVO. DOSE THE STOOL HAVE ANY BLOOD IN IT? HAVE YOU TOOK HIS TEMP?THE TEMP SHOULD BE 101 TO 102.5 NO LOWER NO HIGHER. ALL THE SINGS OF PARVO ARE LOW OR HIGH GRADE TEMP NOT EATING NOT DRINKING LAYING AROUND RUNNY STOOL SOMETIMES WITH OR WITH OUT BLOOD IN IT, VOMITING. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF THEY HAVE HAD THEY SHOTS THEY CAN STILL GET IT SO I WOULD TAKE HIM TO THE VET TO HAVE A PARVO TEST DONE HIM JUST TO MAKE SURE GOOD LUKE I HOPE THIS HELP YOU OUT SOME
Sonya | May 17, 2009
It could be the change in food. Science Diet is good food so I don’t think it would be the food. If you change his food a good idea is to put only a little bit of new food in at a time with the old food so he can adjust.
Debbie | May 17, 2009