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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Golden Retriever puppy sensitive stomach

19 replies

horsesforcoursess · 26/12/2022 19:04

Hi there - Can anyone recommend a good food for my puppy who is 3 months old? Currently on James Wellbeloved turkey and rice. His poos are solid first thing then get progressively runnier throughout the day. Stool test at vets is negative for
Giardia and other bugs etc. He's very well in himself and is doing brilliantly with his training. The vet said the next step would be to do some further tests, but to try changing his food first. Thanks!

OP posts:
Christmasbird · 26/12/2022 19:06

Mine couldn't handle rice. He's great after a few meals containing some sweet potato.
I use grain free but I do check that it doesn't have any kind of rice.

Timeforachangeisitnot · 26/12/2022 19:11

My lab was similar as a puppy. I tried Burns pork and potato and that made a difference, added in Protexin fibre, but ultimately he had a dodgy tum until we neutered him ( at 3 years old) Not that I am promoting neutering , but it was interesting .
He now has a cast iron tum.

DesertSolitaire · 26/12/2022 19:12

How soft is soft? Our lab pup used to be a bit like this, and just grew out of it. But her afternoon/evening poos were just soft, not like diarrhoea.

ShouldIknowthisalready · 26/12/2022 20:09

Poo getting softer throughout the day is often caused by overfeeding.

Original poster
horsesforcoursess · 26/12/2022 20:38

Thanks - it's not liquid but pretty soft! We've been adding prokolin paste which firms it up but would be good not to have to do that! I've heard that pumpkin and sweet potato are good so might try that!

Have tried to add a photo of the little bundle of gorgeousness!

Golden Retriever puppy sensitive stomach
OP posts:
SirSamVimesCityWatch · 26/12/2022 20:44

Our golden is 9 and still has a sensitive stomach. We feed her a big standard cheap dry food from pets at home but any deviation from that it's squishy squits all round. Treats (even ones meant to be "healthy") are an absolute no-no.

I would experiment with different foods, keep it simple, and then just stick like glue to whatever works.

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 26/12/2022 20:45

Bog standard!

Merlo · 26/12/2022 21:03

He’s just gorgeous!! Our little 20 week old cocker spaniel has really struggled with a sensitive tummy. None of our other dogs have ever been like this, so we were a bit panicked at first, as nothing seemed to help. Turns out they think she’s allergic to potato, which is apparently quite common. We tried several foods, but the best without doubt has been tribal pressed puppy. I cannot recommend it enough. It’s really sorted all the issues and she looks so well, with such a shiny coat!

thelobsterquadrille · 26/12/2022 21:21

If she has solid poos at first I would look more at over-feeding than allergies.

She should have 3-4 meals a day spread out over her waking hours. Is she being fed the right amounts and not getting too many treats or extras?

Moonflower12 · 26/12/2022 21:22

Our now 10 year old Spaniel has a sensitive tummy.
We feed her Green Pantry dry food. If she has anything else- runny poo.

Original poster
horsesforcoursess · 26/12/2022 21:42

Thanks - he's definitely not being over fed and having 3 small meals a day and minimal treats. His poo is not dreadful just much more unsettled compared with what I've seen before (I've raised 4 pups for guide dogs). I've always fed royal Canin as that's standard with GD, and have no problems

OP posts:
thelobsterquadrille · 26/12/2022 21:48

Royal Canin isn't the best quality food - I wouldn't feed it unless the dog had a specific dietary requirement.

You can get much higher quality foods for much less money.

Riverlee · 26/12/2022 22:14

We use Autarky Puppy for our lab pup and generally his poos are okay. Some treats seem to upset him though, such as Pate treats - the poos are noticeably softer after these.

Riverlee · 26/12/2022 22:14

Why would over feeding produce soft poos?

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 26/12/2022 22:36

I'd start by dropping all treats if possible. See what that does. Our GR really can't tolerate any.

thelobsterquadrille · 26/12/2022 22:41

Riverlee · 26/12/2022 22:14

Why would over feeding produce soft poos?

Because it overloads their digestive system and they get the urge to poo before they've had the chance to digest and process it properly.

One the main reasons dogs have hard poo in the mornings and soft poo later in the day is because they're over-fed. An allergy or intolerance would be present all the time.

Spanielsarepainless · 28/12/2022 09:29

My Lab came to me on Royal Canin and had soft, frequent poo and he turned out to be sensitive to chicken. This isn't unusual apparently. He is now on a salmon and rice kibble which has had the required effect!

Suzi888 · 28/12/2022 21:18

He’s beautiful. Mine was on Arden grange, breeder later advised she covered this in chicken noodle soup….. so he ate it.

He has Forthglade dog dinners now. Chappie is often recommended by vets as a fairly easy going food.

Whatever you do, do it slowly. Pro biotics are good.

dolor · 28/12/2022 21:39

Seconding the pumpkin/sweet potato addition. I used to have a dog that had a very wonky digestive system, and I ended up having to feed him a raw diet (he had many issues the poor thing) but that can be a bit faffy. I would add puréed sweet potato or pumpkin to his food, it helped a lot.

I use tails for my dog now, the subscription service. It might help as they can cater for woofers with wobbly tummies:

1 month free kibble trial (+50% off wet food and treats)

They do all kinds of lovely extras too.

Beautiful pup you have there.

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