Hey all, brand new member! My family just welcomed in our newest member, Miles the week before Christmas! He is a gorgeous little black lab pup and has acclimated VERY well to his new life! However, a few days ago I noticed that his poo has gotten very soft, ALMOST diarrhea but not quite...we have switched him from the breeders food to our food slowly over the last 9-10 days, doing a 50/50 mix. Is this anything I should be worried about? He seems perfectly happy and energetic, he eats and drinks normally...just has very soft poos and will sometimes poop twice when he's out. Thanks for the help!
Hello and welcome. Miles looks like a sweet boy! Are you feeding him too much? How many times a day are you feeding him? What kibble are you feeding him? Liquid poo sometimes is a sign of too much food at one time. He should be fed four times a day. Depending on what you are feeding him and what it says on the bag, maybe cut down a little but still do it four times a day. When you change the breeder food to the food you have decided to feed him, you should do it even less than 50/50. 10/90, 20/80 and so on. 50/50 could be too much at once with the new food. I am sure you will get more answers. This is a great Forum.....you will get great advice from the moderators and the members. How is Miles physically? Is he still playing, eating, drinking water, etc?
When we were transitioning Quinn from breeder's food to one we chose, she had a bit of runny poo at first and the worst gas...once she was fully on the new food, poops were smaller and firmer and gas went away. Like @Yvonne said, make sure you are not over feeding and that you are feeding 4 times per day. We did a very gradual transition - 5 days each on 75% old food/25% new to 50-50, then 25/75 to 10/90.
Thanks everyone! I might be feeding him too much at a time! We have been feeding 2/3 of a cup 3 times a day. It sounds like we should be giving smaller feedings more often? Physically he is phenomenal! VERY playful (when he is awake) drinks normally just runny poos! I'll try switching to 4 meals and see if that helps clear this up, thank you SO much for the help!
Can I also suggest that I generally feed about 65- 75% of the recommended daily amount suggested by the manufacturer as I find them over estimate and this can also cause diorrhea etc.
i agree. cut his food down. i was giving bag recommendations at one point and he always had massive soft yogurt like poos. So massive he had to do it twice. Started slowly cutting back and his poos firmed up. Still my trainer said he appears overweight so I lowered it a little more down to 65% of bag recommendation.
We feed four meals up to 14 weeks. Then three meals up to six months, after that two meals. The daily amount we give is smaller than the bag says by quite a bit but the size of the meals does need to gradually increase as the pup grows. I add a couple of grams a day and keep an eye on their shape. Not to thin, not too chubby. My adult dog has half of the daily amount it says on the bag - if I give her more than that she puts weight on - she's fit healthy and shiny.
Great news! After reducing the quantity and increasing the frequency of his feedings, Miles is having perfectly normal poos now! He seems happier and is acting more "Lab like"... to the dismay of our 14 year old yellow lab Lilly! Thank you so much for all your help...it's been a LONG time since we've had a puppy in the house and I am comforted to know I now have a place to get advice!
