My dog has diarrhea from new food. Should I switch back gradually?

Switching foods too quickly can cause digestive upset such as vomiting and diarrhea. It would be best to return to Oli's original food until his stomach settles and then start a gradual change to the new food over a period of 7-9 days, slowly adding in more of the new food over time. This can help minimize stomach upset from the new food as he adjusts.

Switching food too quickly can cause digestive upset and diarrhea, so this could be the reason why Rocky isn't doing well. Typically, it takes a transition of 7-9 days to switch foods over to minimize GI upset. There could also be an ingredient in the new food that is not being tolerated well by Rocky. You can try adding in a probiotic if you are still transitioning the food, however if the diarrhea continues it is best to rule out any issues with a checkup by your vet, and to see if switching the food back is needed.

Poor Dexter! The vomiting and diarrhea could be due to many conditions including eating something he shouldn’t have, bacterial over growth, parasites or even an intestinal blockage. If the diarrhea has continued beyond 24 hours, I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian. If he has not eaten well for the past 24 hours, I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian. With continued diarrhea, there are often bacterial shifts in the gut that will make matters worse regardless of the initial cause. Make sure to bring in a sample of fresh stool. The doctor will check him for parasites and bacterial over growth. Puppies generally have a big appetite so when they aren't eating well, it's concerning for a more serious cause of illness. Some times a bland diet can help and then a slow, gradual introduction to the normal food can be done. A bland diet can consist of 25% boiled white meat chicken and 75% boiled white rice. This should all be plain. Have Dexter examined if needed. I hope he starts feeling better quickly! Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Dogs will frequently develop diarrhea from a diet change which is why it is recommended to slowly transition your pet from one food to another. Since worms have been ruled out, it is likely that this is your pup's issue, although there may be many reasons for diarrhea including infection, allergies and other disorders. If the diarrhea does not resolve in another day or two, you should take her back to your veterinarian to determine the underlying cause of the diarrhea.

Hi and thank you for posting your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry your dog is having diarrhea. That is no fun! Changing to a new food rapidly without a slow transition from old food to new food and can certainly cause a few days of diarrhea especially if he appears normal otherwise and you have just changed his food less than a week ago. You may try added plain canned pumpkin (not the pie filling), green beans, and carrots to his food to help firm up his stool. It that does not help in a day or two, then it is possible he has something more concerning going on (like a bacterial infection or a food allergy) that will need to be addressed and diagnosed with your veterinarian. I hope this has helped and I wish you and your dog the best!

You likely don't need to fast her but just gradually switch her back to her normal diet over the next 3 to 7 days or so. However if the diarrhea persists or becomes bloody she needs to get checked out by a veterinarian because she could have an infection.

It wouldn't hurt to have a fecal done just to make sure that isn't the case. If the fecal exam checks out healthy, I would be concerned there is an ingredient in the new diet that may be causing some GI distress. If you suspect that is the case, your vet may be able to work with you on an elimination diet to narrow down the cause so it can be eliminated.