My dog has diarrhea from wet food. Should I try a different brand?

Hello! It sounds as if you are dealing with some [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/article/diarrhea-in-dogs) in your dog! The not-so-simple answer to your question is…maybe. While the dog food itself may not be a direct cause of diarrhea, if the particular food is on recall (which you can look up on the [FDA website](https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/safetyhealth/recallswithdrawals/)), then it could be suspect. Other things, such as[ food allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/food-allergies/), changes in food brand, or a sensitive stomach, are more likely to cause diarrhea in relation to a particular food. If you just started a new food, diarrhea can develop by [switching the food](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-transition-your-dog-or-cat-to-a-new-food/) too fast. Dogs are sensitive to changes in diet since they eat the same thing every day. A new food or new ingredient given suddenly can bring on bouts of diarrhea. Try mixing the old food in with the new food and slowly increasing the amount of new food you give while reducing the amount of the old food over the course of 7-9 days to help protect against bouts of diarrhea. [Food allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-allergies-vs-environmental-allergies-whats-the-difference) are a little more difficult to nail down, as it tend to occur due to a sensitivity to a particular ingredient in the food (like if your dog is allergic to chicken). If the diarrhea continues, this can be something to discuss with your vet, as it often takes a lot of diet changes and [food trials](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-trials-for-allergies-in-pets-what-to-expect) to narrow down the problematic ingredient. Aside from the food, other causes such as [intestinal parasites](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-worms), toxins, or almost any disease can cause a dog to develop diarrhea. It is always worthwhile to get a stool sample checked by your vet to see if there is something else aside from the food that might be causing your dog's issue. Mild diarrhea can sometimes be [managed at home](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-treat-your-dogs-upset-stomach) by fasting then offering a bland diet of plain boiled chicken breast mixed with plain cooked white rice for 2-3 days or until symptoms resolve. Gradually switch back to the normal diet afterwards. If the diarrhea continues or gets worse over that period, if you see blood in the stool, or if any other signs develop (such as vomiting, lethargy or loss of appetite), then it is time to have your pet evaluated by a veterinarian. Dehydration is a real concern when pets have profuse diarrhea. Good luck, and I hope your dog starts to feel better soon!

It is ok to stay on the Hill's diet long-term if that is all that Orcan needs to prevent diarrhea. If you want him on another diet, you can slowly mix the two over 3-4 weeks. The first week it would be 75% Hills and 25% RC. The next week 50/50, etc. If the diarrhea comes back you can try a different RC diet for sensitive stomachs, continue feeding just the Hill's, or discuss food allergies or other possible causes for diarrhea with your vet.

I'm sorry that Prince has been having problems with diarrhea! I personally am not a fan at all of Blue Buffalo for a number of reasons, and many of my colleagues have seen dogs with GI problems from being fed Blue Buffalo. There are a couple of brands of dog food that I typically recommend which have canned food options such as Royal Canin, Hill's Science diet, Purina ProPlan, and Iams. I hope this helps :-)

It is unlikely that the wet food is causing the diarrhea. Especially if the wet food has been fed for many years. With Samwise being so old I would recommend taking him to a vet to see what is going on. Chronic inflammation and even neoplasia can cause horrible diarrhea. A vet visit with some blood work and x-rays should be done. hope she feels better

A sudden change in diet including switching brands can be enough to cause diarrhea in a dog. I can give you a home remedy to try for Chiquitin, and I would switch back to his normal brand of dog food. Withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. If the diarrhea continues on the bland diet, he starts vomiting food, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, he will need to see a vet right away. Good luck, I hope this helps!

From your description, it sounds like the food (Merrick) may be the cause of Sal's diarrhea, especially if it clears up when you stop feeding it to him. I'd recommend switching him to another brand of dog food. If you want to feed him grain free, I recommend Acana or Orijen. Make sure he is on a puppy formulated food to meet his nutritional needs. If you want to try a food that isn't grain free, I recommend Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina ProPlan, and Iams. I hope this helps!

It could be the brand of food or it could be the individual bag of food. Fast him for 24 hours then feed a bland diet in small, frequent amounts. Begin with 1 tablespoon every hour and gradually increase the amount. Feed bland until the stool is totally normal then transition slowly to the regular diet. Transition over 7-10 days. Consider a veterinary probiotic to promote a healthy gut. Brands include Bene-Bac, ProViable, ProStora or FortiFlora.