My new dog has loose stool and bad gas. Should I give probiotics?

Yes, I suggest you get him a probiotic to add to the food. Use the probiotic with the chicken and rice (no puppy food) for about 4 days and then go back to trying to transition him back to the puppy food. I like this probiotic. I think it is the best. Feed one packet on the food daily. It comes as a box of 30 packets and I would give it for the entire 30 days. http://www.allivet.com/p-1130-purina-pro-plan-veterinary-diets-fortiflora-dog-supplement-box-of-30.aspx If you can't get Fortilfora then you can use any probiotic made for dogs. No human ones or dairy products. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Congratulations on your new puppy! Diarrhea is not uncommon in puppies and there are numerous possible causes, including things like an upset GI tract due to a change in diet or stress, intestinal parasites such as worms or protozoal organisms like Giardia or Coccidia, or more serious causes such as bacterial infection or parvo virus. If Jake is having any vomiting or seems weak/lethargic we would be concerned about parvo virus and he should go to the vet right away for testing and treatment. If Jake is eating normally with no vomiting and a good energy level, he should see a vet for an exam as soon as you can get an appointment but it isn't an emergency situation, and in the meantime you can start a probiotic which you can find at many pet stores or your vet's office. Best of luck to you and Jake!

These irregular stools can be from parasites (worms) but you really need to know what type of worms you are treating before giving a dewormer. Not every deworming product treats every type of worm. You can try a general dewormer but I don't know if it will help. It is best to have a fecal sample tested by your vet. Your vet can give you the best idea of a proper deworming schedule based on where you live and your dog's lifestyle. A dog that goes out hiking/running, etc and is around a lot of other dogs needs more frequent deworming than a dog that never leaves it's house/yard. In the meantime, I would suggest you start her on a probiotic. I recommend this one called Fortiflora although you can use any probiotic product made for dogs. No human probiotics or dairy products (ie: yogurt). ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B001650NNW/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all&qid=1531645337&sr=8-1 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello. I think this is an excellent idea. We are learning more every day about the importance of probiotics & their effects on the gut microbiome. Some dog foods even supply extra probiotics in their formulas, so this is an option. Giardia can be frustrating to deal with. Using a probiotic daily may help in combating any potential flare-ups. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

These signs could be compatible with a gastrointestinal inflammation (and possible secondary infection) probably related to the recent foreign body ingestion. I would suggest to start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 48hours. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days. I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if the signs persist or you notice vomiting, lethargy or inappetence. If that is the case antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Stress, change of diet, parasites, etc can cause diarrhea. It can be normal for a dog that is new to the home. I would recommend giving him bland food for a couple days, such as boiled chicken and rice. If no improvement, contact your vet.

Hello, I would recommend picking up some probiotics from your vet to help repopulate his gut with good bacteria. Common ones are called Fortiflora and Proviable, but there are other fine brands as well. Also ensure that Chicharon has been dewormed recently. Most areas recommend giving puppies general deworrmer every two weeks during the first four months of life. You can also pick up some prescription canned gastrointestinal food from your vet made to be easy on the belly. Plain rice and pumpkin are also fine choices though. A bit of loose stool is common for dogs in a stressful situation, such as moving to a new home, so this may be a short lived situation. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Congrats on your new pup Chicharon.