Nursing Shih Tzu has diarrhea from new food. Is it safe for pups?

Yes, you should feed a pregnant and lactating mother a puppy food as this has more calories for the extra demand of nutrition that she will need while pregnant and nursing. Once her puppies are weaned she can go back on to her regular adult maintenance diet. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

yes you can do it for a limited amount of time (max 12 hours), then start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 3-4 days. 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. 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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Any medication you give a lactating dog will be passed through the milk to the puppy. I do not suggest any human medications and if her diarrhea is severe you should have her examined by your Vet and a fecal test ran to rule out intestinal parasites. It easily could be the food you are feeding as she should be eating a puppy food. I would try a bland diet of boiled chicken and hamburger with rice for a few says. A probiotic should be fine, I like Purina Fortiflora. I hope this helps!

Hi, It generally is a good idea to only feed dog food. It is specially formulated for dogs and most are properly balanced and have everything they need. Human food, especially fatty foods can lead to pancreatitis and other health issues. The dog food does not necessarily have to be for Shih Tzus. Hope this helps!

Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Puppies frequently acquire roundworms from their mother or environment. The paper likely would not cause an issue unless it was a large quantity. Make sure he continues to eat and drink normally. A bland diet and/or a prescribed dewormer may firm up his stool. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting or persistent diarrhea.

Please do not give Benji regular milk, it causes GI upset in dogs and should never be given to them. He may not be hungry, but if he's around four weeks of age, he can start being weaned onto puppy food. To help him wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality puppy formulated dry food in warm water until soft. Then mix that with his puppy formula to make a mush the consistency of oatmeal. Over the next two weeks, gradually increase the amount of dry puppy food and decrease the amount of water and puppy formula you use until he is eating the dry puppy food only. Best of luck!

Hormonal changes or diet changes (such as suddenly switching to the puppy food) can sometimes cause diarrhea post-birth, however if it is continuing, bringing in a fecal sample of Lacey's stool to your vet is a good next step. Your vet can check for common parasites or other issues that could be causing the diarrhea, especially if a bland meal hasn't helped. If the diarrhea continues and the fecal comes back negative, a more thorough exam from your vet is best.