Why is my puppy refusing food and having large morning bowel movements?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your question. I would recommend switching to a different food altogether like Science Diet or switch to a different puppy formula of Royal Canin that has less fiber. You can also try adding in a probiotic such as Purina Fortiflora to see if this helps normalize his bowel movements. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please remember to rate this answer as helpful or not. Thank you!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’d try Purina Proplan large breed puppy or their Focus line. Or Hill’s Science Diet large breed puppy. Be sure he isn’t getting sick and the decreased appetite is a sign. I wish you the best!

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.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. You have been on the treatment for 4 days now from the sounds of it. I would recommend giving the food more time to help normalize the stool. You can also add in a probiotic such as Purina Fortiflora to see if this helps resolve the diarrhea as well. If there is still no improvement going in to next week, then I would contact the veterinarian you saw to discuss further options. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. This may be a dietary indiscretion. I would recommend transitioning her to a different food and consider adding in a probiotic such as Purina Fortiflora. I would try 2-3 different foods and see if that makes a difference. If there is no improvement, then I would recommend having her examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diarrhea can be observed with conditions such as colitis, gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, intestinal parasites, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They may choose to check for parasites and to start medications for diarrhea depending on the results. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Mitzi. Poor girl. It sounds like she may be sick if she is eating less and having some diarrhea. I can give you a home remedy for her to see if that helps. Feed her 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 her normal diet. If the diarrhea continues on the bland diet, she refuses to eat the bland diet, she starts vomiting food, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, she will need to see a vet right away. I hope this helps!