Health Question

My lab is 14 months old and for probably the last 8 months he hasn't had consistently solid stool. I've tried changing his food starting with Iams, Blue, Pro Plan, and Purina One. Went to the vet a few months ago thinking he might have a worm or something but they didn't find anything abnormal. Any clue? Overall he's very healthy and active. I just can't figure out what's going on

My pup didn't do well with purina pro plan puppy. He had soft stools and runny eyes. I switched to Dr. Tims all age, and it fixed those problems (dogs love that stuff too). I assumed he had some sort of allergy (corn maybe?).

I'd Try another corn or grain free food. Hopefully that will help. Go to chewy.com for a huge selection and free delivery.

Good luck.

Thanks TxPride

Has he ever been on antibiotics? If so, he may be missing some needed good bacteria. An inexpensive thing to try that can't do any harm is to give a probiotic supplement. With that it would not hurt to try adding a supplement or treats designed to add fiber which should also slow his digestive system down and may firm things up until his digestive system gets back on track.

This is good advice. You can also give yogurt as a probiotic. Other things to consider are the fact that 4 food changes in the last 8 months is a lot. Just that could be causing the problem. Also consider Giardia. One other thing to remember is that dogs can and will get loose stool from virtually anything. Feed too much, change food, stress, excitement, ANYTHING. I'm not saying don't worry about it but if the dog was previously doing well and gets loose stool for a while, in the absence of a health issue, it will usually resolve itself.

Try one bag of regular old purina dog chow. That did it for me.

He hasn't had 4 food changes in the last 8 months. I guess I worded that wrong. He's been on 4 foods in the 13 months that he's been on solid food. The Iams puppy was the first 2 months, I switched to Blue and he was on that doing great for several months then out of nowhere the softer stuff started to come out. I think it was in the middle of the season I switched him to Pro Plan, and then 3 months later he was switched to Purina One at his trainer.

He's never been on antibiotics.

I posted this on a facebook group and got some insight as well and I'm going to try a few different things. One of his problems may very well be that when he eats, he doesn't chew; he literally inhales it. So I'm going to try flipping his bowl over to help him slow down and maybe start chewing again. I'm also going to give a couple scoops of pumpkin. I'm also going from 3 cups/feeding to 2 cups. If that doesn't work then I'll try giving probiotics, then ultimately a change in food to something with a more appropriate protein percentage. If all else fails then I'll consult my vet again. Luckily my vet is a lab enthusiast that breeds and hunts them so I'm sure he will be able to help out

As Tony said, I'd look into adding some yogurt or some sort of probiotic to the diet for a few weeks, at least. But check with your vet and see what they say.

check with your vet first, but when my dog was about the same age she had the same problem, my vet said to give 1-2 tbsp pepto for about a week. It worked very well and have not had to go back or change food. We were on purina pro puppy.

Sounds like me.

I have one dog that has to be on a lamb and rice based foods, I had a pup a number of years ago that I had to give a bacteria supplement to get her straightened out and then a lamp and rice based food. She did not have to proper bacteria in her gut to process the food.

You might consider trying the probiotics now rather that waiting on other things. It can only be beneficial. Just because you have never given antibiotics does not mean it can't be the problem. Your pup was born with a sterile GI tract, so it could still be a reason since he has had a problem all his life. Yogurt is good, but considering how inexpensive probiotic supplements off the shelf at the pet store can be, the larger quantity of bacteria in a supplement, and to to give bacteria that is host specific for a dog, I personally would go with that. It sure can't hurt anything.

alright thanks for the info Sniper. I'll give it a shot!

now the question of which probiotic is the right one? I just got on petsmart.com and theres like 27 different things

May be an allergy. I had kind of the same issue with my lab and I finally found a food that fixed her up. It turned out she was allergic to wheat and chicken. The blue buffalo large breed basics is what worked for her and she's had normal turds ever since.

I would just read the labels, read the online reviews to see what worked for others or ask the people that work at your petsmart what most people buy and pick one. I don't think it matters that much. If you give pumpkin for fiber know that it is canned pumpkin you need to give him. Stay away from canned pumpkin pie filling that has spices or sugar in it.

I've had good luck with FortiFlora.

X2 with the FortiFlora.

As far as probiotics we use probician gel on our pups and Probios powder on our adult dogs feed. As far as the loose stool it could be coccidia even when a stool sample is done it will not always show up. Coccidia is treated with Albon from your vet.