My puppy has loose stools. Is FortiFlora safe and what can I do?

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.

There are many causes for loose stool in puppies and in some cases the bowel is just slow to develop and adapt to the demands of a rapidly growing dog! My preferred option is royal canin gastrointestinal junor, which should be fed for at least 6 weeks to promote bowel development. Probiotics such as fortiflora can also be very effective and a fibre supplement such as profibre may be added alongside the kibble or wet food

Hi there, and thanks for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Fortiflora is a probiotic and often helps with mild cases of diarrhea. However, with more severe or persistent diarrhea, additional therapy is warranted. I recommend continuing the Fortiflora, but you should have Charlie rechecked by the vet. If the diarrhea isn't improving, depending on what was done previously, your vet may recommend additional testing (such as x-rays), and he will likely be prescribed some additional GI supportive medications to control the diarrhea. A prescription bland food may also be recommended to help firm up his stools. Hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear Rusty isn't feeling well. I recommend taking Rusty to the vet with a fresh stool sample. There is a possibility he has microscopic intestinal parasites. This is common in puppies and causes diarrhea. I would not change his food as that is likely to make the loose stool worse. There is no deworming medicine that treats all parasites so even if he has been dewormed, it doesn't mean there isn't something there. Good luck and kisses to Rusty!

The ingredients in the diet you are currently feeding are fine and quinoa would not be more beneficial than potatoes or carrots unless there was a known issue with them. I see Luca's stool in the pictures and they are definitely loose. It also appears that he is straining to defecate. Without knowing more, I'm suspicious that there is a problem in the colon causing him to have diarrhea. This could be an infection, or an inflammatory bowel disease. Infection is a common cause of diarrhea in younger dogs. Either way, it's best to have him evaluated by your vet, because I'm not sure that a diet change will help his current condition. A vet can test his stool ( make sure to take a fresh sample with you) and possibly do other testing to help identify the cause. Once the cause of this is identified, the correct treatment and diet can be advised. You can help him get through this by feeding bland food (boneless chicken and rice is good). Feed small portions (1/2 cup or less) three times a day. You can also add probiotics to the food (can get this at the pet store), which has demonstrated some efficacy for improving diarrhea. Ensure fresh, clean water is always available. I hope this helps and Luca gets better soon.

Milo is ridiculously cute!! My main concern is that he start drinking. You can offer water with a little chicken broth in it. (But always make sure there is fresh water too.) Start a probiotic like Purina Fortiflora. Try a bland diet (half plain boiled/canned chicken half plain cooked white rice) for a few days and I expect the diarrhea to improve after 1-3 days. (Then transition back to her regular diet slowly over 3-5 days.) If at ANY time he is lethargic, vomiting, not wanting to eat, or you have other concerns, you need to go to the vet clinic right away to make sure it’s nothing more serious. Best of luck to you and Milo!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You can make sure that there is enough fiber in his diet. You can add canned pumpkin to add fiber to his diet which may help firm up his stools. You can add 1 tablespoon of canned pumpkin to his meals. You can also add probiotics such as Fortiflora. Best of luck!