Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting time, filled with joyful moments and rapid growth. Puppies are constantly developing, building muscles, bones, and vital systems like immunity and brain function. This crucial developmental stage also involves their first experiences with food. It’s not uncommon for a new pup to occasionally experience an upset stomach. Signs of a sensitive stomach in puppies can include indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, excessive gas, and vomiting. If you notice these symptoms, it’s essential to consult your veterinarian to rule out any serious health issues. If your vet confirms a food sensitivity, several strategies can help manage your puppy’s sensitive stomach, including finding the right puppy food.
Transitioning to New Puppy Food Gradually
Some initial stomach upset can be normal during a puppy’s first few days in a new home, as the stress of the environment can lead to loose stools for a short period. To help your pup settle in, it’s best to continue feeding them the food they were accustomed to from the breeder or shelter for the first week. Ensure your pup has access to plenty of fresh water and opportunities for rest.
Once your puppy begins to acclimate, you can gradually transition them to a new food. For a wholesome option with grains, consider Wellness Complete Health for Puppies. Alternatively, for puppies with very active lifestyles, Wellness CORE Puppy is a grain-free dry formula. Both options are crafted with high-quality, natural ingredients to support your puppy’s needs.
Avoiding Overfeeding
It’s crucial to avoid overfeeding your new puppy, as this can lead to unwanted weight gain and potential stomach upset. High-quality, meat-based foods are nutrient-dense, meaning you can feed smaller portions while still meeting their unique growth requirements. Always check the recommended feeding amounts on the puppy food packaging, as these guidelines change as your puppy grows.
Depending on the breed and age of your puppy, their stomach can range from the size of a chestnut to a tennis ball—both are rather small.
Resisting Table Scraps
While it’s hard to resist those adorable puppy-dog eyes, it’s important to refrain from giving them food from your plate. Even a small piece of your meal can cause intestinal upset due to the sudden change in nutrition, especially with high-fat foods. For instance, a single piece of bacon for your puppy is calorically equivalent to a human eating 13 pieces of bacon!
Moderating Treat Usage
Training your new puppy is essential for good manners and fun bonding activities. Positive reinforcement training is fundamental, and treats are an easy and effective reward. However, puppy treats should be of the same high quality as their food. Avoid high-fat sausages, inferior ingredients, and high salt content, all of which can upset a puppy’s stomach. Instead, opt for healthy puppy treats like Wellness Puppy Bites Soft Lamb & Salmon. These treats contain DHA for brain development and are free from meat by-products, corn, wheat, dairy, artificial colors, or flavors that could contribute to a sensitive stomach. Their moist texture allows them to be easily broken down for training, preventing overfeeding.
Careful Transition Between Puppy Foods
During your puppy’s first year, you might experiment with different foods. While ensuring your pup receives high-quality nutrition is vital, introducing any new food gradually over at least 4-7 days is essential, which is longer than the recommended 3-4 days for adult dogs. A puppy’s intestinal tract is still developing. To prevent diarrhea, slowly mix your pup’s new food with their existing diet, gradually decreasing the amount of old food each day.
Supporting Microflora with Probiotics
Your puppy’s diet and environment significantly impact the trillions of bacteria in their intestinal tract. While puppies typically maintain a healthy bacterial balance, consuming spoiled food or experiencing significant stress can lead to an increase in bad gut bacteria, causing an upset stomach. To promote better gut health, choose a puppy food rich in prebiotics and guaranteed probiotics. Many puppy foods don’t guarantee probiotic levels, so check the Guaranteed Analysis on the back of the food bag. Wellness dry recipes for puppies include guaranteed probiotic levels to support gut health, along with Chicory Root Extract (a prebiotic) and dietary fiber to aid digestion and maintain a balanced microbiome.
Managing Puppy Stress
Stress is a common yet often overlooked cause of diarrhea in puppies. A new car ride, a visit to the dog park, or a trip to the veterinarian can induce anxiety, leading to loose stools. Help your puppy acclimate gradually by keeping car rides short, visiting the dog park during quieter times, and providing plenty of positive reinforcement during vet visits. This approach builds confidence and reduces stress.
Puppy-Proofing to Prevent Ingestion of Unsafe Items
During teething, puppies love to chew to ease discomfort, which can lead to them accidentally ingesting household items or clothing. If your pup experiences severe vomiting or diarrhea, it’s possible something is lodged in their intestinal tract. If you suspect your puppy has eaten something and might have a blockage, seek immediate veterinary attention. Learn more about how to puppy-proof your home to prevent such issues.
Investigating Food Allergies
New pet parents often suspect food allergies as the cause of their pup’s upset stomach. While dogs can experience allergic reactions, true food allergies are relatively uncommon. Common culprits include chicken, beef, dairy, corn, and wheat. Allergies trigger an immediate immune response and can develop at any age, even if the dog has been eating the same food without prior issues. Symptoms include stomach upset, itchy skin, and hair loss. A veterinarian must diagnose allergies, but switching to a limited-ingredient or natural diet with high-quality ingredients may help your pup feel better. All Wellness recipes use high-quality ingredients and are free from corn, wheat, soy, and artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Investigating Food Sensitivities
Similar to food allergies, food sensitivities can lead to itchy skin and hair loss. However, symptom onset is typically more gradual and doesn’t involve an immune system response. Food sensitivities in puppies can stem from individual ingredients or an imbalance in macronutrients like carbohydrates or fats. Resolving food sensitivities often involves transitioning to a high-quality, natural, balanced diet that avoids common trigger ingredients and maintains the correct macronutrient balance without fillers.
