How long do you give a new food to "work" ?

[chelle]

If you change food due to digestive / elimination issues - particularly soft poops, how long do you give it until you decide it wasn't an effective change and attempt another change?

[PaddyD]

At least 15 pounds. This ASSumes that you added it in gradually increasing proportions to the previous food.

[ChancetheGSD]

Well first it would depend what type of poop the dog is having.

http://media.weirduniverse.net/poop_sheet2_2.jpg

^ What would the dogs poop rate? Anything under 50 for more than a week and I'd be at the vet personally to see if there is something causing it besides the food. Digestive enzymes and probiotics may also be helpful. Anything in the 50 range, I'd just back off the kibble some and give it another two weeks to see if the poop gets any better. If it goes up to 75-100 then yay! If not, then I'd start looking into another kibble. JME!

[PaddyD]

Originally Posted by ChancetheGSD

Well first it would depend what type of poop the dog is having.

http://media.weirduniverse.net/poop_sheet2_2.jpg

^ What would the dogs poop rate? Anything under 50 for more than a week and I'd be at the vet personally to see if there is something causing it besides the food. Digestive enzymes and probiotics may also be helpful. Anything in the 50 range, I'd just back off the kibble some and give it another two weeks to see if the poop gets any better. If it goes up to 75-100 then yay! If not, then I'd start looking into another kibble. JME!

Glad I checked the site. Poop rate of 50 - 100?!?!
I think you meant poop score.

[chelle]

Originally Posted by PaddyD

At least 15 pounds. This ASSumes that you added it in gradually increasing proportions to the previous food.

You're ASSuming correctly. Very gradual. Slower than recommended. Learned this the hard way. However, he's still not 100% over on the new food, but will be within a few days. I will be outside with a flashlight at his butt. He's a very inconsistent pooper. Had issues with this from 11 weeks.

Originally Posted by ChancetheGSD

Well first it would depend what type of poop the dog is having.

http://media.weirduniverse.net/poop_sheet2_2.jpg

^ What would the dogs poop rate? Anything under 50 for more than a week and I'd be at the vet personally to see if there is something causing it besides the food. Digestive enzymes and probiotics may also be helpful. Anything in the 50 range, I'd just back off the kibble some and give it another two weeks to see if the poop gets any better. If it goes up to 75-100 then yay! If not, then I'd start looking into another kibble. JME!

Ok I want to thank you very, very much for that chart AND say I'm very glad I don't plan to eat dinner for awhile. But seriously, that chart should be in the poop sticky. Bailey is most often in the 50 score. I started adding a probiotic about a week+ ago. I've regularly added pumpkin here and there, and a frozen carrot sometimes with some success... but I'd sure like to have a poop score, of say, 90.

Originally Posted by PaddyD

Glad I checked the site. Poop rate of 50 - 100?!?!
I think you meant poop score.

Dang that's a lotta poopin.

[chelle]

Thanks again for that chart! (Anyone know how to request it go into the poo sticky?)

Just want to say the Blue Buffalo transition seems to be going very well! Yay!!! We're still on a 75% new/25% old mix, but had a good "75" today. Actually I don't know if it's the food or adding the probiotic, but either way, better. I can't believe I am feeling excited about my dog's poop. I need to get a life.