Need help... Puppy might be allergic to chicken and having diarrhea problems on current food

Edit/update:
Sorry for the typo in the title. I was posting this quickly and wish this forum would let us fix titles!

Thank you to everyone for the advice. After reading the responses and thinking this through, I realize I need to get some sleep before making any big changes. I just want my little girl to feel better. She’s been extra cuddly lately, and I can tell her stomach’s bothering her.

I’m going to try to stay consistent and will talk to the vet on Monday. It’s nice to hear there might be good options for her out there, even if it’s not Purina Pro Plan.

Hi everyone,

I’m struggling with my puppy’s stomach issues. She’s almost 7 months old, a 40 lb German Shepherd mix, and has had diarrhea since we got her three months ago. We’ve tried several rounds of meds like flagyl, but the diarrhea always comes back after a couple of days.

The vet suggested this might be a food issue, but it’s a holiday weekend, and she’s been waking us up four times a night to go out. It’s exhausting, and I just want her to feel better. She seems happy and is staying hydrated, though.

When we rescued her, her foster mentioned her stool was fine but said the Purina Pro Plan Puppy (chicken) made her itchy, so they switched her to PPP Lamb. The vet preferred salmon, so we switched to PPP Sensitive Stomach Salmon over a month.

During that time, she’s also been adjusting to new flea meds, dewormer (she was a rescue from Georgia), and getting used to her new environment. I’m sure that hasn’t helped. Treats during training and peanut butter from my husband may have also upset her stomach.

She’s never really done well on the salmon food. Even on her “good” days, her poop would start normal but end soft. Now, after stopping meds, the diarrhea comes back almost immediately.

I’m thinking the vet might recommend a different sensitive stomach food, but I don’t know where to start. I’d rather not keep putting her on antibiotics. Does anyone have advice or recommendations? I just want her to catch a break!

That sounds really tough. I think the first thing is to stick to one food for a few weeks. No treats, no peanut butter, just the kibble. Give it time to see if it works before switching to something else. Consistency is key.

@Noel
You’re right, I need to be more consistent. I’ve been trying, but things keep coming up, like the trainer giving her treats. I’m going to remove all treats from the house so my husband doesn’t forget. We’re all sleep-deprived, and it’s been hard to stay on track. Thank you for the advice!

@Dana
No problem! I totally get it. Puppies can be stressful, especially when they’re not feeling well. Just keep doing your best. I hope you get some rest soon!

Sorry you’re dealing with this. My dog also had issues with Purina foods. We eventually tried Royal Canin hydrolyzed, and it’s been better. It’s frustrating, but there are options out there. Hang in there!

@Corey
Thank you for sharing that. It helps to know others have had similar experiences. I’ve been thinking about Royal Canin. I’ll talk to the vet and see if that might be a good next step for her. It’s reassuring to hear it worked for your dog.

Our pup had soft stools for weeks, and it turned out he couldn’t handle beef treats. Once we switched to chicken protein and added pumpkin and probiotics, he improved a lot. Maybe give that a try?

Afton said:
Our pup had soft stools for weeks, and it turned out he couldn’t handle beef treats. Once we switched to chicken protein and added pumpkin and probiotics, he improved a lot. Maybe give that a try?

That’s really helpful to know. I’ll ask the vet about adding pumpkin and probiotics to her diet. Hopefully, removing treats will make a difference too. Thank you!

My dog was diagnosed with IBD and needed steroids and a prescription diet. It’s worth asking your vet about it if things don’t improve.

Zen said:
My dog was diagnosed with IBD and needed steroids and a prescription diet. It’s worth asking your vet about it if things don’t improve.

Thank you. I’ll definitely ask the vet about IBD. Did your dog stay on steroids long-term, or was it just to get things under control?

@Dana
He’s on steroids for life, but every case is different. Make sure you have good pet insurance before going down that road—it can get expensive. Hopefully, your vet can help figure out what’s going on soon!