I changed my dogs food and now she has diarrhea with blood

So, you switched your dog’s food to a fresh food diet to give them a healthier and happier life. Great work. 

That said, dietary changes of any type can cause temporary digestive distress to your dog, even when you’re switching to a healthier option. The good news is that with an appropriate transition and some patience, your dog will be over the hump in no time.

Why is my dog having digestive issues? 

Your dog’s health is influenced by his microbiome (the delicate balance of microorganisms that make up his gut). Switching food can cause a temporary destruction to that microbiome, even if you’re switching to a food that will be much better for your dog in the long run.

We recommend making the shift to new food slowly, rather than having your dog go off his old food cold turkey. After your dog has had time to adjust, you should begin to see positive changes.

What if it’s not the food?

Sometimes, it’s not a food change at all. Here are some other reasons your dog could have an upset stomach that you should rule out first:

1. A new baby in the house 
2. A recent move
3. A new pet in the home
4. New medications that could be causing symptoms (talk to your vet to explore this possibility)

What symptoms commonly accompany a food switch?

Diarrhea 

Pet parents transitioning to fresh food may notice changes in their dog’s poop consistency during the first week or so. While some may have firmer stools, some may experience diarrhea and need to go more often, another product of an adjusting microbiome.

Poop color changes

You may also notice changes in poop color. This is totally normal since your pet is eating new ingredients. But if your pet experiences dark, bloody stool or diarrhea that lasts longer than three days, you should talk to your vet.

Vomiting

Your puppy’s new diet contains a higher fat content than many commercial kibble dog foods. Each recipe is carefully formulated to include healthy fats and oils that promote coat health and facilitate growth in your pet. Vomiting once or twice is normal for a dog transitioning to fresh food, but you should take your dog to the vet if vomiting is persistent, severe, and lasts longer than three days.

Regurgitation

Your dog may simply be really excited to eat his delicious new food and inhale it too quickly. If this is the case, look into puzzle feeding bowls to help slow down the eating process.

Appetite decrease 

Most dogs appreciate the flavor and freshness of their new food but some are picky eaters and may be unsure of a new diet, or may prefer a different recipe. If your pet seems uninterested regardless of recipe, other factors may be at play. If you switched to a fresh diet due to a pre-existing condition, talk with your vet if your pet is not eating. 

How can I help my dog get through his tough tummy times?

Try mixing half of your dog’s Nom Nom meal with an equal portion of rice or potato.

Put your dog on a temporary fast to help his digestive system reset. Pull food for 12 to 24 hours, then try giving your dog half a meal. Remember to limit treats during this transition and to plan around any medications.

Remain consistent about feeding your dog at designated meal times.

When do I need to take my dog to the vet?

If your pet is vomiting or has diarrhea for more than three days, or has symptoms accompanied by lethargy, you should talk to your vet about the transition. 

If your dog suffers from a serious medical condition, such as advanced kidney disease or pancreatitis, they may require a more stringent diet, and Nom Nom may not be the right fit. Remember to consult your veterinarian before changing his diet.

The Nom Nom R&D team is on the lookout for dogs that experience regular diarrhea to participate in their new GI microbiome study. Sound like someone in your house? See if your dog qualifies for this paid research study here.

Diarrhea in dogs is often triggered by their diet. When a dog ingests rotten or contaminated food or a food ingredient they’re allergic to, it often causes stomach upset. However, there are cases where the diarrhea isn’t caused by something harmful, contaminated, spoiled, or pathogenic. Sometimes even a perfectly balanced, well-formulated diet can cause diarrhea. This usually happens when an abrupt change from one diet to another occurs. But why does this happen? And is there a way to prevent this from happening? Keep reading to find out!

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Choosing the Right Diet for Your Dog

Nutrition is arguably the most important component in maintaining your dog’s health. The health and optimal function of almost all organs in the body will ultimately depend on the diet your dog is eating, from puppyhood until they are adults. It’s therefore very important to choose the best and appropriate diet for your dog.

There is no one perfect diet for a dog. Their nutritional needs change as they go through different changes in their lives. Nutritional requirements are also dependent on the type and breed of the dog and the environment they’re in. Components in a dog’s diet such as protein and fat content should be carefully considered in choosing a diet for your dog, as these can greatly affect the dog’s health in the long run.

The requirements for these nutrients will change as the animal gets older. As such, there will be instances where you’ll need to change from one type of diet to another. However, changing a dog’s diet is not as simple as it seems. If not done correctly, a dog may develop adverse food reactions that lead to gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea.

Symptoms of Adverse Food Reactions in Dogs

Adverse food reaction is a blanket term used to describe any detrimental health reactions a dog gets from food, from food poisoning, food allergies, or any food-borne gastrointestinal problem. It is often confused with food allergy, and although quite similar in presentation and manifestation, these are two entirely different things.

While both are characterized by the dog’s immune response towards their food, they differ in the sense that food allergy has a defined and documented cause while a general food adverse reaction can happen even if the dog is not allergic to any components of the food, such as during an abrupt transition from one type of dog food to another.

Digestion and absorption of ingested food highly depends on the enzymes the stomach and the intestines produce as well as the population of microbiome present in the latter part of the intestinal tract. The type of digestive enzymes and microbiome depends on the food being ingested by the dog and will change accordingly during diet changes.

For example, a puppy will have digestive enzymes that are more suited to digest milk proteins and will have indigestion and gastrointestinal issues if given a diet with minimal or no milk components. As they get older, their digestive enzymes change to be able to digest and process more complicated protein sources such as meat and meat-based products.

This is also true in adult dogs used to eating a certain type of diet. Their digestive enzymes and microbiome have adapted to the diet they’re used to eating. An abrupt change in the type of diet (change in brand or protein base) will cause an inflammatory response along the intestinal lining, leading to gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrhea. This is what happens in cases of adverse food reactions due to sudden diet changes.

My dog has diarrhea after changing her food. How is this treated?

Most cases of diarrhea due to sudden diet changes can easily be corrected by changing back to the diet the dog has been used to. As mentioned above, adverse food reaction during diet change happens when the digestive enzymes in the dog’s gastrointestinal system cannot fully process the components in the new diet, resulting in diarrhea and vomiting. Changing back to the old food where innate enzymes can easily digest will help control signs associated with the adverse food reaction.

In cases with severe symptoms, medical management such as antidiarrheals and anti-emetics may be needed to fully control the gastrointestinal disturbance. Severe cases can predispose the intestinal tract to secondary infection and the proliferation of pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria requiring antibacterial therapy to treat.

Most cases respond well to treatment and changing back to the previous diet, with signs resolving in 24-48 hours after the start of treatment. If left untreated, the continuous inflammation along the intestinal lining may lead to more serious health conditions.

How to Prevent Diarrhea When Changing Your Dog’s Food

It has been shown that as the dog goes through different changes in their life, diet change is necessary to meet changes in their nutritional requirements. It has also been discussed how diet change opens the risk of a dog getting adverse food reactions causing gastrointestinal signs like vomiting or diarrhea. How, then, are we supposed to meet changing nutritional requirements without risking gastrointestinal issues?

Most, if not all, vomiting and diarrhea cases due to diet change happen when the switch is done abruptly. Sudden change in the dog’s diet causes improper digestion. However, this can be easily avoided by transitioning from one diet to another gradually. The slow transition allows the gastrointestinal system to adjust and produce necessary enzymes suitable for digesting the newly-introduced diet. Proper change in diet is usually a week-long transition and follows this process:

Days 1-2: 25% new diet and 75% old diet

Days 3-4: 50% new diet and 50% old diet

Days 5-6: 75% new diet and 25% old diet

Day 7: 100% new diet (completely transitioned)

This week-long gradual diet transition is often enough to prevent vomiting and diarrhea from occurring. Some dogs that have a very sensitive stomach may require a longer transition, but the same principle applies. By gradually transitioning diets, especially at times when diet change is needed to make sure nutritional requirements are met, we significantly reduce the risk of adverse food reactions and prevent signs of diarrhea and vomiting in dogs.

Read more:

Gastrointestinal Diets for Dogs and Cats

What You Need to Know About Feeding Your Dog a Raw Diet

Can Dogs Get Sick From Drinking Too Much Water?

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