This is a specific conversation about Dog food allergies — identifying and fixing them — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
Switching a dog from a high-performance working food to a standard pet range almost always causes digestive upset if it's done quickly — the fat and protein levels are quite different, and the gut needs time to adjust. True food allergies in dogs are actually less common than people think; what you're seeing is most likely a reaction to the abrupt dietary change rather than an allergy to an ingredient. That said, it's worth understanding the full picture. What symptoms is your Pointer showing — loose stools, vomiting, wind? And did you make the switch gradually over a week or so, or go straight from one bag to the other?
It was pretty much straight over, ran out of the working food and just started the new bag. He's got really loose stools, a bit of gurgling, and he seems uncomfortable. He's 5, generally very healthy, never had gut issues before.
inparticular.ai
That explains it almost entirely. Going cold-turkey between a calorie-dense working formula and a standard adult pet food is a big metabolic shift — the gut bacteria haven't had time to adjust to the new fat and fibre profile. The good news is this isn't a sign of an underlying problem; it's a very predictable response. Before I point you to the right food, can you tell me what working food he was on, and what pet food you've switched him to? That'll help me check whether the new food is actually appropriate for an active 5-year-old Pointer, because some mainstream pet ranges are quite a step down in quality.
He was on Skinner's Field & Trial, and we've moved him onto Royal Canin adult medium. He's still walked a lot, about two hours a day, so he's not exactly a couch dog.
inparticular.ai
Right, that's useful. Skinner's Field & Trial is a solid, high-protein working food, and Royal Canin adult medium is a decent food but it is a noticeable step down in protein and fat content — for a dog doing two hours of walking daily, it may not be the best long-term fit either. For right now though, the priority is settling his stomach. I'd recommend picking up a bag of Forthglade Complete Grain Free Adult dry food — it's available on Amazon UK, uses a single named protein source, has a clean ingredient list, and the protein and fat levels sit comfortably between a working food and a standard pet food, which makes it a much gentler landing point for him. Transition over 10–14 days: roughly 75% old food, 25% new for the first four days, then 50/50 for four days, then 25% old and 75% new, then fully over. That alone should stop the loose stools.
That sounds sensible. Should I do anything right now to help him feel better while I wait for the food to arrive?
inparticular.ai
Yes — a couple of things that actually help. First, add a small amount of plain boiled chicken and white rice alongside his current meals for two or three days; it's easy on the gut and gives it a chance to calm down. Second, a probiotic paste like Pro-Kolin (also on Amazon UK) can genuinely speed up gut recovery — it's the same one most vets reach for after digestive upsets and it works fast. Keep his water intake up too, because loose stools dehydrate dogs more than owners realise. If he's still symptomatic after five days, or if you see blood in the stool or he stops eating entirely, get him seen by a vet — but based on what you've described, I'd expect him to settle within a few days once his diet stabilises.
Great, really helpful. I'll order the Forthglade and the Pro-Kolin now. Thanks.
inparticular.ai
Good plan. Forthglade Complete Grain Free is a food he should genuinely do well on long-term given his activity level — you're not sacrificing quality to get away from the working food label. Take the transition slowly and he should be back to normal within the week. If you have any questions once you've started the switch, feel free to come back.
