Puppy sensitive stomach food advice

A Labradoodle puppy with loose stools that haven't settled since weaning is actually a pretty specific situation — at 16 weeks, the digestive system is still maturing, and the transition away from mother's milk can leave some pups struggling if the new food is too rich or too complex for their gut to handle at this stage. Sensitive stomach issues in dogs usually fall into a few categories: food intolerance, ingredient sensitivity, or a gut that simply needs a plainer, more digestible diet — and figuring out which one is key. To point you in the right direction, can you tell me what food you've moved them onto since weaning, how loose we're talking (soft and formed, or fully liquid), and whether there's any vomiting or just the stools?

That's really helpful, and the vet ruling out infection is an important first step. Liquid stools consistently at this age, on a supermarket own-brand kibble, points pretty clearly to the food itself — own-brand puppy foods often pack in a lot of protein sources, cereals, and additives that a young puppy's gut simply isn't ready to process efficiently. Labradoodles can also inherit a bit of the Poodle's tendency toward digestive sensitivity, so it's not unusual to see this. At 5kg and 16 weeks, what he needs is a single, highly digestible protein source, minimal ingredients, and a good level of prebiotic fibre to help build a stable gut flora. One more question: is he on wet food, dry kibble, or a mix right now?

Wet food can actually help in some cases because it's easier to digest, but for persistent liquid stools I'd actually keep him on dry — it's easier to control consistency and the structured kibble can help firm things up. My recommendation is Royal Canin Sensitivity Control in the puppy format, specifically the duck and tapioca recipe. Duck is a single novel protein that's unlikely to be causing a reaction, tapioca is a very gentle starch that digests cleanly, and Royal Canin have specifically formulated this to support the intestinal barrier and reduce fermentation in the gut. It's not a standard puppy food — it's genuinely a therapeutic diet designed for exactly this situation. Transition him slowly over seven to ten days, mixing increasing amounts with the current kibble, and in most cases you'll see stools firming up within two weeks. If they don't, that's the point to go back to the vet and discuss a hydrolysed protein diet.

It's available on Amazon UK — Royal Canin Sensitivity Control comes in both small bags and larger bags, so you can start with a smaller size to confirm it suits him before committing. At 5kg and still growing, you're looking at roughly 90 to 110 grams per day split across three meals — the bag will have a feeding guide based on expected adult weight, which for a Labradoodle is typically around 20 to 25kg, so use that as your reference point. Weigh the portions rather than guessing by eye, especially while his gut is settling. Keep water intake up, and avoid any treats or table scraps during the transition period — even small variables can keep things unsettled when you're trying to identify what's working.

Good plan — a proper ten-day transition and a two-week trial gives you a genuine read on whether it's working. Most owners see real improvement within the first week once the gut starts responding to the cleaner ingredients. If stools are fully formed and consistent by week three, you're in a good place and can consider whether to stay on Sensitivity Control long-term or gradually trial a simpler puppy food once his gut is established. Good luck with him — Labradoodles at that age are a lot, but once the digestion settles it makes everything easier.