Puppy switched food cold turkey & has loose stools

Oh, the classic cold turkey switch — your Airedale's digestive system has gone into mild revolt, which is completely expected and totally fixable. Before I point you in the right direction, a couple of quick things will help me give you the best advice: what food were they on before, and what did you switch them to? And are the loose stools the only symptom, or is there any vomiting or lethargy alongside it?

Good news — she's telling you exactly what's happening. Royal Canin Puppy uses a very different protein and fibre profile to Millies Wolfheart, which is a big jump for a gut that hasn't been primed for it. The fact she's bright, eating well, and not vomiting means this is almost certainly a digestive adjustment reaction rather than anything sinister. Millies Wolfheart is actually a solid choice for an Airedale long-term, so I wouldn't abandon it — but we need to help her gut catch up. One more thing: is she around 7 months now, and roughly what weight is she sitting at?

Perfect — she's in the middle of a real growth phase for an Airedale, so getting her gut settled quickly matters. Here's what I'd do: don't go back to Royal Canin, but don't push forward on full Millies Wolfheart rations right now either. The most effective approach is to temporarily introduce a bland, easily digestible wet food alongside a small amount of the Millies Wolfheart, then build the ratio over 10–14 days. For the transition food, I'd use Forthglade Complete Grain Free Puppy — the chicken with brown rice and vegetables variety. It's gentle, highly digestible, uses a single primary protein, and crucially it's already a step up from Royal Canin in quality, so you're not backtracking. Mix it 75% Forthglade to 25% Millies Wolfheart for a week, then flip to 50/50, then 25/75, then full Millies. You should see stools firming within 48–72 hours of starting that blend.

Yes — a good probiotic will speed this up noticeably. Pro-Kolin Enterogenic is the one I'd reach for; it's a paste you give directly or mix into food, vets use it routinely for exactly this situation, and it genuinely works. A small amount of plain canned pumpkin puree (not pie filling — just plain pumpkin) can also help firm stools quickly if you have it to hand, but the probiotic is the more reliable tool. Keep her water intake up too — loose stools mean she's losing more fluid than usual. Other than that, just stick to the gradual transition plan and she'll almost certainly be solid within a week.

You've got a clear plan now and she's in good hands. To recap: Forthglade Complete Grain Free Puppy as the transition base, blending gradually into Millies Wolfheart over two weeks, with Pro-Kolin Enterogenic paste to support the gut through the switch. Airedales are robust dogs and her appetite and energy being intact is a genuinely good sign — this is a blip, not a problem. If stools haven't improved at all after five days on the blend, or if you see blood or she goes off her food, that's when it's worth a vet call. But I'd be surprised if it comes to that.