This is a specific conversation about Puppy food — getting the foundations right — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
Orange-tinged stools are a real flag worth taking seriously — it usually points to excess beta-carotene or certain synthetic additives in the current food that your pup's gut isn't handling well. Before I point you toward something better, it helps to know the full picture: what food is your Brittany Spaniel on right now, and has anything else changed recently — treats, toppers, anything like that?
He's 8 months old and we've had him on Purina Pro Plan Puppy Large Athletic. No treats or toppers, just that food. The stools aren't loose exactly, just this weird orange colour that's been going on a few weeks.
inparticular.ai
That makes a lot of sense actually. Pro Plan Large Athletic uses chicken meal as its primary protein but it also leans heavily on maize, and the combination of maize-derived carotenoids alongside some of the synthetic vitamin pre-mixes can push stool colour orange in dogs whose digestion is a bit sensitive to grain-heavy formulas. Brittany Spaniels are a medium-sized gun dog breed — they don't really need a large-breed formula either, which might be adding to the mismatch. A couple of quick questions: is he energetic and otherwise healthy, and is he on any joint supplements or anything veterinary?
Yes totally healthy and bouncy, no supplements or vet stuff. Just the food. We picked the large athletic one because the breeder said Brittanys are athletic dogs but I wasn't sure it was right.
inparticular.ai
Your instinct was good — Brittanys are athletic but they typically mature around 16–18 kg, so a large-breed formula with its adjusted calcium-phosphorus ratios and lower caloric density is actually not ideal for them. What he needs is a medium-breed puppy food with a clean, high-meat protein source, low grain or grain-free, and minimal synthetic colourants or cheap vegetable meals that spike carotenoid levels. My clear recommendation is Acana Puppy & Junior. It's made by Champion Pet Foods, uses fresh and regional poultry and fish as the dominant ingredients, has around 60% animal ingredients by inclusion, and avoids the maize and synthetic additive load that's most likely causing the orange stools. It's formulated for medium breeds through puppyhood and into adolescence, so at 8 months it's exactly the right phase for him. Most owners switching from grain-heavy kibbles to Acana see stool normalisation within 10–14 days.
That sounds really promising. How do I switch him over without upsetting his stomach further?
inparticular.ai
Slow and steady is the right approach, especially since his digestion is already a bit irritated. Start with 75% Pro Plan and 25% Acana for three days, then go 50/50 for another three days, then 25% Pro Plan and 75% Acana for three days, and fully onto Acana after that. About 10 days total. If you see any loosening of stools during the transition, just hold at that ratio an extra couple of days before moving forward. The one thing to watch: Acana is more calorie-dense than Pro Plan Large Athletic, so you may find he needs slightly less volume — check the feeding guide on the bag and start at the lower end for his weight.
Perfect, that's really helpful. I'll grab a bag and give it a go.
inparticular.ai
Great — I think you'll notice a difference fairly quickly. If the orange colour hasn't fully resolved after two full weeks on Acana, it's worth a quick vet check just to rule out anything like a mild biliary issue, but in the vast majority of cases like this it's purely dietary. Enjoy the next few months with him — 8 to 12 months in a Brittany is a brilliant age!
