The dog seems to be having stomach problems. We switched him onto a new type of food last Sunday. He is unwilling to eat a lot or anything (which is unusual because he normally eats anything), seems very tired and unwilling to move unless I call him to come. Is this serious? Or could it just be a reaction to something he's eaten?

Could be that the new food is upsetting his stomach. There may be an ingredient which doesn't agree with him.

Get him off the food for a day or so ad just feed some boiled chicken and rice and see if there is any improvement. If there isn't then it's time for a vet.

Other things to consider are bowel blockages. Has he pooped recently, if so was it soft or hard? Did he have trouble passing it?

"Other things to consider are bowel blockages. Has he pooped recently, if so was it soft or hard? Did he have trouble passing it?"

Earlier today when I took him out, it was soft. But thought nothing of it. But now he seems very lazy and not playful like he usually is. It was a very light colour this afternoon but when I looked earlier is was getting darker and more solid.

That's actually a good thing.
No stools at all is bad ;)

Darker (not black) and firm is normal. Dogs need firm stools to help naturally empty their anal glands.
If the dog is struggling to poop then you know it is too hard.

How suddenly did you change the food? Gradually over a few days or was it a sudden change?

Is he drinking OK?

Occasionaly he goes, but there are no stools.

He seems a bit more lively now though. More than earlier.. he is drinking a fair amount. Not a lot though.

It was a sudden change. The vet said we must give him the new food, she never advised on how to give it to him

He's a lot better now.. he's drinking a lot more water and eating willingly again. He looks his old lively self again, trotting around the house with his tail wagging. Before he was walking around looking very depressed.

I'll take him to the vet in the morning.

Thanks for the help, I appreciate it

Sounds like it was just a shock from the sudden food change.

The best way to change foods would be to gradually add the new stuff to the old stuff and each day increasing the new and de creasing the old.

Yes, probably just a bit of a shock to his system. Your vet should have told you how to introduce the new food.

When introducing new food you need to start by just doing a 25% - 75% mix of new and old, then the next day do 50% - 50% then the third day 75% - 25%.

When you think about it dogs (or wolves) really only eat raw meat, they never eat anything else, so their digestive systems aren't as capable of handling new things, and when you throw processed packaged food in the mix it makes it harder for them.

I think raw diets are the best but honestly, I don't have the time or patience for it :o

I tried a raw diet for 3 months. Wow. Kudos to those who can do it. Now I just do Holistic.

I have been debating it on and off for months now but the more I read about it and hear from people who feed it the less I want to do it.

I feed an all-natural local brand food called 4legs now. I have been feeding it for a few months now and it's great.

4 Legs for health, Melbourne, Australia

That looks like really great food. I am feeding a local brand now too. And I lied it's not holistic, but just as good.

Shur-Gain - Our Products