I once had a litter of 15 puppies that were really struggling with soft stools. I switched them to Purina Pro Plan, and by the next afternoon, their stools were back to normal.
Bernedoodles are wonderful dogs, but they often struggle with tummy issues. They get it from both sides of the family. Poodles are known for having delicate systems, and Bernese mountain dogs are very prone to allergies. If you are seeing loose stools, don’t panic. Usually, it just takes a few simple changes to get things back on track.
Why your Bernedoodle has a sensitive stomach
There are several reasons why your dog might be struggling. If you just brought a puppy home, the most likely culprit is stress. Moving to a new home is a huge adjustment. I once heard a guy describe it like this: how would you like to wake up one morning and you are laying in China on a hard floor with completely different surroundings? It is stressful for a puppy, and that stress leads to loose stools.
Other common causes include:
- Internal parasites like giardia or coccidia
- Inherited food allergies
- Breed genetics from the Poodle and Bernese lineage
- Rapid changes in diet
- Low quality food or table scraps
Ingredients to avoid
When you are looking at food labels, the first thing you should check is the protein source. While chicken is common, it is the most frequent sensitivity I see in a Bernedoodle. If your dog is struggling, switching away from chicken often takes care of the issue.
You should also watch out for:
- Wheat
- Soy
- Corn (especially if it is the first ingredient)
- Low quality fillers
What to look for on the label
When you are standing in the pet store, you want to find food that is easy to digest. Look for limited ingredient diets with lean proteins.
Choose these proteins:
- Salmon
- White fish
- Turkey
- Lamb or beef meals
Choose these carbohydrates:
- Oats
- Rice (white or brown)
- Sweet potato
Look for these extras:
- Prebiotics like chicory root
- Probiotics for digestive health
- Fiber sources like pumpkin or flax seed
- Salmon oil for omega-3 fatty acids
My top brand recommendations
Every dog is different. One brand might work great for one dog and not the next. These are the ones I use that work well.
Purina Pro Plan
This is the best I have found for solid stools. All of my adult dogs eat Purina Pro Plan because it works. They make a formula specifically for sensitive stomachs that is very popular with Bernedoodle owners.
Royal Canin
I feed all of my puppies Royal Canin. While Purina might be slightly better for solid stools, Royal Canin is great for development. We used to see more heart murmurs and knee issues in puppies before we switched to this brand. Since the switch, those issues have almost entirely gone away.
The Farmer’s Dog
This is a fresh food option. It is more costly, but it is hard to go wrong with fresh food. It is very easy on the stomach. Here is a link to Farmer’s Dog
How to switch foods safely
The biggest mistake you can make is switching foods too fast. If you do a fast switch without mixing, you are very likely to see watery stools.
You must do a gradual switch over a couple weeks:
- Start by mixing a small amount of new food with the old food.
- Gradually change the ratio every day.
- Give it time. It usually takes a few days to a week before you see firmer stools.
Supplements that help
If the food change isn’t enough, you can add a few things to their meal to help with the flora.
- Pumpkin puree: sometimes this simple addition works wonders.
- Fortiflora: this is a very good probiotic I recommend.
- Bernie’s Perfect Poop: this is a supplement I have heard great things about from other owners.
- Gi equalizer: this is a probiotic we send home with every puppy we sell.
- Also switching over to a bland diet is good for a short period of time until you get the stools under control then you can slowly start adding kibble.
When to call the vet
Soft stools for a day or two after moving home is normal. But you should get a fecal exam if:
- The loose stools continue for more than two weeks.
- The diarrhea is combined with vomiting.
- You suspect parasites like giardia or coccidia.
A fecal exam is the first thing you should do to see if they have a parasite. If that is clear, then you can focus on the food.
In closing
If your Bernedoodle is struggling today, check your bag of food. If chicken is the main ingredient, try switching to a salmon or lamb-based food. Just remember to do the switch slowly over a full week so you don’t overwhelm their system.