Premier Veterinary Group
Study Purpose
Purina is conducting a clinical study to evaluate how different complete and balanced main-meal dry dog foods can support the resolution of acute diarrhea and influence the gut microbiome during recovery.
The goal is to determine whether specific dietary ingredients can help dogs:
Recover from acute diarrhea faster
Improve stool quality
Support healthier gut bacteria
Who Can Participate
Adult dogs experiencing acute diarrhea (soft or watery stool scored ≥5 on Purina’s 7-point scale) within the last 24 hours may qualify. A veterinarian must confirm the dog is otherwise healthy and not requiring additional treatments, such as antibiotics.
What Participation Includes
Each enrolled dog is randomly assigned to one of three Purina dry diets formulated for gastrointestinal support. Owners receive:
30 days of study food and study treats
Easy-to-use fecal collection kits
Access to the Prelude App to record daily stool events, fecal consistency, and timing
Tracking Details:
Days 1–7: Daily recording of every stool event, fecal score, and timing
Days 14 and 30: Additional fecal scores recorded
Fecal samples collected on Days 0, 7, and 30 for microbiome analysis
Study Length
Total duration: 30 days
Primary evaluation period: first 7 days
Dogs may remain in the study even if all 30 days are not completed, as long as the first week of data is complete
Incentives for Owners
Free study food and treats for 30 days
$50 Amazon gift card after completing the first 8 days
Additional $50 Amazon gift card after completing the full 30-day trial and all sample collections
Why This Study Matters
Acute diarrhea is a common issue in dogs, yet there are limited studies examining main-meal diets for treatment. This research aims to assess how nutrition alone can help resolve gastrointestinal upset and support a healthier gut microbiome.
