Dog Community

diarrhea that's not improving

Posted : 12/19/2006 9:06:00 AM

Misty vomited on the way to the vet yesterday, and then when they took her fecal sample, she shot watery diarrhea everywhere. I am not sure what tests they ran (I have a call in to check) but they said it was negative. She had another explosive bout when we got home, another loose one, and then the next two were firmer...more firmed, but still soft. This morning, she has that explosive shoot out the back kind again, only it's not the clear watery stuff she had yesterday. We all chalked it up to nerves yesterday, but would she still be having issues with it now if that were the case? I am concerned it may be Coccidia or Giardia. They checked her out very well yesterday, and she seems mostly normal otherwise, so I'm not sure what to think. I collected two samples from different poops this morning and plan to take them in to be checked. I'm not taking her in for another $40 exam after she was just there yesterday and got a clean bill of health. I am hoping I just fed her too soon, and should have let her gut rest a bit before sticking food back in there, and she's just irritated. I am not feeding her this morning until I know more. Wonderful...it's always something. Why can I not just get a puppy, train it, love it and not have to deal with all these illnesses? I'm starting to think I'm doomed. None of my other dogs growing up ever had any of the issues I have dealt with. We brought them home, fed them, and eventually they became sick as an old dog, which was expected.
Has anyone used pumpkin for this? Should I give her rice? I am tempted to just boil a bit of chicken and rice for her maybe at dinner time and see how that goes. Would yogurt help to balance her intestinal tract?

dogslyfe

Posted : 12/19/2006 9:24:46 AM

What I would do is this: withhold food for 12-24 hours (depending on age - if its a puppy, I'd go for more like 12 hours), but offer water and/or chicken broth. Then I'd start with a LITTLE bit of just plain white rice, overcooked to a sticky/mushy consistency. I'd do nothing but the mooshy rice for a day or maybe even two - until it starts to firm up really good. Then I'd add just a teeny bit of boiled boneless, skinless chicken breast. Add more of that over a few days until you're giving around 1/3 chicken, 2/3 rice. After a couple days or so of this, and after poop has been normal for a day or two, THEN I'd start SLOOOOWWWWWLY adding back in the pup's regular food, and SLOWLY decreasing the chicken and rice. You could also add a little canned pumpkin (plain pumpkin, not the pie mix), if you like.

Hope this helps.

lisa4kids1pup

Posted : 12/19/2006 9:29:06 AM

Thanks so much, that sounds good.

Xerxes

Posted : 12/19/2006 9:34:38 AM

I'm sorry you're going through this. I've been through the squirts before with both of my dogs. In fact the female has recurring diarrheal problems. So I've eliminated treats completely from her diet. Both of mine are adults so I don't really know what to do with puppy runs.

But I think pumpkin could be a big help. There are a lot of people on the board who swear by it.

lisa4kids1pup

Posted : 12/19/2006 9:41:50 AM

I recently lost a dog to what we think was an autoimmune disease, and then when we brought Misty home, she had sarcoptic mange, so I feel like I've done nothing but administer medications for dogs and my kids who have had various things over the last couple of months. We also had a golden retriever a few years ago who had chronic diarrhea and we spent a lot of money and never did find out what was wrong, so I guess I'm just scared she is going to have a problem. I just want to make her life a nice one, and not have her feeling bad. She seems okay as far as her normal perkiness, but she is definitely suffering from the squirts big time.

dogslyfe

Posted : 12/19/2006 9:53:56 AM

I recently lost a dog to what we think was an autoimmune disease, and then when we brought Misty home, she had sarcoptic mange, so I feel like I've done nothing but administer medications for dogs and my kids who have had various things over the last couple of months. We also had a golden retriever a few years ago who had chronic diarrhea and we spent a lot of money and never did find out what was wrong, so I guess I'm just scared she is going to have a problem. I just want to make her life a nice one, and not have her feeling bad. She seems okay as far as her normal perkiness, but she is definitely suffering from the squirts big time.

I know, right? Seems like when it rains it pours. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Never fails in my house, when one dog gets the squirts its like another one gets the "sympathy squirts". lol Deep breaths... I remember how that little ball of anxiety nudges itself under my breastbone whenever one of my dogs is sick.

ottoluv

Posted : 12/19/2006 10:01:13 AM

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this

I had the almost same issue with my pup too, it seems common reading the responses. My otto's fecal results were also negative, but remember giardia only shows up when it is being shed so fecals are notoriously unreliable, coccidia should have shown up though. I actually gave lactobacillus for several days which firmed the stool right up!!! It worked great, it's worth a try. Remember however that it won't work so well if there is an infectious cause to the diarrhea. The vet actually gave me mine and it was like $19 but I hear you can get the human equivalent for much cheaper.

dogslyfe

Posted : 12/19/2006 10:14:31 AM

I actually gave lactobacillus for several days which firmed the stool right up!!!

I'm glad you mentioned that. Great point. I give a supplement made by Eagle Pack (you may be able to get it at your dog food store), it comes in a pink bottle - it has pro and pre-biotics, and goes a long way to help stopping the runs.

dyan

Posted : 12/19/2006 10:37:12 AM

I wanted to mention that as much as I am a firm believer in pumpkin, it has never helped us with bouts of diarrhea. I think its a great thing to give them otherwise to regulate them,,its supposed to be good for soft or hard stools...but diarrhea is something that needs more help. I would try Pepto Bismol..it has always helped our dogs.
I like the feeding suggestion dogslyfe gave. Good luck!

forpaws

Posted : 12/30/2006 7:55:05 AM

Lisa,

What did you do for the dog that had chronic diarrhea? I posted last week or so ago about a recipe for an emaciated dog who also has diarrhea. She is gaining weight and keeping that on just nicely however, her stools are still very soft kind of cow patty-ish, or they revert to watery diarrhea. Just curious as to what you did for your Golden with the chronic diarrhea?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Angel