Persistant diarrhea?

• 07-23-2007 6:16 PM

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 5,626 Points 850

  Persistant diarrhea? Reply Contact My BF's family recently adopted a rescue boxer who seemed to be in good health except for persistent diarrhea. They chalked it up to stress and food changes, had him vetted thoroughly numerous times, and switched him to a pure cottage cheese/rice diet as suggested by their veterinarian. It's been a couple of weeks now and the diarrhea still hasn't gone away! I suggested switching to chicken/rice in case he was having trouble with dairy products. They've tried adding pumpkin and it had absolutely no effect. They haven't found any evidence of parasites and his digestive functions seem to be fine. He plays like crazy and eats like a horse. But he can't make solid stools, and seems to be losing weight!!!!! Any ideas of what else to try or to look for?

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• 07-23-2007 6:33 PM

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  Cazzy Joined on 05-03-2006 Posts 874 Points 25	RE: Persistant diarrhea? Reply Contact I would try a lamb base food like California Natural...One of my dogs always had loose stools...took me forever to figure out why...She was sensitive to chicken/turkey based foods..I know some boxers have sensitive tummys so it's worth a shot good luck....if she is still on the rice I would try hamburger/rice..without the cottage cheese
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• 07-23-2007 6:57 PM

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  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 10,860 Points 3,330	RE: Persistant diarrhea? Reply Contact Cita -- parasites.  They can hide and be very difficult to detect, but loose stool that is chronic and losing weight despite a good appetite -- that's kind of classic symptoms.  There are some parasites that are very very difficult to detect -- giardia comes leaping to mind.  You can test repeatedly for it and miss it.
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• 07-23-2007 7:59 PM

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  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 6,419 Points 535

  RE: Persistant diarrhea? Reply Contact how do they treat giardia? I was going to post to you about Bugsy  He has been doing well with additional fish oil (3000mg), 400 vit E, 8000 vit A and 500 C since you recommended we add A & C.  He's had less lumps and although he's got some yeasty ear stuff (not bad and in the heat and humidity and his floppy ears I don't think its remarkable, even if I'd love to not have it [:'(]) his skin and itchies seem better. However, he for the last week as had sloppy poos, he is nearly 2 and he has never had pudding poo.  He's had a few normal poops but I saw him tonight and it was horribly runny. He's eating as always, energy slightly flat and drinking tons.  He is also drooling which he has never really done.  I've been giving him pumpkin but like I said 90-95% of his poos have been sloppy. Could it be to do with the supplements or any ideas on what else it could be? forgot to add they he may have had 2 doses of Interceptor, one on Saturday and one on Monday.  We weren't sure if he spit up the first dose and the vet said it was OK to give another if it had been at least 24 hours. Could this have whacked his system out? sorry to thread jack and thanks in advance

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• 07-23-2007 8:55 PM

  In reply to Cita

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 10,860 Points 3,330

  RE: Persistant diarrhea? Reply Contact  kwplee -- it's likely the Vit C.  Billy can't tolerate ANY more than 75 mg at once.  Yep -- that's plain old "seventy-five" -- and no more than twice a day of THAT.  some dogs (and humans) can tolerate lots more -- some can't tolerate that much.  But if I gave Billy that much he'd have such explosive diarreha he's in agony.   I know others who give much more -- but it's completely individual.

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• 07-23-2007 8:56 PM

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  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 10,860 Points 3,330	RE: Persistant diarrhea? Reply Contact Giardia requires a different kind of treatment -- and often a prolonged one.
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• 07-23-2007 9:09 PM

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  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 6,419 Points 535

  RE: Persistant diarrhea? Reply Contact thanks Callie I'll leave that out and see if it improves - would that take a little time to show up?  i think he has been taking the Vit C for several weeks now. I also thought I'd tell you that yogurt seemed to give him lumps. I always have some good 'real' yogurt in so I started giving him a tablespoon with his dinner and within a few days he had lumps.  I stopped and after a few days the lumps went away, could have been something in the yard I suppose. We are travelling this week and then at the end of August I have to board him for a week.  Once I get him settled after that I am thinking of doing yeast removal diet from nzymes - what do you think?

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• 07-24-2007 6:08 AM

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  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,941 Points 330

  RE: Persistant diarrhea? Reply Contact kpwlee: how do they treat giardia?  Safe-Guard is the OTC version of the vet's Panacur (exactly the same stuff).  It is a safe, gentle dewormer and is used to treat Giardia.    www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1303&articleid=1415 PetEducation.com: Fenbendazole is a medication used to treat infestations with many parasites including roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. It may also be used in the treatment of flukes and Giardia. Side effects are rarely seen. In addition to treatment, elimination of parasites must also include proper sanitation and prevention measures to ensure the pet does not become reinfected. 

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• 07-24-2007 9:32 AM

  In reply to Cita

  pbarbato Joined on 04-11-2007 Posts 86 Points 5

  RE: Persistant diarrhea? Reply Contact Cita-   See my post from about a week ago here:  [linkhttp://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=400358]http://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=400358[/link]   Basically the same thing as your boyfriend's dog (also, in that thread there is advice on how to treat giardia).   I'm pretty sure for my dog it was a parasite that wasn't detected by a stool sample test.  The vet finally agreed to put him on medication, and about 4 days later I saw the first solid poop in about a month.  We've got a few more days to go on the medication, but I'm crossing my fingers that this wipes it out.  Press the vet to strongly consider the possibility of giardia....for some reason, my vet seemed resistant to the idea.  Good luck.

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• 07-24-2007 7:15 PM

  In reply to Cita

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 5,626 Points 850	RE: Persistant diarrhea? Reply Contact Thank you SO much for all the ideas, everyone! I'll pass along your advice and hopefully we'll have a normally-pooping puppy very soon. []
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• 07-24-2007 7:23 PM

  In reply to Cita

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 5,626 Points 850	RE: Persistant diarrhea? Reply Contact So apparently he's already been tested for giardia and has been wormed repeatedly just in case, but to no avail. [&:] We'll try looking for allergies next, I guess!
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• 07-29-2007 2:46 PM

  In reply to Cita

  kmm Joined on 07-22-2007 New England Posts 148 Points 0

  RE: Persistant diarrhea? Reply Contact It could be caused by the food you're feeding.  It might be too rich for his system. You should also have him checked for IBS or colitis.  Buck has colitis.  When he had his first flare up, my vet prescribed flagyl, an antibiotic/anti-inflammatory. Within several days his stool was much better.  I keep his condition under control with diet (he eats Timberwolf Organics Ocean Blue) and lactobaccillius.  For a dog with colitis, the key is to keep it simple.  Nat. Bal. makes a great salmon & sweet potato formula and Buck did especially well on it.  I only switched because Chazz also eats TO, but a different formula and it was easier to shop in one place.   Might be worth checking into.

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