Max (5 months) has been having soft poo with occasional diarrhea since Friday. We missed a few meals, then gave chicken and rice and scrambled egg but nothing changed. Took him to the vet yesterday and was given a probiotic paste. He's had 3 of the 6 doses and nothing has changed. Am I expecting results too early or should his poo have started firming up by now? For further information the poo is yellow/orange and full of mucous. Pup is fine in himself but has started to lose weight on his limited diet so I've reintroduced some kibble today for extra calories. He's due his worming tablet but I'm not sure if I can give it to him while his poo is soft or will that help him if it is some sort of parasite? We're first time dog owners and there is so much information on the internet about what to do that I'm confused!!
Re: Need some advice re loose stools/diarrhea I think it might be best to speak to your Vet as its now gone on for five days , the paste usually slows them up, so it could be an infection in his guts, poor love , I would ring for advice , hoping he is better soon .
Re: Need some advice re loose stools/diarrhea It sounds like it could be colitis. Colitis is inflammation of the large intestine. It can be caused by a bug or by something he's eaten that hasn't agreed with him. There can also be blood. If that happens don't panic (I did the first time my dog had it : ) It is ok to feed him especially as he's only a pup. It depends on the vet. Some vets say starve for 24 hours, some say feed as it helps give the dog energy to fight the bug and repair the bowel and also get rid of whatever it is that's caused it. What did your vet advise if it didn't clear up with the paste? My old dog, who had bouts of colitis all his life, was always given antibiotics but there was always blood. My sisters dog had colitis a month or so ago. Her vet just gave the paste and it took a week before he was back to normal. If it hasn't firmed up by Thursday I'd go back to the vet or if it goes any worse I'd go straight back to the vet but if your worried go back tomorrow. It should be ok to worm. I've been given wormers as part of the treatment for diarrhea incase that's what is causing it but you should give your vet a ring to make sure. Hope he gets better quickly. Fingers crossed.
Re: Need some advice re loose stools/diarrhea Talk to your vet certainly...it could be a lot of things - and potentially several things going on. When my girls get a little off and loose stool, I give them some pumpkin puree...they love it, and the extra fiber helps firm things back up - plus it's rather soothing to their tender tum. Let us know how it goes...
Re: Need some advice re loose stools/diarrhea Thank you for your messages. The vet didn't say what to do if the paste didn't work. I'll definitely go back on Thursday if things don't improve and I'll give the wormer tonight. Such a worry!!
Re: Need some advice re loose stools/diarrhea I was advised by my vet not to give worming tablets when Harley had diarrhoea. They said it probably wouldn't work to full effect if she is poorly. The first time Harley had the paste it took 4-5 days for he to firm up. I was advised to stick to just rice and chicken, no extras and no treats. I would stick to this as adding kibble back in won't help at this stage. Hope this helps a bit
Re: Need some advice re loose stools/diarrhea Big sympathies from me I had the same issue at 5 months.....in the end Dexter just needed to be on a sensitive food Royal Canin Gastrointestinal but whilst we were getting him settled on this he'd picked up a bug call Giardia.....his poo was very runny,a bright colour and sometimes there was mucous.....we had to first tackle the bug with antibiotics and then let him settle on his food,it was a worrying couple of months for sure x
Re: Need some advice re loose stools/diarrhea Thank you all again for your advice and comments. His poo is starting to firm up a little today and no sign of mucous so I'm hoping we are over the worst of it. My only fear is that if it is a bug/parasite it will still be there and the probiotic is masking it by firming up the poo. We'll have to wait and see!
Re: Need some advice re loose stools/diarrhea This may not apply as I'm no expert. I read somewhere that carrots can help with stool. My lab loves carrots.
Re: Need some advice re loose stools/diarrhea We have just gone through a similar thing to you. Ruby had loose/runny stools at the end of last week, we put her on rice and kibble on Friday/Saturday and by Saturday night she was a bit better. Sunday night went completely down hill though. She woke us at 5am and had gone in her crate (this has never happened before!), we took her out side and she was sick. Monday morning, straight to vets. As she was eating/drinking/playing as normal the vet gave us some pro-biotic paste and put her on rice and chicken for 48 hours min. I didn't realise the paste was a bit like Imodium so then started worrying when she hadn't had a poo for 12 hours!!! ahhhh. She has slowly got better over the last 3 days but yesterday her poo was bright yellow! That also seems to be getting better but it's a slow process. We have re-introduced kibble today for 1 of her 3 meals and will see how that goes. We have also been advised to have the vaccinations redone as the breeders gave her the first one too earlier - not really sure how I feel about it when she has been poorly this week.
Re: Need some advice re loose stools/diarrhea Have you tried adding pro-fibre to her diet? It really firms up the stools and adds good bacteria. I have mine on a scoop per meal if they are poorly and a pinch per meal if they are well. I need 'Actimel' type drinks for the same reason (TMI!) Here is a link - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BEXP5MA/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1417104489&sr=1&keywords=pro+fibre+dogs
Re: Need some advice re loose stools/diarrhea [quote author=Boogie link=topic=8900.msg126993#msg126993 date=1417104575] Have you tried adding pro-fibre to her diet? It really firms up the stools and adds good bacteria. I have mine on a scoop per meal if they are poorly and a pinch per meal if they are well. [/quote] Thanks, will look in to it.
Re: Need some advice re loose stools/diarrhea Max seems a lot happier today but hasn't had a poo since 10am which is unusual (and that one was firm but bright yellow ). Now I'm worried that he's constipated! (My husband thinks I worry too much!!). I've ordered some pro- fibre pellets from Amazon and will use them in future if he seems "loose" again. Thank you for all your advice, it's lovely to be able to talk to people who've been through the same things.
