Please excuse if this gets a little long but I want to make sure I have all the details in here We picked up Lola just over a week ago (Wednesday 27th), a day after she was 8 week, from my brothers. So I know she has come from good 'stock'. Got her vaccinated on the Thursday morning and all was well till that night. She went to the loo outside and it was sloppy. Not so much that I was too worried. I assumed that maybe it was the car journey and or being away from mum and siblings, as we had to travel quite a distance to get home. Each time she has been since it has been runny. I called my brother to confirm when she was wormed and she was done the day before we picked her up, then called the vet and got her booked to be checked over. Not long after getting off the phone she looked dizzy, but luckily we were just getting ready to go to the vets. Vet said she doesn't have a temp but could hear her tummy 'bubbling' so gave us 3 Panacur 22% sachets (wormer) and pro kolin (prebiotics) and said if she is no better in 3 days pop her back. 3 days later same story plus some blood, so called and got her booked for the next day. Again vet checked her tummy and temp same thing! Gave us some more prebiotics but admitted she had not idea so doesn't want to give antibiotics (which I can understand, pointless giving her something in the hope that it will help but ends up doing nothing) and that our only option was to collect samples over a 3 day period to be sent off and cultured. We haven't changed her food, she hasn't picked up any of ours and the garden and house are as clean as can be with a 3 year old child, 2 cats (which are fit and healthy) and a 9 week old pup. Checked with my brother and all the other pups are thriving except for our Lola. I want to put off sending the samples cause it is costing a fortune. We paid £70 after registering her for vaccinations and microchipping (microchipping not done yet and due another vaccine on 13th) then another £50 for 2nd visit and £40 for the 3rd To send the samples will be another £80. Non of which is covered by insurance That is £240 on top of the £600 we paid for her, I love her to bits but I need to eat too!!! Any advise?
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! Hi there.... So sorry you are having problems with little Lola. I guess its good that the vet has ruled out anything serious. I know that it can take a little while for ups to settle if there is a change in environment - maybe all the change is taking its toll particularly with an undoubtedly excited 3 year old? Are you feeding her the same food as your brother was? Not changed it? Usually with diarrhoea we would suggest plain boiled rice with chicken, nice and sloppy to give extra fluid. Usually help with an upset tummy. Hopefully someone else will be able to add something more useful too.
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! Welcome to the forum! From me and my 1 year old Charlie. Much sympathy with unexpected vet's bills, it can be very difficult. It is hard not to say you should do as the vet suggests - sorry, I know that's not easy if the bills are a worry. If the vet thinks samples are necessary, it's hard to say to do something else would be better advice. . When you say the vet said samples "were your only option" did s/he mean in terms of importance to find the right treatment, or only option instead of waiting and seeing which was also an acceptable option?
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! We haven't changed her food yet cause I wanted to make sure she was settled first, although I do want to change her food soon cause I'm not very keen on it's ingredients. To be honest our son has been really good around her (he isn't a particularly hyper kid) as we have had loads of time to prepare him for Lola's arrival. Fluids have been a little bit of a problem though. One day I had to syringe water to her as she wouldn't drink which scared me quite a bit :'( I have read about giving dogs pumpkin as fibre? Does anyone recommend this or anything similar? Vet said we could wait to see how she progresses as she is still putting on weight and growing as expected but the samples would be the only way to know for sure!
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! Hi Sorry to say this but having had 3 labradors prone to stomach upsets I'd be taking in the samples. My old lab had colitis all his life which is a bit like irritable bowel. When he was younger it would be triggered by something he'd eaten. As he got older it could be triggered by stress. My two now who are three are prone to stomach upset because they eat everything the more disgusting the better. They had campylobacter a year or so ago. That is only diagnosed by testing a sample and needs a long course of antibiotics. With my two they didn't have particularly bad diarrhea but I knew it wasn't right. I'm surprised the vet hasnt given antibiotics if there is blood present as that in itself has the potential to lead to infection even if it wasn't caused by one. Bit disgusting but if the diarrhea is near enough pure liquid it's usually a problem in the small intestine. If its just sloppy it's usually the large intestine. Having said all that as has been said pups when they first change homes can get an upset tum because of stress, new environment, even new germs. Hopefully she will be better very soon Jen
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! [quote author=Jen link=topic=4800.msg59571#msg59571 date=1394312965] Hi Sorry to say this but having had 3 labradors prone to stomach upsets I'd be taking in the samples. My old lab had colitis all his life which is a bit like irritable bowel. When he was younger it would be triggered by something he'd eaten. As he got older it could be triggered by stress. My two now who are three are prone to stomach upset because they eat everything the more disgusting the better. They had campylobacter a year or so ago. That is only diagnosed by testing a sample and needs a long course of antibiotics. With my two they didn't have particularly bad diarrhea but I knew it wasn't right. I'm surprised the vet hasnt given antibiotics if there is blood present as that in itself has the potential to lead to infection even if it wasn't caused by one. Bit disgusting but if the diarrhea is near enough pure liquid it's usually a problem in the small intestine. If its just sloppy it's usually the large intestine. Having said all that as has been said pups when they first change homes can get an upset tum because of stress, new environment, even new germs. Hopefully she will be better very soon Jen [/quote] Majority are just soft but a couple have bubbled as they have come out ??? I know, yuck right? Looks like I am gonna be saving some poo up and extracting some savings I am hoping it is just from moving and when I get her on some better food it will settle. My brother put her on CSJ Puppy to wean and the second ingredient is wheat so sooner that is gone the better I think :-\
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! When we first got Harley her poo was really runny for over a week. We got her checked at the vets and told boiled rice and chicken for a few days. This really helped settle her tum quickly. After this we changed her food to RC gastro as it's for sensitive tummies. Since then we have had a few issues as her tummy is really sensitive. I monitor her treats carefully and have slowly eliminated the ones that give her tummy problems. She is good on cheese, chicken, ham, sausages......in relation to dog treats she can have the pets at home biscuits, beef chews, rice bones and veggie sticks. It is worth looking at treats too. As for the vets fees, some vets do some sort of 'pet plan' I pay £10 a month which covers any consultant fees when pup is poorly, yearly checks, yearly vaccinations, microchipping, nail cutting and a few other things. So far I have saved so much through doing this (been to the vets 8 times with Harley poorly and follow-up appointments....only paid for medications) . Hope this helps
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! [quote author=Naya link=topic=4800.msg59584#msg59584 date=1394315818] When we first got Harley her poo was really runny for over a week. We got her checked at the vets and told boiled rice and chicken for a few days. This really helped settle her tum quickly. After this we changed her food to RC gastro as it's for sensitive tummies. Since then we have had a few issues as her tummy is really sensitive. I monitor her treats carefully and have slowly eliminated the ones that give her tummy problems. She is good on cheese, chicken, ham, sausages......in relation to dog treats she can have the pets at home biscuits, beef chews, rice bones and veggie sticks. It is worth looking at treats too. As for the vets fees, some vets do some sort of 'pet plan' I pay £10 a month which covers any consultant fees when pup is poorly, yearly checks, yearly vaccinations, microchipping, nail cutting and a few other things. So far I have saved so much through doing this (been to the vets 8 times with Harley poorly and follow-up appointments....only paid for medications) . Hope this helps [/quote] That is really helpful, thank you!! Who is the plan with?
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! My plan is with Pets4vets. They have been fab with Harley the receptionists all know Harley as do the consultants (she only ever sees 1 of 2) - there are 4/5 consultants in the practice but you are allocated 1-2 max
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! I am VERY happy to report that when I came down at 6am along with a very smiley pooch there was a 'normal' poo! Hurrah ;D never have I been so happy to see a poo lol
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! Ah I'm really glad about that...I live with a yellow boy with a sensitive tum ,it's worrying whenever we have an episode but more so for you with a little puppy. I never had this really young puppy stage but they are going through enormous upheaval and change as they move to their new homes and I'm sure that must show in their tummies.Dexter can have a runny poo just because he's had a really good play with a dog on a walk....so exciting he gets an upset tummy! he's 17 months old now though and I've learned over time what is 'normal' for him and what action to take. Your little one sounds like improvement is on the cards.Dexter is our first dog so I always follow my vets advice / suggestions but I always come on here to ask advice too and gather as much info as I can.my lack of experience hurries me to the vet but I don't accept blindly what they tell me. Enjoy your little Lola,I love her name and tell us a bit more about her and post some pics if you get a minute in your busy puppy and toddler filled day ;D Best wishes Angela x
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! Ps,meant to say...I am the girl who forgets to delete poo photos from her phone!thats caused more than a raised eyebrow round a dinner table I can tell you! X
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! [quote author=Dexter link=topic=4800.msg59625#msg59625 date=1394354559] Ps,meant to say...I am the girl who forgets to delete poo photos from her phone!thats caused more than a raised eyebrow round a dinner table I can tell you! X [/quote] I actually sent a pic to my mum this morning cause I get a text every morning to see if she is any better Haven't figured out how to do pics yet but will as soon as possible [quote author=Dexter link=topic=4800.msg59624#msg59624 date=1394354485] Ah I'm really glad about that...I live with a yellow boy with a sensitive tum ,it's worrying whenever we have an episode but more so for you with a little puppy. I never had this really young puppy stage but they are going through enormous upheaval and change as they move to their new homes and I'm sure that must show in their tummies.Dexter can have a runny poo just because he's had a really good play with a dog on a walk....so exciting he gets an upset tummy! he's 17 months old now though and I've learned over time what is 'normal' for him and what action to take. Your little one sounds like improvement is on the cards.Dexter is our first dog so I always follow my vets advice / suggestions but I always come on here to ask advice too and gather as much info as I can.my lack of experience hurries me to the vet but I don't accept blindly what they tell me. Enjoy your little Lola,I love her name and tell us a bit more about her and post some pics if you get a minute in your busy puppy and toddler filled day ;D Best wishes Angela x [/quote] We picked her name from eBay when we couldn't agree on a name. Our son wanted to call her Liam?! Then I saw a personalised food bowl with 'Lola' on it and it just fit perfect and now we sing the song Lola by The Kinks to her and she immediately comes running! We always had LOADS of dogs around when I was growing up so I kind of know the basics but Lola is the first dog for my partner and I and my first experience with a Lab We have had a greyhound, an Akita, a spaniel, Irish Wolfhound, a boxer, a Rottie, a staff/ collie cross and even a pack of terriers at one point! I love everything about dogs (even when they stand on the laptop to stop you typing cause it's play time!!!)
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! My dogs were weaned on to CSJ command performance puppy. My two did really well on it and I continued onto the command performance adult which is salmon and rice. I know from experience with my old lab fish as a protein is usually very good for sensitive tums. Their command performance range is wheat free although it is their most expensive. It's great she's back to normal this morning. It ridiculous isn't it how happy a normal dog poo can make us. ;D ;D
Re: Unidentified tummy bug! unfortunately she wasn't on the good stuff but the cheaper end. I have some Arden Grange to start mixing through bit by bit. I found it has good stuff in it but it is a reasonable price.
