So Charlie is not quite his usual self... He has runny poo since Tuesday - not massively alarming, but very, very soft. Getting a bit better rather than worse. He has never had runny poo before unless on antibiotics. He is quiet - but compared to his normal 200mph. He is as lively as ever on walks and at playtime, but in between he is sleeping very soundly. For the first time ever tonight, he stayed on his sofa rather than follow us into the kitchen when we went to make our supper. He has probably had a bit more exercise than normal as we are doing an extra walk for lead training now. He is eating and drinking as normal. And, unbelievably, he left OH to do the recycling without any help (normally, breaking up cardboard is irresistible). I'm off to the vet in the morning to have ear checked out and other things. Should I try to get a sample of poo to take? Er...jam jar? Guess I don't need very much!
Re: Bit worried.... Oh Julie,what a shame,sorry he's not himself.........could it be the dreaded giardia?our vet told me its in the water and he's been in a lot of different water recently.When Dexter had it,our vet put her gloves on and 'extracted' enough for the test......so I was never told take a sample in.Not much was needed for a giardia test.see what everyone else says.Dexter was otherwise well apart from the trots.....has Charlie had a lot of antibiotics because of his ears?That makes them runny and it also disturbs their tummies....he might benefit from a probiotic.
Re: Bit worried.... Ah poor little fella, hope he is OK, maybe he is exhausted from his holiday adventures Let us know how you get on at the Vet. Helen x
Re: Bit worried.... It sounds so silly "I think he is poorly, because he didn't help with the recycling"! But this is a puppy that is into everything, he doesn't miss out on a thing... So being quiet on the sofa is just SO unusual. Plus runny poo, not at all usual for him - he finished his antibiotics ages ago now, so that's not it. Sorry, I'm fussing and being pathetic, I'm sure. VET tomorrow, so that will put my mind at rest I hope.
Re: Bit worried.... Seeing the vet is the right thing; hopefully he will be able to sort out any problem quickly.
Re: Bit worried.... You are not fussing - it's important to observe your dog and act on anything that seems strange. What have you got to lose if there is no problem? Only a few pounds at the vet I am very quick to pick up the phone to the vet if I think anything's not right. I'd just rather have it seen to and have peace of mind
Re: Bit worried.... Thanks Rachael. Things are not quite right, that's for sure. Hopefully, just a bit of a puppy tummy bug or something.
Re: Bit worried.... Hoping the Vet can help Julie and that dear Charlie will soon be back to his normal self x
Re: Bit worried.... Oh Julie, really hope your Charlie will be his old self very soon poor little boy. Let us know what the Vet says. Thinking of you both. Helen xx
Re: Bit worried.... Sorry to hear Charlie's a bit off colour. Hope it passes soon, let us know how you get on today at the vets.
Re: Bit worried.... Thanks all Ear infection still here, but ear drum intact so back on ear drops for a few days then back to vet next week. Eye problem likely due to mild ectropian, which he is likely to grow out of as his snout gets longer, but if he doesn't a small surgical procedure can fix. He is too fat still and the vet said he needs more exercise and less food (vet rolled his eyes at the 5 min per month rule, told me I had a strapping great young dog and he needs more exercise). Since his poop was normal this morning, and he was as bright as a button at the vet's, obviously the vet didn't think there was likely to be anything seriously wrong with his tum (actually told me he might have runny poo because he is getting too much food, which I doubt, since he is getting less and less food and has never had runny poo before) This food thing has me stumped, I'll have to cut it down even more - poor Charlie, if I cut down another 25%, he'll be on 175g a day instead of the recommended 400g....and I now just empty his meals into my treat bag, and he gets what's left over from walks and trainng for meals (which is often nothing...)
Re: Bit worried.... Okay....so I decide Charlie doesn't get lunch any more (so cutting out 60g) - only to stumble across a guilty looking OH giving him 60g (because "he is hungry"...and "isn't really fat"...) - methinks I may have found the problem here.... Kibble is now under lock and key!
Re: Bit worried.... If it's any help, Lady is 28.5kg and is on about 200g per day of Burns Alert although I don't weigh it these days. Her target weight is 27.5kg so a little over on that score. She is nearly 4 yrs old though so nowhere near as active as a young dog. Re the walking, I did wonder if I'd inadvertently caused her elbow dysplasia by walking her too much as a puppy, but as you say, she was a strapping active dog and needed to get some exercise. I should be a bit cautious with walking too far.
Re: Bit worried.... Thanks David, that does help. Having a good think this afternoon about what to do. Yesterday, Charlie got a cliff walk of an hour (perhaps 20 mins of that was spent stood still talking to people or getting him to walk properly on his lead - and he spent this rest of the time tearing around like a mad thing, up steep hills, after balls. Then he had another 30 minutes in the evening, mainly slow lead walking, but with about 10 minutes going crazy in a field. So about 50 minutes dashing round like a mad thing. That's fairly typical...
Re: Bit worried.... [quote author=JulieT link=topic=2278.msg21238#msg21238 date=1376654067] Okay....so I decide Charlie doesn't get lunch any more (so cutting out 60g) - only to stumble across a guilty looking OH giving him 60g (because "he is hungry"...and "isn't really fat"...) - methinks I may have found the problem here.... Kibble is now under lock and key! [/quote] We had a goat to keep the grass down in the garden when we were little. But my dad couldn't understand why it wasn't working. Then he saw my sister and I feeding it cream cakes, and yorkshire puddings! I remember it well, poor thing, eating grass...have a cake Mabel. Hope Charlie's feeling better soon. That ear infection of his is sticking around, bless him.
Re: Bit worried.... Oh gosh Julie,sorry about his ears not being clear.Dex had a couple of bad eye do's in hismfirst couple of months with us.it wasn't given a name but it was his 3rd eye lid becoming inflamed and causing irritation and redness and a bit of pus at times....they explained a procedure but I didn't want him to have it as they said he would grow out of it so ive managed it with a lubricant eye drops ,'tears naturelle 'and since I started using them we have had no flare ups. I could cry for you with his food,even when they are having the stated amount it doesn't seem that much so reduced portions must make you feel like he isn't getting anything.He's been having loads of exercise recently though hasn't he?You know I always give advice with caution but do you think if you cut everything else out and just fed him a reduced kibble amount for a couple of weeks it might have the desired effect?it might mean you can't move onto anything new when training him as you haven't got any high value treats but it wouldn't be the end of the world ,a short break and just consolidating what you already do with him with kibble ....( Im basing that on Dexter not being trained anything new for the 2 weeks i was away and also having had to be on a kibble only diet when I had to get his dicky tummy balanced) just an idea anyway.i know it is upsetting as they always seem so hungry,I hate having to wait the hour for Dexter to cool down after excercise......he still tortures me with dagger looks and pressing up against my legs and going and sitting and looking at the cupboard door! You will crack this for sure...he looked lovely in his photo the other day carrying the safestix,I don't look at him and see an overweight puppy....is the vet considering his build and appearance as well as the number on the scales,best wishes,I'm feeling for you x
