my 5 month old golden has loose stool and goes almost immediately after feeding. Hardly giving me time to leash her and get her out. I’m feeding her exactly what she was fed at the kennel. Eukenuba for large breed puppies. She also occasionally has a little cough Sounds almost like some choking her Not terrible and once in awhile. Can this be kennel cough? I have a vet appointment on four days. Can this wait?
It's no problem to ask lots of questions, Jeff - that's what the forum is here for If she has runny poops, then it sounds like there's something going on there - although this is incredibly common in young puppies. It sounds like you are based in the US? I just ask because if you were based in the UK, I'd suggest you give her Panacur 10% following the giardia instructions on the leaflet that comes with it. In the US, this is called Safeguard - it's fenbendazole you'd need. Typically this is a great first thing to try with persistent loose stools before going to the vet as it is effective against giardia, which can be a cause of this, and also will cover worming at the same time. And it's a very gentle non-prescription wormer. You can also give powdered pumpkin - 2 tablespoons per meal, sprinkled over her food, with a splash of water added if needed. And slippery elm powder - look on Amazon for both of those. It might also be the amount you are feeding, since over-feeding can cause loose stools. Puppies often need less food as they grow - not more. Growing uses up lots of energy and as their growth slows, they need reduced amounts. I would try halving the amount of food you're giving for a couple days as well as the above suggestions. With the cough, is this happening after she has been pulling into a collar? As that can be a cause of irritation to the throat and coughing. If it is happening out of the blue and randomly, then personally I would wait to see what happened with it - it's either going to stop of its own accord, or it's going to continue indefinitely or get worse. In the latter two circumstances, I'd see a vet. If it is KC, there's not much that can be done anyway - especially if it is mild - we just have to wait for the dog's immune system to clear it by themselves. If you do go to the vet, you might want to ask at the vets whether you should bring her in, or whether the vet would like to come out to your car to check her out. KC is highly contagious and most vets would appreciate it not being spread around the clinic if it is that.
Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I am from the US. I PICKED THE DOG UP A WEEK AGO from which is supposedly a reputable kennel. I checked them out thoroughly and found zero negatives. Been around over 40 years. She had all shots and I’m feeding her exactly what they were. With that said, I believe they gave me bad instructions about feeding. Printed instructions that told me to feed her 11/2 cups 3 times daily. I called the next day and they said I could fill up the bowl and just leave it down. Now being a dog owner five times this didn’t sound correct. So I did my home work and have cut her back to one cup twice daily. I’m mixing in some rice to try and help bind her. I have a vet appointment later this week so of course I’ll talk to him. As far as her cough. It’s intermittent and not bad. Nothing to do with her collar. She took to it pretty fast. I don’t drag or pull her. If she stops I just give a gentle tug and she starts walking again. But again I’ll talk to vet if it still is going on when I see him.
The majority of kennels (where puppies are raised in outdoor facilities), the breeders don't even know what the pups are eating exactly. They just free-feed or put down a group bowl at each meal time. Really, you need to look at your individual pup and assess her weight and condition and adjust from there. Do not feed what the packet says, since most packets are too generous in their guidelines and you will end up with an overweight pup. I would not do the 'gentle tug', since that really is an aversive. (If it weren't an aversive, it would have no effect on her behaviour and she would not start to walk when you do it.) Puppy necks and throats are very tender and fragile and even gentle pulls on leashes can be enough to cause a cough...
I agree. I’m sure the kennel just put food down not knowing exactly how much he eats. They definitely gave me bad info on amounts to feed. I’ve gotten her to the point of twice daily feeding about a cup each time mixed with rice to help bind her. Her stool is still loose so doesn’t look like rice helping. I have vet appointment Friday. I’m sure he will find out what’s up. As far as gentle tug, I don’t have much choice. When I can keep an eye on her she is not crated. But she has a bed next to me which she uses when tired. What started just happening is, when I grab her leash she immediately lays down in her bed. I’m not getting why she is afraid of me taking her out. When I get her out she does her business and I reward her. Maybe I’m doing to much to soon.
It sounds like she is resisting the pressure on the leash - or the pressure which she is anticipating coming. Try not to have the leash tight if you want her to come with you - keep it loose. Use your voice in an encouraging way, crouch down and use your body language and use some treats or food to give her occasionally as she comes with you. Don't use the leash itself to try to pull her where you want her to go - she will only oppose this tension - the majority of dogs do...
For runny poops, I usually give my dog lots of water because during this period dogs suffer because of dehydration. As a home remedy, I also give her boiled white rice with boiled chicken (without bones). You can also give her a small amount of yoghurt because it also hardens the poops.
