Any ideas?

Prdmary

New member
Well, last night went better. Still no vomiting since Tuesday. (Yeah!) He never had a BM last night, but this morning about 5:00 he had one that actually had a little form to it. Lot's better than the violent spurting diarrhea. We'll see what the rest of the day hold for him.
 

brendapiepiorka

New member
Oh Good. I'm worried for ya all. I do recall Maggie having bouts of diareha when she was younger and we figured it out to be our black walnut tree. She was constantly running around with the nuts, green covered ones, in her mouth like they were balls. We found out they are bad for dogs and had to keep them picked up. We have since removed the tree all together.
Hope you have an "uneventful" day
 

Annie Milliron

Alpha Goddess
Having gone through something similar with Cora when she was very young, it never ceases to amaze me how much happiness a stool with any form to it can bring. Continue hanging in there.....
 

Leslie

New member
In the meantime could you try some canned pumpkin or some canned sweet potatoes to help firm him up a little. Someone also said acidophilus (in yogurt or you can empty out the capsules). I know that I was on antibiotics for the first time in years when I got sick in January and they really messed me up. The probiotics really helped in about a day. I hope you find out what's going on. Sounds like you both could use a good night's rest.
 

Prdmary

New member
Turner seems to be doing better. He had some really good stools yesterday. No "runny" ones!

I forgot about the canned pumpkin. I'll get some of that today and try that.

After doing a little reading, I don't think these are the correct antibiotics for giardia, but he seems to be getting better. Maybe it wasn't giardia?

Course I'd better not count my chickens before they hatch. When he's back to eating kibble...then I'll feel even better.

[ 02-22-2004, 07:21 AM: Message edited by: Prdmary ]
 

roisinbutler

New member
Poor you poor Turner!!! I hope he continues to feel better, some parasites are so hard to get rid of. When Oz first came home, it took about two months before he had his first solid poop, I called my husband at work, it was definitely cause to celebrate! since then we have gone through this over and over again, I know how stressful and hard it can be. Hang in there, hopefully he will improve everyday. Give him extra hugs and kisses from us.
 

brady

New member
I just read this post. You sure have been through a lot. I know this is very, very late. But we keep acidpholus around. While it won't cure the diarrhea that requires antibiotics, it will help. Brady had had the squirty diarrhea 2 summers ago, it was awful, you could here his poor belly from "miles" away. I am glad you are getting back to somewhat normal. Funny, someone mentioned about the stools and how excited we get when they are "normal". Whoever picks up the poop in the backyard (my husband or myself) tells the other about the consistency.
 

zipthedog2000

Inactive Member
hi glad he is doing better i just want to know sence iam in calif with no snow how do u all fine dog poop in snow doesnt melt the smow lol zip
 

Prdmary

New member
I was afraid of this. Last night and then this AM the runny diarrhea returned. So, I called the vet clinic AGAIN today. I mentioned the Giardia, but they don't think that is what it is, but they were willing to give some antibiotics for it just to see. (The antibiotics that he is on now would not fight Giardia.) I'll pick them up after work. They also want to give him some IAMS dog food that is specifically made for problems with diarrhea. I don't like IAMS, but I feel he needs something after 2 weeks of rice. They ask me what type of food he has been on, and they've never heard of Solid Gold. (Wellness, or anything else other than IAMS or Science Diet!) What is up with the ignorance on food?

I also probably pissed the clinic off because I asked to see another vet. The last visit was with a "new grad" (I think) and he didn't even know Turner was a Newf....just mentioned he looked sort of like the dog that won the Westminster! Right then my heart sank. My other visits have been with other vets and I have always been very happy with them. So, today I requested to speak with another vet. I hate doing stuff like that because I know they have to learn......but just not on my dog! Ha!

Comments are appreciated here!
 

Sailorgirl

New member
Darnit ... I'm sorry to hear Turner is still not doing better. For what it's worth, I think you're doing a very good job being an advocate for your dog. Don't worry about ticking off the people at the clinic ... sometimes it's good for them to know that you're not a pushover.

As for the rest of it ... hopefully those with more experience can comment. And what's with the Iams special food for diarrea? Why does that just seem like another one of the vets' ways to get you to buy food from them! Scary that they've never heard of Solid Gold....

good luck ... get well soon Turner! (Boy I bet you're sick of cooking rice!)
 

Prdmary

New member
My kitchen floor has crunchy, dried up rice pellets all over it. Turner always makes a bit of a mess when he eats, but boy, that rice just goes everywhere!
 

roisinbutler

New member
Hi have they put him on flagyl or any other anti-diharea medication? My mother in laws great dane has colitis and is on that Hills prescription food and takes flagyl for relapses. I have given it to Ozzy a few times when he had bad spells to "reset" him and have had good results.
I don't know what it is with the food ignorance, I think some food companies have done a great marketing job on vets. I would think that nutrition would land high on the list of preventative medications. I have been told that beet pulp which is a common dog food ingredient is to form solid stools, but is in reality preventing the absorption of nutrients in the digestive tract, i think the hills prescription that my mother in law uses has a high beet pulp conten. If that is true and that is what beet pulp is for, then it seems like the actual problem is not being addressed. just my 2 cents worth though.
Good luck and kisses to poor Turner.
take care
 

Prdmary

New member
They've got him on some type of orangish liquid, but I don't know the name of it. I think it was more for an upset stomach and help to prevent him from vomiting. (And he hasn't vomited anymore.)
 

Pam G

New member
Sorry to hear that he isn't any better today. I would definately ask him about putting him on Flagyl. That is what my vet prescribes for diarrhea if it lasts for more than a few days. It has always worked pretty good plugging my guys up. Also, has he been checked for coccidia? Hogan had that once and he had blow out diarrhea!!! A prescription of Albon cleared it right up. Good luck ..hope he is feeling better soon.
 

bo'smom

New member
I'm sorry to hear that poor Turner isn't over this yet. Don't feel bad about asking for another vet. You're being a good mom to your boy.

I know this is a wierd ?, but what does the poop smell like? Does it have a real foul almost dead carcass smell? (Sorry) My 1st Newf Lady had real bad diarrhea as a puppy. It was the worst thing I have ever smelled. We went through the same process, trying one thing after another. I finally took a stool sample to our local university vet teaching hospital. By the time I got home the vet was calling to say it was Campilobacter(sp?) I guess this is somewhat unusual and not looked for at first. With the right meds it cleared up quickly.

I hope you find some answers to Turners problems quickly!
 

brendapiepiorka

New member
I would definatley insist on another vets opinion. If they aren't quickly helping you, I'd start calling around to other vet clinics and see what they think. And not tommorow. Is he starting to loose any weight? Does he seem any different energy wise. This could be something serious. I'm just scared he'll dehydrate. Insist on help! Good luck. And keep us posted ok,
Brenda
 

N2N Mags Dad

New member
Don't know where you are in TN... but if its anywhere near knoxville and the situation doesn't improve quickly, maybe you could get help from the UTK vet hospital, ref. below as lifted from the UTK website. ( Am assuming you are not going there already -- with all the different vets and the young grad you mentioned!!) I wouldn't be afraid to make direct contact with them if a referral seems too hard to get, even though they might try to insist on a vet referral... actually you could portray it as an exotic animal in my view that the vets so far can't deal with.....Prdmry, it is worth a try and you've tried the vets!

http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/referrals.shtml

"One of the primary functions of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine is to assist private practitioners in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of unusual cases. The staff of the University of Tennessee Veterinary Teaching Hospital will always be available to receive cases through referral from a veterinarian or to provide private consultation as needed.

The referring veterinarian should arrange by telephone or direct contact a specific appointment for the referral patient. This may be done through the hospital receptionist between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m (Call Small Animal and Exotics at 865-974-VETS; Large Animal Clinic at 974-5701 or 974-5702 ). Should the referring practitioner wish to discuss the medical aspects of a particular case prior to arranging an appointment, he or she may do so by contacting the receiving clinician directly. Emergency referral appointments may be made by contacting the emergency duty clinician."

[ 02-23-2004, 09:26 PM: Message edited by: N2N Mags Dad ]
 

Jeannie

Super Moderator
Did you feed him the pumkin? If so then adding a new food could be the cause of the return of the diarrhea. You cannot just add something new without changing the bacteria in the stomach resulting in diarrhea.

As far as the food, have you tried another brand. I tried to feed Innova and Solid Gold to my newf and it was too rich for them. They had diarrhea so now I feed Flint River Ranch and their stools are normal.

Trying too many things can cause trouble. I would do one of two things. Ask your vet--start at square one, fasting for a day then start with Rice and Hamburger slowly adding in a DIFFERENT brand of kibble. I would try to avoid the Iams as the protein level is too high. Maybe you could try Nutro Lamb and Rice (they have two grades--get the one in the darker green bag.)

Option 2- since this has gone on for so long maybe you should go the route of going to a university hospital and having him checked out. I have found that going to the specialist is sometimes the best thing to do. It may be expensive, but not so in the long run when the health of your puppy is involved.
 
Top