Diarrhea

[MyPemCharlie]

Charlie's got the squirts. He started with a loose stool on Wednesday afternoon, and was "squirting" liquid by yesterday morning. I called the vet, and we're using Kaopectate for the weekend. If he's not better by Monday, we're going for a visit.

Trying to come up with possible reasons, my best guess is that it must be some plant he has chewed on while we are in the backyard.

He was just tested negative for parasites Oct 1 when he got his round puppy shots. I did just start him on Oct 4 on Advantage Multi which kills fleas, heartworm, roundworm, tapeworm, whipworm and hookworm. The insert in the Advantage noted some dogs have diarrhea/vomiting with the product, but I suspect that would happen soon after application, not a week later.

We had also just recently fully transitioned his food from Solid Gold (which he didn't seem to like) to Pedigree. I haven't fed him anything "extra" recently, aside from his food and a couple Milk Bones biscuits a day. Yesterday, because of the diarrhea, I steamed some rice and replaced some of his food with it. He is still eating normally.

I can't think of anything else except for his chewing on outdoor plants. Some of his favorite "games" seem to be tug-of-war with the grass, chasing down and chewing on falling leaves, and munching on twigs and sticks. He does like to eat bugs too.

He is every bit as active as always and seems happy. Guess I don't have a question. Just venting unless anyone has other thoughts on what might have caused the "runny" puppy.

[Chip's Mom]

You may want to take him completely off the pedigree and boil some chicken and mix some with the rice and give that to him over the weekend and see if it helps. I am surprised that the vet didn't want to see him right away. How many puppy shots has he had?

[MyPemCharlie]

He's had 3 rounds of puppy shots: 8/4/07, 9/1/07 with the breeder, and 10/1/07 at my vet. We're going again Nov 1 for his final puppy shots.

The diarrhea improved slightly yesterday after a couple doses of Kaopectate. This morning, his stool was still what I would call diarrhea, but firmer that "squirty". If it doesn't keep improving through today, I'll take your advice an feed steamed chicken and rice tomorrow instead of his dog food. He ate a whole cup of food this morning (about half Pedigree/half steamed rice). No loss of appetite.

The vet didn't seem to think it was an emergency when I called yesterday. Maybe because they just saw him 2 weeks ago, and he's not showing any other signs of illness???

[MyPemCharlie]

I'm happy to report that Charlie just had his 3 o'clock (Texas time) poop, and it looks fairly normal. Hopefully the Kaopecate isn't just "covering up" a sympton. Appears to be working though.

Sad to think, one of the highlights of my recent days has become puppy-poop inspector!

[Chip's Mom]

That is excellent news. I have been thinking about him today. Hopefully, he is on the mend.

[pat_m]

Byron had "issues" when he was a puppy.

After proding the Vet we got a recommendation from her to give him Imodium - a 1/2 tab (2 mg tabs) per 16lbs twice a day.

We still give it to him when he has problem - one tab.

His issues do seem to follow Vaccinations

[Louwants]

It also could have been the change in the food that caused it. I give Duncan a tablespoon of pumpkin when he has diarrhea It works both ways, a little constipated, give them pumpkin; got diarrhea, again....pumpkin. Of course, the chicken and rice does the trick also, or boiled hamburger and rice.

[Michael Romanos]

Usually dairrhea can be overcome after a day or two through what a couple of members have suggested - bolied rice (pref brown) and bolied chicken which us a bland diet to counter the stomach upset. Shredded raw pumpkin is aniother useful additive. If after a couple of days with this bland diet, no real improvement, then consult a vet.

[glencorgi]

Watery diarrhea with a puppy is not something to mess around with and I'm glad you called your vet. Could be a lot of things - food change, Advantage, vaccinations, combination of all of the above and he could have gotten into something as you said that disagreed with him. A can of plain pumpkin (not the pie filling) is a staple in my medicine chest and would be easier on the upset digestive tract than would shredded form. I also keep baby cereal, the rice formula on hand for just these type situations. I will also do the boiled rice (I use white) and chicken or boiled hamburger (grease strained off) as well.

As far as the highlight of your day being finding firm poop, <LOL> well maybe I shouldn't delve there. <VBG>

Debbie

[MyPemCharlie]

Thanks everyone! I have new solutions for "next time". As of last Sunday morning, I again have a perky puppy pooping perfectly. Don't know what caused it, but the Kaopectate fixed it. Charlie thought it was a fabulous treat too! Maybe someone should make Kaopectate-flavored dog treats (without the medicine).

We would have reported back sooner, but the computer completely crashed Sunday morning and we're just back up and running today. ("running"...no pun intended.)

[MyPemCharlie]

Well this is frustrating. Charlie was doing great from last Sunday until this morning. This morning he had a soft poop covered in slimey mucous. I called the vet and just got home from taking in a fecal sample. I was concerned about maybe coccidiosis or giardhea parasites. The test came back negative (again).

The vet just suggested a bland chicken & rice diet and more Kaopectate for the weekend. If he's not better Monday, they may give him antibiotics. This is aggravating because I don't know what we're trying to "cure".

The vet tech (assistant) asked me what he's been eating in the yard, since he's not getting anything but puppy food, Milk Bones, and recently a little low-fat yogurt. I said "Everything." He pulls up and chews on grass, chews the bark off the peach tree, chews on leaves that fall into the yard, tastes all the garden plants. She said they see dogs with slimey poop and diarrhea from eating yard vegetation all the time. I hope when he gets older, he'll lose interest in chewing plants.

[aircooled53]

Cooper is a little heavy from treats,but he is active swims and runs after rabbits in the area.
When he was small he also got squirts, and we changed his diet to purina puppy chow and he grew up to be a healthy Corgi. Once in awhile we will give him some can food mixed with dry, but he like dry best. Every dogs diet can be changed if you do it slowly.

[MyPemCharlie]

Hi aircooled,

I've changed his food twice already, mainly because he didn't seem to like the first two foods much. We did transition very s