[mizzwanned]

Originally Posted by PennysMum

Hmm, well-- I'll try to help where I can!

If it were my dog, I'd wait for the urinalysis results before jumping to xrays. Since your little boy is still urinating, even if it is a stone, it isn't causing an obstruction yet, so you should have time to get back the results on a urinalysis. To be honest, I'm a little surprised that they didn't just run the test right there and give you the results-- a standard urinalysis with a dip stick and spun-down sediment takes all of ten minutes to prepare and read, and that would be sufficient to tell them if there was an infection going on.

The anal gland smell-- yes, it is always horrible. He may have some of the fluid in his fur if they didn't tidy him up after he expressed his glands, but it can be washed out.

Clavamox can sometimes cause diarrhea in some dogs, as can stress... did the diarrhea start before or after the vet visit? Metronidazole is another antibiotic, and is pretty good against a variety of bugs that could possibly cause diarrhea, but it seems premature to me to jump to Metronidazole when a dog has had only one bout of diarrhea. I'd run a stool sample and let the dogs relax before throwing more drugs at them.

On the topic of bathing-- baths alone do not cause dry skin. If you're using a shampoo that is harsh, it can contribute to the problem, but the real root of the issue is more likely to be dietary. I like oatmeal-based shampoos. You can add fish oils to the diet as a natural way to improve the condition of your dogs' coats-- the ones sold in little capsules for human use are just fine, and can really help with dry skin.

Thnx..the diarrhea was just yesterday morning before the vet appt. I think it may have been cause he went thru the garbage behind my back the night before. He is so sneaky!