Worried!!! Please help

[givemecouture]

Good afternoon, I am worried because I am afraid my vet is over medicating Strudel!!!

I took him there 2/6/12 because of direah that started during a road trip to OK. They gave him anti-biotics for 7 days and probiotics. I fed him plain chicken and rice. This Monday I went for the follow up, everything was fine, she gave him another round of shots (which kinda made me mad because his breeder had given all his shots already but they wouldn't "accept" those) and prescribed him this food to put him on to help the GI tract. It's Hills prescription diet ID wet food. Monday night I kept feeding him the chicken and rice, for some reason I was feeling very nervous about this food. Before he was sick he was on a mix of life's abundance and royal canin. He was very gassy even before he got sick.

So Tuesday I started with the new food. Even though vet says that this food is completely safe to switch to completely, I mixed it with a little chicken and rice still because I know my baby is picky and sensitive. He scarfed it down all day. Wednesdayi gave him a bit more of the ID Food, Wednesday night runny poo!!

Thursday runny poo/diareah!!! So I take him back to vet today, they want him to continue eating the new food and want to give him a few more days of antibiotics. All parasite tests came back negative. He's running around, acting normal.

I'm scared to give him more anitibiotics, he's so small and we are notneven sure what is wrong with him!!! What should i do

[kjc]

Some conditions require a longer treatment time like 14 days instead of 10 or 7 days. Was a stool sample sent out to a lab for analysis? Was any bloodwork done?

[chachi]

There is nothing wrong with giving the prescription food. When My Chachi was a tiny pup and got diahrea the vet gave him a prescription food for a short time. I wouldnt worry about the antibiotics either they are safe to give to a pup. I think the problem was vaccinating when your pup was unwell with diahrea the vet should have waited. That and a change in food may not have helped some yorkies are really sensitive when it comes to food changes even if you do it gradually. I would give the antibiotics a chance to kick in but if you are uncomfortable with the antibiotics or feel your vet isnt treating your pup to your satisfaction get a 2nd vet opinion it cant hurt. I hate it when vets dont accept the breeder shots. My vet did that and I didnt realize the problems it can cause at the time but later changed vets over it. There is no good reason to overvaccinate in that way but some vets just arent going to accept that the breeder really gave the shots so they dont want to take the chance. The problem with mine was the breeder put the label from the vaccines on my paperwork so the vet would accept that it had been done

[lillymae]

What antibiotic did the vet give ? as some antibiotics can cause loose stools.

[sophias mommy]

Poor Strudel!! I know when Sophia had chronic diarrhea we went through 3 rounds of antibiotics (7 days each time) in a month and a half, because it was the only thing helping her. They wanted to do a fourth round, but that's when I got worried (because of antibiotic resistance). We decided to give her panacur, (even though 3 stool tests showed no parasites, and she had fine blood work), and she's been fine ever since! Maybe we just lucked out? Or maybe Strudel has parasites that can't be detected in the stool?

[chachi]

Originally Posted by sophias mommy

Poor Strudel!! I know when Sophia had chronic diarrhea we went through 3 rounds of antibiotics (7 days each time) in a month and a half, because it was the only thing helping her. They wanted to do a fourth round, but that's when I got worried (because of antibiotic resistance). We decided to give her panacur, (even though 3 stool tests showed no parasites, and she had fine blood work), and she's been fine ever since! Maybe we just lucked out? Or maybe Strudel has parasites that can't be detected in the stool?

That is a good point and sometimes they do need to be checked a couple of times for parasites because they dont always show up

[Chrissybear]

What antibiotic? Gizmo was on Flagyl and Cefalaxin and it gave him runny poop also!

[ladyjane]

As others have said, fecals often come up negative. I would ask the vet about treating for all parasites.

The prescription food is a good thing for her right now and is not causing the diarrhea...of that I am certain. You really should not mix it with any other food. Just give her that for now as the vet has suggested.

Good luck...hope you get an answer soon!

[ladyjane]

Flagyl (Metronidazole) is often given when there is diarrhea. It is doubtful that caused diarrhea.
Cefalexin does upset the GI tract. I have never heard of it being prescribed for diarrhea.

[yorkieusa]

Have you talked to Breny to see if she has any suggestions?

[deonk1]

Don't worry about the medication so much. Harley had to be on steroids and antibiotics for a few months on and off when he was having problems.

My first priority would be assure bloodwork was done to rule out an infection. Then a fecal sample. I don't have an issue with the amount of drugs, it is a question of what they are prescribing and why... if they're not prescribing the right drugs for the right problem then I'd be concerned.

As for the Hills, Harley was put on it and couldn't stomach it cause it contained chicken. We later realized that he has a nasty chicken allergy, and have realized that the majority of his GI problems were food related, we had to put him on a strict diet to resolve things.

My other advice is, if you don't trust your vet, you may wish to consider finding a new one. I was very uncomfortable with my vet, and wasted a lot of money. I eventually switched and now Harley is 100 times better. He still has issues, but no wheres near as bad.

Keep us posted.

[AprilLove]

Sorry your little guy isn';t feeling well.
If I understand what you are saying is he was fine on Monday when you went back? (no more diarhea?) then he had shots and changed food and more antibiotcs? If so, it is possible the shots or the antibiotics or the food could be the culprit.
I don't think I would be comfortable with a vet who gave additional vaccinations after my pup already had them (actually , I wouldn't allow it or tolerate it if they did it without my ok! ) Did they ask you if that was ok with you first?
It is very possible to get diarhea off the hills ID food. I had a Bichon who got diarhea from it , not saying your little guy did, I would be looking more at the excessive vaccinations as a reason, especially since you say his diahrea returned after the shots.
Do you have another vet to talk to for another opinion?

[ladyjane]

If this is a new puppy, how is it that you did not have proof of vaccinations?

[givemecouture]

Thanks everyone!! We are going to see how he does as I continue the same food,


Yes bloodwork and fecal were done, nothing came up. The direah this time started after vacs and food change so I am assuming it's one of those. They sent him home with 5 days of antibiotics, this time in pill form last time it was light pink liquid in individual droppers.

I'm thinking it may be food allergy or like some said, a parasite that is not showing up.

I do like my vet but I'm just worried about lowering his immune system with the antibiotics. I myself try to never take them unless I'm super sick and can't remedy it naturally so Im just assuming the same thing for him.

Hopefully it will go away and stay away! I'm not a fan of this food however and really wish I could feed him something else but I will stick to this for a while until we can pinpoint what's wrong, thanks everyone!!!

[Marlee12107]

My vet gave me a paste for diearreha(sp) .... it is called Pro-Pectalin....Works GREAT......Hope things get better soon. Will he drink Pedalite? It will help to keep him from getting drhydrated.....Sending prayers for a fast recovery.