Feeling frustrated: No resolution, yet!!
 

Feeling frustrated: No resolution, yet!!

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Hi all I am feeling a bit frustrated with Jack's Diarrhea. Still no resolution. I dont want to explain the whole story again some of you might recall his situation.

Ok here it goes. Jack (15weeks old) about 4 weeks ago ate the foam from his bedding ( The cover did not cover the bottom of the bed completly). He started having diarrhea. I took him to the vet and brought a stool sample along. They found nothing when they did the fecal float. They gave him amoxicillian and I think its called meclizide (its a binder). Well he did great on it the stool was fine. I would like to add that he has not vomited or been listless or stopped drinking and eating he is normal in every way other then the diarrhea.

As soon as I stopped the meds it started again. So the vet put him back on it again. It helped the dirrhea once again.

Same thing happened this time so he mentioned trying a lamb and rice dog food. so I am now. He is on California Natural.

My question is how long does it take for the pups to adjust to the new food before you see it gets better?? What else besides the boiled chicken and rice could I give him that will help but not mask problems??? Should I have blood work done on him?? Or should I have them do another fecal float?? I am just frustrated I want him to get better. There are many details I left out but if anyone can relate to this let me know also. I posted a few times about Jack so I didnt want to repeat myself. Thanks


Jack and Mandy's Mom

I think the underlaying problem here could be the foam he ate. I think instead of blood work I would first see if he has passed the foam, that may still be in his stomach and causing problems with digestion. Your vet could ultra-sound or x-ray to see what is in Jacks little stomach. Make sure when you change food that you are mixing it with the old food(if you haven't already) as not a sudden change to his diet.

:aimeeyork When I went to the vet this morning I had asked him if there was a possiblity that the foam was still in there. (its been almost a month) He said he really doubts it. But he did see a rubbery substance in his stool and there where no parasites. What really makes this so difficult is that I watch him closely and he is contained in the kitchen and when outside he is in the pen or right near me. When the vet showed me what was in his stool I was shocked because I dont understand how he ate that. It really made me feel neglectful. Even if it was recent that he ate the rubbery substance he has been fighting this diarrhea for almost a month. He also has been on Metronidazole and Amoxicillian. So that clear up the diarrhea immediatly. I dont know but its driving me batty!!!. Thanks for the advice I may call him and tell him we need to check for the foam.

Verena :)

I definitely think its something he has injested. Has the vet gave him keopectate or anything for the diahrea?

Yes he gave him Metronidazole which he will be taking for about 5 days. I really hope it get better I feel so bad for the poor little guy. I really wish they could talk they look up at you with those sad little eyes. :( Thanks :aimeeyork

Jack and Mandy's Mom :) :animal36

I agree with Snow Yorkies ... I would request an x-ray to make certain that there isn't any of the foam in the stomach. Depending on how much was eaten, it might be impossible for all of it to pass through the system. Good luck and keep us posted!

Your Jack is quite a bit younger than my Maddie...she is almost one year old, but she started having problems similar to Jacks at 4 months. She got really sick at that time and put on Prescription diet I/D and was also on medication for about 8 days. She did fine after that, but then got very sick again right around the 4th of July. That time she threw up along with the diarrhea that wouldn't stop. She was on medication but as soon as that was done, her symptoms came back. She then went on the meds again and as soon as they were done, she was sick again. The vet diagnosed her with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and she has been on Metronidazole now for nearly a month. He said she may have to be on that the rest of her life, but for now she is to be on it for a month and then we will very slowly wean her off of it and see if her system can tolerate it. I hope and pray it will work because otherwise she may need surgery to have biopsies.

Anyway, my suggestion to you would be to talk to your vet about slowly weaning Jack off the Metronidazole, rather than just stopping it abruptly. Also, Maddie's fecal floats were negative, but when she couldn't seem to get over the diarrhea, the vet suspected she could have whipworms and treated her with a wormer, just in case it would be that. Whipworms are hard to detect in tests because it doesn't always show up. Here is info on whipworms: http://www.pethealthcare.net/html/bo...whipworms.html

I sure hope Jack gets to feeling better really soon! It can be such a worry and so frustrating when they get sick and we can't "fix it" for them. Best wishes! Puppy kisses from Maddie!

I don't know what is wrong with Jack but it makes sense that the metronidazole would stop the diahrrea since that is what that medication does. I think if it continues I would get a second opinion, 4 weeks of having problems without complete resolution is far too long IMO.

i agree with both of you. I will wait a bit and talk to the vet before the 5 days are up.I hope to give you all feedback soon. Thanks for the caring ang concern :)

Verena :)

I've had eight years of our gal suffering from chronic Irritable Bowel Syndrome and what you are describing certainly sounds like that is what is happening to your dog. They don't know what sets off IBS, but it is quite possible that it was the foam (it has nasty components in it) and that your poor little guy is in a really bad cycle. Amoxacilin (sp?) works but only for a brief period of time and it has to be combined with a very strict diet. My gal has been on the Prescription I/D for 8 years however if she so much as has a dog biscuit it will set it off again. You can buy Prescription I/D in kibble form and that's what I give her for treats. There is also another antibiotic which they use, it begins with an F, I can't remember the name but I'm sure the vet will know what you are talking about. That is the only one that works for any period of time for my gal. She is also on prednisone and has been for years.

Does your pup's tummy make a lot of noise? That is usually a classic sign of IBS. When I heard that noise I would give my gal a half of a prednisonse tab and it would stop the problem before the diahrea started.

Diet restriction is the key and that means no chewies, no pig's ears, no rawhides. By the way they can pick up a stomach/bowel infection from rawhides. Stress will also set off IBS so keeping the dog calm is very important.

If it is the foam ingredients that started this problem it may well take months for the problem to resolve. Another classic sign of IBS is that the stool will have a slimy muscus around it. Also sometimes mixed with blood.

They may also have to do surgery to do a biopsy of the bowel to diagnos IBS.

Yes Jack has the stomach rumbling occasionally and some mucous in the stool . No blood though. Its so so difficult to keep him calm he just loves roughhousing with Mandy. Also I did take all his bones away he is pretty upset though. I used to buy those bones made of cornstarch and greenies. Never rawhide. He alos liked those health bones made by nylabone they have veggies in them. However the only thing Jack gets now is The nylabone and kong filled with the liver treat. But he will not touch the nylabones at all. It really stinks because he is a very agressive chewer and these really dont seem to satisfy him. But if this needs to be this way then it does. I really hope this is not a longterm problem. But if it is then we will make the best of the situation. Thanks for the support from all of you :) :D

Verena :animal36 :animal36

:confused: Hi all...it has been ages since I have posted!

I have noticed that my comet has developed diarrhea atleast once a month since the winter season began. It came to a peak last week and he was treated with antibiotics and a special liquid for the vomiting. From reading everyones post, I think that he has IBS! His vet says that he probably has developed a food intolerance. I have been feeding him INNOVA dry and wet food for the past year and it has worked great.

The only other problem with comet is that no sooner than he was off his medicine, I've found him chewing up a pencil. How can you ever tell what the problem is when your yorkie eats everything in sight?!

cometsmom

How old is Comet?? I hear ya its difficult, things are much better for Jack. I got a sample of the innova for them for treats and I was reading the back and it had 44 percent protein in it I thought that was quite high. I dont give my guys any wet food at all. Jack still however chews everything he can get his paws on. I tried to buy him some expensive squeaky toys that are supposed to be virtually indestructable That didnt happen. Well all I can say is do the best you can :) Good luck.

Jack and Mandy's Mom :) :aimeeyork :aimeeyork

...comet is 1 yr 3 mos. He is fine now. Turns out he had a really bad virus that's all gone! The winter months can take its toll with all of those viruses! Now with the warmer weather he seems back to normal now :thumbup: