Diarrhea After Giardia/Coccidia Anitibiotics?
 

My dogs were diagnosed with both Coccidia and Giardia a few weeks ago and were put on several antibiotics for about a week. Everything seemed except that there schedule for stools had changed. They used to sleep all thru the night but then after antibiotics started getting up between 3-4 a.m needing to go to the bathroom. There stools would start out very firm but then trail off into softer stools, sometimes a little diarrhea at the end. One of the times a drop of blood came out after the end of one of their stools. I talked to the vet who said it could be intestinal sensitivity due to the diarrhea associated with the parasites. I had them retested a few days ago to ensure they hadn't gotten them again, both stool tests for both dogs came back negative. Both of them are having occasional stools that trail off to a little diarrhea. Not enough to cause dehydration or anything. Again this morning, one drop of blood after the end of the stool. I am not sure what to do at this point. There have been no changes to their diet at all. Could all this just be leftover intestinal issues from the Giardia and Coccidia? Nothing came back in a fecal test so I am not sure what tests if any i should even do next. One of my dogs also has grumbly stomach gas. I started them on some probiotic tablets today hoping that would help relieve some of their stomach issues. Any other suggestions?

Whenever I put my dogs on antibiotics I always give them some yogurt....I give it daily the whole time they are on the meds...Really seems to help!...The probiotics will probably help also!

Hope they feel better soon!

Sounds like you are doing everything you should be. Sometimes when their tummies get upset it can take a bit to settle back down. If it continues I would take them back in to the vet. Hope they get over it soon.

my 3 pups had it and I give them probiotics and yogurt and it helped. It took a few weeks after treatment for them to go back to normal.

You can also add fiber to the diet for a while to get it back to normal...or the vet sells WD by science diet...
Probiotics are great as is yogurt, just make sure you do not get one with artificial sweeteners...

Wow I had no idea they could affect them for so long. Should it be plain unflavored yogurt? Also, how do you give it to them, with their food or just by itself?

Are these after affects from the medicine for the parasites, or just from the parasites themselves?

Thanks for all the help

It can be after affect from both. You can also try a little bit of peeled, cored, apple as it works pretty well for clearing up diarrhea. But still use the yogurt or probiotic to get the tummy back on track.

Did the vet give them Metronidazole for the parasites? When I adopted Tia this past Easter, she came with both those parasites, plus ringworm. She just loved to share also (I have two other dogs)!!! That parasite makes them have a soft poop and doesn't always show up in every poop sample. The info I got on the web said that you need to give the vet several samples over a period of time to make sure it's gone. It can also live in the ground for up to two months. I had to pick up poop immediately and pour bleach-water over each spot to kill the parasite...or it could spread again. Little butts and paws were washed constantly. Gas and grumbly tummies are a sign that it could still be there. Only a suggestion, but I would give the vet another sample, to include one with the spot of blood in it. Good luck and I hope everybody feels better soon.

Antibiotics kill all bacteria in your body...Our body has certain bacteria that is necessary to keep our bodies functioning correctly...Yogurt has the bacteria that our bodies need so giving yogurt helps to keep the "good" bacteria alive in our bodies...

You can give the plain or vanilla (which is what I use)...without artificial sweeteners...I give about a tablespoon once a day...You can let them lick it off a spoon if they will or put it directly in their mouth...IF you have trouble give it in a syringe...

Hope this helps!

My little guy also had giardia and was first given panacur for about a week. His stool still seemed to come out as you described - firm at first and then watery. I talked to my vet and he then but him on metronizadole for another week - and still the same thing. Most likely the panacur cleared it up but it actually took the puppy a couple of weeks after that to get back to normal - so yes - it does take a long time to clear up.

same thing with Hazel... she had Giarda, and that was about 2 weeks ago, her poop is just now hardening back up.

Is he on Albon?

Panacur won't help coccidia.

The yogurt is a great suggestion.