Taycie Has Diaherra... HELP!

[LuvTaycieGirl]

So first off I have already spoken to the vet to rule out immediate vet visit. I do have her scheduled for tomarrow for a back up incase we need to go in. Her vet wanted to wait and see if things don't look better in the morning. She is a wonderful and I trust her judgement. On a positive note Taycie is acting like her normal self... Like nothing is the problem at all... just a tummy ache

About A week ago I decided to switch Taycie's food from Blue Buffalo to Nature's Variety Prairie. She has done wonderful about thus far which makes me think her food may not be aggreeing with her. She won't eat the BB anymore and will pick out the NV. Yesterday I noticed her stools were looser but not alarming at all. This morning her stools were hard and I felt better. Well this afternoon after her morning meal at 9 am (she is not much of an eater an earlier then that) She ate and went happily on her merry way. I feed twice a day and she also hasn't had any treats. She did her ritual "potty time" at 1:30 and pooped and they were loose but not runny.. And from about 3pm on today she has had diaherra. I did have to give her a bath poor thing

That's when I decided to call the vet. She advised me to give her white rice to act as a binding agent to help with the diaherra. She also did tell me to bring a stool sample in the morning to rule out any sort of parasite. (which we will be doing). She said if after she goes potty morning to again feed the rice again.( I think I am going to keep her on the BB and take the NV back.) I am sad because she REALLY likes it but such is a dog's life! I am not sure she is agreeing with it and she has NEVER had an episode like this.

My question is this.. I know I have read about people giving pedalite and I am wondering if I should to help her keep her hydrated?..

So for tonight we will be feeding white rice.. poor girl

[yorkieusa]

Pedialyte won't hurt her. However, if she is drinking plenty of water, she probably won't need it. Only you know how much water she normally drinks. It's good you're taking her to the dr in the morning. Something is going on, but it is hard telling exactly what. Hopefully, your dr can give you some answers tomorrow. The food could well be what is causing her problem, but...other possibilities need to be ruled out. I wish you luck and please let us know what you find out. As an aside, some foods can cause loose stools. They all have different ingredients. Sometimes an allergy can be involved or just a sensitivity to certain ingredients.

[ladyjane]

I have never used pedialite and I have had many sick pups. Suppose it cannot hurt. But..if they are going to dehydrate, they are going to need iv or subcutaneous fluids anyway.
Always check their gums to see if they are wet. If you lift the upper lip and touch the gums and they are dry and tacky to the touch, they are getting dehydrated and it is time to go to a vet.

[My Sophia]

Just went through this the past week with Soph. We did go to the vet to rule out parasites (negative). Finally decided it was a new treat that upset her system. Luckily it wasn't both of them, just her. Week of boiled chicken and rice and we have good poops again. One thing i do is boil the chicken first and then use the broth from that to fix the rice. Soph seems to like it that way instead of just plain rice. Then I run the chicken through the food processor and mix in the rice so she doesn't just pick out the chicken like she would if it was chunkier. if she would eat it I would have given her a couple teaspoons/day of pumpkin too but little miss picky pants doesn't do veggies

[LuvTaycieGirl]

So last night I followed the vets advice for the white rice... it unfortunetly did nothing she still has diaherra.. and its really runny. I did gather some for a stool sample and we have an appointment for her in an hour.

On the bright side she is acting like her normal crazy self. She has no other symptoms other then the diaherra. I am such a paranoid wreck and can't wait to get her in.. I was asked if she gotten into anything and nothing... I don't allow her to have people food unless like chicken and rice...

Wish us luck I'll sure be glad to see some nice soild stool!

[ladyjane]

Let us know how things go at the vet! Good luck!

[yorkieusa]

Sending you and her the best. I hope she'll be just fine very soon.

[LuvTaycieGirl]

All went well at the vet visit. I did take a stool sample in to rule out any cases with parasites and my vet will be calling me tomarrow with the results.

She said she wasn't worried to much she thought it was probably from the change in food but she said will check the stool sample to make sure nothing else could be the cause as well.

She did prescribe some Metronidazole to help the diaherra and I have already given the first dose. She also said she does look well her gut didnt seem inflammed and her stomach seemed normal. She did say her gums were slightly tacky but not overly and she said at this point she dosen't seem to be dehydrated. She did advise to feed a bland diet for the next few days to rest her tummy then slowly incorporate her BB back in her diet.

I am just glad we went in for piece of mind. It could have been much worse and I would rather be safe then sorry.

The only thing that bothered me was how she told me that Blue Buffalo was really pushed as a "healthy" food when she worked in Alabama and she said just don't believe everything you hear.. She said Purina, Royal Canine, and Science Diet have had the most studies done and she believed and backed them more then Blue Buffalo because she said it doesn't have all the studies those other foods have.

I was neutral about the her belief and I know she did take Taycie's care in her best intrest I just had a really hard time believing that something like Science Diet is better the Holistic feeding? I just know I would rather feed fresh ingredients instead of by products corn, wheat, and chemical preservitatives... I just felt like something wrong was with this picture...

[chachi]

Originally Posted by LuvTaycieGirl

All went well at the vet visit. I did take a stool sample in to rule out any cases with parasites and my vet will be calling me tomarrow with the results.

She said she wasn't worried to much she thought it was probably from the change in food but she said will check the stool sample to make sure nothing else could be the cause as well.

She did prescribe some Metronidazole to help the diaherra and I have already given the first dose. She also said she does look well her gut didnt seem inflammed and her stomach seemed normal. She did say her gums were slightly tacky but not overly and she said at this point she dosen't seem to be dehydrated. She did advise to feed a bland diet for the next few days to rest her tummy then slowly incorporate her BB back in her diet.

I am just glad we went in for piece of mind. It could have been much worse and I would rather be safe then sorry.

The only thing that bothered me was how she told me that Blue Buffalo was really pushed as a "healthy" food when she worked in Alabama and she said just don't believe everything you hear.. She said Purina, Royal Canine, and Science Diet have had the most studies done and she believed and backed them more then Blue Buffalo because she said it doesn't have all the studies those other foods have.

I was neutral about the her belief and I know she did take Taycie's care in her best intrest I just had a really hard time believing that something like Science Diet is better the Holistic feeding? I just know I would rather feed fresh ingredients instead of by products corn, wheat, and chemical preservitatives... I just felt like something wrong was with this picture...

Vets arent taught alot about nutrition when they were in school. You really have to do the research and find the right brand

[ladyjane]

It is true that Hill's spends a lot on research....and honestly I do think their prescription diets are ok. They are certainly not perfect and I have some reservations about the corn in them; but I have used them for sick dogs with good results.

Just because it says holistic does not mean it is the right food for your dog. Some have high amounts of protein that may be contraindicated for your particular dog.

It is good to do your own research on foods. With really sick pups, I believe it is good to do a consult with board certified nutrionists. Actually, not a bad idea for healthy ones either!

[MyBabyFynnlie]

I'm glad Taycie is still acting like herself. I hope her pooping calms down soon!

[Dianab28]

My husband has a PHD in animal nutrition and we feed Science Diet. They put a lot of research into their foods and we've always had good luck with it.

[LuvTaycieGirl]

Well I got the results back for Taycie's stool sample and unfortunatley she has hookworms. We do our monthly preventive of heartguard but I guess sometimes it doesn't get everything. She is on a dewormer and then again in 2 weeks. I will then in a month go back to have another stool sample to make sure the hookworms are gone... Poor baby still is having diaherra and she is on medication for that..

Would it be smart to give pumpkin or does the diaherra need to run its coarse so she is able to get rid of the worms?

Is it still ok to give pedalite? I don't want her to get dehydrated..

I will be glad when she is back to normal and feeling like her normal self!

[ladyjane]

I am sure she will start to clear up soon now that she is being treated.

If she is eating and drinking, I doubt she is going to get dehydrated; but if it makes you feel better, I don't guess pumpkin or pedialyte can hurt.

[yorkieusa]

The hookworms are robbing her of nutrition and can cause anemia. You can give her more protein through meat. You can give her more iron with vitamins and more fat with fish oil. I'm glad you found out what was wrong and I hope she'll soon be on the way to recovery. Be sure you clean any areas where she has had diarrhea very well and yourself as well, since humans can become infected. Be sure to keep us updated on how she is doing. OK?