Seen vet- gastroenteritis
 

Hi guys, just back from the vet, I drove my lil guy 2 hrs each way to the vet because he started with episodes of vomiting which turned into diarrhea over a course of 3 days, slight blood trace in a few stools.

The vet dignosed him with gastroenteritis he said it was starting to leave his system, alhough no test were done. He gave him a ranitidine injection, which he quoted should start working in 2 hrs I believe. Also said to feed him chicken/rice for another day and put him back on his puppy food.i was also provided with daily dewormer for 3 days.

45 mins after we got hom I gave him a small rice/chicken snack he had another quarter sized diarrhea.

He has been his hyper, playful self over the course of the 3 days, no other signs of pain or sickness. You'd never be able to tell aside from the obvious pooping.

I'm confused as to why he's still having diarrhea after getting home, does it take an extra few days to correct? What was the purpose of the ranitidine injection if it didn't help.

Does anyone have any suggestions to help firm up his watery mess? Today was a struggle with my poor lil guy 2 hours one way and having diarrhea episodes on the way with car sickness.

I've also never heard of putting dogs bsck on their food sudden guy

Please feel free to leave your ideas and thoughts on his situation, would love to get him better asap

Gastro
 

Poor baby, sounds like he is having a hard time.
Ranitidine is an antacid, Pepcid I believe.
Feeling sick and having car sickness and diarrhea and a long car journey was not nice for the poor guy. A shot of anti nausea meds might have made him feel more comfortable? He must have been glad to get home and to his little bed. Also you say he is on a wormer too, a lot for him to put up with if he is not feeling good. Was he diagnosed with parasites or was it just a preventive in case he did have them?
Perhaps he may do better on the chicken and rice for a few days until his system heals. It can take a little time to get the GI system back to normal, as in humans.
For diarrhea, plain pumpkin (no additives) can help with the runs if the vet says it is ok.
Hope he feels better soon and his tummy settles down.

Ranitidine is actually the generic for Zantac, but is an antacid similar to Pepcid. It is probably not going to do much for the nausea or diarrhea but may make you pup feel a little better if he has an acidic stomach.

Yes, it's likely to take a few more days for the diarrhea to clear up. A bland diet of chicken and rice or boiled white or sweet potato will soothe the tummy and pure canned pumpkin (not the pie filling stuff) may help to firm up the stools.

How old is your pup? If you don't see improvement soon, I'd consider calling the vet and asking him to call in a prescription for something like metronidazole to clear up that diarrhea. Its as miserable for your pup having it as it is for you having to keep cleaning it up!

Hopefully tomorrow will bring improvement.

Diana

I was actually not told if there was a diagnosis for a parasite or if it was just a safety measure. The back of the dewormer says may cause vomitting so I'm a little standoff about using it at this moment just because his belly has gone through so much in 3-4 days!

Do you know the thumb rule amount for giving plain pumpkin?
Thanks so much!

I think I will continue on with the chicken/rice instead of go right back on the dog food as recommended.

Thanks so much! I was actually wondering if there was something they could call in and prescribe like pepto for humans! I may have to check into this to get him some relief!

Do you know what the thumb rule amount for pumpkin is? He's 5lb 8oz. I actually gave him 1 tsp yesterday prior to brining him in and it gave his diarrhea some shape, although still very soft, but not puddles like it was! Not sure if 1 tsp was quite enough?

Sorry for the ordeal.
Ranitidine can help with vommiting and help settle the nausea too. If he is eating the rice with chicken breast , these are great for the loose stools. Another great option is chicken rice or turkey rice baby food, but if he is eating the rice it will be very helpful.
Make sure he is drinking plenty of water too.
Xoxo

GI issues
 

I agree it is a good idea to keep your baby on the bland chicken diet until he feels better. I think that if you have given him one tsp of pumpkin and it made things a little better you might try 1 or 2 tsps next time. You are in the right ballpark.
It might be a good idea too to hold off on the dewormer for a few days if there was no diagnosis. The poor boy needs to rest his GI system right now.
Sorry I said Pepcid instead of Zantac, I get them muddled up as they are used in similar ways. It is important to keep him hydrated by drinking water or by adding liquid to his food.
Hoping your baby feels better soon and that the stool firms up.
Obviously if he does not improve you might take him back to the vet for further tests and meds.

The day I got my little girl I took her to the vet ...a week later she was pooping blood and had diahrea. Our vet switchef her to royal canine gastrointestinal and cleared everything up.

When I got my puppy she was also infested and I mean infested with ear mites...so she was treated topically and with ear drops.

The vet said that could have stressed her little system out.

The gastrointestinal food cleated up her tummy problems...have you tried that? He also gave me a powder to sprinkle in her food....for intestinal health.

That's what I'm giving him is rice & chicken breast! He was getting a lil picky on the rice and spitting it out, but he's now eating it all mixed with pumpkin. He'd eat me out of a house if I let him. Lol which is a good sign considering he's been sick. He's been drinking water, not his usual amounts and since he's been sick he won't touch his water dish, but enjoys water straight from the running tap, very weird. I'm not sure why the change.

I've been slowing upping the pumpkin and seeing a gradual change, TMI but I went up to 1.5tbs-2tbs and his poops have taken a slight custard cone swirl, still very soft BUT not water Anymore. I'm not sure about going above 2tbs though? Seems like quite a bit? Since yesterday's vet visit His pooping has reduced to only after meals now, which is good but concerns me a little! Not sure how much nutrients he's retaining like this. When weighed at the vet yesterday he had lost a few oz, but as of this Evening he has gained back those oz which is also a good sign. Crossing my fingers! I'm giving his stomach till mon-tues to settle if not I will be checking back with the vet.

I was actually not suggested any special food, but this might be something to inquire about if his stomach doesn't clear up. Right now he is off his regular royal canin food and in the bland diet.

I was looking over the vet bill and noticed he was given another injection called dexamethasone, which I did a lil research on and said it can be used for inflammation of the bowels.

As for the dewormer I was given panacur, which seems to be a safe and popular medication for use with Gardia. I need to check back with the vet to see if this was suspected and the reason it was given, although I was not told :confused:

Sounds like your baby is improving now and that he is accepting the diet.
Perhaps the tbs pumpkin is too much so I would keep in the teaspoon range.
It seems ok to me if he is only pooping after meals, that is more normal.
It does take a little time for the GI system to heal, so don't panic just yet, he is doing fine. He is getting better and I would leave it for a couple of days before you get another check up with the vet. But of course you would see the vet sooner if your baby showed worse or new symptoms.
So cheer up and don't worry, he will be ok soon:)
Just saw about the Panacur for parasites. It might be a good idea to get a fecal sample to see if there are any parasites that need to be removed?

chester had this several years ago, the vet told me baby food make sure it has no onion, and some rice and chicken but that was after a couple of days. He also had to have fluid with an IV over several days as well, it will take a few days for him to be on the mend, hope the little on is better soon

Glad to hear you are on the recovery road.
Xoxo