Loose stools - I give up!!!!

[cally930]

I know that there is allergy testing for dogs - and I also know that it is very costly. No excuse - if it needs to be done - of course I will do it. This little guy gets stressed out very easily and I was trying to avoid any more.

I just traveled about 45 minutes to go to this one feed store that carries the premium dog foods. I live on Long Island mind you - the suburbs - but there isn't any place closer. Anyway, the store owner was very very helpful. He suggested I try this new dogfood on the market - its made by Dogswell - Nutrisca - the Lamb based one. Its protein level is 30%, its grain free and does not contain any chicken.

Has anyone ver heard of this?

He also recommended to add a teaspoon of diatemaceous earth to his food. If by any chance there are still parasites (giardia) present - this will naturally get rid of them.

Has anyone ever used this? And most important - had good results?

Thank you everyone for all your input. Always open to listen and learn from everyone's experiences.

Thank you again.

[ally173]

Originally Posted by cally930

Thank you for the feedback but I was avoiding the chicken only because when I gave him the bland diet of just boiled chicken rice and yogurt - he still had loose stools. I kind of figured he may be allergic to chicken.

try another bland diet for a week; ground turkey and oatmeal and also add probiotics to make his GI stronger and help fight the bad bacteria.

[yorkielady06]

Have you tried the probiotics longer term?
I know the natural balance duck and potatoe is awesome for dogs with allergies and it has a lower protein base. If you are to try a switch and wanted to avoid the prescription diet that is that way I would go. I will say that allergies to food is not as common as we think in dogs. Usually it is something else.
Did your vet treat with metro (flagyl) or panacur or both?
Have you tried adding fiber? Benefiber over the counter..even mix clear kind?
Pumpkin?
Portion control?
Are you feeding treats or human food at all?
Pigs ears are notorious for loose stools..
Also the antibiotics with probiotics long term?
My neighbor went through every food known to mankind (just about) and still loose stools after giardia was treated and negative ...with high bacterial counts in the beginning also. She figured it had to be food so she tried and tried and tried even the vets ZD (I think it is called). The poops were what I describe as going from soft serve icecream consistency to foamy and foul and back and forth. Yes I went over to look...lol
I had her start the probiotics, benefiber, keep him on the natural balance duck and potatoe, and no food treats at all not even a scrap. Then I had her add 2 tsp of yogurt twice a day to make him think he was getting a treat like everyone else. Of course portions were controlled. Withing 3 weeks his poops remained in the soft serve and never went back to foamy..then within I think 2-3 months his were firming up. They have never been "logs" like my kids are but his are at least something you can pick up with a paper towel
Now one of mine had looser poops and I tried this stuff and it worked like a charm. Then a few weeks later I noticed it again and again for couple of months on and off... Then I figured out she was my poop eater and she was sly about it, grabbing a poop, hiding behind the sofa for her snack.. that is a horse of a different color..still cant get her to stop it after pineapple, pumpkin, and Forbid...she has more will power than me I guess

[hugz4all4]

if i were in your shoes I would try the rx diet.. what could it hurt? It cant be good for the poor pup to be having runny stools so much. High protein diets can reak havioc on a sensitive stomach.. you need to looking for a food that is both low in protein and fat.

[cally930]

Thank you everyone for all of the great information. I had really reached the end of my rope - but I know to come on here and always get great help. I'll let you know what I tried and what worked. This has been going on way too long. I do think that it may be the high protein because looking back - Acana Grasslands has a lesser protein count than Orijen Red - and when I switched him to Orijen Red - bow it really got worse.

Thanks again for all your help - it is greatly - greatly appreciated.

[bellababy08]

You might wanna try sticking to just one dry food that you baby likes for a few weeks cause sometimes all that changing foods will make them loose...I've always been told to never change my dogs food and if I had to..to do it slowly cause it will up set there tummy.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Any reason why an rx diet isn't worth a try?
IMO, diet of vet's choice. If that doesn't work, then more intestinal blood testing and/or diagnostic imaging. If the stool is still loose after and no problem is detected, it would be time to talk about exploratory/biopsy. It's just not healthy long-term, and he is so young still.

There are a few things that could be tried (omegas assuming that there is inflammation present, probiotics if you are convinced that they work, etc.). But really, if dietary management isn't working, IMO he is too young to not find an answer (if possible). Has your vet tried Metro? Tylan?

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I agree with Crystal. Try the prescription food and see what happens. Depending on those results, you may have to go to exploratory. And then from there, you may need a canine nutritionist depending upon what's going on.

Poor baby. Marcel had giardia twice as a puppy and it was just horrible. I know what you're going thru with the constant loose stools.

Totally agree. I would go with the diet the vet recommended and see what happens.

[joann4515]

Sounds like Beckham has a sensitive stomach. I would definetly go with the prescription I/D from the vet it does wonders for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Both my dogs were on it. Good luck!!

[cally930]

Originally Posted by bellababy08

You might wanna try sticking to just one dry food that you baby likes for a few weeks cause sometimes all that changing foods will make them loose...I've always been told to never change my dogs food and if I had to..to do it slowly cause it will up set there tummy.

Oh no - I did. When we first got him we were on Holistic Health Extension for a couple of months. I then switched to Acana until we finished the bag and thought that it should be firmer. WhenI switched to the Orijen - well then it was diarreah. So he has only been ont he Orijen a couple of days - and this is the worst.

[cally930]

Originally Posted by joann4515

Sounds like Beckham has a sensitive stomach. I would definetly go with the prescription I/D from the vet it does wonders for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Both my dogs were on it. Good luck!!

I agree - he does have a sensitive stomach - and he stresses very easily too. He's very shy and afraid of people and other animals too. I don't know. I keep trying different things hoping that it would help.

I didn't look into the I/D but the other RX ones seemed to have a high protein content and wasn't happy with that. I'll look into that one.

Thanks.

[cally930]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Totally agree. I would go with the diet the vet recommended and see what happens.

I think I will definitely call the vet in the morning and see what he wants to put him on - this can't go on any longer.

Thank you.

[ladyjane]

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Chatugian]

This is awfully simple, but maybe worth trying: sprinkle a little grated cheddar cheese on his food. Cheese is a binder.

My male Kerry Blue Terrier tends to loose stools. I sprinkle a little cheese on most of his meals and it does help. Watch the results and increase until you've achieved the desired result. Don't feed too much at once at produce the opposite results!

[anniernc]

My older yorkie was on prescription food because she was having frequent episodes of pancreatitis. If I feed her something else or if she got into the other dogs food she would have foul smelling bloody diarrhea. I switched all my other dogs to Natural Balance sweet potato and venison or sweet potato and Bison and thought I'd try her on it too. She has been on it for about 6 months and has not had one single episode of diarrhea. I don't know if this will help but it was good for mine.

[bellababy08]

Originally Posted by cally930

Oh no - I did. When we first got him we were on Holistic Health Extension for a couple of months. I then switched to Acana until we finished the bag and thought that it should be firmer. WhenI switched to the Orijen - well then it was diarreah. So he has only been ont he Orijen a couple of days - and this is the worst.

Awww I know you must be stressed trying to figure it out...and you did say he stresses very easy...he might be picking up on your stress as well...that can cause them to be loose too...work with your vet try the food he suggested stay with it...I wouldn't give him anything else but that food...I wish I could offer better advice. Good luck...Please keep us updated