Diarhea, Help! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

myteddybear · 10-26-2006, 07:09 AM

Hi,

I wonder if you could help me figure out what is going on with my 4 month old Yorkie puppy?

I changed his food going on probably 2 weeks ago from Eukanuba to Natuaral Ballance Premium. I did mix them in the begining for about the first 4-6 days but when things seemed to be absolutely normal with him I went ahead and stoped the Eukanuba all together. Now I am feeding only the Natural Ballance dry and mix in just enough Natuarl Balance canned to slightly coat the dry. I do this so he'll eat the food at one sitting rather than leaving it down all down for him to graze on. I do this twice a day. Three if he seems to be hungry but that is rare.

The second part of the feeding issue...when I started the change over with the food I also added Missing Link. Starting with about a 1/4 tsp and working up to about 1/2 tsp. (Probably too much?)

Every thing seemed to be fine until this past Friday, about one week into the changes. His stools started to soften and on Saturday he diarhea with mucus and blood. I was scared at that point and immediatly called my vet. They were closing within minutes of my call so since he was acting just fine in every other area I decided to just watch him for changes and not take him to emergency unless things changed. Monday morning I took a stool sample to my vet and they said there was nothing in it to be concerned about and that I should stop the Missinf link, maybe he wasn't tolerating it. I had stopped it on Saturday thinking that could be it.

So, he hasn't had the missing link since Saturday but here it is Thursday and he still has diarhea (no blood since Saturday. Last night he had it so bad that it was even in his bed and all over his hiney even though he can get out of his bed and use his pee pad when he need to. It was in the pee pad and his bed and himself. Still everything else about him seems normal. he's bright and playful and doesn't seem sick at all. The only thing I notice is that he didn't gain but one ounce this week.

Could he still have diarhea 5 days after stopping what caused it or could he be having a problem with the food itself? Natural Balance I do believe is an all natural food and should not have things in it which cause allergys. I don't want to change the food yet as I'm affraid it will cause his belly more trouble.

I really want to get this under controle before it becomes a real problem. Would you change his food? Is it possible he could actually tolerate the cheaper food with the bad crap in it and actually be allergic to something in the better food???????

Please, please help!

Kim and Teddy

ARCHIE · 10-26-2006, 07:22 AM

That's a long time to have diahrea. Have you had a stool sample done for parasites? If not have one done. Buddy had gone through the same thing for 2 months. He lost 2lbs. Doc kept saying it was the food so I changed vets.
The new vet said nothing was in his stool however he wormed him anyhow.

There are times they do not show up and can be a male parasite. They do not lay eggs so there are no eggs to see in stool sample. It worked. After two months of looses stools it was normal in less than 48 hrs. Buddy is on
Natural Balance also since this happeded. He is thriving on it. I add some boiled white meat chicken to his two feedings a day. Take him off all dog food and give him only chicken (boil chicken breast) and rice. If this does not
harden his stools after two days contact your vet regarding parasites. If it does work add back food slowly. It it happens again might be the food.
Good luck. Carol & Buddy

vheskett · 10-26-2006, 05:19 PM

i hope this helps;
why don't you feed your dog a natural balance allergy formula like venison and brown rice. i have 2 dogs on this and do the same with mixing small amount 1 tablespoon of wet n.b. venison and brown rice and they kill it. twice a day feeding 1/4 cup of the dry mixed with 1 tablespoon of wet. jack has severe colitis to the point that we had him allergy tested. he was allergic to: soy, oatmeal, barley, peas, duck, chicken,pork, dairy and eggs. we also give them 1/2
tablet of ester-c from fosters in the a.m. and 1/2 tagament with smidge of organic peanut butter to settle sour stomach issues and possible pancreatic problems that these breeds are associated with (yorkie and min. schnauzer).
the only treats they get are the n.b. dry lamb roll chips and pro-plan beef and
rice biscuits. they are so healthy, energetic beautiful dogs. jack is 13 lbs and lola is 16 lbs. the only time i have diarrhea, mucous, problems are when i give them a different treat that i think is a healthy one. good luck, let me know if this helps

peanut · 10-26-2006, 05:30 PM

try to give him some pepto...My dogs went through the same thing about 2 weeks ago...there is a virus going around here for dogs, and its not the dog flu virus is just
diahrea, some blood and mucus, it starts out brownish then its yellowgreen color...I took everyone of mine to the vet and no parasites he said its something going around...oh by the way all of my acted normal, ate, was drinking water and playing as normal...good luck hope this helps, it last about 4 to5 days...

Buffalogirl · 10-26-2006, 05:37 PM

Oh boy, have I been there. Freyja had diarrhea for 5 days after I gave her some baby prunes because she was constipated (ha ha). She is just starting to get back to normal. She is on ground hamburger and rice and it seems to settle her tummy. She's been constipated for 3 days but we didn't do anything and then finally today she had a tiny little poop. We have to bring a stool sample in for coccidia or she might need a special diet.
Yes, they can act perfectly normal while doing the most ghastly messes. If the dog is still perky, his eyes bright and the gums pink then he should be OK. But definitely find out what is going on so you can fix it.
Patti & Freyja

Gracie2006 · 10-26-2006, 07:12 PM

I'm dealing with something similar with Gracie. Her symptoms started about 10 days after she finished her first puppy class. Two puppies there had coccidia (sp?). They were good at isolating the sick pups during class, but it was a free for all out in the potty grass. Gracie will have diarrhea one day, then really soft stools for a day, then regular, then back to diarrhea again. This has been going on all this week. Her appetitie is fine and she plays like always. I stopped giving Gracie anything but one kind of food, no treats, nada. I switched her food about 2 weeks ago from Royal Canin to Nutro Ultra. She sees the vet on Saturday for shots and I will take in a stool sample then. One of the gals at class said that coccidia can be hard to diagnose, as it can be hard to see the eggs under the microscope. I suggest several repeats on the stool sample. Coccidia is easily treated once diagnosed. Whether coccidia or something else, remember that the stool sample if not refrigerated cannot be less than two hours old. In the fridge it can be held up to 12 hours.

yorkieK9trainer · 10-26-2006, 11:34 PM

I'd call your vet again and ask if he thinks METRONIDAZOLE is something that would do your kid a world of good. It sounds to me like the natural bacteria levels in his digestive tract are just out of wack and he's having a hard time recovering.
Yogurt is always a good additive in cases like this since dogs really can't produce lactose it should bind him up a little while also contributing good bacteria to his intestines.
Otherwise Metro. has ALWAYS cleared up my kids w/ just one dose, two at most.

The key thing at this point is to make sure he's not dehydrated! If he won't drink water, you can try giving him Unflavored Pedialite or maybe make him up some broth w/ bullion (sp?) cubes.

Good luck.
Doesn't sound like anything too major though. If it gets worse, then of course take him in!

myteddybear · 10-27-2006, 11:54 AM

Thanks everyone for all the great advise.

I started him on boiled chicken and rice yesterday and no treats. Same thing happening though still, I guess it takes some time. He has already been treated for coccidia (?SP) because my vet found it on his very first visit after I picked him up from the breeder. So when he started with these problems it was the first thing she looked for.

Here's something you all have taught me today (I learn something new from you all every day!) Nobody ever told me about the stool sample having to be less than 2 hours old or refrigerated. Although sealed in a plastic bag the one I took her was many more than 2 hours old and not refrigerated.

I have the meds still here from when he was treated for the coccidia the first time and wondered if I should go ahead and start him on it again? He was rechecked and none found and his poo was fine after up until the food changes.

Something else I learned from you all...When I made his chicken and rice I added a few shakes of garlic powder (to several days worth of food) We used to be taught that (in Florida) garlic was good to feed your dogs to keep the fleas and mosquitos away. I guess I gotta go make a new batch of chicken and rice now! LOL

O.k. last thing...

I was reading one of the other threads about the apple cider vinegar and bought some yesterday at my local health food store. I would love to start using it but Teddy doesn't need anything other upset to his tummy right now so I should probably wait until this is all cleared up...yes?

Kim and Teddy

peanut · 10-27-2006, 11:56 AM

Hope he starts feeling better....

Gracie2006 · 10-28-2006, 04:53 PM

How is your baby feeling? Gracie saw the vet today, nothing showed up in the fecal test. Gracie is teething and the vet said that could cause diarrhea. So, Gracie is on a bland diet for 5 days (LF Turkey, chicken, rice, eggs, cottage cheese). If she is still having problems, I am to call and the vet will give her some meds.

10-26-2006, 07:09 AM	#1
myteddybear Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cambridgeshire, England Posts: 1,208	Diarhea, Help! Hi, I wonder if you could help me figure out what is going on with my 4 month old Yorkie puppy? I changed his food going on probably 2 weeks ago from Eukanuba to Natuaral Ballance Premium. I did mix them in the begining for about the first 4-6 days but when things seemed to be absolutely normal with him I went ahead and stoped the Eukanuba all together. Now I am feeding only the Natural Ballance dry and mix in just enough Natuarl Balance canned to slightly coat the dry. I do this so he'll eat the food at one sitting rather than leaving it down all down for him to graze on. I do this twice a day. Three if he seems to be hungry but that is rare. The second part of the feeding issue...when I started the change over with the food I also added Missing Link. Starting with about a 1/4 tsp and working up to about 1/2 tsp. (Probably too much?) Every thing seemed to be fine until this past Friday, about one week into the changes. His stools started to soften and on Saturday he diarhea with mucus and blood. I was scared at that point and immediatly called my vet. They were closing within minutes of my call so since he was acting just fine in every other area I decided to just watch him for changes and not take him to emergency unless things changed. Monday morning I took a stool sample to my vet and they said there was nothing in it to be concerned about and that I should stop the Missinf link, maybe he wasn't tolerating it. I had stopped it on Saturday thinking that could be it. So, he hasn't had the missing link since Saturday but here it is Thursday and he still has diarhea (no blood since Saturday. Last night he had it so bad that it was even in his bed and all over his hiney even though he can get out of his bed and use his pee pad when he need to. It was in the pee pad and his bed and himself. Still everything else about him seems normal. he's bright and playful and doesn't seem sick at all. The only thing I notice is that he didn't gain but one ounce this week. Could he still have diarhea 5 days after stopping what caused it or could he be having a problem with the food itself? Natural Balance I do believe is an all natural food and should not have things in it which cause allergys. I don't want to change the food yet as I'm affraid it will cause his belly more trouble. I really want to get this under controle before it becomes a real problem. Would you change his food? Is it possible he could actually tolerate the cheaper food with the bad crap in it and actually be allergic to something in the better food??????? Please, please help! Kim and Teddy

10-26-2006, 05:19 PM	#3
vheskett Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: birmingham,al Posts: 12	diarrhea i hope this helps; why don't you feed your dog a natural balance allergy formula like venison and brown rice. i have 2 dogs on this and do the same with mixing small amount 1 tablespoon of wet n.b. venison and brown rice and they kill it. twice a day feeding 1/4 cup of the dry mixed with 1 tablespoon of wet. jack has severe colitis to the point that we had him allergy tested. he was allergic to: soy, oatmeal, barley, peas, duck, chicken,pork, dairy and eggs. we also give them 1/2 tablet of ester-c from fosters in the a.m. and 1/2 tagament with smidge of organic peanut butter to settle sour stomach issues and possible pancreatic problems that these breeds are associated with (yorkie and min. schnauzer). the only treats they get are the n.b. dry lamb roll chips and pro-plan beef and rice biscuits. they are so healthy, energetic beautiful dogs. jack is 13 lbs and lola is 16 lbs. the only time i have diarrhea, mucous, problems are when i give them a different treat that i think is a healthy one. good luck, let me know if this helps

10-26-2006, 05:30 PM	#4
peanut Dogs Rule Cats Drool! Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,895	try to give him some pepto...My dogs went through the same thing about 2 weeks ago...there is a virus going around here for dogs, and its not the dog flu virus is just diahrea, some blood and mucus, it starts out brownish then its yellowgreen color...I took everyone of mine to the vet and no parasites he said its something going around...oh by the way all of my acted normal, ate, was drinking water and playing as normal...good luck hope this helps, it last about 4 to5 days... __________________ KIM

10-26-2006, 05:37 PM	#5
Buffalogirl Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 62	Diarrhea Oh boy, have I been there. Freyja had diarrhea for 5 days after I gave her some baby prunes because she was constipated (ha ha). She is just starting to get back to normal. She is on ground hamburger and rice and it seems to settle her tummy. She's been constipated for 3 days but we didn't do anything and then finally today she had a tiny little poop. We have to bring a stool sample in for coccidia or she might need a special diet. Yes, they can act perfectly normal while doing the most ghastly messes. If the dog is still perky, his eyes bright and the gums pink then he should be OK. But definitely find out what is going on so you can fix it. Patti & Freyja

10-26-2006, 07:12 PM	#6
Gracie2006 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sequim, Wa Posts: 4,541	I'm dealing with something similar with Gracie. Her symptoms started about 10 days after she finished her first puppy class. Two puppies there had coccidia (sp?). They were good at isolating the sick pups during class, but it was a free for all out in the potty grass. Gracie will have diarrhea one day, then really soft stools for a day, then regular, then back to diarrhea again. This has been going on all this week. Her appetitie is fine and she plays like always. I stopped giving Gracie anything but one kind of food, no treats, nada. I switched her food about 2 weeks ago from Royal Canin to Nutro Ultra. She sees the vet on Saturday for shots and I will take in a stool sample then. One of the gals at class said that coccidia can be hard to diagnose, as it can be hard to see the eggs under the microscope. I suggest several repeats on the stool sample. Coccidia is easily treated once diagnosed. Whether coccidia or something else, remember that the stool sample if not refrigerated cannot be less than two hours old. In the fridge it can be held up to 12 hours. __________________ Gracie loves Bailey. Holly loves Tucker. Proud member of the YT Gracie Girls.

10-26-2006, 07:22 AM	#2
ARCHIE No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 16,218	That's a long time to have diahrea. Have you had a stool sample done for parasites? If not have one done. Buddy had gone through the same thing for 2 months. He lost 2lbs. Doc kept saying it was the food so I changed vets. The new vet said nothing was in his stool however he wormed him anyhow. There are times they do not show up and can be a male parasite. They do not lay eggs so there are no eggs to see in stool sample. It worked. After two months of looses stools it was normal in less than 48 hrs. Buddy is on Natural Balance also since this happeded. He is thriving on it. I add some boiled white meat chicken to his two feedings a day. Take him off all dog food and give him only chicken (boil chicken breast) and rice. If this does not harden his stools after two days contact your vet regarding parasites. If it does work add back food slowly. It it happens again might be the food. Good luck. Carol & Buddy

10-26-2006, 11:34 PM	#7
yorkieK9trainer YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North eastern Illinois Suburbs Posts: 1,669	Ask For Metronidazole- I'd call your vet again and ask if he thinks METRONIDAZOLE is something that would do your kid a world of good. It sounds to me like the natural bacteria levels in his digestive tract are just out of wack and he's having a hard time recovering. Yogurt is always a good additive in cases like this since dogs really can't produce lactose it should bind him up a little while also contributing good bacteria to his intestines. Otherwise Metro. has ALWAYS cleared up my kids w/ just one dose, two at most. The key thing at this point is to make sure he's not dehydrated! If he won't drink water, you can try giving him Unflavored Pedialite or maybe make him up some broth w/ bullion (sp?) cubes. Good luck. Doesn't sound like anything too major though. If it gets worse, then of course take him in! __________________ "Big things come in small packages" http://www.myspace.com/yorkiek9trainer

10-27-2006, 11:54 AM	#8
myteddybear Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cambridgeshire, England Posts: 1,208	Thanks everyone for all the great advise. I started him on boiled chicken and rice yesterday and no treats. Same thing happening though still, I guess it takes some time. He has already been treated for coccidia (?SP) because my vet found it on his very first visit after I picked him up from the breeder. So when he started with these problems it was the first thing she looked for. Here's something you all have taught me today (I learn something new from you all every day!) Nobody ever told me about the stool sample having to be less than 2 hours old or refrigerated. Although sealed in a plastic bag the one I took her was many more than 2 hours old and not refrigerated. I have the meds still here from when he was treated for the coccidia the first time and wondered if I should go ahead and start him on it again? He was rechecked and none found and his poo was fine after up until the food changes. Something else I learned from you all...When I made his chicken and rice I added a few shakes of garlic powder (to several days worth of food) We used to be taught that (in Florida) garlic was good to feed your dogs to keep the fleas and mosquitos away. I guess I gotta go make a new batch of chicken and rice now! LOL O.k. last thing... I was reading one of the other threads about the apple cider vinegar and bought some yesterday at my local health food store. I would love to start using it but Teddy doesn't need anything other upset to his tummy right now so I should probably wait until this is all cleared up...yes? Kim and Teddy

10-27-2006, 11:56 AM	#9
peanut Dogs Rule Cats Drool! Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,895	Hope he starts feeling better.... __________________ KIM

10-28-2006, 04:53 PM	#10
Gracie2006 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sequim, Wa Posts: 4,541	How is your baby feeling? Gracie saw the vet today, nothing showed up in the fecal test. Gracie is teething and the vet said that could cause diarrhea. So, Gracie is on a bland diet for 5 days (LF Turkey, chicken, rice, eggs, cottage cheese). If she is still having problems, I am to call and the vet will give her some meds. __________________ Gracie loves Bailey. Holly loves Tucker. Proud member of the YT Gracie Girls.