diarrhea - 3 dogs

[LJRphoto]

Hello Board Members, it's been a long time since I've been here.

We're having diarrhea issues at our house - really horrible ones. We took the dogs to the vet, took them off of food for 24 hours, fed rice and cottage cheese for several days and are giving Proviable. Just yesterday we started adding their kibble back in to the rice (California Natural, low fat, Chicken and Rice) - the diarrhea came right back. We're getting rid of the food and cleaning the container that we keep it in just in case we've got some kind of contamination that way. I need to get new food today and I'm not sure if I should change brands completely or just try a new bag of food. I did not keep the bag the food we have came in so I don't have a batch number - lesson learned on that one. So, any advice? Has anyone else had problems with CN recently?

Thanks,

Laura

[RuffMuttK9z]

Hey Laura, long time no see! Sorry to hear you're having trouble with diarrhea. That's NEVER fun!

When you said you took the dogs to the vet, was there any diagnosis and treatment prescribed?

[LJRphoto]

Hi Debbie!

The vet felt that because there was no fever and no other symptoms aside from the diarrhea that they had probably "gotten in to something" which is entirely possible although Pollock usually has an iron stomach - as a shameless scrounger she got into her share of ill advised snacks when we first got her without batting an eye. So, he prescribed 24 hours of fasting followed by a diet of rice and cottage cheese or boil meat and the Proviable and then adding their kibble back in slowly. We did all of that but as soon as we started adding the kibble back in the diahrrea came back. It's not as violent as it was, but still not solid like we'd like to see.

I hate having to switch dog foods again. I've been really happy with the California Naturals.

Laura

[jjean]

When did this start? How many days? If it has been longer than a week, I would call the vet back.
A long time ago, after boarding, one of my dogs got a virus and passed it to the other one. The diarrhea only lasted a few days for each dog.
My Cinna will eat dead things and assorted poop (rabbit, horse, etc). It use to not bother her but now that she a senior it can give her bad diarrhea that can last up to a week.

[LJRphoto]

Hi Jean...

Let's see... I think the diarrhea was first noted on the 27th, so a week ago today. The vet visit was on the 29th so the 24 hour fast started the 29th and the dog food was added back in yesterday, diarrhea again today.

[RuffMuttK9z]

Personally, I would be giving all three dogs a course of Flagyl (Metronidazole) for 10 days. I'm surprised your vet hasn't tried that yet since it's a persistent problem now. I will PM you, Laura.

[LJRphoto]

Would the diahrrea go away with the rice and cottage cheese diet if it's a flagellate problem? I'm certainly willing to try it.

[RuffMuttK9z]

If there's something bacterial going on (that's what it sounds like to me) then you'll need to give a course of antibiotics. I'm surprised your vet hasn't gone ahead and given them each a course since the diarrhea is persistent and fecal exams, I assume, are negative for parasites, giardia and coccidia.

[LJRphoto]

Thanks, Debbie.

I'll give the vet a call in the morning.

[CollieCallix]

I used pumpkin to treat diarrhea. It's effective for my dog. I've heard it from a friend of mine.