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Author Topic:   Diarrhea
dogangel
Member

Posts: 132
From:Brewton, AL, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-15-2003 05:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dogangel     Edit/Delete Message
Guys, I need advise.

My recently rescued German Shepherd pup is still having diarrhea. he has had it for 3 weeks now and I don't know what to do anymore. He has been on antibiotics for 5 weeks to fix all of the big problems he has come with. My vet says the diarrhea is food related, but I really don't think so. He does not have a temperature, and is very happy and energetic and playful otherwise, but because of this, he does not gain as much weight as I would like him to.
Is it possible that this is due to the massive amounts of antibiotics? I wouldn't stop his treatment now, he is down to only 14 more days... Any other way i can deal with it???

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Shade
Member

Posts: 32
From:Juneau, AK USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-15-2003 08:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shade     Edit/Delete Message
Dogangel, I don't want to give actual medical advice wrt the antibiotics issue, because I am not a vet. But I can telll you what I've given every single cat or dog I've ever been with that has had the runs, and it helps nourish them: Cook some plain white rice, and buy a few jars of any meat only HUMAN baby food. Mix the "turkey" "Lamb" or whatever into the cooked rice. Feed it to your doggie. It really helps, and even the most ill animal will eat it.

You should really call the vet up about the antibiotics though. I know from human experience that a long term dosing of antibiotics can cause the runs in us! It kills off the bad germs, yes, but it tends to kill off the "good" germs too!

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jeminn
Member

Posts: 166
From:Colorado, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 09-15-2003 08:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jeminn     Edit/Delete Message
Just out of curiosity, what dog food have you been feeding your shepherd? Make sure he is drinking plenty of water so he doesn't get dehydrated. I am also curious -what kind of "big problems" did your dog have when you adopted him? How old is he? Do you feel your vet has done everything he or she can do to help you figure out why your dog has had the runs for so long? I would be concerned and would want to get to the bottom of it asap.

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dogangel
Member

Posts: 132
From:Brewton, AL, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-15-2003 08:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dogangel     Edit/Delete Message
He is on Science Diet..... and very many treats. He does have plenty of fresh water. (with ice, because this is the way the others like it - I wonder, could this be a cause?)
We adopted him 6 weeks ago when he was 7 months. He had - and you won't believe this -demodectic mange, skin infection (bacterial), skin fungi, he had tape worms, and he had been severely malnourished - at 6 months he weighed 25 pounds!!!! He now weighs 74!!! But he is still skinny.
My vet said that the diarrhea is due to the change in diet (yeah, right, he got that right!!!). I don't believe he wouldn't have adjusted to his food after 6 weeks. I also don't think that this adjustment would have caused such an extended outbreak (3 weeks). As Shade said, even we, humans experience something similar if we take too many antibiotics... So I do not know what to think. I may check into this with another vet, but meanwhile, I want to give him something that will ease his tummy - I'm sure he hurts...

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Shade
Member

Posts: 32
From:Juneau, AK USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-15-2003 09:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shade     Edit/Delete Message
Poor little sweetie! Yeah, I'd get a second opinion, if you can!

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Shade
Member

Posts: 32
From:Juneau, AK USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-15-2003 09:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shade     Edit/Delete Message
Er, also? My dog, Samson, LOVES ice cubes! As you may well by now know, I am a newbie for dog-belonging-to.

I don't even remember how I discovered that Sammy loves ice cubes, but I did contact the humane society vet about it! I asked if it was ok that he loved ice cubes. She said YES! That it was in fact a treat the vet staff recommended.

I guess it's a good thing that we're in Alaska...

She said it wouldn't at all hurt his teeth.

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Shade
Member

Posts: 32
From:Juneau, AK USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-15-2003 09:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shade     Edit/Delete Message
OH! And also? Make some chicken or beef broth, and pour it in an ice cube tray and make doggie popsicles! It will help hydrate your sweetie.

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Jamiya
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Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-16-2003 06:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jamiya     Edit/Delete Message
For humans, something with acidophilus in it helps to repopulate the "good" bacteria after a course of antibiotics. I would ask you vet before feeding it to your dog, though.

You might want to try a different vet for another opinion.

The rice and babyfood thing was good advice.


Jamiya

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Shade
Member

Posts: 32
From:Juneau, AK USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-16-2003 06:45 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shade     Edit/Delete Message
Thanks Jamiya. I thought about mentioning the acidopholis. My mother thinks I'm the best doctor there is ever since I recommended it to her! HA! I'm not a doctor! I just play one on the internet.

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Jamiya
Member

Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-16-2003 07:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jamiya     Edit/Delete Message
My son got ear infections a lot when he was a baby. Acidophilus saved our carpets from leaky diapers.


Jamiya

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dogangel
Member

Posts: 132
From:Brewton, AL, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-16-2003 04:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dogangel     Edit/Delete Message
So you have an idea of what I'm talking about,

Here is Willie when he was rescued:
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20039167363425194683600.jpg

... and here is my Willie now (in the back, the black and tan one, the black one is Taz):
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/20039161976456928903125.jpg

Thank you for all the good advises. I'll take them. And I will definitely check with another vet.

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jeminn
Member

Posts: 166
From:Colorado, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 09-16-2003 08:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jeminn     Edit/Delete Message
WOW, what a difference you have made in this sweet dog. He is beautiful! I am so happy he found a good home. I think that whatever you are doing you are on the right track, and that he will probably continue to improve once he is off the anitbiotics and as long as he has a clean bill of health from all the problems he was treated for. Just look how far he has come in good hands! As long as he looks and acts healthy, is eating and drinking, I might just keep an eye on his stools, and get another opinion after you are done with the antibiotics if you still see trouble. There is a good chance this could all be related to the antibiotics and stress the dog is under trying to recover, still fight infection, let alone grow. However, I am not a vet, and you have to do what you are comfortable with, and that could be getting another opinion. There could be some ongoing issues with some of his health history that may not get completely cleared up either, so you would not want this to continue for too much longer without another opinion. Did your vet say if this was a normal reaction for what he has been through and the drug treatment he is on? I would think they could confirm this over the phone. If they are vague about it and really think it is food related, I think I would get another opinion just for peace of mind. Finding the right vet is important to the overall health of your dog and your peace of mind. Don't settle for anything less. Good luck- (my Aussie LOVES icecubes, too)

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