Need Your Help Please/Diarrhea!

[Judi W]

Yes, over-feeding can cause this. Also, there are several diseases that will not show up on the quick office test that could be plagueing this pup. You especially need to contact the breeder and see if the other pups have similar problems.

[TheMadHatter]

Originally Posted by RottiMomCT

A few more questions...

How much is he being fed total per day? To much food could be upsetting his stomach - the feeding guidelines for the food we feed state my dogs should be fed 4-4 1/2 cups per day - if I did that I've have FAT dogs - they get 2-2 1/2 cups per day and are at good weights, shiny coats, plenty of energy, and SMALL firm poops.

What are you cleaning the crate with? If using bleach or something not specifically made for removing feces and urine odors the dog can still smell the poop/pee and thinks it's OK to go in there. Simple Solution, Natures Miracle (there are others too but these two are the two I've used with success), available at PetCo, PetSmart, Pet Supplies Plus, are made for removing these stains & odors.

What are the dimensions of the crate? Possibility that he soils his crate because it is big enough for him to do that and then get out of the space where he's messed 0 potty at one end, sleep at the other. The crate should be big enough for him to enter, turn around and lay comfortably in.

If he's still got runny poops I would recommend the boiled rice and burger (or boneless chicken breast) diet for a few days to see if things 'firm up'. Also, you can feed canned pumkpin (NOT the pie filling with the spices!!) - a tablespoon or two per DAY to help firm things up.

Good ideas! Yes, on the Nutro bag it says for a 15 week old who weighs 20-30 pounds that 3 3/8 - 4 1/2 cups a day is the serving size. I am right at 4 cups a day. 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon (now 3pm). My fear was always underfeading him as I don't want him to feel abused/cheated by not getting enough to eat. I will definately cut down to what you are recommending. On the cleaning, I can attest that there is ZERO "stuff" left over after I clean. I use hot water and Palmolive dish soap with some vinegar. Again, I will pick up some of the Nature's Choice today to see if that helps. Ironically he NEVER urinates...just poop (which would lend some serious credence to the overfeeding point). On the crate it is HUGHE, but we have a divider in there and yes, there is only enough room to enter/turn around/lay down. I will make the change on the amount of food and see what the vet has to say this afternoon! Thanks!

Cheers,
Travis

[TheMadHatter]

..also...should I think about 3 really small meals, say, 6am, noon, 5pm or should I just stick with two 1-cup meal sizes(which would be 1/2 the recommended on the bag)? It looks like going with 3 could be even more beneficial and he won't be strung out for 12 or so hours

Cheers,
Travis

[moondog]

If going to 3 meals helps, by all means do that. As far as the crate being really clean, it may be clean to the eye, but his nose may tell a different story... After your Palmolive scrub, wipe it down with one of the products designed to remove residual odor.

[SonnyRott]

I would feed 3x per day for the next several weeks. A cup at each meal. It is not uncommon for a dog to have a nice firm stool followed by another smaller one that is less firm.

Also remember that a small squirt after a stool may be him expressing his anal glands. It looks like water squirting out. But yes, you very well could be feeding too much at one time.

Personally, I would feed as follows:

1 cup 6:00am
1 cup 12:00 am
1 cup 6:00 pm

Last time out at midnight and an alarm wake-up at 4:30 am. Gradually, the 4:30 am will be lengthened to 6:00 am, then longer as the puppy ages. Not every puppy is identical so we just have to adjust our schedules a bit until the pup is bigger.

Good Luck. Good to hear that the pup is capable of firm stools. Let us know what the new vet says.

[TheMadHatter]

Originally Posted by SonnyRott

I would feed 3x per day for the next several weeks. A cup at each meal. It is not uncommon for a dog to have a nice firm stool followed by another smaller one that is less firm.

Also remember that a small squirt after a stool may be him expressing his anal glands. It looks like water squirting out. But yes, you very well could be feeding too much at one time.

Personally, I would feed as follows:

1 cup 6:00am
1 cup 12:00 am
1 cup 6:00 pm

Last time out at midnight and an alarm wake-up at 4:30 am. Gradually, the 4:30 am will be lengthened to 6:00 am, then longer as the puppy ages. Not every puppy is identical so we just have to adjust our schedules a bit until the pup is bigger.

Good Luck. Good to hear that the pup is capable of firm stools. Let us know what the new vet says.

Awesome! Done! Thanks for the advice. My wife and I are going to go with 3 times a day 6/12/6...I hope the vet says overfeeding too...then we make the adjustments and we are ready to get back to normal! Thanks again...great advice!

Cheers,
Travis

[TheMadHatter]

Originally Posted by RottiMomCT

A few more questions...

How much is he being fed total per day? To much food could be upsetting his stomach - the feeding guidelines for the food we feed state my dogs should be fed 4-4 1/2 cups per day - if I did that I've have FAT dogs - they get 2-2 1/2 cups per day and are at good weights, shiny coats, plenty of energy, and SMALL firm poops.

What are you cleaning the crate with? If using bleach or something not specifically made for removing feces and urine odors the dog can still smell the poop/pee and thinks it's OK to go in there. Simple Solution, Natures Miracle (there are others too but these two are the two I've used with success), available at PetCo, PetSmart, Pet Supplies Plus, are made for removing these stains & odors.

What are the dimensions of the crate? Possibility that he soils his crate because it is big enough for him to do that and then get out of the space where he's messed 0 potty at one end, sleep at the other. The crate should be big enough for him to enter, turn around and lay comfortably in.

If he's still got runny poops I would recommend the boiled rice and burger (or boneless chicken breast) diet for a few days to see if things 'firm up'. Also, you can feed canned pumkpin (NOT the pie filling with the spices!!) - a tablespoon or two per DAY to help firm things up.

I just wanted to award RottiMomCT with the title of "Suuuuuper Geeeeeeenious!" Why? Becasue I feel like I have just won the PowerBall...so I talk with the new vet this weekend and what is the first question he asks me? "How much are you feeding him?" I told him that at 6am about 2 1/2 cups and then at 6pm another 2 1/2 cups like the bag says...he just looked at me...you know, with that look you give your kids when they say something like, "I did do my homework...but I lost it." He then went on to plagiarize RottiMomCT's post by telling me to cut down (by half) what it says on the bag's recommended feeding amount. I was in stiches I was laughing so hard. His final point was a pretty funny one too...he asked me why I thought dog food makers put large amounts for feedings on the bags...at which point the light went on (not being a marketing guy I was in the dark so to speak until his comment ).

So, what were the results of the change in amount/number of feedings? We started Saturday morning with 2/3 of a cup in the morning (6am), then 2/3 of a cup at noon, and finally 2/3 of a cup at 6pm...with the final walk around 11pm-midnight. To put is bluntly, his stool is rock hard now and he has not gone in his crate since...and he is sleeping to about 5am before stirring...thanks again to everyone for helping and it was over-feeding (a quick sidebar was the reaction of the first vet who I saw today who dismissed over-feeding when I explained to him what fixed the problem...last time we go see that guy!) Again, thank you Rottweiler Gurus!!! (I am doing that I'm-Not-Worthy thing right now )

Cheers,
Travis