Recurring loose stool for 1 month in 15wk pup?

[plato23]

I've had my male pup for 4 weeks now, since 11 weeks old. From the day we brought him home, 90% of the time the last part of his eliminations are loose. The first two weeks I thought nothing of it, I figured he could have been adjusting and was stressed, etc. I've looked at the stool and never see anything odd in it. He had a vet visit last week cause one morning he woke up and would not eat, and he was given 5 500mg pills of Flagyl that I am now finished with. I actually only was able to give him 3 of them, the other 2 were spit back out and dissolved in the process(hes VERY stubborn, hehe). I couldn't get more of the pills because the weekend came and the vet I take him to wasn't open. I was told he just had a GI tract problem and was very gassy, and you could hear his stomach gurgling. After the pills his eliminations and normal schedule pertaining to when he would go to the bathroom is no longer predictable and he sometimes wakes up in the morning and doesn't have to do anything but urinate. He also has goopy eyes which I was given a gel type medication for and it seems to be clearing up, I am unsure if this is related to his problem at all. No stool sample was examined by the way...
He has a vet visit again tomorrow, with me I am bringing a stool sample, but I was just looking for some possible opinions on the matter. I feed 1.5cups of Innova Large Breed Puppy Food/1.5cups of Innova Evo/1 Heaping teaspoon of Nutro Adult wet food all mixed together with a little warm water, 3x daily. Any ideas on Plato's problem?

[BostonRott]

When you bring in the stool sample, ask them to specifically run the snap test for coccidia and also a test for giardia. These are two common parasites that could easily cause the symptoms you describe, yet are NOT checked for in a regular fecal exam. If you don't ask for them, they will not be run.

[SadiesDad]

You might ask your vet the next time if they have Flagyl in liquid form. Sadie takes it without a hitch. They said it's flavored. Anyhow, I put her on Eukanuba Low Residue Veterinary Diet for Puppies. She's been firm and regular for 9 days now and goes in for her checkup tomorrow.

Good luck.

[frontierrots]

Originally Posted by plato23

I feed 1.5cups of Innova Large Breed Puppy Food/1.5cups of Innova Evo/1 Heaping teaspoon of Nutro Adult wet food all mixed together with a little warm water, 3x daily. Any ideas on Plato's problem?

Are you really saying he eats 3 cups dry and a spoon of canned THREE times a day???? that's nine cups + canned a day!

THAT would be my first guess of what's wrong if so that's way toooo much food. My Anne is 5 1/2 months and almost 60lbs and eats a TOTAL per day (split into 3 meals) of 2 1/2 cups dry (EVO and Healthwise puppy combined) and 12 oz raw Bravo. That's the equiviant of 4 cups food a day total not nine

[groupieindenial]

Also, why so many different foods when your having gastro upsets?? Stick to one food for a bit, no treats, no extras and see how he fares. Stick with the Innova Puppy food you got for a bit, 1 cup 3x/day.That gives you just over 1000 calories/day, just about right for a pup his age.

[plato23]

Its been a few days since I saw the vet. What he recommended was a bland diet(boiled chicken and rice, but slowly weaning him back to dog food) and 250mg Flagyl every 12 hours for 7 days. It has been about 3 days and no improvement whatsoever. It seems I will try to eliminate one of the two dog foods I use and try feeding him strictly Evo. Thanks for all your help.

PS- Stool sample tested neg for everything, including coccidia/giardia

[frontierrots]

How much of the bland diet are you feeding? If you're still feeding the same quantity as above that could be it
I would also try feeding- way less mind you- of Healthwise puppy; like 1 1/2 cups 3X a day for a daily total of 4- 4.5 cups a DAY. It's made by the same people but pups seem to handle it better. If not then I'd feed Innova puppy or Innova adult and not Large breed. Straight EVO is not recommended for pups unless you've tons of experience raising large breeds and keeping them lean

I'd guess since you said he was eating nine cups of food a day total that you don't.

[plato23]

The 9 cups a day total was instructions from the breeder, it wasn't something I devised on my own. What I plan on trying since you said straight Evo isnt good as a puppy(breeder recommendations is straight Evo for life after 7 months), is finishing out the 7 days with 50% chicken/rice 50% large breed puppy, and dropping it down to 25% chicken/ride and 75% dog food to wean him back. I only wanted to eliminate 1 of the 2 foods to rule out one of them being the culprit, I just chose randomly. The vet told me to go to 2 meals a day on Tuesday, and I did, so hes now at 2 meals a day. Hes 31 lbs as of Tuesday and will be 16 weeks on Monday, the vet said he is definitely big enough to move to 2 meals a day.

He also wasn't EATING the entire 9 cups a day. The past 2 weeks he had been probably eating 5 total a day, he never really chowed down on all 3 meals...I was just following instructions of the breeder on his meal schedule. With the tests coming back negative, it has to be one of the foods. I don't have a problem switching foods per say, I just want a good quality food in comparison to what hes being fed now, Innova, which everyone raves about. Any more comments/suggestions greatly appreciated, thanks for all the help so far everyone.

[frontierrots]

I never said EVO was not good for pups I said it had to be fed by a very experienced person who could keep the pup lean and closely monitor growth rates. I meant EVO was not good for pups when fed alone by pet owners

I feed pups EVO mixed with Healthwise chicken puppy. Healthwise is a very high quality food as well. It has fewer ingredients than either Innova and Evo. NONE of my adult Rotts tolerateregular Innova at all, they get cowpie stool. But they can eat EVO or EVO mixed with Healthwise adultchicken just fine

5 cups a day is still waay too much for your pup also

When feeding a pup start with a low figure. For a pup your's size start with 1 cup 3X a day (he can be fed 3X a day still plus I would since he's been sick). Weigh him at the start and evaluate his weight. can you see a distinct waist? If you lay your hand on his back can you feel his spine without trying? If he's eating or biting his tail can you see or almost see his last rib? If yes to all 3 he's at perfect VISUAL weight (as in he'll gain weekly but should maintain that look) If he's heavier than the description weight loss won't hurt, if thinner he needs to gain


Anyhow take your starting weight and fed him 1 cup 3 times a day. Watch his stools and after 1 week evaluate. Did he gain 3-5lbs? Did he lose or did he stay the same? Does he look thinner or the same? By the end of this first week his stool should be firmer if not yet totally solid. He should VISUALLY look the same. If he lost weight or stayed the same or looks thinner up the food to 1 1/2 cup am & pm and 1 cup noon. If he gained 3-5lbs but looks the same stick with that

Pups are pretty easy to calcuate food. Providing they are tolerating the food well. (MANY pups do not tolerate regular Innova or Wellness at all and a few don't do well with Canidae. These foods are what are called "kitchen sink" foods because they have los of ingredients from a wide range of foods and this causes upset in many- but not all- dogs and pups.) If they maintain a good looking weight (as I described above) and have solid stool the amount is right. If they get sloppy poo and/or lose a little of the proper weight look then too much food. Ribs showingand not enough food.

[warrior1]

My boy is 1week older than yours. I have been feeding him evo mixed with solid gold (trying to ween him on to just evo, which is what my senior rott eats) Never had a problem with loose stool until he he was strictly on the evo. I think it may be too rich for some puppies. So now I am back to mixing. I don't want to completly take the evo away. His coat is beautiful and there is a huge difference in his skin since he has been eating evo. By the way, he only gets between 3 cups of food total a day. 9 cups is extremely too much. Someone gave you some off information about the amount of food to feed. Good luck!!

[groupieindenial]

My pup is about the same age 14 weeks and she eats 1.5 cups per day and is 27lbs.. Nine cups (or even five cups for tha matter) is like eating all that you can eat at a Thanksgiving day dinner. THe pup is crapping out what it is not being digested, thats why he's got the runs. Your pup should still be hungry after he's been fed, thats how you keep him lean.

You got too many things on the go. Are you still feeding the kibble with the bland diet? Not so bland if your feeding kibble as well.

JMO, I wouldn't listen to ANYTHING your breeder has to say about anything from now on in. 9 cups, thats 4500 calories per day!! You try eating that, thats 3x recommended amount for an adult HUMAN to consume daily.

[plato23]

Yeah I guess I have been feeding him a hell of a lot. I didn't knwo any better. I'm gonna finish out the 7 days with the chicken/rice, I have only been mixing kibble in it to be able to wean him back to dry food easier. Once the 7 days is up, I think I am going to try 1 cup evo/1 cup solid gold, with some wet food for taste...pretty much what you guys recommended. This 2x a day for 4 cups total should be good, if the stool problems persist I can lower it even more. But from the way it sounds, even before the bland diet, and even now with the bland diet, I am feeding him ALOT of food. I guess you live and you learn, sucks though, hes probably miserable :( Thanks for all your help, and once again all suggestions are GREATLY appreciated.

[groupieindenial]

LEave the wet food out. Those foods are very palatable, no need to give him the option to be fussy. If you mix in wet with kibble, he'll wise up and refuse kibble, and the next thing you know you'll be back on her asking "why won't my puppy eat his kibble?".

[frontierrots]

Because he's had diarrhea so long I'd really feed him just 3 cups a day (1/2 cup EVO, 1 cup other per meal) to start and watch his VISUAL weight like a hawk. You want his stools to get solid before you up the amount (unless he gets really thin ie: you start to see his rib cage) After a week he should have solid stool and you can try going to 4 cups

Solid Gold is not a great food though. The company gets in trouble all the time for not having IN the bag what's ON the bag. It's why we stopped selling it. Plus boarding dogs lost weight like crazy on it unless fed crazy amounts (we were using the regular Solid Gold in the Gold bag)