Diarrhea again, what do you do?

[sweetlee]

I have cleared up Dodge's really soft stools with a food switch. He has been doing great. Last night my other half left the gate open and the dog disappeared. I was PANICKED like never before and Thank God he came home 40 minutes later, I am pretty sure he was off chasing deer. Don't worry, I am sure after my fit and the tears of the grandkids, the kids and myself that gate will NEVER be left open again. This morning Dodge had runny poo before breakfast, after breakfast, and then I left to take the grandkids somewhere he locked himself in the bathroom and had it again. What a mess. The vet isn't open until Monday, I don't consider this an emergency as he is acting OK, he ate OK and is alert and all. I am sure he ate something nasty while he was out, probably deer poop since it is everywhere and I always have to tell him to leave it when we are walking and he wants to sniff it. I will ask the vet Monday if he needs a course of flagyl since deer carry giardia, but for the next 36 hours, what to do? I read to take their food for 24 hours, but I hate to do that, poor guy. Should I fix him some rice and chicken broth for dinner? Pumpkin? Or should I just make him go without? I am so mad at the hubby I could choke him. I don't even leave Dodge outside alone in the fenced yard. He left the gate opened and went to get something from the car and the dog was gone. GRRRRRR.
Any ideas to get these poops to stop are much appreciated.

Thanks,

Sharon

[brunie's mom]

I've been boarding dogs for many years and have finally figured out the best thing for diarrhea dogs.
No food for 24 hours....it gives the gut a chance to heal and rest...just water. No cookies, no chewies...nothing.
After 24 hours...I give a cup or two of well cooked white rice. If everything is going well, and there are no more signs of diarrhea...then for the next meal..it's the white rice and some cooked chicken breast. Usually 3 to 1 rice and chicken.
If by the next meal everything is good...then I start slowly phasing in their kibble...add about 1/2 cup to the rice and chicken mix...and by the next meal...all kibble.

You can give him Pepto Bismal (use the caplets) or Immodium...so the dog can make it through the night without having an accident.

Canned pumpkin is good, and I've used it also...but it can also loosen things up in some dogs.

I'm sure you are right, he probably ate some dead thing or some animal turds...and now he's paying for it.

Gina

[trish603a]

yes, zoey just went through a bout of diarrhea as well...not fun. we didn't take her off food. we just pulled her kibble. she had it ALL night!! i made sure she had plenty of water. the afternoon after she started, i cooked 1/2 cup white rice. gave her that and it stopped the diarrhea. then that night i gave her a cup of white rice and a cup of boiled hamburger mixed together. she was fine with that. so the next morning i gave her 1/2 cup white rice with some kibble mixed in. she was fine. then i went back to straight kibble. i tried the pumpkin, all it did was make orange diarrhea.

[sloesgirl]

Bruiser got into something as well. I of course rushed him to the Vet. She told us to give him boiled chicken and rice for a few days. It cleared him right up!!

[sweetlee]

Dodge was doing better, but now is on a fast again until tonight. He was doing well, but someone left butter on the counter again yesterday and he ate almost a whole stick paper and all. YUCK. I caught him up on the counter, and he swallowed the whole thing as he was trying to "get down" without me seeing him. Last night was not fun, he barfed up paper and had to go out and poo twice.
So tonight we are back to the rice, and will take it from there. He keeps getting into stuff I just as well buy him chopsticks cuz he is gonna get not much else. LOL.
Thanks for the help, so even though we are starting over again, your methods seem to work.
Nothing worse than dog squirts.

Sharon

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by sweetlee

Dodge was doing better, but now is on a fast again until tonight. He was doing well, but someone left butter on the counter again yesterday and he ate almost a whole stick paper and all. YUCK. I caught him up on the counter, and he swallowed the whole thing as he was trying to "get down" without me seeing him. Last night was not fun, he barfed up paper and had to go out and poo twice.
So tonight we are back to the rice, and will take it from there. He keeps getting into stuff I just as well buy him chopsticks cuz he is gonna get not much else. LOL.
Thanks for the help, so even though we are starting over again, your methods seem to work.
Nothing worse than dog squirts.

Sharon

Sounds like you and your family need some more training.
Clean off the counters....leave nothing on them that he may be tempted to sniff, or think he may eat. Everytime he get's to eat something off of the counter....the more set in his ways he is getting I suggest if you want to leave something out...you put it in the stove or breadbox,etc.
My China was a rescue when she came as a foster....and then later adopted by us....she was just awful for counter surfing or plate surfing. If I got up from the dinner table to get myself a drink or some salt or something....my dinner was eaten up while my back was turned.

Best is not to leave anything out. If you want to teach him not to go near anything start working on the "leave it" command. Put a leash on him, and drop some "goodie" near him...say "leave it" and pop with the leash....reward him for leaving it. You can do the same with the counter...leave something close to the edge of the counter while he has the leash on....let him get a whiff of it, and then give the "leave it" command...pop, and praise. Repeat many times...and soon he will ignore.

I would be very worried about pancreatitis after a dog consumes so much butter. Fast him, give him water...and slowly start giving him some rice in 24 hours. Are you sure there is not more going on with him healthwise? Does he have worms or some parasite? Seems that if he's not got diarrhea, his stools are soft also?

Gina

[sweetlee]

I know someone does need more training, and it isn't the dog. The son's girlfriend left the butter on the counter to get soft, she was going to make garlic bread. She got the whatfor from me.
Yes Dodge usually has soft stools. He has been to the vet and was checked for giardia, heartworm and any parasites, two days after I brought him home, (six weeks ago) all came out negative but the vet had us worm him with some REALLY expensive wormer Dontril I think, once right away and then another dose two weeks later, and we also did a course of flagyl. I had put him on Nutro sensitive stomach formula and it helped a little from when I got him, but still were soft. I switched him over to Diamond Lamb and Rice and he was doing well with it, until the recent episodes. I know Diamond is usually not the best feed, but the Naturals line Lamb and rice is decent, I read labels and use the grade your food system.
The vet told me he probably has IBS and tried to get me to put him on Science Diet z/d I think it was. I read the label in the office and no way am I feeding my dog anything that's first ingredient is ground corn. I have ordered some dogzymes probiotic powder, it should be here tomorrow, hopefully that will help. I know I have to give this new food a chance and then maybe will just have to keep trying until I get one that settles well with him. He does know "leave it". I can put a piece of cheese or something REALLy tasty in front of him and he does leave it. The counter thing is harder, because I can leave steak or whatever on the counter to bait him and if I am in the room he won't think about it. I put things in the oven or microwave during our dinner so he can't get to them if we leave the room. I have bawled everyone out for leaving stuff in his reach. I hope it does not happen again, or heads are gonna roll. He has fasted for 24 and will be getting rice for dinner tonight and then we will work back up to food. I agree it's not his fault, and he has been checked out, so it well may be IBS, I am doing what I can to straighten him out, it's just taking more time than I had hoped and these little setbacks aren't helping.
Thanks for all your advice, I really AM a good mom and want what is best for Dodge.

sharon

[GypsysMom]

Oh the counter surfer, I have one of those, Gypsy can eat and eat, I have to put all food away or she will take it, a few weeks ago I was starving so I had left over pizza, I was CRAVING that pizza, I had a small slice and went to get more and it was gone Gypsy sitting there looking all sweet hah.. she had the evidence on her face.. If something is left on the counter and I realize it and she is near me I tell her to leave it and she will but if I dont use the command or walk away for an extended time she will get it, as far as the diahreea when my dogs got it I would do what others have said, with hold food for 24hours and the only time it didnt clear up was when Gypsy had a parasite

[brunie's mom]

I just want to add.....if the dog is under 8 months of age, or so...I usually only fast the dog for 12 hours. Young pup's need more nutrition than an almost adult dog. Most older dogs, older then 8 months of age....have no problem not eating for 24 hours, especially if their tummies are upset.

So, young puppies 12 hours, and then start the rice and proceed....anything over 8 months can hold off for 24 hours, and then start the rice. This is if you know what the dog has gotten into, eg. garbage, counter surfing,etc. If in doubt take to the vet.

Gina

[Steelerfan]

This is why we always have minute rice in the pantry and ground turkey in the freezer.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by Steelerfan

This is why we always have minute rice in the pantry and ground turkey in the freezer.

I don't like Minute Rice, because it already is processed. I cook up a batch of regular white rice (long grain), and then freeze one cup portions.

Gina

[fbkeays]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

You can give him Pepto Bismal (use the caplets) or Immodium...so the dog can make it through the night without having an accident.

Public service warning!!!
Do not give pepto or immodium to any of the collie herding breeds. This is any breed with collie in the name and also aussies. There is a gene, MDRI??? gene that if it is mutant, giving certain meds like immodium can cause brain damage if not kill the dog. Pepto used to be safe, but they have changed their formula and it is no longer safe to give to these breeds. Many vets are not even aware of this. There is a DNA test to check the status of this gene fortunately.