Holly

Posting it here in case some of you miss it in the Pets section, and for those interested/concerned about her diarrhoea. Mods may move if they think it appropriate.

Tonight in puppy workshop she did a very bad runny poo. I was mortified, so C the trainer held on to her while I cleaned up the floor (with the help of another owner who had wet wipes, but I grabbed the disinfectant I knew was in a drawer).

I asked him what time they closed so went outside and got us booked in. I still had to wait till long after workshop finished but never mind.

The female vet M examined her and said no sign of any organ problems, went away and weighed her (still under 2kg), and has prescribed a worming paste, a probiotic paste, and special food. The probiotic went on her food, which she wolfed down, and I administered the wormer afterwards. No problems.

If she is no better after a week then M suggested getting a poo sample to send off for testing. She didn't think she had a urine infection, even though I told her she had been weeing and drinking a lot all day.

I decided not to wait till the morning when she is at the expensive vet for her vaccination. I paid £67.17 for tonight. I realise that having a pet will be an ongoing expense.

Re: Holly

Thanks for moving it. I was a long way into composing the post and realised it should be here.

Re: Holly

Jazzi my boy has always had a sensitive tummy and would have runny poo regularly as a puppy (not so fun to clean up with a long-haired!). I got concerned when he had blood in his poo and the vet gave him "pro-kolin" which I've used ever since as it settles everything (along with a bland diet of chicken and rice for a few days).

I think with him it was partly down to his excitable and nervous disposition. He had been quite traumatised early on and had some behavioural issues and a lot of anxiety (thankfully now he is calm and happy unless there is a squirrel or fox or unknown cat around!). As he has grown up it hardly ever happens now.

I think the puppy food is a bit rich for some dogs. I feed him a combination of IAMs and butchers simply gentle. It seems to work well with his tummy.

Did the vet try pro-kolin? What are you feeding Holly?

Re: Holly

Jazzi, out of interest, did the foster chap have problems with her having runny poo as well? Did you ask him?
It would be interesting to know.

I am glad tonight's vet confirmed what some of us advised in the first place about the proper probiotics instead of yoghurt, and also the wormer. If you remember we also advised a poo sample analysis too. So maybe now, these things, along with a change of diet will improve her tummy, as she can't be growing and gaining weight carrying on like this.

Just had a thought, you have said about using disinfectants, lavender sprays, and anti-chew sprays, as well as Bonjela in her mouth. I wonder if all the chemicals are upsetting her. I would certainly knock off the lavender and the Bonjela, and make sure the disinfectant is for use around pets too. Does she really need anti-chew sprays so young?
It may be nothing to do with these whatsoever, but I still wouldn't use them on a puppy myself.

I would personally be wary about vaccinating her while she is unwell. Wait another week and see how she is. It should still be alright 2 - 4 weeks between jabs, it hasn't got to be dead on 2 weeks between at all.
The last thing she wants if she is off colour, is a load more 'germs' injected in to her. Most vets won't do it if a dog is poorly anyway. In fact, the vaccine alone upsets some pups. I had one pup who it made so very ill, he never had the second one! Same happened to a friend's pup, it nearly died and she could have no more either.

When you said you weigh out her 100 grms of food each day, do you then split that daily amount up into 4 tiny feeds?

I was trying to understand the other day what you meant about covering everywhere with lino, and her having a dirt box? Has she no access to the garden?
We need to take puppies outside immediately they wake up, and straight after feeding, that's when they are certain to need a wee, plus every couple of hours as well. Go out with her so you can praise her as soon as she goes.
If she doesn't go out in the garden, she has no choice but to mess indoors, it's not her fault.

I can't suggest anything else to help I'm afraid, other than perhaps treat yourself to a really good puppy book that covers diet/house training/ socialising etc et .
If the probiotics and wormer don't do the trick, it will be very interesting to get the results of that poo sample to see if she has Giardia as has also been suggested, but I really hope not.

Dog food can be a minefield. I buy nothing without reading the labels and ingredients/ protein and so on first.

I have always used foods with 'human grade' ingredients and 'muscle meat' , and never animal derivatives or 'meat meal.'
No 'artificial colourings' either.

I hope things work our for both of you real soon, as I am sure you will both be much happier then. Good luck.

Re: Holly

That's ashame Jazzi, I don't know anything about Dogs so couldn't give you any advised, but as Mups says all these things you are giving her might be upsetting her stomach. Hope it gets sorted out soon.

Re: Holly

At the risk of repeating myself, Mups, she cannot go out into the garden!! I have explained constantly, we are in communal gardens, we have foxes running about and she is only having her second injection this morning.

She is not over exposed to chemicals, simply because I am not using them. I didn't buy the bonjela, and she hasn't had the lavender spray since going off to foster care. I haven't used the anti chew spray for awhile, and all I use is the disinfectant on the tray (and then the pad goes on top), and on the lino in the run and lino outside if she has pood.

I am in the bathroom so don't know what food she is on, only know it is prescription for improving stools and easing sensitive tummies.

I don't want to appear rude, and please forgive me, but I have explained our set up here so many times I am fed up of repeating it!! I KNOW she needs a garden, but I simply can't take her outside just yet, and am prepared for that. That's why I am stockpiling newspapers and pads.

And before you all jump down my throat saying it will take longer for her to get house trained, I know that also.

I know you all mean well, but please remember I have commented on all this several times.

Yes, I did ask the foster carer about her poo, it was one of the first things I warned him about in the beginning. He said it was normal then runny towards the end. However, when I got back her bed and bedding, the bedding was badly soiled, which he reckons he missed! I had to stand in my bathroom using wet wipes to remove excess poo, run the shower over it in the bath till it was almost gone, then put it in the w/m.

Re: Holly

I have also read so many books and online about training, socialisation etc.

Re: Holly

Sounds like you are both suffering the effects at the moment Jan and it must be quite miserable for you, so I certainly hope things improve soon. It has to be in the diet I would think, she certainly has an aversion to something that she's eating and, as others have said, maybe try her on a gentle food such as some boiled chicken and plain white rice for a while to try and stabilise her.

Both of our dogs had tummy problems for a couple of weeks initially so we experimented with different foods, and as soon as they were put on Collards puppy kibble from our local Kennelgate store they were as right as rain and are to this day, but it's just luck and trial and error I guess.

Best wishes to you both for a quick turnaround...

Re: Holly

Phoned the KC as all registrations are in the sex of bitch and had to phone the breeder to get them to do the change. The KC said the breeder phoned up two days after registration to make a change.

His response? 'They've done the wrong one.'

My thought to that? It seems nothing is ever his fault. Because how come they had to sort out her microchip registration also, which had NOT been done.

So I've left it in their hands. It means I will also have to pay, probably, to return this HUGE 5 Gen cert, along with the normal reg cert, for the change. I said it must invalidate her insurance but I seem to have some free weeks with PetID so suppose all is not lost.

Vet confirmed I do have a bitch.

It also means there is another pup somewhere with wrong details and paperwork. I also wonder if I have her correct registration number and name?! Oooer.

Re: Holly

Jazzi can I make a suggestion that can't do any harm to try ?

By now I've had three dogs started out like your holly many vet trips much money spent, at 8 months old our late Mollie was so bad they suggested putting her down. But one small change was all was needed. A gluten free diet.

There are loads of gluten free foods out there it's just my opinion but it can't hurt trying that just to see if it helps.

If you do it took about three days to see a difference as there tummies were so sore it took that long to recover enough to form a solid poop.

If it is that you can save hundreds of pounds in tests.

What ever you decide I'm on your side I know how hard it is being given conflicting advise and mine is only anecdotal so I'd understand if you ignored it.