diarrhoea (since last night)

[Elibean]

...first time in the 2 weeks we've had him, our pup pooed in his crate. Runny, so obviously couldn't help it

I hoped it was a one-off, result of foraging for something disgusting (sticks, leaves, fluff...he's a lab-x after all!) or maybe a reaction to finally having switched his food from Science Plan to Royal Canin - though I've been doing it slowly, yesterday was the first day of not mixing them.

Anyway, I fed him normally - and he seemed fine today, enjoyed walks, demanded his supper as usual. Then runny poo on his last stroll, and then a heap of diarrhoea on the floor this evening....what should I do?

Rice? Chicken/rice? Nothing? Vet in morning? He seems his normal self, if a bit more soppy/floppy tonight. Cool wet nose. Am more panicked for him than I am when kids are ill - I'm far more used to sick kids!

[Elibean]

got vet appointment - woken by major howls at midnight and 3am for desperate trips to the garden. Most impressed that he didn't poo in his crate again, all things considered, poor lad.

Boiled chicken and rice in teeny quantities this morning, poo soon after but slightly less runny....got vet appointment for later, as not sure how to tell if he's dehydrated. Any tips? It seemed his skin/fur was not flopping back as fast as it should when I 'pinched' some, iyswim....but not sure if same checks apply for dogs as do for kids??

[daisydotandgertie]

The same checks do apply. Pinch the scruff and see how quickly it falls back.

How old is he? Sounds as though he's young?

Do you have any dioralyte? Failing that put a bit of honey in his water to encourge him to drink.

[Elibean]

Thanks

Scruff a bit slower to fall than usual, definitely. BUT he has been happily eating/drinking bits of boiled chicken and rice in lots of rice-y water, and I've just seen him wee - and no more poo since eating. Paws crossed thats it...

[Elibean]

Sorry - he's about 5.5 or 6 months, Daisy.

[daisydotandgertie]

Hope so! As long as liquid is going in and coming back out again it should be OK. Vets have always advised me to starve for 24 hrs, but I've never done it. It might be an idea to add a bit of probiotic yogurt to his feed for a week or so to help sort him out a bit.

Keep a close eye - he's only a baby and they can go up and down very quickly indeed!

It might well be the Royal Canin - you've obviously decided to switch to it but it does contain quite a few common allergens which could be the cause of the problem. What made you decide to feed it?

[Elibean]

Royal Canin....no strong need to feed it to him, just that I read (here) that it was good quality, and he does need quality as he was undernourished on arrival. His foster carer said he had a strong tummy, never upset, and could switch easily - we started him on Science Plan (puppy food) from the local pet shop, but it cost a fortune. Also heard it was imported from USA, and France seemed a bit less carbon-footprinty

I do have a big bag of RC puppy food from Pet Planet, but obviously wo'nt use it if its the culprit. He is a forager, being lab-like and underfed, so it could be something disgusting he ate whilst out - not sure how to check the RC? Would you risk it, or switch backc to SP (he was fine on that, but also fine on RC mixed with SP - if a little farty).

[Elibean]

ps no poos since 9am - 3 small chicken/rice/water meals, and 2 pee events

I'm rubbish at starving kids or dogs

[LemonPeel]

i would starve for 24 hrs. then chicken and rice only for couple of days.

[LemonPeel]

I know it is hard to starve a dog. It's the eyes!!!!

But it is the quickest way to rid of diarrhoea.

[daisydotandgertie]

Which was he most farty on?!

[daisydotandgertie]

And I so know what revolting thing labs can find to eat. Our 2 youngest (1yr & nearly 6 months) found something v grim and between them last week and made quite a lot of clearing up.

[Elibean]

glad you said not envy, was momentarily baffled there!

I think more farty on Royal Canin, tbh....

...dd just came home with two new toys for the patient. The giant bumblebee one makes loud farty noises, so Mouse is now undercover....

[Elibean]

Lemon, I know

And the shadow following me around the kitchen, and the desperate licking at the empty foodbowl! Although tbh the only reason I tried him on chicken/rice so soon was that he wouldn't drink water - I thought maybe he would lap his way through starchy rice water to get to the teeny bits of chicken, and he did.

I checked with the vet nurse too, she was quite shruggy (in a nice way) about it - didn't sound too worried, and we cancelled the appointment as he was now drinking/eating. Still no more diarrhoea, so am hopeful.

[daisydotandgertie]

Sounds as though all is well.

And that he ate something vile.

If I were you, I'd continue with the new food just because I had a sack of it and it's pricey. If the same thing happens again - you have your answer.

And although I am probably irritating - I wouldn't buy another sack of RC. The ingredients aren't top quality but the price certainly is. I'd buy either Burns or Fish4Dogs (mine are on the fishy one) - there are others, but these are the only 2 I've fed and am happy with.

Fingers crossed there's no more of the poo! And that the patient appreciates his new toys.

[Elibean]

Thanks, not irritating at all - needed tips for food, but have posted so many ??s recently I was holding back!

Will look for Burns or Fish4. I did get the Fish4 treats, but dd1 started whispering 'mummy you STINK' when out on walks....think I might avoid those in future...

[Elibean]

ps just ventured out on walk, he seemed normal, played with a Vizler, ate some chicken and rice on return, and is now asleep. No poos of any description

Thank you so much for paw holding through my first episode of doggy PFBness!

[gothicangel]

aww bless, hope he gets better and has no more runny poo, xx

x