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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Loose stools....

25 replies

mollymoocow · 14/01/2011 20:52

Can anyone offer some advice please? Have a 13 week old puppy who's stools have become very loose, some are more like liquid Blush.

Is this likely to be a result of something we are feeding him? Teething? Normal? or something we need to get checked out?

Need to add that they are not always like this...

Thanks

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brightlightsandpromises · 14/01/2011 22:08

have you changed his diet? What are you feeding him?

Feed him a bland diet for the next few days, chicken and rice for instance, then reintroduce his normal food.

If it continues he will need to see a vet

Original poster
mollymoocow · 15/01/2011 12:43

Same food he has been on since we brought him home, only difference is using cheese as a reward for training.

Would love to feed him chicken and rice but seen as I can't afford to buy meat to feed my family not really and option Blush

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BluddyMoFo · 15/01/2011 12:44

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BluddyMoFo · 15/01/2011 12:45

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Original poster
mollymoocow · 15/01/2011 12:46

Bakers dried food soaked with water or mixed with butchers puppy meat

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Original poster
mollymoocow · 15/01/2011 12:48

He was wormed when he came home. So about 6 weeks ago.

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BluddyMoFo · 15/01/2011 12:55

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BluddyMoFo · 15/01/2011 12:56

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CalamityKate · 15/01/2011 12:57

Bakers is the food of the devil. It's crap. It's like feeding your kids Skittles.

There are cheaper/just as cheap foods that are far better. You're better off with Chappie than Bakers.

BluddyMoFo · 15/01/2011 12:58

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CalamityKate · 15/01/2011 12:59

It might be the cheese. If he's eating/drinking OK and doesn't seem to feel poorly as such,maybe drop the cheese for a day or so and see if it improves. You really need to be thinking about taking him to the vet though, TBH.

CalamityKate · 15/01/2011 13:02

See, MoFo - you say that (about changing food/doing it gradually if you do change) and I always thought the same, but I've heard people in rescue make the point that they often don't have a clue what a new intake has been eating - it goes straight onto whatever they happen to have - and only rarely does a dog have any adverse reaction to suddenly switching diet.

I've often run out of dog food and had to run out for a bag of Chappie, and the only difference is that after about a day, their poos suddenly go paler. No difference in firmness/quality or anything though.

BluddyMoFo · 15/01/2011 13:03

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CalamityKate · 15/01/2011 13:15

When you think about it, dogs are pretty hardy beasts, stomach-wise. Being scavengers they can't afford to be anything BUT hardy really.

Any creature whose dream Come Dine With Me would involve a buffet of rabbit, horse and sheep poo, a dead bird and the remains of a 3 day old, discarded KFC, (ideally all vomited up and re-eaten so dog can enjoy it twice) can't really have that delicate a constitution Grin

aspergillus · 15/01/2011 13:51

my lab used to produce large amounts of loose poo when 12-16 wks, a nightmare to clean up on walks. Vet check OK, I stopped treats, changed feed, gave exactly the right amount for age/wt, didn't make any difference. Then I read on the Labrador Forum that it's best to only give 80% of amount manufacturers recommend, so I cut back and within a few days perfect poos once or twice a day. 5 weeks on he's still fine, and gaining weight.

HereBefore · 15/01/2011 14:15

I would say chicken and rice or fish and rice (needn't be too expensive if you buy frozen white fish, value chicken, it's only for a couple of days), some bio yoghurt, see if that firms things up, then start to slowly introduce a brand of food that you want to feed. At the end of the day if you can settle his tummy yourself it's cheaper than the vet. Obviously though if he doesn't get any better quickly then the vet will be required.

Also as a by the by better quality dog food often works out less expensive in the long run, you will need to feed less of a good brand of food than some of the cheaper brands, it's worth looking into.

daisydotandgertie · 15/01/2011 16:10

If your puppy is only 13 weeks old, it is as vulnerable as a baby to things like dehydration and infection.

Has he had any jabs? Has he met any other dogs or been anywhere where he could have picked up anything nasty?

How long has he had the very watery stools for? Is he still weeing? What volume of water is he drinking?

I agree that Bakers is awful food - and definitely not one I'd feed a poorly puppy. Can you feed just Butchers and some boiled rice for the short term? I would get him straight off Butchers. To continue while he's got the runs would be like taking a squitty toddler to McDonalds for lunch.

I'd be taking mine to the vet for a check up at that age if the runny poo went on for any more than 12 hours.

hephaestus · 15/01/2011 16:56

Ditch the Bakers and go for a hypoallergenic food, one that doesn't contain wheat (a very common allergen) and preferably not artificial colours, preservatives, maize, beet pulp, rice and so on either. Bakers contains additives that have been banned for decades in human food because they are carcinogenic. Hmm

Fish4Dogs is excellent, JWB, Skinners, Arden Grange good also. Ditch the wheat and I bet the poops will dry up within 24 hours.

Clunge · 15/01/2011 17:01

You said "Would love to feed him chicken and rice but seen as I can't afford to buy meat to feed my family not really and option"

If you can't afford to buy meat to feed the humans in your family then why the heck have you bought a dog?? Not very responsible IMO. How you going to afford vets bills etc ??

brightlightsandpromises · 15/01/2011 19:16

definately ditch the bakers, james well beloved hypoallergenic, its probably about the same price as bakers complete shite.

yes you absolutely should be worming monthly up til six months.

if dog still has the shits on monday, then its the vets for him! in im really sorry to say this, if you cant afford to take him, you shouldnt have him.

tuggy · 15/01/2011 21:22

Agree with Clunge... :( very sad situation...

As someone whos 8 week puppy is currently on a rice and chicken diet for same reason, It breaks my heart there's a pup out there who need this and isn't getting it :(

We took her to the vet and they said go on the diet and gave her some meds to keep her nutrients up. total price £22

IMO devastatingly irresponsible to have a puppy unless of course some huge change in circs in the last few weeks in which case I apologise for jumping to conclusions.

Please please find the money for pet insurance or it will end in tears. Jabs, check-ups, runny poo meds... it will all add up and if you don't pay it you are giving that poor dependant pup a bad lot in life. Not that pet insurance even covers those things, but if it breaks a bone or anything it will cover that.

Original poster
mollymoocow · 17/01/2011 08:28

clunge got the dog before my husband lost his job and not getting rid of the puppy because things are bad for a while!! Sorry if the current economic climate means I am not throwing my puppy into a pound but doing the best for him - don't be so bloody insensitive and judgemental!!!!!

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Original poster
mollymoocow · 17/01/2011 08:31

We do have pet insurance, I will find the money to take him to the vets. Until now was totally unaware that Bakers was not a good brand (seen as I am not a mind reader / pyschic) and will of course change his diet accordingly.

Came on here for advice not judgement so don't call me irresponsible. Wanted to make sure I wasn't wasting the vets time with something simple I could rectify at home Angry

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wildfig · 17/01/2011 10:03

Sainsburys do a bag of mixed frozen white fish fillets for £3; I feed that and value white rice to my dog whenever his colitis flares up. I'd also lay off the cheese in case that's triggering something? And make sure no one's slipping him extra 'treats' Wink.

Rather than feed Bakers (which is like dog Wotsits), have a look at some of the working dog food brands, like Skinners, for when he's a bit older. They're VAT free, so cheaper, and you can buy big bags from internet suppliers like Berrywoods/Petplanet/Petmeds, etc. The lower protein formula actually suits my dogs better than more expensive brands.

Original poster
mollymoocow · 17/01/2011 11:10

Thanks wildfig will look into those brands and grab some fish for him. Smile

I took him to the vets this morning and she gave him a full examination. There is nothing physically wrong with him and apparently it is not unusual for puppies of his age to get a touch of diahorrea (sp) as they are investigating everything.

She gave me a probiotic for him and said the best thing to do is carry on with his normal food until it calms down but cut out treats. Then when he is settled slowly change his food to a better brand.

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