Puppy - persistent diarrhoea

[LorelaiVictoriaGilmore]

Dpup is a springer spaniel. 5 months old. She has pretty much had diarrhoea constantly since we got her when she was 8 weeks old. Within two weeks she was diagnosed with campylobacter which was treated with antibiotics. But she has had recurrent diarrhoea ever since - more diarrhoea than not. We’ve done two rounds of fecal tests and blood tests - vet says that pretty much nothing has showed up other than maybe bacterial overgrowth. So the plan is to put her on two weeks of antibiotics and to change up her food.

Changing her food has me totally confused. Vet suggested either a single source of protein diet but it has to be a source of protein she has never had before... only thing that I think she has never had is white fish so that’s very limited. She has had practically everything because she is a very fussy eater and both her breeder and then me were trying to find food she would eat! Or a hypoallergenic diet - vet has suggested dechra specific but I am totally confused about whether that would be the digestive support or allergy variety or does it make any difference? Meanwhile our very experienced gun-dog trainer has suggested a raw diet. I’m wondering if I could somehow do raw + single source of protein? And what do I do for treats then? I really don’t fancy trying to do training without treats!! She will currently only do anything for chicken pate - turns her nose up at anything else.

Photo added for cuteness and any advice very gratefully received!

Having had (way too many!) puppies, it can take several months for them to have consistently firm poos. Keep it bland, lots of good quality dry food. If she tends to bolt her food, spreading it over a big area will slow her down - by this I mean chucking it all over the garden/patio rather than putting in a bowl, looks messy but it does work!).

Well, her diarrhoea was really bad on Sunday - we took her to the beach for the first time and that was very exciting! And I suppose it also can be bad when we go to puppy training. But then, it can be just as bad at other times when we are chilling at home or on her usual walk... 🤷🏻‍♀️ People out and about often comment on how calm she is... or is that just something people say? Who knows!

Well, her diarrhoea was really bad on Sunday - we took her to the beach for the first time and that was very exciting! And I suppose it also can be bad when we go to puppy training. But then, it can be just as bad at other times when we are chilling at home or on her usual walk... 🤷🏻‍♀️ People out and about often comment on how calm she is... or is that just something people say? Who knows!
I think it’s important to rule out things like infections, worms, IBD, allergies etc.

But I would be open to the possibility this may be stress related..
I would try and look at ways to bring the excitement/stress levels down a tad.
Maybe try a calming supplement, reduce high adrenaline games like fetch, try to stick to quieter, ‘more sniffy’ walks, try and train lie down on the bed instead of a mad dash when the doorbell rings, that sort of thing.

@LorelaiVictoriaGilmore

How do you test for IBD?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease for our cocker was finally diagnosed with samples from an endoscopy at 18 months of age after months and months of diarrhoea flare ups, sometimes with vomiting.

We could have gone down the elimination diet but instead we went for steroid injections when he has a flare up and apart from recently due to medication he has been well and not needing treatment.

But there are lots of other things that can cause diarrhoea but we tried everything and had lots of less invasive investigations before we got to this.

This is going to sound incredibly counter-intuitive - but I have been doing this / advising people about it for years after someone else told me about it decades ago, and in many circumstances it works. Greek yoghurt! It needs to be the real Greek yoghurt, not "Greek yoghurt type". Many dogs will happily eat it, but if yours doesn't, a large bore syringe will deliver it directly into the mouth. About a tablespoon full, 4 times a day. I have found that it works miracles clearing up the runs. My dogs have mostly loved it with some kipper or mackerel. A couple would loiter to see if they could get yoghurt for no other reason than they liked it.

Try lamb based food. I use Naturediet lamb these days, but in his younger day, would cook my dog lamb from the butcher at great expense.
Also use protexin fibre or an equivalent in his food.

I’ve gone through all the food she’s had since she was a puppy and she hasn’t had lamb so I am going to look for a single source of protein lamb-based dog food - maybe raw if I can find it. I’m worried that the exotic meat might be a bit too rich for her.

We’ll try to keep things really calm for her too - maybe not next week but once the kids are back to school!

Thanks so much for all the advice. I’m going to go through all the different brands recommended again until I find something!

Akela do a kangeroo wet food, as do Simpsons, I think. Keep on mind, if you change her food to a novel protein you also have to change her treats to within the same constraints. JR Pet products do dried kangeroo sticks that can be broken up - so that helps. Kangeroo is not very rich, fairly low fat.

Another alternative would be horse (Fresco do horse meat and treats) - though many people don't feel right about feeding horse so I can understand if this is not for you. However, it's a healthy meat high in Omega 3 and dogs tend to love it.

Millies do a pork based wet food and not every dog has had pork because it tends not to feature in dog food so often.

Just while we're on the subject - how bloody annoying is it that (some) dog food manufacturers advertise their foods as being a 'novel protein source' but when you look at the ingredients it's half novel protein and half chicken!

Looking at you, Billy & Margot - though you're not the only one...

Arden grange fish for sensitive tummy's.

Also make sure she is on a strong worming course. My mums spaniel had to be worked weekly as per the vet and it sorted the problem

So many that I have looked at have chicken as an ingredient! Found a lamb one now though and have just ordered lamb pate from JR pet products. 🤞🤞🤞