4 month old puppy with diarrhea

[Lisa Marin]

I have been so frustrated with my pup....he is 16 weeks old and has has diarrhea since we got him. The only time his stools are firm is when he is on metronidizole. He has has a couple of fecals and they have all come back negative with some bad bacteria overgrowth. I have changed his food to acana and added yogurt to his diet . I am worried that he has something more serious. Has anyone had this problem??

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I think its pretty common in puppies. Doodles often do have sensitive tummies too. Stick to one food for a while, at least a month, give him time to get used to it. make sure the yogurt you give him has the good bacteria. Better yet, buy some enzymes from the pet store.

[Bonnie and Kona]

We have many discussions regarding puppies and diarrhea in the puppy group. Try looking up discussions in that group and I am sure you will find help. Best of luck to you and your dear boy.

[Pauline Rackley]

Fecals don't always show coccidia or giardia (protozoan parasites) Albon is the treatment for these, may be worth a try. Ask your vet.

[Jen & Ember]

Yes, this had been an on/off issue with Ember. It seemed to help when the vet put her on a 7 day series of antibiotics (Primor, if I remember correctly). That seemed to kick it for her. I also checked with the breeder to see if she had any thoughts or if she knew of any other puppies from the litter dealing with the same thing, and she had been in touch with one family who was experiencing something similar. It was good to try to team up to tackle the problem.

Then, after she seemed to be more regular after the Primor series, I made sure there was no alterations to any of her diet (same food, same treats, all the time) for about a month. After that amount of time, it really seemed like the food she had been eating was making her gassy and maybe just not the best match for her, so I switched her to a new food. She's been doing awesome since. I do remind myself that it is pretty common in puppies for soft stool to happen time to time. I add pumpkin to her food now and then.

I understand how frustrating it is dealing with this! I kept thinking it must be something that I was doing wrong, etc etc. But you're just helping to find a solution. Keep at it! 

[Lisa Marin]

I will mention the primor to the vet on Monday. I know that the metronidazole works....it seems to be the only thing that firms up his stools... I just worry that he is dependent on the antibiotic.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I think that others have had issues with diarrhea from the YOGURT--too much dairy! i know my dogs have. You can get fortiflora from the vet--it is a powder that restores the bacterial balance in the gut. I also LOVE to give my dogs pure pumpkin (from a can) and the vets recommend it too--it will firm up the stool just like that.

[Becka]

I swear by pumpkin to keep Sadie's poops perfect. She loves it, too.

[Jen & Ember]

Becka - do you feed it at every meal? Or just as needed? 

[Becka]

Just as needed, when her poops are too soft or too hard. I try to always keep a couple cans in the house.  She also likes it mixed with (nonfat plain) yogurt.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I do hope your puppy can conquer this and be comfortable. Poor thing.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

As others have mentioned, pumpkin worked for Knox! I gave him a tablespoon of it every day! Good luck!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

We use pumpkin for the least little bit of softness in our doodles. I swear by it as well and have at least a dozen cans on hand during this time of year as it disappears after dec. I give it at both feelings , and a heaping tablespoon. I have never heard of a problem with too much pumpkin and my two have never had a problem. I swear by Albon too as it seemed to do permanently what the Flagyl could not. It might be same as the primor, don't know. I usually have to ask for it from the vet as its not the first thing they use. Now I know better and don't go straight to the Flagyl. BTW did you know u could ask fora prescription and get it cheaper at your own drug store? Good luck.