Repeated bacterial GI infections

[Gina]

Hi all!  Well, yes, I still have my sweet little Zoey, our now 6 plus month old mini doodle...and she is just sweet as can be.  The issue at hand is that she has had repeated GI infections since we got her.  Every time we treat her...she improves in the way of her diarrhea, etc, but at the end of every antibiotic treatment, she develops diarrhea again, she is taken back to the vet, and boom, another DIFFERENT bacterial infection.  She started with giardia, then had coccidia, and now we are just waiting to see what the latest is..she is going in on saturday.  Worst part is the poor thing is staying with my mother, god bless her, because I am now 6 months pregnant, and my dr suggested that I not be around her if possible.  After cleaning a messy cage more than once, I had to take his advice.  I was unable to let her out enough during the day, as I am gone working for ten plus hours, and the diarrhea wouldn't wait. Has ANYONE ever experienced this?  IS this common for dogs of any kind?  The giardia was definitely the hardest to get rid of, took about 4 rounds of antibiotics...but now, she is coming up with random infections I think because all of her normal flora in her intestine has been killed off with the constant antibiotics.  I am beside myself...and just don't know what to do at this point.  Yes, she has been on multiple probiotics, pumpkin, yogurt, you name it, we are trying it all.  Please lend some advice if anyone has any?  Thanks so much!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Is she regularly going somewhere where she would be exposed....e.g. a dog park? Also has your Vet offered any opinion on why she is so susceptible to these infections?

[Gina]

no, she is always in our yard, not exposed to anything/any other dogs. She is always on a leash....or in the house. And always has an eye on her...the vet says sometimes this happens in young puppies...and its not common, but they have seen it before. I have no idea what to make of that. They haven't been real informative.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Hi Gina, my two doods get bouts of diarrhea every so often. I think that they just get into stuff they should not get into. Sasha had giardia when I first got her but did not have diarrhea from it thou. I give them white rice with their kibble and it solves the problem almost immediately. My dogs are in my back yard only and only for walks around the neighborhood. I dont let them sniff or wander around ..... we basically walk in the street because I am so afraid they will pick up something. I have to constantly watch them in the back yard because they are ALWAYS eating something they should not be. Sasha just got over a bout of diarrhea just yesterday (very smelly and watery) I gave her white rice in her evening meal and this morning's bowel movement was fine. i have heard that feeding them a low ingredent dog food may help. Good luck... I know what you are going thru.

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

The diet certainly won't cure her bacteria insults to her GI track, but usually does help with her bowels in most cases. Sounds like you've tried that though. We just went through a bout of Giardia and when antibiotics were done we had one day of regular stool and she was back to diarrhea again. My breeder and my Vet both said to use Albon and a probiotic and they did help a lot. Plus the bland diet of rice and chicken.
You are right though in that she has had her immune system wiped out and this had made her more susceptible to every little germ that comes along. Is she licking her butt or touching her stool after she goes. She can be reinfesting herself too. I think acidophilous is helpful too but ask your vet. Wish I could help, but that's all I know.