Sick Labradoodle

[Alex]

All I need to know what the community thinks. Charlie has been sick now for nearly three weeks. Three weeks ago he refused to come out of his crate and had the runs. The vet treated him for worms and giordia (sp). The medicine is now done and around the 1.5 week mark from the initial symptoms he as lethargic and not eating. He has since regained his appetite, but does not have a firm stool. It is somewhere between diarrhea and a lose stool. His stool sample came up negative. Today, three weeks since the initial symptoms and treatment he has vomited bile twice.

During this entire time he has been on the regular Blue Buffalo chicken and rice kibble. He receives an occasional zook's pork and sausage treat and chews on a raw hide bone or bully sticks.

Any thoughts or experiences with similar symptoms?

Thanks.

Alex

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

My experience will tell you to stop all treats, give him a plain bland diet of boiled white meat chicken and rice with some broth if he's not drinking much. Maybe some pumpkin purée added in but that would be all he needs for several days if not a week. His tummy and intestines need some rest at the very least.
When is he vomiting the bile? In the morning or late at night? Also there are some stool samples that the vet may not detect the cysts but the pup ca still have. So another round of a different med may be in order. See how a bland diet does for a bit though.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The medications used to treat intestinal parasites can destroy the good flora (bacteria) needed for proper stool formation. This is especially true of metronidazole (Flagyl). I tis very important to always give probiotics any time a dog is on metro, or another antibiotic. It's very, very common for a dog to develop diarrhea once the medication is discontinued. Unfortunately, many vets neglect to provide this information to their patients. 

Whatever you do, I would not put him on another course of metronidazole, even if the vet recommends it. It isn't even the best treatment for giardia, Panacur is much more effective and produces fewer side-effects.

I would get a bottle of the probiotic Proviable DC capsules ASAP, and in the meantime, give him two tablespoons of plain unflavored nonfat yogurt 2-3 times a day. Discontinue the rawhides permanently, and hold off on the bully sticks for now. Sue's suggestion of a homemade bland diet is a good one, but I would use cooked sweet potatoes instead of rice. 50-50 mixture with the boiled white meat chicken, and feed three times a day as the homemade food is not as calorie dense as kibble. If you use sweet potatoes instead of rice, you don't need pumpkin. If you choose to use rice, add a couple of tablespoons of pumpkin. 

Continue the probiotics for several weeks, even after the stool firms up.

[Gail and Bailey]

Alex....please follow Karen's advice as she is our Doodle Kisses expert on this topic!  She has helped untold numbers of doodle owners through this whole giardia experience!  Hoping that Charlie is feeling back to normal very soon!

[Texas Doodle Mom and Molly Rose]

Karen, would you trust ordering Proviable DC capsules from Amazon?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

As long as you use a reliable vendor, it should be fine. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so sorry.  Sometimes these parasites can be so hard to get rid of, but often the meds cause as much stomach upset as the illness.  Karen's advice is really the best you can do for your poor dood.

[Alex]

Thanks for the advice.  I am on my way to buy some non fat yogurt, chicken, and sweet potatoes.  The vet prescribed him another course of Tylan Powder.  The prior course of antibiotics was metronidazole.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Tylan is typically used for inflammation of the colon. My guy takes it for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. I haven't heard of it being used for either parasites or common diarrhea. 

Be sure to order the probiotics. He really needs to establish some good gut bacteria. 

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

The bland diet will help significantly with resting his colon, and the Tylan can't hurt, but it seems your Vet does not feel it is a parasite or Giarda issue at this time. The probiotics will be very helpful for sure.nGood luck and keep us posted?

[Barbara Korber]

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I have always used Libby's 100% canned pumpkin (not the pie mix, but the pure pumpkin) for loose stools.  I just spent 9 years dealing with epilepsy in my golden retriever and many of the list members with that group (Epi-canine) eliminated all chicken from the diets.  I know many dogs have issues with chicken.  I always fed Riley, my golden, Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Duck & Potato.  I now have a 4 month old goldendoodle, Gus, and have been feeding him 1/2 Orijen Large Puppy food and 1/2 Natural Balance Duck & Potato along with a large spoonful of pumpkin 3 or 4 times a day.  I just think the diet plays a big role and sometimes the diets are too rich or there's an allergy to an ingredient.  This may not be the case for you, but I just wanted to add this information for you to consider.  Good luck with your pup!  

[Pam & Trixie]

Good advice here.  I hope he feels better very soon