ticks, diareah and post spay concerns ...too much at once for a puppy and her family

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Hi All,

Nina (Which means little girl) was our healthy 20 week old puppy. On frontline and heartguard, mostly indoors during vaccination..preparing for therapy so very little exposure..

 

one walk on trails. First grooming said she had 3 ticks but my husband did not ask if alive or dead and I have asked but not heard back.

 

2 weeks later, serious diareah but I did change her food and a bit too fast for my liking as I usually mix things in as we change. She was on Blue Buffalo for puppies and I added this Omega organic one...

and the peanut butter kong for treats..once a day..

 

The stools were not bloody but I asked vet the day before Spay surgery if still okay and they said yes. She then had solid bowels and went in. Did great.

 

Typically groggy and tired, she slept through the night but the following night, crying despite pain meds and appetite messed up but accidents in her special area (she was trained and never had an accident where she sleeps) mucous in her stools..Vet put her on flagyl and a bland diet..I am trying not to look at chronic or terminal issues but it has been a long few days with 12 more in the e-collar and puppy wanting to resume her life while on bedrest. Vet calling every day and regrets not waiting on spay...but hindsight is difficutl.

 

Also, After groomer, her coat went curly. Is this a phase...We loved her no matter what and appeciate the no shed in her f1 standard but also adore her fluffy longer look too..

 

Okay, very thankful for feedback..

 

Nina's mommy

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

As to her coat looking different after a groom - yes. Most, not all, but most doodles get curlier as they mature and a grooming makes the change obvious.  I am so sorry Nina is ill.  The serious stuff I can't help you with. Two illnesses that come to mind would be giardia or Lyme disease.

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

Coco had a lot of trouble on Blue Buffalo! Puppies tummies are very sensitive!! She also couldn't have peanut butter until she was 8 months old. Thar may be part of the problem, but I would have her checked for Lymes or a worm. Coco had hookworm that made her not feel good.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Glad to hear she is doing better this morning. Hoping she continues to improve quickly. Happy Mother's Day.

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

Glad he is doing better this morning!! Coco has always had a sensitive tummy, we switch to chicken and rice for tummy problems regularly, but she is growing quickly I just think it's taking her a little longer to full size. There were times when it was one month fine and one month with tummy trouble, it is just her and now it is better!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It's always something with a puppy.  Do you have her on a flea/tick preventative?  If you do, I wouldn't worry too much about the ticks, although it would be good to know if they had become embedded.  One of my Doodles always seems more curly after a grooming, especially if he gets a trim.  My other Dood has a different type of coat, so I don't notice that with him.  I wouldn't worry too much right now about chronic or terminal issues.....I think she's been through a lot with the spay and the food change....her tummy is off.  Did you have your Vet check a stool sample for parasites?  I assume she's starting to do better now on a bland diet????  I also understand how difficult it is to manage them with the halo collar...but it will be off before you know it.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Colleen, Join the Food group. I learned more about dog food in that group than I ever did from the Vet. Lots and lots of information.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Colleen, I think the ticks are terrible this year. I use Frontline Plus on both my dogs and have seen more ticks this year than ever before. Last year, I don't think we had one. It is the nature of the beast and if you live where there are ticks and your dogs play outside, it can mean ticks. I know they are super gross, but it is going to happen. Just do your best checking them when they come in the house and I am super diligent about the Frontline Plus. My dogs also get the Lymes Vaccine, because we have a lot of deer around here too.

I would not worry about accidents right after your pup got spayed. She had surgery and was probably not feeling like herself and it happened. It will be fine. Also, my Fudge did not want to eat much after the surgery and it takes a while for the bowels to start up normally after a surgery, in my opinion.

Is the e-collar used the same as the cone most of us used?  I am not exactly sure what that is, but other alternatives have been discussed on this site for the hard cone some dogs need. Some people use T-shirts, the soft cone, etc.

It is hard not to worry, especially with a new puppy, but most likely all of this is going to pass soon and Nina will be back to normal. Sometimes, it is just finding the right food and the things that work best for you. Good luck!!