LOOSE AND BLOODY STOOLS

[Kathy]

IT STARTED 2 WEEKS AGO,LOOSE AND BLOODY STOOLS AND VOMITTING BILE AFTER FREDO WOKE UP!i TOOK HIM TO THE VET AND HE PUT HIM ON ANTBOTICS AND MEDS! HE WAS GOOD FOR ALMOST A WEEK ,AND THEN YESTERDAY THE BLOODY LOOSE STOOLS AGAIN,BUT NO VOMITING! i CALLED TODAY FOR MORE MEDS AND HE SAID IT COULD BE,HIS FOOD ,WHICH I HAVE BEEN FEEDING THE SAME SINCE i got him a year ago which is Lifes Abundance,,,,,,And its from the same bag  from 2 months ago,,or he said it could be a disease,of some kind,but wont know till he does blood test ,so he gave me   pRESCRIPTION Science diet food,for stomach problems,this is all confussing cause hes playful, running all over,,I just wonder if he got into my cherry tomatoes,,,which i got rid of today!!!Has anyone had this problem,,,I thought Lifes abundance was one of the best foods,,my other dog has no problems at all with it,,he said sometimes they tweak the formula!!I dont know,,,,but any thoughts would ease my mind!!!  I also dont give any treats at all,nor any tablefood,, sometimes i give them a cherrio and there in heaven!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Life's Abundance is not the best food. It is something for which your breeder gets a commission. But I doubt very much this is due to the food. He has been on it and your other dog, who is not sick, is on it.In general, it is better to buy bags of food that last only one moth to assure the food is fresh, though. Science Diet is really junk food but switching foods around just now will only confuse the issue. 

Your dog may have a parasite, Did your vet do a fecal test? There is lots of information on DK about Giardia, how common it is, how hard to get rid of it, what meds are needed etc. Good luck with this and I hope Fredo gets better soon.

[Kathy]

What do you feed your dogs im beginning to wonder about this Lifes abundance!!!

[Gail and Bailey]

Please join the Food Group and look at their list of recommended foods.

You will not find either of the foods you mentioned on the list...both are filled with ingredients that dogs do not need and would be better off not eating!   

Post your discussion in that group and you will get lots of good advice.  You will find ideas of things to feed your dog to help his tummy without feeding Science Diet (which is NOT recommended)....like a bit of plain yogurt and some canned pumpkin (not the pie filling, just plain pumpkin) and boiled chicken and white rice.  

With all of that said.....I hope your doodle is feeling better real soon and you find out what is causing his problems!  Hang in there...I know it is hard when our "babies" don't feel good!

 Please keep us posted!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I second the recommendation to join the food group :)

There's a big list of great foods from reliable companies with good ingredient sources.

[Marcey Peyser Friedman]

I had a dog years ago with the same thing. It turned out to be parvo virus. She almost died. You might want to ask your vet about infectious causes of the bloody diarrhea. I also wondered if it could be intususseption..where the intestines turn inside out on each other.

 

Marcey

[Kathy]

Marcey,he has all those shots Parvo,,today he seems ok  didnt poop yet still waiting,,its not like hes haveing accidents in the house at all ,I noticed this when hes out,,,hope it was only the cherry tomatoes,,, not even sure  jut a guess!Thanks for your feedback!

[Sherry Craun]

This also happened to one of my dogs. It was called hemoragic gastroenteritis.  She required IV fluids for about 5 days and very close supervision.  How old is the dog? Best wishes 

[Kathy]

Hes 1 year old and never had any problems before,,, wouldnt this of all happened as a puppy? Today when he went out he just tinkled  and nothing more!!! Have to wait and see!  Thanks Sherry!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The antibiotics that your vet prescribed destroyed all of the good bacteria in his gut along with the bad. That's the problem with antibitoics that work on the GI tract, especially metronidazole. While they are on the drugs, things seem fine, but once you discontinue the meds, it is very common for the diarrhea to return, often worse than before. You must always give probiotics any time a dog is on antibiotics.

However, I agree with F; it is very doubtful that any food would cause bloody diarrhea; there is something else going on, either a parasite or a viral or bacterial infection, that initally caused it. IMO, it's important to know the source of the problem before putting a dog on meds; unfortunately, many vets prescribe metro for any GI issue without doing tests to determine the cause. 

I'd get a fecal test done. In the meantime, I'd feed a homecooked diet of 50% boiled white meat chicken and 50% plain white rice or cooked sweet potatoes, with two tablespoons of plain unflavored fat free yogurt twice a day, and keep him on that until the diarrhea resolves and/or you get an answer as to what is causing the problem. (It's not the food, even though we do not recommend Life's Abundance.) If possible, pick up a good probiotic, too. (Do not buy it from the vet.) Gentle Digest by Ark Naturals is widely available. Proviable is even better, but you may have to order that on-line. 

Hope this helps.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good to see you, Karen.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

:-)

[Kathy]

Hi  Karen and Jack,,thanks so Much for the feedback makes total sence to me!!The loose stools have stopped again ,actually he hasnt had a bowel movement since yesterday morning!! I wanted TO bring a  sample in yesterday ,but it WAS too messy,so he suggusted wait till its firmer!!Down deep I think he must have gotten into my cherrie tomatoes,,Not sure though!!!But im  curious whats wrong with Lifes Abundance,,,what dont you like ,,And what do you suggust? I have to 40 pd bags unopened rthat i may send back!I use to feed orijen  and that was good but pricey!!! What is probiotic,is that  a yogurt? Now Im nervous,,I NEVER HAD THIS WITH CHEECH,,AND THIS IS THE FIRST WITH FREDO,,NO ACCIDENTS AT ALL IN THE HOUSE!!!PLEASE LET ME KNOW !THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH!