Puppies have Upset Stomach

[Ashley, Sadie and Coal]

Well, I was hoping it wouldn't come to this so soon, but we think we are having an issue with the puppies' food. Saturday evening we came home from dinner out, and Coal proceeded to poop all over the house in about a minute.  Since neither he nor Sadie have pooped in the house since the first week they were home, we were, of course, shocked and upset.  We first wrote it off as an adolescent behavior or that he just hadn't been out enough that day, though he stays in his crate or exercise pen for hours while we are at work, and doesn't soil either place.  He had several loose stools outside over the next few days, and we began to think something was up.  He was still playing, drinking and acting energetic, but he came to me at one point and whimpered and was very anxious to go out. He usually does his business on a schedule, so this was new for him. He ran to the pine needles and had diarrhea. Yesterday, we came home from work to find his pen covered in piles of loose stool.  At 2 am this morning, he barked to go out and barely made it to the potty spot before having another round. They have slept from 10:00 pm to 5:30 am since they were 8 weeks old.  He continues to play hard and drink his water, but has gradually started eating less of his food.  

Through all of this with Coal, Sadie did not have any issues.  So, when we came home from work this evening (Wednesday) to find her pen full of piles of very loose stool as well as a pile of vomit, we were immediately concerned that something is very wrong with our situation.  Both pups were seen at the vet Monday of this week and got a clean bill of health.  Both have been dewormed on schedule and are completely up to date on shots.  They were 18 weeks old on Monday.  The only thing they both have the same consistently is their food.  While either of them could have picked up a small amount of a foreign substance off the ground, we are thinking it is unlikely that they would both pick up the same thing in a large enough quantity to make this happen.  They are on leash both indoors and out, and haven't been anywhere but our land and the vet in several weeks.  They have been eating BB Wilderness Puppy since we transitioned them during their first two weeks home.  Our best theory is that the new bag of food we opened late last week is spoiled.

My main concern is that it seems like we need to start new food immediately, and I do not want to use any of the BB that we have on hand. I know we should slowly transition, but I don't feel comfortable giving them more of what might be making them sick. We live way out in the country and our only choices for food this evening were from Tractor Supply.  They had Wellness Puppy and more BB.  We got the Wellness and the BB (not Wilderness--not grain free), but that is not what I would have chosen for their new food if we had enough time to order from Chewy.  They have to eat, so what is our best course of action?  I gave them both some pumpkin and yogurt this afternoon.

If they are still having upset stomach tomorrow afternoon, we will go straight to the vet.  At this point, I don't know what to do and if we are even moving in the right direction.  I don't want to overlook another illness or a parasite or something else that might be causing these issues.  I also don't want to upset their systems further by changing to a new food if that isn't a good plan.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm hoping you didn't get metronidazole (drug) and Fortiflora (probiotic). 

If it is metro, I would avoid giving it if possible. I would give the probiotic, although it's not a very good one. :(

And make sure that the probiotic is given at least two hours apart from the meds, and longer is better. 

[Ashley, Sadie and Coal]

Uugh!  It is Metronidazole.  I actually questioned the vet about that one, because I thought I remembered reading something negative about it.  What do you think about holding off on it and seeing if they are better before giving it to them?  Coal actually had no mess in his pen and had a nice solid bm after supper. I know it may fluctuate, but hopefully this is a good sign.  

Unfortunately, that is also the probiotic they gave us.  Can I order a better one to have on hand?  Which one is best?  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I recommend Proviable DC. You can order it on-line. 

Use the Fortiflora in the meantime, it's better than nothing, and you can continue the yogurt, too.

Metronidazole can really wreak havoc with a pup's digestive system. It destroys all of the bacteria in the GI tract, including the good bacteria necessary for normal stool formation. So it helps while they are getting it, but once it is discontinued, the diarrhea often comes back with a vengeance because the normal GI flora has been stripped away. It can take weeks to get things back to normal. Puppies who have been treated with repeat courses of metro even sometimes develop ongoing loose stools and other GI issues. Metronidazole can also have other side effects, including neurological issues. It really should never be given without a clear-cut reason.

If the vet feels that they need to be on a GI antibiotic, Panacur or Tylan are much safer options. 

Did the say the metronidazole was optional for Coal but not Sadie?

[Ashley, Sadie and Coal]

That is what I understood... that since Coal had a good day, we could see if he continues to improve and then we would not need to give it to him at all.  Sadie started the stomach upset after Coal so was still in the thick of it yesterday and had one little spell today, but her after supper bm was well-formed.  I'm wondering if it is okay for Coal  not to take it, then wouldn't it also be okay for Sadie to skip it if she continues to improve?  Of course if either have a setback, then we will go back and I will ask for Panacur.

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would hold off on the meds for both of them, another day won't hurt. Just use the probiotics. 

[Ashley, Sadie and Coal]

Keeping our fingers crossed, but we have had solid poops today...  and more or less on our regular schedule.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So glad to hear it. Are they still getting the homemade food? 

[Stephanie and Ragley]

So glad to hear things seem to be improving! Fingers crossed that the home cooking continues to help!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good news.