health

[Vicki and Harli]

I have a friend who has a 1 year old mini golden doodle who is 42 pounds that keeps getting diarrhea about every 8 weeks.  When it was 5 months old it was diagnosed with Coccidia and Giardia and roundworms.  The dog was put on medicine and a fecal sample was rechecked to make sure that everything was gone.  The fecal sample came back fine.  After that the diarrhea has still continued about every other month and at least 2 more stool samples were brought to the vet and both came back that there was nothing wrong.  The dog responds well to Metronidazole which eliminates the diarrhea very quickly.  He’s been on it 3 different times for 5 days each.  Vet also put him on Science Diet RD formula which he absolutely hated and refused to eat.   The dog was being fed Nature’s Variety Instinct Lamb Meal Formula and is presently eating California Natural Lamb Meal and Rice Formula.  Each time the dog has been on the food until the 30 pound bag ran out.  Dog has had diarrhea while on both foods although stools seem to be better while on California Natural.  Vet said to try a food not so high in protein as the dog might not be able to digest such high amounts of protein.  Now gradually switching dog to Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Fish Formula Limited Ingredient Diet.  He also gets two large tablespoons of canned pumpkin each day, which has seemed to help improve the firmness of the stool.  But the pumpkin might also be masking what is the underlying problem.  Dog poops about 2 times each day except when going on walks.  On walks stools start out firm and then can end up like soft serve ice cream at times on longer walks.  Vet says owner now has a couple of options 

1.       Do CBC blood workup that will check the chemistry, liver, kidney and overall health of the animal.

2.       Abdominal xray to check for stones and foreign bodies

3.       GI blood panel

4.       Bioposy of intestine to check for things like Inflamatory Bowel Disease

The first 3 tests will cost about $350 and the bioposy will run about $1,000.

Another option is to do 2 weeks of Metronidazole along with changing diet to Science Diet ZD formula which is supposed to taste better than the RD diet.  This will obviously be the least expensive option.  The dog has continued to grow and gain weight over the past year.  Vet seems to think that it isn’t a food allergy but a problem with either the colon, large or small intestine.  The vet acknowledges that this large amount of money could be spent on these tests and while some things will be ruled out we could end up still not learning what is causing the diarrhea.  Too late for pet insurance as they now consider the diarrhea to be a preexisting condition. 

Has anyone encountered similar problem with their dogs?  Does anyone have any suggestions on what my friend should do about this? 

 

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Oliver always seemed to have loose stools, he was also checked for everything and came up negative.  I then switched him to grain free products (Blue Buffalo/ Wilderness Grain Free and any treats are also grain free.  He hates pumpkin so I mix about a tablespoon full in his topper and he eats it - no more poop problems.  I also know Ollie has a sensitive stomach so I am VERY careful on what he gets to eat.  This has made a 100% change in his poops, they are now firm and the way they should be.  Please try the grain free it may just do the trick - good luck.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

In the past month, I have spent more than $5000 trying to diagnose my dog's digestive problems, which are suspected to be IBD, and I am waiting for the biopsies. In retrospect, I wish I had gone directly to the specialist and had the scopes done, rather than continuing to try various diets, but we also had to rule out other issues with plain Xrays, barium Xrays, an ultrasound, full blood panels, etc.

If your friend can get the tests, the scope, and the biopsy done for $1350, tell her to grab that...it's the best bargain in the world. Seriously. My bill for the scopes alone (He had both endoscopy and colonoscopy) was over $3000. Prior to that, I had spent $2000 on the various Xrays, blood work, various foods & meds, etc. I also put my poor guy through a month of "bland diet", this and that medication, etc. while he got sicker, and he ended up having to be scoped anyway.

Even though we don't have the results of the biopsies yet, the specialist who did the scopes has put him on an interim treatment and diet plan that has helped him already, much more than anything my regular vet tried in the previous month.

The first three tests may show something that will eliminate the need for the scope. At the very least, I would not hesitate to have the first three items done.

Ruling things out is important. getting answers, finding relief for your dog, is worth everything.

 

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I agree.  Spend the money and get answers. At least the 1st 3, then maybe the 4th. 

Tell your friend DO NOT DO THE RX FOOD - it's terrible food.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yep. I'm so glad JD's specialist didn't even mention it. He's on white meat chicken and cream of wheat, with a spoonful of Metamucil mixed in. At least he's getting real food that doesn't contain garbage, and it's less expensive than Rx crap, too. Even at $4/lb for chicken tenders!  

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I even cook Tacky's food with salmon 1/2 the time and it's STILL less than RX.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I would definitely go ahead with the CBC and the GI blood panel.  To be honest, I would probably hold off on the biopsy for a dog who is only having episodes of diarrhea every eight weeks.  Karen's Jack had much more serious and involved symptoms.  Both of my Doods have been diagnosed with IBS/IBD.  We ran all the blood work first, and everything came back fine. My Vet did not want to put them under anesthesia to do the endoscopy without trying to address the intermittent symptoms first with diet.  My guys were healthy and often had loose stools, with episodes of full blown diarrhea (about every 4-6 wks as best as I can remember).  I totally refused to feed RX food.  For my older Doodle we solved the problem with a home cooked diet (with supplements and probiotics added).  This also worked for a while with my younger Doodle, but then the episodes returned.  I now have them on a freeze dried raw diet and they have no more issues.  I know how frustrating and confusing this can be....there are lots of discussions on this issue in the food group.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Amen to freeze dry raw !!!  Since I switched Oliver to GF and only give him treate of FD raw - I have not had one issue.  I bought the FD green tripe - OMG what they won't do form them - LOL, so I am taking full advantage of the situatioin and we are getting some real good training in :)

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I hope she is able to afford to get the tests done to rule out obvious things. The poor dog, wishing her the best of luck and hope it's not too serious.

[Lisa Marin]

my 5 month old has been having the exact same issues. The only time he does not have diarrhea is when he is taking metronidizole. All of his fecals have come back negative. He is eating Acana dog food and I have added Great Life probiotics. About a week after the metronidizole gets out of his system he starts with the loose stools and diarrhea. I am at a loss of what to do next. I really don't want to put him on a prescription diet but may have no choice???  Does anyone have any luck with any LID diets that are better than the purina prescription stuff.