Steroids and Diarrhea

[Kerry Daly]

Has anyone had the side effect of diarrhea with steroids? Vet already put him on medication and probiotic and it is NOT working at all! He has been eating boiled chicken and rice and nothing is working. I tried pumpkin once and he did not seem to like the taste. Will try again. Getting frustrated because my yard and I cannot handle this. It is still a big pile so cleaving up I am gagging. He cannot be comfortable either. Calling vet in morning but wondered if anyone else has this as a side effect. We thought it was the amoxicillin but he has been off it since Thursday.

[F, Calla & Luca]

You should continue the probiotics.  And I can no longer keep all the doodles straight so it would help if you gave us a synopsis of why your doodle was on amoxicillin and now steroids. 

[Trudy Harlow]

There are others with more medical expertise, but I can tell you from personal and dog-owner experience that the effects of a bout with an antibiotic can last for a while. If your dog developed diarrhea while on the ABX, then keep feeding the probiotics (you might try a different one; I'm sure there's a probiotic discussion somewhere on this board) and chicken and rice and it should go away.

I have never heard of a steroid causing diarrhea.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The antibiotics destroy the good bacteria in the GI tract along with the bad, and often, diarrhea develops after the meds are discontinued, since that good bacteria is required for normal stool formation. Probiotics need to be given for a period of time after the antibiotics are discontinued. Also, the probiotics needed to be given at least two hours apart from the meds, and longer is better. I'd give it some time.

Steroids can be hard on the GI tract, too. It's a good idea to give an antacid like Pepcid or Zantac any time they are on steroids. 

[Kerry Daly]

This is Apollo. He was sick last week and we could not figure out why (lethargic, high fever). He was put on amoxicillin on wed and Thursday morning we figured out he has Masticatory Myositis. We immediately took him off amox (only got three pills before we figured out. He has had diarrhea since Thursday so dr put him on metronidizole on wed too. Steroids were started Thursday. Dr put him on a probiotic with this paste stuff too that is suppose to firm his stool. Didn't been slightly firm it. If anything it went softer. I will keep up probiotics and see what veg says. I give him the probiotic at lunch in between his other meds (breakfast and dinner). I am praying he is just a little messed up right now and this is not the steroids. Although he us on super high dose. Thanks Karen for advice on any acid. I have some for him and will start those tonight!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks for the clarification. I doubt it is the steroids and wonder why the vet started metronidazole. Is he still on it? I would throw in another probiotic before bedtime.

[Kerry Daly]

They put him on it since we didn't know what it was and were covering all basis. Kept him on it because he was showing signs of lose stool.