Mucus stool..food related?

[Rebecca]

Lola is 9 weeks 3 days. She's been to vet first time and tested negative for everything (we'll have a second to confirm in a little over a week). However, after we got her poop to firm up a bit, she now has mucus on the tail end of it. The past 3-4 days she's done this. Saturday I stated giving her a teaspoon of plain fat free yogurt once in the AM and she gets about a tablespoon of canned pure pumpkin mixed in with her food. We have not changed up her food yet. Sorry...I'm attaching a photo. This is after she pooped outside- came back in and 2 minutes later left me this.

[Rebecca]

On papertowel

[Malenie Piscetelli]

Please call the vet and make an appt ASAP

[F, Calla & Luca]

I would see the vet.

[Sue & Lily Grace]

Please take her to the vet.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Dollars to doughnuts she has giardia, and it's just not showing up in the fecal tests yet. I agree, she needs to see the vet. 

[Janice Jones]

Karen, Can you please give the advice on do's and don't of meds again :-)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Do you mean giardia meds? 

[Janice Jones]

Yes, sorry Karen, I haven't had my coffee yet! Suggested Giardia meds and probiotics.

[F, Calla & Luca]

See Karen, this is where the links would come in handy. If you look in the PG you'll see I have an index, hardly used I am sure except by me, where all sorts of links reside. It is quite handy though.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I need to do that. :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Okay, for giardia, you must use Panacur. It is the most effective and has the least side effects of any medication used for parasitic infections. Typically it is given for 3-5 days. 

Many vets will want to give metronidazole (Flagyl). This is not as effective as panacur and can have serious side-effects when used repeatedly or over long periods. However, in cases where the giardia infection is severe or resistant, both metronidazole and Panacur are used together. If you use one or the other, though, it must be Panacur. 

It is necessary to give a probiotic any time a dog is on antibiotics, and for an extended period of time after the meds are discontinued. This is to replenish the good bacteria in the gut which is necessary for normal digestion and stool formation. Proviable DC is an excellent probiotic for dogs, and the one I most recommend. What you do not want is Purina's Fortiflora, sold by some vets. (Iams Prostora, also sold by some vets, is not as bad as Fortiflora, but it's not good, either.) It is very important to give the probiotic at least two hours apart from the meds, and longer is better. Plain unflavored nonfat yogurt can be used in addition to the probiotics, the same time frame applies. You should continue giving the probiotic for at least a couple of weeks after the meds are discontinued. 

[Janice Jones]

Thanks Karen. You helped so much with my guy, just wanted to make sure Rebecca resists long term Flagyl use. Also wanted to be clear on the use of probiotics for this poor guy. You are a gem!