Loose Stools

[Lauren and Kona]

Hey guys! Sorry for how gross this will sound.

I took Kona to the vet yesterday for shots and she was totally fine, but this morning she started having loose stools, which then turned into complete diarrhea. Nothing has changed in her routine to cause her anxiety, however, I did start upping her feedings a few days ago. Could this be the cause? I'm concerned because her stomach has gotten sick twice in the last hour (after she ate).

Thanks for any help!

[Lauren and Kona]

The diarrhea has continued - she's gotten sick now probably six times today. I'm worried about how she will do in her crate over night. I'm making sure she gets plenty of water and will take her to the vet in the morning if she hasn't gotten any better.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Can you keep her crate near you tonight? She might start crying if she needs to go outside. Poor baby!

[Lauren and Kona]

Yeah, she started crying just now. I hope she can get some rest!!

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Hope everything improves, Lauren! Let me know if there is anything I can do to help!

[Lauren and Kona]

Thank you!!

[Lauren and Kona]

Time #7 today... I'm afraid this may continue all throughout the night :( However, she is still acting herself, drinking plenty of water and no vomiting.

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Poor Kona! Hopefully she will feel better by the morning. I posted a discussion titled "stress or something else" (I think) a couple months ago that discussed how I dealt with diarrhea when Ragley had a bout of it. I withheld all food for a day and then did homecooking and it worked wonderfully. You may want to check it out!

[Lauren and Kona]

I remember reading that! I'm going to take her to the vet in the morning regardless due to the amount of times she got sick today, but I'm definitely going to withhold food tomorrow and then make her some chicken and rice. Hopefully she's all done for the night and will feel better by morning.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

How is Kona this morning?

[Lauren and Kona]

She is about the same. The diarrhea continued throughout the night - I was up with her about every two hours, and she just got sick again. However, she's still acting completely normal, drinking water and no vomiting. She has a vet appointment in two hours. Thanks for checking in!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If the vet does not find a clear reason for the diarrhea, I urge you not to put her on metronidazole (Flagyl).  Many vets prescribe it for any case of diarrhea without a clear reason, but it can cause on-going digestive issues, especially in a puppy, once it is discontinued. It strips away all of the bacteria in the GI tract, including the good bacteria necessary for normal stool formation. Many members here have had ongoing problems with diarrhea and digestive issues when the vets have prescribed metronidazole for their puppies. Antibiotics should never be used without a reason, i.e. a diagnosed infection.

If by any chance  the fecal does show positive for giardia, you want Panacur, not metronidazole alone. And don't buy Fortiflora, again a poor quality probiotic. You can buy much better probiotics for less money. if by any chance the vet sells Proviable, (some do) that would be great.

And I would also not purchase the Rx garbage food, which is simply a poor quality "bland diet" filled with cheap ingredients and no medicine or therapeutic ingredients. If the vet suggests it, you can politely say that you will feed your own homemade bland diet. 

Good luck at the vet, please let us know how it goes. 

[Lauren and Kona]

This was very helpful today at the vet. Thank you so very much for your advice!!