Diarrhea

[Anick Bernier]

Hi !
I read all the threads talking about diarrhea but i just wanna make sure i am doing everything right. I have 6 months old bernedoodle. He has diarrhea from day one. He was on RC so we switched him to spring naturals grain free, potato free and chicken free. It never helped so we switched him to BB freedom. We had great poops for a week then back to diarrhea. He has pumkin everyday and we sometimes has to do the rice and chicken regimen, which helps but as soon as we introduce dog food, we are back to diarrhea. He doesn't have any treats or bones.
Of course no parasite.
He is not a big eater and he is very picky on what he will eat.
He is not lethargic.
At least once a week, diarrhea is so bad that he wakes up 2-3 times at night to go. And sometimes he has accident in the crate. I feel bad because we work so we cannot stay home to take him out every hour... Any idea ? He can go 15 times a day.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Is he on any meds, or has he been given meds in the past for the diarrhea? Specifically metronidazole? 

Are you giving any probiotics?

When did you last have a fecal done? 

[Anick Bernier]

He had pepcid ac last week cause he threw up twice.
He had metronidazole at 9 weeks for diarrhea even if the testing was negative
He had a few rounds of antibiotics in january for uti but stopped at the beginning of february
There were no change in his stools during the ATB rounds
The vet did the fecal test last week too
No probiotics, we tried the yogurt but he doesn't like it at all (picky picjy eater)
But never tried tablets of powder...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I really don't think this has much to do with food. It's possible that all the antibiotics from such a young age have caused a bacterial imbalance in the gut. Order a bottle of Proviable DC capsules, that should help. 

Once you start the probiotics, we can talk about food in The Food Group, if you like. I think a dehydrated raw product like Honest Kitchen might be the best choice for him. But for now, I'd stay with the homemade bland diet.

Does the vet have an opinion as to what could be causing this? It's possible that some other testing may be needed. 

[Anick Bernier]

The vet doesn't seems too impressed....she wants me to buy prescription food LMAO !!!!
Since his energy levels is ok, she won't do any test.... Should a get a second opinion ?

Thanks for your time Karen !!!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Energy levels can be perfectly fine and there can still be digestive disease. JD has Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which is a serious immune-mediated disease of the lining of the digestive tract. Even at his sickest, he still wanted to play fetch and take walks. 

Try the probiotics, and if you don't see any improvement, you might have to consider getting a second opinion. It simply isn't normal for a puppy to have diarrhea for months, there has to be something wrong. And it isn't normal for any dog to be waking up 2 and 3 times a night with urgent diarrhea, or to go 15 times a day. Those are signs of giardia or something more serious. 

[Anick Bernier]

Well he is now on fenbendazole and flagyl and pepcid and proviable dc even if the fecal test were negative. She suggested to add fibers to his diet cause he is on rice and hamburger and still has some issues. Any recommendations on a high fiber hypoallergens diet for a puppy ?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The only "high fiber hypoallergens diet" is Rx garbage food. 

You can add fiber to his diet by replacing the rice with sweet potatoes. You can also buy plain pure powdered psyllium to add to the food. Konsyl is the brand name but most drugstores have generics. Be sure that you don't buy anything that is flavored or has added sugars. You can add a teaspoon of the psyllium to his food. 

If the issues don't resolve with this course of meds, I would seek a second opinion. 

[Anick Bernier]

This is our second opinion vet.... Maybe we should seek a third opinion ?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No, but you may need to consult a veterinary internal medicine specialist if this continues. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's also very important that you give the probiotics at least 2 hours before or after the meds, never at the same time, and the further apart you space them out, the better. You're going to need to continue the probiotics for several weeks minimum after the meds are finished. 

[Anick Bernier]

Thanks ! I did not know. We gave it in his food !

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The antibiotics destroy the good bacteria in the gut which is necessary for proper stool formation along with the bad bacteria. You give probiotics to replace that good bacteria. If you give them at the same time, the antibiotics will cancel out the benefits of the probiotics. :)