Harley Update

[Terri and Harley]

  I just wanted to give everyone an update on Harley. I have actually switched vets (we'll see if we stay with this one) and he tested negative for the Giardia. 

The first thing that the new vet asked when I gave her his history was: are you picking up poops and cleaning? Well, that at least was more than I ever got with the old vet.

That was on Friday.  Friday evening he had diarrhea again. Last night he threw up 2X (his dinner) and his appetite decreased. 

This AM he's been playful. I didn't give him any food and he doesn't seem to be looking for it. I cleaned a =lot= of wax out of his ears. (The vet had done it too.)

I am just praying that this is some sort of bug that will pass. Luckily I am home today and will keep a very close eye on him. I sooo want him to go to doggie daycare so he can have more socialization with other dogs...he hasn't really had any because he's been ill so much.

Anyhow, I really want to thank all of you on this forum for making me a much better informed doodle mom. If I hadn't found this place, I know Harley would STILL have Giardia. Oh, and we need to retest him in 4-6 weeks.

Terri and Harley

[Amy and Annabelle]

It is good he tested negative for Giardia. I hope the new vet can get to the bottom of what is ailing the little guy.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks for the update.  It's great that he's testing negative for giardia.  The vomiting would be a little concerning to me.  How was he the rest of the weekend?  Was he able to eat other meals and hold them down with no diarrhea?

[Terri and Harley]

Yes, he ate well except for yesterday. We noticed that he left food in the dish which is unusual. I didn't feed him today but I gave him some ice cubes that I had made that had a little unsweetened applesauce in them.

He ate those fine. I need to see my own MD in an hour and didn't want to feed him before I left. He did drink. I boiled some chicken and some rice so I'll give him a little of that when I return and see how he does. If he vomits again, then I'll put in a call to the vet.

Terri and Harley

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

That sounds like a good plan....please keep us posted.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad the fecal was negative. I agree with Jane that the vomiting and lack of appetite is concerning. 

[Terri and Harley]

I fed him some boiled chicken, high fiber cooked pasta with a little pumpkin mixed in and he devoured it. That made me feel better. I'm just watching him closely with fingers crossed that he keeps it down.

When I was at the vet, she flushed his ears and I noticed today that there was wax all over his ears and he was scratching at one which is unusual...the smell isn't overpowering, but I suspect an ear infection may be brewing. I started him back on the antibiotic from August. The vet did tell me that once they get an ear infection, they to repeat and he was playing in the water the other day...anyway, (insert huge sigh) we will monitor the situation and keep you posted.

Terri

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Hi Terri. I'm wondering if it is really a good idea to give him antibiotics, again, especially if the vet just examined his ears and did not recommend doing so. Taking antibiotics often leads to diarrhea, and since you're struggling to get Harley's digestive system back to normal, I would be afraid of complicating matters and risk making his stools loose once more. Just a thought . . .

[Terri and Harley]

He's not ingesting them, though. It's a liquid that goes in the ear. I am not going to give him any more at this point. I need to see him go through 24 hours of being okay.

Thanks for reminding me of that.

:)

Terri

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Glad to hear the test was negative!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Sorry to rain on the parade.  Dogs can have giardia without have a positive test.  Giardia passes in the stool at only one stage of its life, so glad to see vet asked for another sample in a few weeks.  It can be very difficult to get rid of and many many dogs live with a small population of giardia in their intestines and are fine.  It really is only a problem when diarrhea is present. 

I would suggest a rice and chicken(or boiled hamburger) diet.  Pick either one, chicken with rice or hamburger with rice,  make up as big a batch as you can and freeze meal sized packets or ice cube size and use the appropriate number.  Feed him twice a day on this diet for at least six weeks. If he seems to begin to get seriously constipated mix in about one spoonful of pumpkin.  His digestive system needs a rest.  When Harley has had nice firm stools for at least two weeks and another clean stool sample gradually wean him to one quality dog food over two weeks.

Tigger had giardia almost continually for the first six months of his life (Roo is probably a carrier) even though I cloroxed that darn dog run every single day and washed eight paws constantly.  Tigger is a happy healthy 7 year old, so stick with it, have patience and a consistent bland rice diet.

Glad you found a more helpful vet,

[Terri and Harley]

Thanks Maryann. I have actually been doing exactly that. boiled turkey and rice and a spoonful of pumpkin. He's been doing well on that and the diarrhea only lasted for one day.

Tomorrow I have to buy more turkey. 

He seems to be doing better.

Terri and Harley

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

So glad to hear that.