Their poop is like pudding . . . What next?

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Without going into an overly long and detailed description, about a month ago, Charlotte got some sort of a virus, which Wally then caught. Both have had diarrhea (plus, vomiting early on and bloody stools), which I cannot get firmed up, despite multiple trips to see doctors and several different home-remedy food concoctions. Their BMs has been tested twice each, they have received fluids and anti-nausea drugs. Charlotte's blood was tested, as well. Both dogs are acting perfectly normal now. However, try as I might, I can't figure out how to get their bowel movements to be firm. We have tried various combinations of white rice, boiled ground chicken, probiotics, organic yogurt, pumpkin, psyllium, bentonite clay and slippery-elm bark -- and still, they have very soft stools. After the first two weeks of diarrhea, they were on flagyl. They have seen four different regular veterinarians at two offices, plus were examined and treated by an emergency veterinarian. Again, they are behaving like their happy selves, and other than loose stools, they appear to be healthy. What next???

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

What were you feeding them before they started with the initial virus symptoms...and was their stool normal prior to this?

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Hi Jane. They were both eating Acana's Regionals, which are grain free, and we rotate between the four proteins. When one bag is finished, we transition to another protein in the lineup. We also add canned green beans to each meal, plus whatever veggies might be left over from our own meal preparation.

Their stools were normal before. I will say, though, that this isn't the first time that they have had unsettled stomachs and digestive problems. It can happen once or twice a year, but it has never taken this long for them to recover. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Have you tried putting them back on the Acana?  The thing that is confusing about this is that they are both exhibiting the same symptoms which would tell me it's unlikely to be a GI disease.  It seems more like a parasite or an infection, with nothing showing in the blood work or the stool samples I guess that would be ruled out.  Were they on probiotics while they were taking the flagyl and for a few weeks after?  Which probiotic?  The only thing that makes sense to me is that their GI systems were impacted by the combination of the virus and the antibiotic.  Usually a good probiotic during and for a while after treatment helps with that. 

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

So, I gave them organic yogurt while they were on the antibiotics and started to transition them back to their regular food when they had finished the medicine. At that point, I continued for a few days with the yogurt, but when their stools got soft again, I switched to Proviable DC, instead of the yogurt. Nutramax, the manufacturer, says that the dosage is one capsule per day, which I have been sprinkling on their food. I called the vet's office today to see if it would be okay to give them a second capsule with dinner. 

I think you're right about it not being a gastrointestinal disease, since it would be too coincidental for both of them to come down with the same symptoms within a few days of each other. Charlotte's labs did reveal a slight elevation in her pancreas levels, but the vet attributed that to the irritation in her system. I will have that rechecked in a few weeks. Wally's blood was not tested.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Maybe they caught doggie flu? Curious what you feed them.  I do hope all returns to normal soon.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

It's possible, I guess, though neither of them had a fever. I feed them Acana's Regionals.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I was feeding Beau Acana too, but Beau now refuses to eat it.  For his sake we switched to an Natural Balance LID Bison - and he loves it.  Charlie still loves Oryjen Senior -and Beau will not touch that!  It would be nice if they ate the same food! LOL  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with the food. :) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The whole Acana line has been undergoing changes for several months now. But there are at least 7 different adult formulas, so if a dog stops liking one, I'd just try a different one. 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

It is so irritating.  You just get used a formula and then there are changes!  I would prefer Acana over the NB LID for Beau

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Linda, have you looked at the Acana Singles line? 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I agree.