Changing food and probiatics

[Mary]

Hi everyone! I have a situation similar to many other discussed here.

My puppy had diarrhea on and off for the past 4 months that we have had her, it would get better when I gave her rice,chicken, plain Greek yogurt, pumpkin and would get worse when we would go back to kibble and we have tried many different brands. The last being the wellness grain-free puppy food. Two-three weeks ago the stool sample finally showed giardia. Unfortunately, I did not check with you guys and the vet gave her 10 days on metronidazole. Now, as I understand, I should give her some sort of probiotics. I was also trying to switch her food to orijen as now it seems that her problems was mainly because of parasite and she may not need limited ingredient diet and Origen is the first recommended food on this website. Any suggestions on the type of probiatics? 

ps. She was spayed yesterday. Would you suggest any special food during the healing period?

Thanks in advance, I always get such good recommendations here, thanks for your support.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would not do any food switching until the giardia is completely gone, (confirmed by a negative fecal), the meds are finished, and she's been on a good probiotic for a week. It will confuse the issue, and if the diarrhea continues, you won't know what is causing problems. I'm assuming that she's on meds after the spay surgery, too, so that's going to further complicate things. 

Right now, before you do anything else, order Proviable DC probiotics online. Do that now. Make sure that you don't give it within 2 hours of any meds, and longer would be better. I would give the probiotics for at least a month, especially if you're going to be changing her food.

[Mary]

Thanks a lot Karen, I am glad I read your previous advise to another person in this website, I really do not want her to go to few more rounds of the past.

I just ordered it with 1-day shipping, so it should get here by tomorrow. Belfi is 55lbs now, she is a big girl, should I still give her one capsule a day?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The dosing for the Proviable should be on the packaging, I'd follow that. 

I also wanted to mention that if a repeat fecal comes up still positive, ask your vet for Panacur, not metronidazole. I would insist on it. Studies have shown Panacur to be more effective and it has fewer side effects. 

[Mary]

Thanks Karen,

If I use panacur should I use Proviable after that as well or it does not affect the good bacteria? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Panacur doesn't destroy all of the good bacteria the way metronidazole does, but I would still give the probiotics. With the digestive issues going on for so long, she can use all the good bacteria she can get, and there is no down side to giving them.