Lizzie

[Lizmo]

I'm not sure where to put this, since it's sort of a health question and sort of a food question, but it would probably get more hits in this section. Basically, mods feel free to move it if you feel it would be better somewhere else.

Lizzie has loose stool. Simply put, no form at all. I first started really noticing the change when we gave up rawhide (because she would get sick when she ate them) and tried natural pig ears. So we stopped the pig ears and I'd say that's been about 2/3 weeks now. But, the loose stool still continues. Dog food is the same and we've been on two different bags, so I doubt it's a bad bag or something.

Could something have just changed in her to where she just can't handle this food anymore? Could it be a parasite of some type? Should I try deworming?

Next question is, if I do need to change her food, what should I do? Are there any foods (like pumkin, yogurt, etc?) that would help keep her regular that could be added to her dog food each day?

 

[JessLough]

Pumpkin works.

Could be worms. Can you see any in the poop? First thing I, personally would do, is to rule out worms. Take a stool sample to the vet for a fecal float, quick and easy. May want to have a fecal smear done too, since the float will not catch all worms.

 

[Lizmo]

No, nothing ever seen in the stool (of any of the dogs).

 

[MisssAshby]

It's possible that her body just can't handle the type of food in it, or something very small such as a ingredient changed in the food, etc.

I would take her off the food all together and give her body a chance to get back to normal (because obviously the food isn't allowing her body to function normally). I would then feed her boiled chicken, rice, and green beans and monitor. If it got better after that I would start a new food and add it slowly into the boiled chicken mixture until it was faded out completely. I would also give slippery elm while doing this and monitor. If the problem continued, never improves, or gets worse I would take her to the vet. If the slippery elm works for her chances are you'll be able to transition over to the pumpkin and it should help as well.

Good luck - I hope Lizzie starts feeling better soon.

 

[Beanie]

Auggie ended up with loose stool once and after it persisted for several days, I took him to the vet and they did a fecal float. I knew it wasn't worms but I couldn't figure out what was going on, because it was such persistent loose stool rather than just a day or two like he would normally have after eating something weird. Turned out he had an overgrowth of a natural digestive bacteria in his stomach. I had to use pumpkin to get his stools moving again after I think two days on the antibiotics they prescribed, but from then on his stool had firmed right back up and he was normal. So it could be something as simple as that, and she just needs antibiotics to get everything back to normal levels.

I'd get a fecal float done just to rule out anything like that, and if that doesn't turn anything up, I'd switch the food. You can also add green beans for fiber to see if that will help firm anything up.

 

[Lizmo]

Thank you thank you for the suggestions. I was trying to give it some time so the pig ear would be completely out of her system to rule that out first.

Odd question I guess. Do you just call your vet and ask to bring in a stool sample for analysis?

On the pumkin, what kind do you guys use?

 

[Brattina88]

Yup just call them, collect sample, and take it in. I usually wait for my results, but they offer to just call with the results. Depends on the vet, I guess

 

[Jules]

I just use the Libby's pumpkin... the one that's pure pumpkin without the spices. I also give t-bone a spoonful of plain yogurt with her food every day.

I hope Lizzie feels better soon!

 

[AllieMackie]

Yup, just call the vet and tell them you need a fecal float done - they'll tell you to bring in a stool sample. Floats are usually pretty inexpensive as well.

In the meantime, a dollop of pumpkin and yogurt, like folks have been saying.

 

[Lizmo]

I got some pumkin and yogurt this afternoon. Gave her some pumkin and cottage cheese tonight. We shall see! Thanks for all the help!

 

[Renee750il]

She could have picked up some bacteria from the pig ears that her gut wasn't ready to handle.

 

[ihartgonzo]

Dogs can develop food allergies at any point in their life! Particularly if they're kept on one food/meat source for a long period of time... if everything is cleared at the Vet, I would switch her to a grain-free food with a different meat source, like fish or rabbit. Nature's Variety Instinct Rabbit or Salmon is really good. Add yogurt/pumpkin/digestive aid for a week to make it easy on her tummy.

Personally, I wouldn't want to feed pumpkin forever to my dog. That fixes the symptom but not the root of the issue.

 

[Lizmo]

Oh, she won't be fed pumkin forever. She also hasn't been on the same protien source all her life.

Actually, she was on some TOTW Wetlands while she was having the stomach issues.