diarrhea in an Older Dog

Y

Yankee Hammond

Forums Regular
Looking for some advise
I am not sure what started this. I have an older sheltie just turned 11 years old. Two Saturdays ago I gave her a marrow bone she has had them before. The next day she went to her normal agility play group and drank water from the community bucket. Come to find out one of the pups had been recently sick with diarrhea and treated with metronidazole and fine.
We are not sure when she started the soft stools it could have been before the marrow bone or after.
Anyway she had diarrhea from that Sunday on and off. We kept hoping it would get better but it got worse and then she threw up once. We took her to the vet that Thursday who suggested lay off food and start with chicken and rice. We did and had a follow up for that Saturday. We thought things were getting better but when we got to the vet she started pacing and we thought she had to go out so we went out and she threw up the chicken and rice and then tried to poo.
The vet then checked her out again, gave her fluids, had us lay off food again, give anitbiotics and metronidazole with probiotics and suggested we start a couple tablespoons of vet food the next day. We did she didn't poo for a bit but when she did the next poos were very soft. Then a day of not pooing, then one semi-soft poo - and now the following Friday night and Saturday we are back to real soft stools. Any suggestions or help. Of course, we will be back to the vet Monday. I'm just real concerned. Otherwise she is eating well and somewhat herself
 
Welcome. Sorry to hear of your dog's illness.

I would suggest adding pure pumpkin to her food and also a probiotic, such as FortiFlora.
 
Yankee Hammond said:
Looking for some advise
I am not sure what started this. I have an older sheltie just turned 11 years old. Two Saturdays ago I gave her a marrow bone she has had them before. The next day she went to her normal agility play group and drank water from the community bucket. Come to find out one of the pups had been recently sick with diarrhea and treated with metronidazole and fine.
We are not sure when she started the soft stools it could have been before the marrow bone or after.
Anyway she had diarrhea from that Sunday on and off. We kept hoping it would get better but it got worse and then she threw up once. We took her to the vet that Thursday who suggested lay off food and start with chicken and rice. We did and had a follow up for that Saturday. We thought things were getting better but when we got to the vet she started pacing and we thought she had to go out so we went out and she threw up the chicken and rice and then tried to poo.
The vet then checked her out again, gave her fluids, had us lay off food again, give anitbiotics and metronidazole with probiotics and suggested we start a couple tablespoons of vet food the next day. We did she didn't poo for a bit but when she did the next poos were very soft. Then a day of not pooing, then one semi-soft poo - and now the following Friday night and Saturday we are back to real soft stools. Any suggestions or help. Of course, we will be back to the vet Monday. I'm just real concerned. Otherwise she is eating well and somewhat herself
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"Real soft stools" and diarrhea (the word means literally "flow through" in Greek) are two different things. In trying to treat for an actual dysenteric condition you might actually be causing the problem that's got you so worried.

Reminds me of the time I was chopping wood and got a splinter in my eye. After trying in vain to remove it, I took myself to the emergency room . The doctor looked and looked but couldn't find the splinter. It seems as if the splinter had scratched my sclera, causing the sensation of having something there, when in effect I had managed to remove it without being aware of it.
 
I've had a similar problem with my dogs for a week or so. Some vomiting, soft stools that are not quite diarrhea but not right, and normal behavior. Since they seem to be passing it between them I think it's a doggie virus. I did chicken/rice for the first day, added pumpkin for the stools, and have been adding plain white rice to their kibble since to firm up stools. Be sure your girl is drinking enough to avoid dehydration, especially in warm weather. And definitely a probiotic...mine get one every day. I use Natures Farmacy Digestive Enhancer. http://naturesfarmacy.com/store/products/dogzymes-digestive-enhancer-dissolvable-powder-1/

Since you've already used metronidazole, you've treated with an antibiotic. I think you just have to feed carefully including treats and chews and wait it out. Of course if it doesn't improve in a reasonable time, say a week, consult your vet again. Like you, I hope this passes soon!
 
Deska gets diarrhea a bit because of his mud eating. I've found the metronidazole doesn't quite stop firm up his stools so I give him Ensal enteric mix as well - half doses, twice a day for 2 days does the trick.

Also - what antibiotics are you giving? Some (like cephalexin) can cause diarrhea, so you may find once he's off the AB the stools firm up. Like Ann said, careful diet until then.
 
Keeping your sweet girl in my prayers for a quick and complete recovery.

Note: I, too, would suggest some canned, "pure" pumpkin mixed into her food.
 
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