Hadley and the upset tummy

M

marymrumfelt

Forums Enthusiast
So last week I was traveling for work and my three dogs stayed with a pet sitter. They usually eat a raw diet only -- nothing processed. The pet sitter preferred kibble and we were desperate so we went with it. Anyway, the two younger ones, who have iron stomachs, did fine. Hadley, my sheltie, didn't. They ate kibble Tuesday/Wednesday and Thursday they went back to raw. Friday she started having diarrhea and drops of blood -- then she refused to eat Saturday/Sunday. Yesterday she did have quail, bone only, but much less than normal due to her pickings. She ended up having diarrhea twice last night in the middle of the night and refused to eat today. She's had once accident, mostly mucus-y and a little blood mixed in.

Two things:

1. On Thursday the pet sitter gave them some treats that turned out to have Chinese ingredients. One of their dogs was rushed to the vet Saturday b/c she'd be vomiting and had diarrhea -- lots of it. Hadley hasn't vomited or acted sick in any other way.

2. We're moving so we're packing and things are a mess. Hadley was a rescue, most likely re-homed during a move, so she's stressed.

Could these be it? I'm going to give her some slippery elm, as that helped over the weekend, and possibly make some broth for her? I don't really want to do rice, as I can't find any nutritional value to it. Is rice mainly to fill them up? If so, I'd rather to quinoa since I have it on hand.

I'm just worried she's going to get weak as she's only eaten about one meal since Friday! She has been sick before and doesn't eat, so it's not unusual, but this time has been longer than before. Oh, I forgot, our AC is broken and in Arkansas landlord isn't required to fix it (hence the move) and she is hot, not horrible, but hot. She's drinking plenty of water, though and not acting sick in any other way....

Could stress cause this?
 
The rice helps to firm things up as well as give them some carbs to help when they are sick. I know that when Riley is on chicken and rice he barely has any poop (even once things start moving), so although it seems that there is limited nutrients, their body does utilize most of the rice :smile2:

I think stress may definitely have had some hand in this, between switching between raw and kibble and back, new treats, new person (petsitter) AND moving....thats a lot of stress for anyone.
 
I agree with Danielle. Rice will give her some bulk and help stabilize her system. I'd use plain white rice though, brown rice or the other kinds you might want to use may be too much for her now. If you make it with some chicken broth it might be more appealing to her.

It sounds like it's a perfect storm of stress for Hadley...moving, heat, bad food. I hope she perks up soon!
 
Ann said:
I agree with Danielle. Rice will give her some bulk and help stabilize her system. I'd use plain white rice though, brown rice or the other kinds you might want to use may be too much for her now. If you make it with some chicken broth it might be more appealing to her.

It sounds like it's a perfect storm of stress for Hadley...moving, heat, bad food. I hope she perks up soon!
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Thanks, guys, for the replies. Okay. I'm definitely going to make her some broth right now -- it takes a while to cook so I better start it! I only have beef or lamb bones, though -- no chicken. I suppose I could buy some organic broth -- I just feel like the store ones have so much sodium! I'll get some rice at the store and make her that. I have never given a dog rice, but it sounds like you guys know what you're talking about!

Poor Hadley is just hiding under the bed while we pack... she's a nervous wreck!
 
biowicks said:
With both blood and mucus in the stool, I'd take Hadley to the vet asap.
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Thanks, but since she isn't showing any other signs, I'm going to hold off... but thanks for the suggestion :) She only had drops of blood in her poop -- not just straight blood. Mucus, I've read is just a sign of inflammation...she did drink some slippery elm eat so I hope that helps! I will definitely keep an eye on her and if anything changes, our vet is about 2 minutes away!
 
Thanks, everyone, again. My girlfriend went to the store to get some organic broth and rice for her. I'll make it up when she gets back. She hasn't had any more incidents, luckily. You know what's odd -- she seems to have her accidents when I'm gone! We ran to the store this morning for 10 minutes and she had an accident and previously she had one when we were gone. Besides waking me up in the middle of the night, it's only when I'm gone. Maybe it's stressing her out me leaving and everything out of place and out of whack. I wish I could just explain to her she's coming with her momma and has nothing to worry about!

She's playing/begging/and wanting love so I really don't think she's sick. I wish I had a doggie xanax for her! ;) I will put her in the crate from now on when we leave and maybe that will help --but then what if she has an accident in the crate and is stuck in it? Hmmmm?
 
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