Seven-month old puppy still has diarrhea after for days on Flagyl (generic)

Oops, made a mistake. No chicken in the Fromms Heartland for puppies, grain free. It is beef, lamb and pork. Here are the ingredients:
A grain-free red meat recipe for puppies and pregnant or nursing mothers. Naturally formulated with beef, pork, and lamb. Enhanced with probiotics to aid digestion.

Ingredients
Beef, Pork Meat Meal, Peas, Lentils, Chickpeas, Potatoes, Dried Whole Egg, Dried Tomato Pomace, Pork Fat, Salmon Oil, Pork Liver, Flaxseed, Pea Flour, Cheese, Lamb, Brewers Dried Yeast, Alfalfa Meal, Potassium Chloride, Carrots, Lettuce, Celery, Salt, DL-Methionine, L-Tryptophan, Taurine, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Sodium Selenite, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Vitamins, Minerals, Probiotics.

Guaranteed Analysis
  • Crude Protein 27% MIN
  • Crude Fat 18% MIN
  • Crude Fiber 6.0% MAX
  • Moisture 10% MAX
  • Omega 3 Fatty Acids 0.6% MIN
  • Omega 6 Fatty Acids 2.6% MIN
 
This looks like a good option. Still three proteins but since he's done well on the beef you may be OK. If this doesn't work, you might consider a limited ingredient food with a single protein. Good luck!
 
Ann said:
This looks like a good option. Still three proteins but since he's done well on the beef you may be OK. If this doesn't work, you might consider a limited ingredient food with a single protein. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks, Ann. Early this morning he vomited bile. I know he is not getting much food, several small portions per day of this ground beef and Bran cereal mixture.I have an appointment to see the vet this morning. He is still acting normally and very playful.I am bringing in a fresh stool sample. I am thinking he may want to do a blood chemistry. I will ask about switching to the grain free food.
 
fyi-another really good habit to get into that I use to do and then got lazy but have started up again. Paw baths. In our toxic environment, it is a really good practice to do a paw bath or washing especially when they are exposed to different or new territory. You just never know what they can be exposed to these days and it is a quick proactive preventative measure. My mom was on the germaphobic dial. She had us washing hands a lot as kids and I know I always try to wash well after public places because many people are neglecting this. Now I am stepping up with my girls when we are out and about, because I don't need the icky in my home. The first thing my girls do after walking is lay down and lick their paws, so I want to "interrupt" anything getting "in" that doesn't need to be there.
 
Thank you, Tess. Update...switched to California Naturals, lamb and rice, four ingredients, last week, an adult food, and has done well. I took him to the vet last week and his stools were normal, no parasites, giardia....and he said judging by his temperament and energy level, he feels he is ready for adult food and that might change the bowel movements. He indicated he was almost fully grown, and didn't need the puppy food. Our thinking is maybe his system wasn't handling the puppy food as well any longer. Fingers crossed, now that we switched to California Naturals.

When I mentioned Jackson vomiting bile early in the morning, he indicated that many times, an under diagnosed problem can be acid reflux. He said he's not concerned if a dog vomits bile in the early morning after lying down all night and sleeping. Now, of course, if this becomes a pattern, then it would be worth looking into. But he said a random vomit with bile is no concern. He also was not too concerned about a loose movement every now and then. I only brought it up because the vomiting of the bile preceded the diarrhea episode and explosions last month.

Now i am back at the coastal home for a few days, which is where the initial diarrhea episode began. I am wondering if it is the water. Our water at home is very good and one of the best rated in the country. The coastal home's water is not as good. Last night, soft, but not diarrhea. This morning, the same thing, just soft. I am not going to worry anymore. He is eating well, playing and acting normally. No red flags. I just think puppies sometimes go through mysterious, unexplainable conditions as they and their digestive system mature. It has been a mystery and who knows, perhaps it is something as simple as the water. I do have a filter on our fridge water dispenser and that is all he drinks, so it is not unfiltered water. Who knows, but one can drive themselves crazy trying to figure out these issues when there may never be an explanation!

Interestingly, Jackson did so well on the Fromm Puppy gold and had no digestive issues, never vomited or had diarrhea until late August. I think Jackson grew pretty quickly, too, maybe too quickly, and I am hoping he has slowed down. About 16" at the withers and 23 pounds. I would like to put him back on a Fromm product, but right now, I will stick with the California Natural lamb and rice.

Thank you, everyone, for your great suggestions and comments.
 
California Naturals is a good product and I do think he'll do better on a single protein until you get him sorted out. Interesting that you should mention the water! Water can indeed be the culprit of gastro issues. Whenever we go to a show, or travel anywhere, we carry our own water from home, even if the water is good where we're going. A change in the water chemistry can wreak havoc with a dog's system. You might consider bringing a few gallons of water with you from your home when you travel. It might solve the problem!

I can't recall how old your pup is, but we switch to adult food at 6 months old, unless the puppy needs to gain weight or growth. Most Shelties are ready for that transition by then, and start to pack on the pounds if you keep them on puppy food. It sounds like you're on the right track.
 
Thanks, Ann. Jackson is 7-1/2 months and is a large Sheltie. Wondering if I should have stopped th puppy food soon. He is about 16" at the withers and ranges from 22-24 pounds. He is larger than his full-grown predecessor!! The vet thought he was ready for adult food. I know I have read about puppies growing too quickly and the risk for hip displaysia. Hoping I didn't predispose my little guy! :(

Jackson drank the local water all summer while we were at our summer home and did fine. Firm stools all summer until late August. I bought bottled water yesterday and will see if I see an improvement. Thankful his sweet spirit, playfulness and appetite are unchanged. He sure is a sweet boy! Wish I knew how to post a picture!
 
Just thought I would share the latest update with Jackson. His stools continue to be firm and normal. I am pleased and the more I thought about this, I think he had some kind of gastro bug. As with humans, these gastro issues can linger for one month. The water he consumed all summer at our summer place never wreaked havoc with his stools and there was no change in diet. The two fecal tests were negative for Giardia, parasites, etc. While initially thinking it might be the puppy food, I did try the California Natural four-ingredient food (lamb) and he did fine. Since we have been home, his stools have been perfect and I even tried the Fromm Puppy Gold (i know, crazy me, why take a chance) but I was fairly certain it was not his food, which he has done beautifully on since he was eight weeks old. I am switching him to adult food this weekend and will stick with the Fromm. He has grown so quickly and seems to be steady at 24 pounds the last few weeks.

I want to thank all of you for your thoughts, comments and suggestions. I truly appreciated hearing from my fellow sheltie owners/lovers! :)
 
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