I really need some advice re my GSD - Page 3

I would insist on a giardia antigen test as well as coccidia test to be SENT OUT..while it does sound suspect that this happened after you administered the rimadyl /anesthia could be the cause, I would think , as you, after 10 days it would have righted itself.

Maybe stress from the experience is giving him an epi flare up? Don't know,,but I would not just go by a plain vet fecal test either. I would send a sample out for further testing. and while pepto/immodium may help,,I don't give either to my dogs, sometimes its best to let 'whatever it is' get out of the dogs system vs plugging them up and masking a real problem.

I also cannot give immodium/pepto to my aussie as she is an mdr1 gene carrier the stuff could literally kill her. I have used sulfasalazine when no other explanation can be found for a bought of severe diarhea which works very well, doesn't plug them up but firms up the stools quickly.  Tylan comes to mind as well.

Hope you get to the bottom of it

diane

The vet has prescribed three medications based on a probable diagnosis of giardia/coccidia - which is what Diane suspected.

They are Albon,  Metronidazole and Fortiflora for canines. I will be administering them commencing tomorrow morning.

Would welcome any feedback on these medications and possible side-effects. I  did google them and they mention a host of potential side-effects on the first two but am not whether some of these side-effects are being listed as a CYA type move by the companies that produce the medications.

Mickey, I have been giving him a three teaspoons of pure canned pumpkin with each meal.

Posted in error

"Suspected Diagnosis" of parasites??  unless he sent out a fecal to the lab, not just running on in the clinic, I'd want more... "running a fecal" can be anything from a floatation test to having the lab run it, with varying degrees of accuracy. Have some poop sent to the lab ASAP if it hasn't been done, and get to the bottom of it with a yes or no answer.

I agree 100% with Tigermouse.

Get all tests you can. If you have given your dog Rimadyl, you want to make sure it has not done any damage.

If you vet won't, go to another vet. Your bestfriend will thank you for it.

I personally was not so lucky with my German Shepherd.

http://www.dog-arthritis-resource.com/i-killed-my-dog/

I do applaude you for at least knowing the side effects to look for.

If anyone on this board plans on or are currently giving their dogs Rimadyl, please educate yourself and learn more about this drug.

http://www.dog-arthritis-resource.com/side-effects-of-rimadyl/

Geng

Thanks again for all the input.

I started him on the medications that the vet prescribed. He is still on a bland rice and chicken diet. I am glad that I stopped the Rimadyl when I did. I want to see how he responds to the medications and whether that takes care of the recurrent diarrhea.

The most encouraging thing which cause me to feel that it is not something serious is that he is lively and very much himself other than this problem.

Just by way of update, I am glad to report that my GSD is fine after completing the medications that were prescribed so it does appear that he must have caught some bug or perhaps it was latent and erupted during/after the surgery.

One thing I have noticed, however, is that he now has a voracious appetite. At the start - when he was a couple of days into the medication - I thought the increased appetite was playing "catch-up" after he had been on a limited diet for several days. But now it has been a week and he still eaths more than he ever used to do - and seems constantly hungry. He used to be an almost picky eater - but now that has gone by the wayside and his appetite reminds me of when he was a pup.

Any thoughts on the reasons for the change in appetite?

did you get the TLI test done???

KTF--it's possible he might have not been feeling very well for some time, but it was only making him feel unwell in a generalized sort of way, nothing specific that you'd notice.  The meds he was given might have cleared out his system more than you (or the vet) realized!  In a good way, of course!  Pigging out sounds like he's back on the mend.  As long as it tapers off in a week or so, and he gets back down to eating his normal portions.  Or he could just have a better appreciation for life!