Advice on diarrhea, please - Page 1

Drake had a very loose stool on wednesday morning, cow pie consistency, nothing else for the rest of the day.  Thursday his stool was formed but soft.  Yesterday, pure liquid.  We went to the vet and there was not only blood but also colon cells in the stool.  He is on Lomotile tablets (two tablets daily) and Pro-Pectalin gel (8 cc's, three times daily) since about 5 o'clock last night.  I am to keep a close eye out for any vomitting and bring him back Monday if no improvement.  He still has an appetite and the vet told me not to change his diet for now, until we figure out what's going on.  Since last night, he has had completely liquid squirts every time he goes out.  I'm really worried and would like some input as to what could possibly be causing this and how worried should I be???  He hasn't gotten into anything, that I know of and would be very surprised if he did, he's not one to touch anything unless it's given to him, although I'm one to "never say never".   Any advice would be appreciated, don't want to take ANY chances with his health.  He is two years old, diet is Blue Buffalo and raw knuckle bones about once a week, period, no table food of any kind

Sounds like he has gotten a hold of something that has irritated his bowel.  Try adding canned pumpkin to his meals to help solidify his stools.  What ever it is, hopefully he's passed it and he just needs time for his tummy to calm down.  Keep us posted so we know how the two of you are doing.  Good luck. 

I'm not sure about the tablets he's already put on but my youngest dog gets diarrhea like that every so often and I do a round ot metronidazole.  Seems to stop the liquid poo instantly.  Also my vet said if he is very close to needing his heartworm med, to give him that as well b/c it clears out so many parasites.  My puppy is outside a lot and travels with me a lot so he picks up a lot of crap doing tracks and also eating off the ground (I feed my dogs outside when the weather is nice).

Thanks, I will try the pumpkin, I've heard that before but when it's going on I seem to panic and forget what I already know. He endured six months and 20,000 miles on the road with no problems. I am currently searching for a home, staying with a friend. She has 3 dogs and a cat so he is not loose and always on lead when out. Her dogs are smaller and the cat, although small, has major attitude, so he's never allowed loose in the house, I take no chances. During the day, he spends some time on the large back deck, nothing to get into. The only things out there are furniture and plants and a large mulberry tree dropping berries. I didn't think mulberries could make him sick, even if he ate them, but I can't be sure. At night, he sleeps with me in the bedroom and also is in the bedroom if I must go somewhere without him. So, I don't know how it's possibe he got into anything because he's pretty much moitored now more than ever before. I am in the process of divorce, life has been crazy for the last year and he's the best thing I got in the settlement.  Actually, he's the only thing that's gotten me through to this point so even a small health issue is huge, he's the only thing I have left. He's more than a dog, he's my future, the reason I get up every morning.  We do everything together, and I mean EVERYTHING. So, if I seem a little paniced over a loose stool...

Yogurt yogurt yogurt it has the natural enzymes to kill bacteria.

1 banana
1/2cup of oatmeal
1 cup of yogurt

This will improve it. When a baby has the runs what would you give it? Not pumpkin that can harbor more bacteria and can produce acid build up in the stomach causing more inflammation.

Just a thought :o)

I do believe the medication is either starting to take effect, or he's getting over whatever it is.  But, now a new question.  He just went and although still very soft, it does have some form but is very light in color.  My granddaughter almost died when she was 3 yo and liver funcion was an issue.  Light colored stool was one of the symptoms.  My vet is closed today so I can't call to ask.  I'm not sure if it's the same in dogs but I would think there would be similarities.  If, indeed, there is a problem with liver function, could it be something more serious??  Thank you to those who replied, it is appreciated.  I don't think yogurt would hurt and I'm on my way to the store, I will try that.  He hates bananas, spits them out so I don't think that would work.  I never tried oatmeal but we'll see if I can mix that with the yogurt (cooked or raw oatmeal?).  I have heard about pumpkin on more than one occasion, didn't know it harbored bacteria but I'll check it out.  I'm kind of thinking that if he is showing improvement through today, I'll stick to his regular diet but it wouldn't hurt to lower the portion and try the oatmeal and yogurt as a supplement.   ???

I buy the small cans of pumpkin and use each can until it's gone, storing it in the fridge.  Not sure why it would harbor anymore bacteria than anything else if properly handled.  Usually one can of it will do it, sometimes we go through two.  I use yogurt from time to time if she gets a real bad case just to balance the bacteria in her tummy. I don't know what to say about the light stools except Echo's are lighter the more often she goes.  If she retains it for any length of time it darkens.  Of course with pumpkin, it's orange.  Hope everything turns out for you.  Keep us posted. 

You can either give raw or cooked with no sugar, no salt just oatmeal.

Thank you so much!  He seems to be improving but I don't want to count my chickens just yet.  I offered to take him down a few minutes ago and he wasn't interested!!  Major step in the right direction.  I'll keep you posted and let you know how he's doing.  My vet seemed more concerned about the possibility of vomitting (obstruction) and at least we haven't had any of that.  He will be there for an hour tomorrow so if anything has changed for the worse, he'll be taken in ASAP.  In the meantime, I'm just trying to keep him quiet and hydrated.  I got the yogurt, oatmeal and already have some pumpkin.  I haven't checked out the bacteria thing with the pumpkin (I'm sure there's info out there somewhere in cyberspace, haven't had the time to search) so I'll hold off on that for now.  I will try the yogurt and oatmeal at dinner time.  Thank you again, the advice is much appreciated!!!

I usually hold her food for one time to clear her stomach and go for rice and yogort also limit her water intake by putting ice in her water ,,,,,,,,,,too much water can cause loose stool also ,