As some of you know I changed charlies diet last weekend...it gave him horrible diarrhea with blood . I spoke to the vet on Tuesday night he said it was the food and to bring him in on Friday morning if it was not better. He gave me no advice other than that. Thanks to everyone here I started him on a bland diet california Natural chicken and rice. He went to the vet this morning and the vet said he had no virrus. Has anyone had any experience with this and does it last this long (5 days) I started him on the chicken and rice Tuesday. He is still active and appears fine other than the diarrhea. I'm getting nervous!!!!

Have you taken a stool sample into your vet and had them test it?

Sorry if this is redundant, just wanna get all the facts before I offer advice.

Have you taken a stool sample into your vet and had them test it?

Sorry if this is redundant, just wanna get all the facts before I offer advice.
He took a sample this morning and said it was fine.

Hrm... I'm not liking this. In part, I think you may not be asking your vet enough questions when you're at the office. When you take him in, did you ask him why Charlie still had the runs? If he said he didn't know, I would say, "Then do you mind if I go get a second opinion because he's a puppy and this should not be happening."

If you are asking those questions... and you are still not getting answers, I'd start looking for another vet.

Hrm... I'm not liking this. In part, I think you may not be asking your vet enough questions when you're at the office. When you take him in, did you ask him why Charlie still had the runs? If he said he didn't know, I would say, "Then do you mind if I go get a second opinion because he's a puppy and this should not be happening."

If you are asking those questions... and you are still not getting answers, I'd start looking for another vet.
I ask him why he still had the runs and was all this normal just over a dog food change that he only ate for two days and he said it may take a couple more days for him to get over it and bring him back Monday.

Are you still seeing blood in the stool?

Are you still seeing blood in the stool?
No...and he is still active, this just seems strange!

Hrm... I'm not a vet. I would stick with your vet's advice through this weekend then, and take him in on Monday if there is no improvement.

Hrm... I'm not a vet. I would stick with your vet's advice through this weekend then, and take him in on Monday if there is no improvement.
Thanks! I will definitely do that.

I personally don't think it hurts to call another vet and tell them your situation over the phone and see what they recommend.

I would tell them the exact date you changed the food, when you noticed the diarhhea and blood, when you went to the bland diet, and where you're at currently with her diet and diarhhea.

You are your dog's only advocate for their health, if you're not feeling good about the current vet there is no harm is researching another. Major was seeing a vet one of my best friend's recommend and uses for her 6 animals and loves. She was a good vet, but I just felt like our communication wasn't good and wasn't feeling comfortable with her. So I found another vet, and him and I are on the same page, I feel very comfortable and confident in him. And finding a vet that makes you feel at ease is like finding gold!

I personally don't think it hurts to call another vet and tell them your situation over the phone and see what they recommend.

I would tell them the exact date you changed the food, when you noticed the diarhhea and blood, when you went to the bland diet, and where you're at currently with her diet and diarhhea.

You are your dog's only advocate for their health, if you're not feeling good about the current vet there is no harm is researching another. Major was seeing a vet one of my best friend's recommend and uses for her 6 animals and loves. She was a good vet, but I just felt like our communication wasn't good and wasn't feeling comfortable with her. So I found another vet, and him and I are on the same page, I feel very comfortable and confident in him. And finding a vet that makes you feel at ease is like finding gold!
That is so true! Charlie has won my heart in a way that I cant even begin to describe and I only want the best care for him regardless how many dr's I have to see. Since my last reply, I did contact another vet and he will be going in the morning to see him.

If your vet tested the stool in house please consider having a sample sent out to the lab. Labs have much more extensive equipment.

Have a friend - 2 in house tests were negative - stool still not right - 3rd test sent to lab tested positive for giardia.

Good luck - hope you get answers at the new vet.

If your vet tested the stool in house please consider having a sample sent out to the lab. Labs have much more extensive equipment.

Have a friend - 2 in house tests were negative - stool still not right - 3rd test sent to lab tested positive for giardia.

Good luck - hope you get answers at the new vet.
Thanks! I went to your site and your baby's are beautiful!

Thanks! I went to your site and your baby's are beautiful!

Aw.... thank you. I think so too :-)

If your vet tested the stool in house please consider having a sample sent out to the lab. Labs have much more extensive equipment.
This is not true. When it comes to fecal analysis, a lab is only as good as the people reading/doing the test. One could do a fecal analysis with a simple microscope.

As some of you know I changed charlies diet last weekend...it gave him horrible diarrhea with blood . I spoke to the vet on Tuesday night he said it was the food and to bring him in on Friday morning if it was not better. He gave me no advice other than that. Thanks to everyone here I started him on a bland diet california Natural chicken and rice. He went to the vet this morning and the vet said he had no virrus. Has anyone had any experience with this and does it last this long (5 days) I started him on the chicken and rice Tuesday. He is still active and appears fine other than the diarrhea. I'm getting nervous!!!!

As I recall, you abruptly changed Charlie's diet and this gave him diarrhea. Then you changed to CN C&R. IMO CN C&R is not good to use as a bland diet because it contains flaxseed which is a natural laxative. Cooking for him would have been a better option. Diarrhea that's caused by a food change will usually clear up or greatly improve within a couple of days on a good bland diet.

Giardia can be very difficult to catch in a single sample and you usually have to test several different samples within a few days time. Sometimes a vet will take a direct sample from the dog to locate the giardia themselves instead of the shed cysts that are found in a poop sample. Some vets will go ahead and treat without a positive diagnosis if the symptoms warrant it and sometimes this is cheaper and faster in the long run. If Charlie has a mucosy poop, this would be a good sample to take in.

If you went back to the food that Charlie was eating before all the problems started he may have fared better, the CN C&R might not agree with his system. I would stop the CN C&R immediately and cook some C&R (or beef and rice) yourself. If you search the forum for "bland diet" you will probably find more information. A dedicated probiotic can help if you have some. Don't give him any additional treats.

Poor Charlie, I hope he straightens out soon. You can return the CN for a store credit or refund. Good luck.

This is not true. When it comes to fecal analysis, a lab is only as good as the people reading/doing the test. One could do a fecal analysis with a simple microscope.



As I recall, you abruptly changed Charlie's diet and this gave him diarrhea. Then you changed to CN C&R. IMO CN C&R is not good to use as a bland diet because it contains flaxseed which is a natural laxative. Cooking for him would have been a better option. Diarrhea that's caused by a food change will usually clear up or greatly improve within a couple of days on a good bland diet.

Giardia can be very difficult to catch in a single sample and you usually have to test several different samples within a few days time. Sometimes a vet will take a direct sample from the dog to locate the giardia themselves instead of the shed cysts that are found in a poop sample. Some vets will go ahead and treat without a positive diagnosis if the symptoms warrant it and sometimes this is cheaper and faster in the long run. If Charlie has a mucosy poop, this would be a good sample to take in.

If you went back to the food that Charlie was eating before all the problems started he may have fared better, the CN C&R might not agree with his system. I would stop the CN C&R immediately and cook some C&R (or beef and rice) yourself. If you search the forum for "bland diet" you will probably find more information. A dedicated probiotic can help if you have some. Don't give him any additional treats.

Poor Charlie, I hope he straightens out soon. You can return the CN for a store credit or refund. Good luck.
Thanks...Ok I feel stupid but what is dedicated probiotic?

Don't feel stupid, I should've explained better. When I say dedicated probiotic, I'm meaning a probiotic that you can get from a health food store either in capsule or powder form. You could use yogurt, I prefer and recommend a probiotic supplement. Some yogurt brands have high counts of beneficial bacteria but not near the amount found in a "dedicated probiotic".

You know... the more I read on this forum and the more I discover about illness in dogs... the less I like my vet... :D

More than one stool sample, hm? Mucosy looking stool, hm?

Oh yeah... we're gonna be having a conversation... and I think I owe my breeder an apology for scaring the crap out of her now.

I would definately make sure that the stool is specifically checked for ghiardia. Your dog can have it and not really show signs. Stress can really set it off, and the change in food would have been just enough stress to cause the problem. Jed just had a similar problem, I started introducing new food to his diet and he got the runs....which he's been having on and off for a while. When I had it checked, sure enough...ghiardia.

Yes, and if he's not improving by Monday I would take him in.

When I say dedicated probiotic, I'm meaning a probiotic that you can get from a health food store either in capsule or powder form. You could use yogurt, I prefer and recommend a probiotic supplement. Some yogurt brands have high counts of beneficial bacteria but not near the amount found in a "dedicated probiotic".


Doppler:
This is very interesting and brings me to a question. I have heard that the stomach is very acidic and kills off much of the probiotics in yogurt before they even reach the gut, which is where they are needed. That is why (or so I have been told) that the probiotics in capsule form are better. Is this true in your opinion?

It seems logical, I use capsules and I like easy. The amount of live CFU's (colony forming units) probably have a lot to do with it too.

You could ask the vet tomorrow what they think about giving your pup some promethizine (sp?) to settle his belly down while he is recovering. I think it is a form of phenegren. (sp?) I have used this often (with vets approval) and it really helped. Good luck...I am sure he will be feeling better soon.

How is Charlie doing?