Needing some advice

[Doreen Davis]

I think giardia requires the protozoa to 'shed' to be caught on a stool sample or at least I think I remember hearing that from one of our vets. Most vets will at least give a course of therapy presumptively, especially with the smell you're describing. How much are you feeding him and when does he get his supper and what is the time between supper and bedtime and does he poo when he goes out for the last time before bed?

[Madalee]

I'm feeding Tonka around 6:45am before work 1 1/4 cup of his food - but right now he's strictly rice and chicken until I can speak to the company of the dog food.

He he eats again at 5:30 pm

i am absent most days during the week, but Tonka is here with my kids and the nanny, and everyone has promised he's not eating anything.

He he can't be eating his own poop as i am very persistent on cleaning it up after.

So so far we haven't had a sleepless night since last week.

Hitting up up the pharmacy tomorrow for probiotics.

Thanks everyone. I'll keep you updated.


*** I have done everything in my power to have him monitored closely. I do agree that another vets opinion will be my best bet.

[Doreen Davis]

So here are my two cents: I don't think he's getting into anything, most of these stories end up as a bacteria or something akin, or the potential of feeding too much food or the wrong kind of food (too rich sometimes). There might be something wrong with the food but more often than not, I go back to my first two :-). I can't remember the exact quote but something about it not often being the 'zebra'. Edited to add:

Zebra: In medicine, a very unlikely diagnostic possibility. It comes from an old saying used in teaching medical students about how to think logically in regard to the differential diagnosis: 'When you hear hoof beats, think of horses, not zebras.'

[Madalee]

Just a quick update

I FINALLY got in touch with the food company yesterday and they are sending Tonka out a brand new bag of food (free of cost thank goodness)
Just being on rice & chicken for the past few days, he has been fine, no more runs.

When the shipment comes in tomorrow I will give him his original 1.25 cups and see how we do that night, if the runs start back up Im going to take him off that food and find something else.

[Tanya]

Just a quick update

I FINALLY got in touch with the food company yesterday and they are sending Tonka out a brand new bag of food (free of cost thank goodness)
Just being on rice & chicken for the past few days, he has been fine, no more runs.

When the shipment comes in tomorrow I will give him his original 1.25 cups and see how we do that night, if the runs start back up Im going to take him off that food and find something else.

do a slow transition onto the food. feed 3/4 of his meal in rice/beef and 1/4 kibble the first day (per meal). then go half and half, then 3/4 kibble. How long you transition depends on the dog, you may need to do a few days of half and half.

Good luck!

[Madalee]

Thankyou!!
I didnt even think of that!

Im using chicken, I didnt know I could use beef..
What would I use?

[Tanya]

i think chicken is better beef. i just am used to calling it rice and beef haha. beef: the ground stuff

[windycanyon]

Giardia is not bacteria, it's a protozoa and would need different meds.

Wrigley, my Griff, had an over abundance of bacteria in her gut and we just could not get it under control. We did metronidazole from the vet. We did probiotics...all different kinds....

I bought some tylan online and starting giving her some each meal and in about a week, the problem with solved.

PM me if you want the link on Amazon and how I gave it. And BTW, the vet knew what I was doing and approved it and it worked.

Tylan is going to require a prescription now. I am glad I had bought some before it did as it worked wonders on my puppies this spring when they'd break w/ whatever.
My one vet sends all fecals out to a lab for testing now because they said they missed too much coccidia and giardia in their in house test.

[Madalee]

UPDATE (for the love of god I'm losing my damn mind)


Tonkas been on chicken and rice while waiting for his new shipment, came in Monday morning. Did half cup rice and half cup food Monday for breakfast, then dinner and yesterday as well.
Had a nice poop last night on our walk, was finally reassured that he's all good.

Woke me me up half hour ago. He has the shits again. HAS to be this damn food. Right??

[Tanya]

it may have been too much to go half and half. and I think (but you should talk to your vet) that once the system is "upset" then it ccan be very hard to get it settled. But you also can't keep feeding rice and chicken as it's not a fully balanced meal for a growing puppy (good in the short term but not for too many weeks).

It sucks that the vet cannot help you. I'd ask about some good probiotics to help his gut and maybe start on a food more balanced but gentle on the gutt to get it stronger then transititon to a permanent food slowly (and this may be 1/4 new food for a few days before going half and half)