Alarming Diarhea

[sandramast]

Our Boxer Rescue male, "Cooper" is about 18 months old and the last several weeks has been having diarhea. It started out looking like worcestershire sauce with globs of liver type tissue. It stopped for several days and has started again today although now it is almost clear water with globs of liver type tissue and undigested grass. (Sorry for being so graphic)

He is not eating treats or dogfood, and is otherwise bouncy and happy. We have a vet appt tomorrow but was wondering if anyone knew anything about this? He is eating lamb and rice dry food mixed with wet by Kirkland.

 

[Vela]

I don't know much about kirkland food other than my mom feeds it to her 3 dogs as well. It could be the food but I don't know it could be something else. I am glad you are going to the vet! That doesn't sound good at all. Even when my dogs had diarrhea they went poo stuff it was just runny. It never came out like what you are describing. Perhaps you should check the ingredient listing on the dog food and compare it to others like wellness, canidae etc just to see if there is a glaring difference. A lot of times food can cause all sorts of digestive, skin and other problems. Let us know how the vet visit goes! Sending healing vibes to your boy.

 

[Tink]

I hope Cooper gets past this soon, esp with hot weather! Dehydration is a serious concern. Your vet will be able to tell you much more tomorrow. Until then.... this too shall pass. Has he been boarded recently, or been with other dogs? Could he have eaten anything around the house/yard? Think socks, sticks, any bizarre thing, these guys will try to eat it. Has he had recent shots or heartworm meds? Try to think when it started. The day and day prior. Where was he? What was he doing? Try to think a week before that, (if it's viral it could take a week to hit him) Did he drink from a puddle of water? Swim in a pond? The vet should do a blood workup. If you can get it, it couldn't hurt to bring in a sample of the stool. (or lack of).
Let us know how it goes and good luck.

 

[sandramast]

Thank you both for your replies.

Cooper could have eaten something, he is a real chewer and I've even seen sticks processed! He has not been boarded, had shots, or been out of my sight for months.

What is confusing is that he had this diarhea for two weeks, it stopped for five days then abruptly began again. I've queried my husband about pesticides and that doesn't not appear to be it.

It's really hot here in Arizona now, 112 today, in the teens all week so the dogs have been in the house primarily. Even so, dehydration is a concern.

Thanks again.

Coopers Mom

 

[adeinert]

It you are concerned about dehydration from the diarhea, you could give him some Pedialyte found in the baby section of a grocery/drug store. When I have had one dehydrated, I have had to give it to them with a syringe. I get the unflavored and they don't mind it. It may be hard to get a sick boxer to drink much on his/her own.

Hope feels better soon and your vet has some answers.
Ashlie

 

[matilda8255]

Coopers mom -
Strangely all my dogs were sick for about a week for no good reason! They just got over it 2 days ago and we are in AZ also.
I got them some Sulfazine from the vet and it cleared them up in a couple days. Weird, huh. I thought maybe there food was bad cause we couldn't think of anything else that could have caused all three to get sick. You don't feed Azmira Lamb do you? I returned my bag and got a new one just to be safe.

Stephanie

 

[sandramast]

Hi everyone,

The vet visit went well. Cooper's stool was negative for giradia (sp?) but showed a high level of bacteria. He is on Metronidazole for a week and Hills i/d dog food (free promo through the Vet!).

Matilda - I have been feeding them Kirkland (Costco's private label on a major manuf. brand) for the last several months.

The vet wasn't sure if the bacteria count was the primary or secondary cause/symptom. The good news is that Cooper's last "episode" was yesterday afternoon and he has eaten two small meals since then without a problem. The vet suggested if this is recurring to switch him from time to time to human rice and boiled chicken or cooked grnd beef.

Thankyou all again for your concern, ideas, and support.

Coopers Mom

 

[Tink]

Yay Cooper! I'm happy to hear that he's doing a bit better. I hope the meds help his system and kill those buggies. If he has a flare-up rice and boiled chicken or hambuger meat is good. Plain yogurt is also good to get the good bacteria back up to normal too. You may want to think about switching brands of food to one wil fewer fillers in it. If you do a search on here for "premium" foods, or look in the Whole Dog Journal there is a lot to be said for foods with fewer fillers and additives. Boxers tend to have sensitive stomachs.
Keep getting better Cooper!! Stop scaring mommy! :D

 

[adeinert]

I know you must be relieved to know he is on the road to recovery.
Ashlie

 

[FlashyTitus]

That great. Glad to hear he is doing o.k. With all of these new virures going around it kinda spooks you when something like this happens to one of your pets doesnt it.