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diarrhea, when it is time to go to the vet?
Our 5 month old golden was completely fine and happy all day yesterday. We woke up to barking at 3am (he normally sleeps through the night), and he has diarrhea (not just the soft poop, the really wet, exploding kind). We went like 2-3 times outside within being there for 20 mins. We went back in and he slept in his crate. So DH and I went back to bed. We got woken up again at 7am barking and he went with diarrhea outside, this time just once, and now he has been sleeping for 2 hrs after I gave him a little bit of food. He wanted more but I was not sure if he needs his tummy calm down for a bit. I tried to make him drink water, but he did not drink as much as I would like him to.
He ate his usual treats and chew toys. We just switched him from Wellness Core to TOTW, it was a quick switch (4 days) but he has been eating just TOTW for a week now so I don't think that may be the problem. He could have picked up something from outside during our walks without me noticing.
This is the first time this ever happened so we are not quite sure what to do, what to feed him? Any suggestions? How long should be wait before going to the vet?
Re: diarrhea, when it is time to go to the vet?
Puppies can get sick easily, so I would take any changes seriously. It could be something little like the food just isn't agreeing with him or he has contracted a worm/parasite, or something major like he ate something he shouldn't have. I presume he is up to date on vaccines? If not Parvo is always a concern with liquid diarrhea in puppies. Is he vomiting? The good thing is he is still eating. If no vomit and eating, chances are it isn't an emergency, but I'd recommend contacting a vet, dropping off a fecal and getting puppy on flagyl (anti-diarrhea meds) before he becomes too dehydrated. If he stops eating or is vomiting, I'd bring in to the vet immediately.
As for what to feed him in the meantime-white rice and boiled chicken is bland enough not to upset the digest tract. I always keep canned pumpkin on hand for diarrhea, but I've never given it to a puppy, so I'd ask about that 1st.
Not to scare you of course! Puppies can go downhill quickly and a call to your vet will let you know if they feel you should bring him in, bring in a fecal or can treat at home. Good luck!!
Boiled hamburger will work in place of chicken as well. You'll want to give him this for a couple days. If his diarrhea lasts more than a day or so without any improvement, I would call the vet.
Here is my experience with the big
My 3 year old dog was having bouts of explosive diarrhea and it would always get better within a day with the boiled chicken or hamburger and rice. However, she would get it about once a month, which isn't normal. After a few months of this we took her in to the vet and they didn't find anything wrong with her poo so the vet suggested a change to grain free food (we were feeding Wellness, but not CORE). We changed to Taste of the Wild grain free and viola! no diarrhea since and it's been about 8 months! I don't know exactly what it was in the Wellness that wasn't agreeing with her but just consider that if this is a problem that keeps coming back it could be the food. I really thought it couldn't be the food because she would be just fine for a month or 2 before the big D would come back. I see that you are already feeding TOTW but I guess my point is that if this isn't a one time thing you might try a new food to see if it just isn't agreeing with your pup.
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This is according to my Dog Owners Home Vetrinary Handbook:
Withhold food for 24hrs, but encourage them to drink as much water as they want.
For persistant diarrhea, you can give them Pedialyte, dilute it 1/2 w/water & add to their drinking bowl.
Acute diarrhea usually subsides after 24hrs of intestinal rest. Then start the dog on an easily digestable diet, ie: boiled hamburger (1 part drained meat to 2 parts cooked rice), or boiled chicken (boneless, skinless, cooked), Feed 3-4 small meals a day for the 1st 2 days, then slowly introduce the dogs regular food back in.
Obtain immediate vetrinary care if: the diarrhea lasts more than 24 hrs, the stool is black & tarry, diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, or the dog appears weak, or depressed, or has a fever.
*That being said, when Cooper has diarrhea like that, we stop feeding him his regular food right away. Then @ his next meal we give him rice & hamburger (or chicken depending on what we have). Then we watch him to see if he still has the diarrhea, or if he seems to be getting better. We usually have to do the rice diet for about 3 meals maybe? We've never had an instance where we've had to take him to the Vet b/c of it. But, he has a sensitive stomach, so lots of things give him diarrhea! I also give him a Tbsp of pure pumpkin (a couple times a month- b/c his stomach is so goofy & he gets the poops a lot), that helps bind him up too.
HTH & GL! I hope your puppy feels better soon! & I hope you can take a nap or something today to help you catch up on sleep!
We do something similiar when when of our fosters has diarrhea. We do ground turkey and brown rice though.
It's a bland meal that calms their tummies and has always worked for us. IF you try bland food like that and it doesn't stop then bring him in.
When our girl Penny was a puppy she had diarrhea a lot. She has a sensitive tummy and most foods were too rich for her. It took us awhile to find a food that we (based on nutritional quality) and she (her tummy) agreed on. She's since outgrown that sensitivity thankfully!
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