Sick Dog - Need Advice

[DisneyDmbNut]

I have a Vet appointment tomorrow, but I am sure y'all experienced pet owners can give me some insightWARNING...MAY BE TMI FOR THE WEAK STOMACH PEOPLE)

Monday, Feb 26th my Min Pin Sami had a very runny, semi formed "poop" (gee, I am such a mom!) in DD's room in front of her door..we cleaned it up, but since this has never happened, we thought she just got trapped in the room and couldn't hold it...till she did it again on the staircase while we were cleaning.
She then pooped about 4 more times in her kennel.
We made her some toast and let her nibble on that every 30 minutes as tolerated.
Then she was fine till Sunday the 4th when she pooped again(very mucousy and semi formed...again we did the toast..she has been fine till last night at midnight when she pooped in DD's bedscared1 and all over the back patio as we cleaned sheets then in her kennel about 4 times this morning.

Some hx: I bought a new bag of dog food about 4 days before the 26th..same brand and type she had before...but I am wondering if I have a bad bag...she looked thin and we increased her food intake right before the first attack (we first thought maybe her stomach couldn't handle that much food) but now I am thinking maybe she was getting skinny from a parasite??

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Hercules10]

How old is she and do ya'll let her run around outside frequently (I.e. big backyard or ???)?

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

She is 2 and no, she doesn't run in the yard..she goes out only on a leash

 

[Hercules10]

My dogs have gotten upset tummies before and went on poop binges. It's usually because they got a hold of a old bone thats been in the back-yard for a week or two. Or they just found something that they HAD to knaw-on, but wasn't good for them. It's amazing what they find that you'll never know about.

Ten to one the vet will give her some doggie pepto (you can get some OTC at pet shops) and tell you that if it lasts longer then a few days to bring her back.

Good luck!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Would it last longer than a week?? she seems fine when she eats the toast and for a few days after she is on her food, then it hits her...that is why I first suspected the food was maybe bad..

I am just not experienced enough with dog sickness..this is her first time being sick in 2 years

 

[robinb]

I would change her food back to the original one and see if she gets better. She might be allergic to something in the new food.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

it is the same Brand (IAMS) and type (Small Toy - under 20lbs) that she ate before..it was just a new bag

Is it even possible to get a bad bag of food??

 

[almacdonald]

Try feeding her some rice and plain ground beef. That's usually what a vet will tell you to feed a dog with an upset tummy. If she's only having problems when she's eating food from the new bag of dog food, throw it out! It is entirely possible that you got a bad batch. I hope your puppy feels better soon!

 

[car55]

I would suspect the food,but have the vet do a blood workup on her to rule out any other problems. also check to see if she has bad breath which could indicate dental problems.

 

[Hercules10]

it is the same Brand (IAMS) and type (Small Toy - under 20lbs) that she ate before..it was just a new bag

Is it even possible to get a bad bag of food??

Yup! I've had it happen to me before!

Maybe you've read about the BENEFUL scare recently? If the food is stored improperly it can get grow mold.

I'd go to the pet store. Get the anti-diarhea syrup and a small bag of her usual food. If she's OK on the new bag of food then you know what's the culprit.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Thanks..I will still take her to the vet to make sure it isn't parasitic, but it is good to know that maybe it could be just the food..poor thing is already skinny by nature, but now I can see her ribs!

oh.and she isn't acting abnormal (other than being cold, because she has no fat on her) she is running and playing
My future Vet - AUBURN VET MED - HERE IS OUR WALLET!

 

[juligrl]

Yup, it could be a bad bag of food. We've had it happen too.

I'd stick with the bland diet - my vet reccommended rice and boiled chicken. When you do start her back on food do a mostly rice and food mixture and gradually increase the food and decrease the rice.

My dog had issues like yours is for a stretch of about two weeks. She'd seem to get better then it would happen again. Finally figured out it must be the food, pitched that bag and her issues resolved themselves. I also gave her a bit of plain yougurt to help get her digestive system back on track.

 

[Hercules10]

I also gave her a bit of plain yougurt to help get her digestive system back on track.

Forgot about that. Good suggestion. Yogurt (plain old non-fat yogurt) really helps with their digestion.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

My dog has had stomach issues like you describe. I think its due to something he gets into and must run its course. In your case rather than question the new bag of food I would eliminate it totally and feed your dog some rice with chicken for a few days and see what happens. Don't go back to the original bag buy a new one. Also it is possible your dog may suddenly have an aversion/allergy to the food you are feeding her. I hope she feels better soon.

 

[ducklite]

Some good advice here, but I'd like to add a couple of things.

Bring a fresh stool sample to the vet. The easy way to get it is to turn a Zip-Lock inside out, put your hand inside, scoop it up, turn it back to right side out by pulling your hand back through, and zip it shut. Even leashed animals can pick up a number of parasites by walking on grass them grooming themselves once they've come back inside.

I would strongly suggest changing the food just in case. I wouldn't use a chicken and rice formula, a lot of animals are allergic to chicken! Instead use a lamb/turkey and rice or lamb/turkey and barley formula.

Keep the bad bag, if it is the food you'll want to get in touch with IAMS. I've gotten bad bags of food before, it's not fun. Performance Foods had to recall every bag they had produced over a three month period due to food that was so bad it killed half a dozen pets about seven years ago.

I wouldn't give her actual yogurt. The dairy could further upset her GI tract. Instead get acidophilus capsules and sprinkle them onver her food.

Anne