Now Morgan And Chase Have The Runs.

[Tracey]

Chase has been on chicken and rice for three days, much to his delight, and he was doing better so I was starting to add other stuff back in. Last night around bedtime Morgan had a diarrhea accident in the house. I didn't know who it was at first so I assumed it was Chase, but in retrospect I believe it was Morgan. Then after bed she went into the hall and had another accident. And a bit after that Chase had an accident too.

 

Both the foster boys are fine. You know that saying about when you're searching for an explanation the most obvious one is usually the correct one (I believe it's called Occam's razor)? Well, Morgan and Chase have NEVER had trouble with diarrhea. We bring in two foster boys two weeks ago and now they do. I do not think this is from stress. Morgan and Chase don't get stressed like that and they all seem to be getting on fine anyway. I'm concerned that Morgan and Chase could have picked something up from the fosters, something that, for whatever reason, doesn't bother the fosters at all. ANY ideas at all what could be going on?

Edited December 31, 2009 by Tracey

[macoduck]

Any change in food?

Have they any water from ponds, puddles or bird baths?

[RhodyGreys]

A change in food doesn't even have to be a different food, just a new bag: I had a bag of a high-quality brand name several years ago that made all the hounds have the runs, but they had been on this same brand for two years.

[Guest Energy11]

Hard to say. I heard from a few people that there IS a diarrhea bug going around with dogs. The two fosters could be "carriers," and just haven't come down with the bug yet. This could be it, or maybe the fosters have parasites? Might want to take a few stool sample into the vet tomorrow and go from there. I'd stick to the chicken and rice, and maybe add Gatorade 50/50 to the water. Good luck!

[Tracey]

No water from anywhere strange. A new bag of kibble was opened about 10 days ago, so they were fine on it for a week. Same brand, Kirkland Chicken, just new bag.

 

If I take stool samples in to the vet, I'd like to have them ready to go when the vet opens. I've seen the little plastic containers they put them in, so I get that part of it. How much do I need for a good sample? How far ahead of when I bring it in can I collect it and what kind of temperature should I store it at until I take it in?

[Guest Energy11]

I'd collect the morning poop, and you really don't need a lot. maybe a 1 teaspoon or so, and with the runs, that is probably what you will get, liquid :-( Just get what you can, cause if one has it, chances are, they all do. I definitely be sure to get samples from the fosters, as they might be the "culprits," and something from at least one of the "diarrhea dogs." Good Luck!

[KF_in_Georgia]

Do your boys get anything the fosters don't get? Any special treats for the holidays?

 

My two routinely get raw turkey necks about once a week. Last set of necks, both dogs had diarrhea within 18 hours. The week before that, Sam was sick, Jacey wasn't. (I think there was excess fat on Sam's neck that time, but I didn't see any fat on their last necks.)

 

Anyway, I'm holding off on any more turkey necks for a while, at least.

[Guest mcsheltie]

Hard to say. I heard from a few people that there IS a diarrhea bug going around with dogs. The two fosters could be "carriers," and just haven't come down with the bug yet. This could be it, or maybe the fosters have parasites? Might want to take a few stool sample into the vet tomorrow and go from there. I'd stick to the chicken and rice, and maybe add Gatorade 50/50 to the water. Good luck!

There is. I know because we had it. Lasted about three days and nothing you do or give will make any difference. No fever, most would still eat. When I realized what was going on I started fasting so everyone could sleep through the night. It disappears as suddenly as it appeared. Blow-out brown water to bouncing poops the next time out.

[Tracey]

Just wanted to follow up.... Chase seems to be all better now, and Morgan is finally getting there, though it's taken longer. I wound up taking stool samples in for three of the four dogs (Chase wouldn't give his up ). Everything came out NEGATIVE. No roundworms, no hookworms, no giardia, no coccidia, nothing. Our vet said there was a small possibility of whipworms since they don't throw eggs in every single stool, but she doubted that since she thought the chances of it not showing up in someone's doody was pretty slim.

 

So, I guess what we had here is a case of the mystery diarrhea bug. Dr. Matz had sent home Nemex for everyone since she said she always sees the worms and giardia in the Florida track dogs; she figured it was a safe bet Reggie and Rufus would have it too, but they didn't. Anyway she told us to just continue with doses two and three, just in case. And Morgan's on Flagyl as well. She seems like herself again, so all's good. I'm happy but surprised everything was negative.