Hi,
On Sunday Lacey started to have Diahorea, so we starved her for 12 hours and fed her just before bed time. Monday (Yesterday) she was much better, but today she has started again. Can anyone give me some help on this please, she had her first jab last Monday and was wondering if it could be a reaction to that. Also on Saturday night she was in the garden going to the loo when a firework went off, she is very nervous anyway and ran straight into a post which caused her to limp for a while, and before I could catch her another firework went off so she darted in the house. All Sunday then she didn't want to go into the garden, and I wondered if this shock could be the cause. If she carries on like this today I will visit the Vet tonight with her, but I wondered if anyone had any ideas in the mean time?

Debbie I always have a bottle of kaolin morphine from the chemist a tablespoon full a couple of times usually clears up any runs

Mattie,
Thanks for replying, how should I give her this Kaolin I know it tastes awful doesn't it? Also is it OK to give it to her as she is only 9 weeks?

Thanks Debbie

Debbie, hold fire with the kaolin for a minute :-)
Kaolin will do the trick, but it could also 'mask' a serious problem.
Is your puppy unwell in herself? Is she depressed? Is she drinking excessively?
Have you altered her diet or added a 'treat' to it, that she hasn't had before?

Hi Leigh,
Lacey is not unwell in herself in any way, but she does drink a lot although I don't think it's more than usual. The only treat I gave her that was different is a chewy bone with meat inside, but I think she started with the runs before she had that I took it off her anyway. No other alteration to her diet.

Do you mean the pedigree type bones? If so, these are generally for six months plus dogs and always upset my dogs stomachs.

Yes it was a pedigree one, (I didn't know they were for older dogs only)I took it off her though, and I am sure the runs began before she had the bone.

Haven't had a chance to look back on previous advice yet (sorry) but if it hasn't already been recommended, starve the pup for 24hrs and then feed boiled rice and chicken for a couple of days. Gradually re-introduce pups normal food.
Naomi

oh, just seen that she is only 9 weeks old. Don't know if the starving method is allowed at that age. Where is Jacquie when I need her?????

You guessed right Naomi :)
Starving for 24hrs is not usually recommended at such a young age without a vets advice.

Debbie, there are (at least) two ways of giving any dog liquid medicine. The messy one is to hold the dog's mouth closed and its head up. Slip a finger into its cheek and make a pouch, then pour the medicine into the pouch and massage the throat. The easy way is to ask your vet or a friendly nurse for a syringe and 'straw' (an open ended plastic tube that fits on to the syringe). Draw up the correct dose of medicine and put the 'straw' on the syringe. Hold the mouth loosly closed, slip the 'straw' into the side of the mouth and through thegap between the back teeth, then press the plunger slowly.

I agree with Leigh about holding fire with the Kaolin, but I wouldn't worry too much. Unless the pup has a raised temp./is obviously unwell/the diarrhoea is very severe/there is blood or mucus in the diarrhoea, puppy squirts are usually just a fact of life when you have a pup:-). 24 hours starvation won't hurt Lacey, but I wouldn't bother starving a 9 week pup except on the advice of a vet.

Can't really give you any advice but just thought I'd say how spooky because Floyd had the runs at the weekend too and he had his final vac on Thurs, he seems OK now though although I have stopped him eating Buddys food as I wondered if this was the cause. poor thing is now pretty fed up with me peering up his backside as he goes so I'm going to leave him alone now! :D

Hi Debbie,
Has she been wormed recently? If not, worms could be causing the diarrhea. Not always are they the long tubular type ---sometimes, they look like tiny bits of rice. (Ick, I know). If it keeps persisting, I would take her to the vet since D. is sometimes the beginning stages of some rather terminal diseases, including parvo. Not only that, but since she's a puppy, she can become dehydrated very quickly due to her small size.
good luck & best wishes for Lacey.
toodles

She hasn't been wormed yet since we got her, she is due to be wormed this week but with this problem now I didn't know if I should do it until she's better. You got me really worried now though, maybe we will go to the vet as soon as hubby gets home.

ive emailed you debbie :) stop worrying

Debbie, how is your puppy today?

Any up date on the Puppy?

Sweep x

I have religiously starved my dogs for years if they have had diahorrea - but not now! I no longer withhold food but switch immediately to a bland diet for a couple of days or until it clears up. I can't remember who told me it doesn't make a difference but they have been absolutely correct. It clears up in the same time it would have if I had starved - only there is less chance of excessive weight loss.

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update. I have tried everything and nothing seems to be working so I am taking her to the vets as soon as my hubby gets home. Lacey is still well in herself, but the runs have now turned to a jelly like blob, and she has lost weight too. I will let you all know the outcome asap.

Thanks again and speak to you soon,

Debbie.

Crossing my fingers and hoping everything goes ok at the vet visit :)

Hope everything goes okay for you both Debbie:) Please let us know the outcome as Kassie is due to have her first injection on Monday (late I know but that's another story that I'm not best pleased at:() and I'd like to know if the two are possibly connected as I've heard some dogs maybe 'off' for a while afterwards;)

Good Luck

Stacey x x x

I hope everything turns out alright, keeping everything crossed. Having said that I am sure it will be fine.
Wishing your puppy well:)
Anita

Thanks everyone,
It seems that she had collitus (sorry about the spelling). The vet has given her an antibiotic to help and told me to give her the Kaolin and Morphine for 48 hrs, this combined with a diet of chicken or fish and rice or scrambled egg should improve the situation. I hope so any way. I feel much happier now. I will let you know how we go on. :D :D :D
Stacey, it seems that there is no conection with the jab, so don't worry.

Having had a few upset tums recently and found kaolin of little use. I have tried Organic Bio Natural Yoghurt, at least 1 desertspoonful into the dog and it has worked wonders! My dogs will lick it off spoons no problem. If you ever come to my house, don't use the cutlery ;)

I tried natural yoghurt but that never helped either unfortunately, hopefully the antibiotics will. Actually Lacey loved the yoghurt and she was looking for more Kaolin when she had that. Funny puppy.The chemist was very reluctant to give me the bottle of Kaolin as it is apparently a prescription only item, but when she knew what it was for she sold it to me. Luckily she had admired Lacey the other day when I took her out for a walk so she believed me, but I'm sure she thought I was a bit mad from the look she gave me.

My Boxer had colitis and what resolved it was aloe vera juice in his food. He has never had to have any 'conventional' treatment and in fact my vet is dead impressed because aloe vera grows naturally on his families farm back in South Africa and he loves to hear of the benefits of it!

Debbie I always swear by Kaolin its been really handy especially when they eat grotty things outside and then pebbledash the walls :) :(
Im glad the puppy is ok

I'm very surprised to hear that Kaoline and Morphine is a prescription only medicine, and even more surprised to hear you pharmacist sold you some anyway - I'd suggest that infact it is only to be dispensed in the presence of a qualified pharmacist (which is signified by a small 'P' in a box somewhere on the label, as opposed to a 'prescription only' medicine which is signified by a 'POM' in a similar box.

Digger,
I have just looked on the label and you are right. I don't know too much about medicines but that is what the chemist said so she was wrong saying that. I have to say though she was reluctant to sell it to me.

I don't know about the rest of you, but we use 'light kaolin powder' rather than kaolin and morphine. You can purchase it from Boots the Chemist etc. It can also be used for poultices for horses.

I'm glad she's okay- I'm sure the antibiotics will clear it up quite quickly:) The thing with the injections is that I have heard they may be 'off' for a while afterwards so I was just wondering really if there was any connection.

Lily Munster- In my house I have a few spoons and forks that don't match my cutlery set, since they don't match these bacame my cat/dog food spoons and have been now for some time- my Mum recognised them a few months back- they're hers- she got the set as a wedding pressie all that time ago:D :D When one of my friends comes round and makes a drink- guaranteed he uses them- he can't remember which one's are for us and which one's are for them:D :D

Stacey x x x

Hi Stacey,

I have 'dog' cutlery too but they all get stored in the same cutlery tray!!!! I know what is what....... Nobody else does though!!! ;)

glad to hear it's nothing too serious, hopefully she'll be right as rain in a couple of days, worries you senseless when they're ill though doesn't it

Hi Debbie,

Hope she is OK. I am right you have a boxer. I may be wrong but are they not a bit prone to this.. ( Sorry if I am wrong)

Here is a link anyway

Ihttp://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/colitis.html

Pam

Just to let you all know, Lacey seems much better today, she should be right as rain in a day or two. I am so relieved. Thanks everyone.