I recently posted on the feeding forum about our now 11 week old bc pup. A couple of weeks ago he developed severe runs - was always hungry etc - the vet rehydrated him on a drip, gave him antibiotic jab and Hills N/D prescription diet - was told to re-introduce very slowly. He was always hungry - so someone suggested 4 smaller meals a day instead of 3, which I did and thought we had it sussed. He is on jwb puppy.

Last couple of days his poos have been getting softer and softer until last night the poor mite was squitting water. I didnt feed him this morning and managed to get some sort of sample and took him back to the vets.

He was given more antibiotics and some rehydrating powder but didnt have to stay as luckily he wasnt actually dehydrated. I have to take him back tomorrow. He was also put back on Hills until we can sort this out.

I am now very very worried. The breeder wormed him, and when I took him to the vets for his check up at 8 weeks old when we got him, the vet gave me Stronghold which he said would get rid of fleas and worms at the same time. Does this stuff really work? I have always used Panacur with my other 4 but this vet is new and I figured he should know.

I just dont know what this could be and am very very worried - I know the vet said it could be one of many bugs he has caught but why would his poos go back to normal when on Hills? I had to starve him today and feed him just a small amount tonight - result? Normal poos. Could this be a food intolerance?

Does anyone know if the tests on the sample would show that or are they just testing for bugs and worms etc? He doesnt seem to have suffered weight wise - he has gone from 5.6 kgs to 6.7 kgs in 2 weeks !

Any advice anyone? Even if its just what sort of questions I should be asking my vet - I feel out of my depth here.

Jane

I wouldnt use Stronghold on him again it may not be the cause but some collies can react to it as it contains Ivermectin.

Have you given him probiotics? These will restore the gut flora,aswell as put back the good bacteria that the antibiotics have killed.
I would also get him on tree barks powder,available from dorwest herbs.

okay - real thicko here - I have heard the word probiotics but what does it mean in respect of giving something to Quiz?

Thanks

Jane

Jane you can get probiotic capsules from health food shops,they contain the same live cultures as yogurt.It really helps with loose poops,because it restores  the flora in the gut that goes straight out with the poops.

I wish i was better at explaining these things :p

I am surprised that Vewts aren't more careful with Stonghold with it being known that collie types can react badly to Ivermectin, in fact it can be fatal :(

Do you mean he went bad again after coming off hills and back onto JWB?  Maybe JWB doesn't agree with your puppy.  Try a different food for him! :)

No, when I brought him home from the breeder he was on Beta puppy food - then he got poorly - he went on Hills, then as I very slowly re-introduced normal food I introduced jwb rather than beta. Sorry for not making myself clearer.

Interesting about the wormer, it was about 4 days after I have it to him that it started.

Jane

Aaahhh so it's either both foods don't agree or the wormer?  I do hope your puppy get's better very soon! :)

Jane,  Does your puppy have Weetabix and some kind of milk for breakfast?  I found my puppy was loose on this so stopped giving the milk altogether and started making him porridge (made with water only) instead and this solved the problem.

'has your vet tested for salmonella, campylobacter, e-coli or giardia?

If these have proved negative and the situation is ongoing, then you might need to look at metabolic disorders such as EPI, leaky gut syndrome and of course allergies.

Update for all - his poos are normal after just 2 feeds on Hilld I/D - the vets are testing for the nasty bugs that broad based antibiotics wont touch - but he is so improved after chnaging the food back that the vet thinks will be an intolerance. We did touch on the fact that Collies can react to the stronghold - she hadnt heard of that !! So am googling like mad tonight before I take him back for another check on Saturday.

Jane

Jane will search out the info for you

No - only his puppy food - not even treats

Jane

Have a read of  This
Edited to add Stronghold is the English name for Revolution.
There is now a DNA test for suscepability to these drugs Here 

Thanks for this link - I have printed it off and am taking it down to my vets. I then got out the info sheet from the Stronghold and lo and behold, collies are mentioned tho they are supposed to safe on it - yeah !! The dna testing looks promising - in the meantime - mine wont be having stronghold again just in case - thanks again

Jane

Further update - it seems is neither his food nor the wormer. Quiz's test results have come back positive for Campylobacter. My worry now has increased even though he will get better... he cannot have the usual drug as he is too young (12 weeks now), so is on Erythromycin (sp?) that I am told is likely to make him vomit. Further, he cannot have his booster jab which was due today so cannot go out - how on earth do I socialise a 12 week old Collie that cant go out? He is going stir crazy already.

I have bought hibiscrub to wash my hands after poo picking etc. I have 4 other dogs and am worried they may catch it - are there any other precautions I can take? Their toilet area is grass so is not easy to wash down with disinfectant - is there soemthing that I can use on this tho?

Many thanks

Jane