Another dog owner in desperate need of help!

janda426 · August 2013

Okay so if anyone remembers I posted a little over a month ago when we first got our 2 year old staffie Dakota from the Humane society. For the first week or so she was great, her only accidents were her peeing a little on the rug I guess to mark her territory. The past 3.5 weeks, however, have been pure hell. She has had bloody diarrhea and can't seem to control it. We took her to 2 different vets, she got an injection, had TWO different intestinal workups done to check for a bunch of different parasites and infections-all clear, we've put her on Immodium, chicken and rice diet, and she got an anti-diarrhea pill which she just finished and NOTHING HELPS.

We've spent nearly $500 so far on this issue and it all has been a complete waste because nothing is fixing the problem. We are taking her back AGAIN tomorrow and I'm not leaving until I have some answers. She whimpers when she poops and sometimes when she poops all that comes out is a few drops of blood (If TMI I'm sorry but it's getting bad). I feel so helpless and just don't know what to do to help her or fix this. She's our first dog and we love her to death and have ZERO intentions of giving up on her and sending her back to the Humane Society but I just don't know what to do anymore!

To avoid spending too much more money on vet bills I'd REALLY appreciate feedback or advice if any of you dog owners have been through something similar. Even if I had just another possible idea to bring to the vet tomorrow it would really help! Thanks in advance!

WillCMyInk · August 2013

I'm sorry you're dealing with dog troubles as well.

Does she like to chew things up or eat things she shouldn't? Could it possibly be a perforated bowel or a partially obstructed bowel? They would probably have to do an ultrasound or x-ray to find out (welcome to my world!) but I think that might cause a lot of pain and blood.

ETA: Maybe call the Humane Society and tell them that you love her and want to keep her but wanted to know what, if any options of financial assistance they could offer.

janda426 · August 2013

WillCMyInk said:

I'm sorry you're dealing with dog troubles as well.

Does she like to chew things up or eat things she shouldn't? Could it possibly be a perforated bowel or a partially obstructed bowel? They would probably have to do an ultrasound or x-ray to find out (welcome to my world!) but I think that might cause a lot of pain and blood.

ETA: Maybe call the Humane Society and tell them that you love her and want to keep her but wanted to know what, if any options of financial assistance they could offer.

She is definitely a chewer and it's totally a possibility that there's something in there that shouldn't be. Do you have any estimates on how much an xray costs?

Good idea about calling the Humane Society. I think I'll do that tomorrow. Thanks for your help!

WillCMyInk · August 2013

janda426 said:
She is definitely a chewer and it's totally a possibility that there's something in there that shouldn't be. Do you have any estimates on how much an xray costs?

Good idea about calling the Humane Society. I think I'll do that tomorrow. Thanks for your help!

I think they gave us a estimate of around $250 for a 3 view x-ray. That will obviously vary from office to office.

I'll be stalking your thread and praying for your pup too! I know how much it sucks to see them in pain and not be able to take it away.

Pearl1982 · August 2013

janda426 said:

WillCMyInk said:

I'm sorry you're dealing with dog troubles as well.

Does she like to chew things up or eat things she shouldn't? Could it possibly be a perforated bowel or a partially obstructed bowel? They would probably have to do an ultrasound or x-ray to find out (welcome to my world!) but I think that might cause a lot of pain and blood.

ETA: Maybe call the Humane Society and tell them that you love her and want to keep her but wanted to know what, if any options of financial assistance they could offer.

She is definitely a chewer and it's totally a possibility that there's something in there that shouldn't be. Do you have any estimates on how much an xray costs?

Good idea about calling the Humane Society. I think I'll do that tomorrow. Thanks for your help!

The cost of X-rays will vary. My dog needed a barium X-ray. It was a couple years ago so I can't remember the exact cost but I think it was a couple hundred bucks.

I agree that ruling out a blockage is key. It sounds like she maybe ate something she shouldn't have.

I know how stressful this is. Good luck!

Southernpeach80 · August 2013

jnic0319 said:

Did you try getting rid of the chicken and rice? I know they say beef is harsher but it's possible your pup has a poultry allergy. We spent thousands on vet bills for our mini golden because he was puking every day and had diarrhea that nothing stopped. After many tests and x rays we came to the conclusion that he is allergic to many things, the biggest of which is poulty, which is odd for dogs. He has to be on a hypoallergenic diet and we have to really be careful with treats and toys. He has other issues too, which I won't hijack your post and go into haha, but I would recommend trying to change to beef and rice.

I completely agree with this. Try boiling the beef and once boiled use something to get the grease off and then add rice. My dog can't eat anything with chicken in it. Hope that works!

janda426 · August 2013

-We only gave her chicken and rice like twice, should've mentioned she hasn't been on that this whole time

-She is not lethargic, she still eats and has a great appetite

-She is left in our downstairs hallway which is tiled and gated and she has her crate down there also, nothing to get into

-When she's outside she's on a leash and we make sure she doesn't eat any foreign items

Hope I answered everything!

smushi · August 2013

This may be no help, but has she had an xray done? Our GSP had this happen (we called it the squealy poops), where he would have bloody diarrhea and cry every time he pottied. He couldn't control it either. It lasted for quite a long time. We tried several anti-diarrheal fixes, changed foods, etc etc, and nothing helped. He had several stool samples taken, no worms or illness whatsoever. They actually found a hole in the dorsal portion of his colon, and it was completely ulcerated. $3000 worth of surgery later, and we have a healthier pup.

janda426 · August 2013

agoodse said:

This may be no help, but has she had an xray done? Our GSP had this happen (we called it the squealy poops), where he would have bloody diarrhea and cry every time he pottied. He couldn't control it either. It lasted for quite a long time. We tried several anti-diarrheal fixes, changed foods, etc etc, and nothing helped. He had several stool samples taken, no worms or illness whatsoever. They actually found a hole in the dorsal portion of his colon, and it was completely ulcerated. $3000 worth of surgery later, and we have a healthier pup.

Oh gosh. She hasn't had an xray yet but I really hope it's not something that bad

and so sorry your dog went through that but glad he's better!

smushi · August 2013

Thanks Janda. It was pretty tough - a whole month's stay at the vet after the surgery, no solid foods or anything; he had lost probably 15lbs - but he's our baby and we're so happy to have him with us still. If I were you, I'd go ahead and have an xray done to check and make sure it's not a system issue rather than a digestive or illness issue. Is there any mucus with the diarrhea?

Has she been tested for Giardia? That can cause bloody diarrhea.

WillCMyInk · August 2013

Where did you take the dog that it was able to stay at the vet for a month with only $3000 bill?

janda426 · August 2013

agoodse said:

Thanks Janda. It was pretty tough - a whole month's stay at the vet after the surgery, no solid foods or anything; he had lost probably 15lbs - but he's our baby and we're so happy to have him with us still. If I were you, I'd go ahead and have an xray done to check and make sure it's not a system issue rather than a digestive or illness issue. Is there any mucus with the diarrhea?

Has she been tested for Giardia? That can cause bloody diarrhea.

She was tested for Giardia twice and both times came back negative. As for mucus I can't really tell, the blood is what always catches my eye first

elizabethb3 · August 2013

So sorry about your pup! That sounds miserable. I would agree that your next step should probably be an x-ray to see if there's a physical problem. I hope you can figure it out soon!

littlesocks · August 2013

I'm lurking but hate to hear about puppy troubles.
I got my cat from a shelter and she became very attached to me. I went on vacation once without my DH and he stayed home with our cat. He did leave her alone for the weekend but we always used to do that and she would be fine with plenty of food and water. When I came home I noticed she was peeing everywhere (not just in her litter box) and at one point it had some blood mixed with it. I thought she might have a UTI so I brought her to the vet. The vet took blood and did a bunch of tests but said he thought it was stress induced. Apparently animals can get anxiety and it can mess with their insides.
I know it's not quite the same but I wanted to offer a different idea.
We ended up having to put my cat on anti anxiety medication and she's completely fine now.
I hope you find out what's wrong soon. I'm sorry you're going trough this

lookame3639 · August 2013

Ehat sort of food are you feeding? If its EVO then consider switching to a food that has a little less protien. You could try a raw diet. Its human grade meats that are frozen...bikjack and natures viarety has a few that can be found at any pet store.

Has the pup been checked for an blockages? Abdominal xrays? I woukd ask for something like that there may be a blockage of sone sort

janda426 · August 2013

-I'll ask about anxiety. I had figured for some post-coming home mood swings being it's a new environment but just wasn't expecting this

-We feed her Pedigree dry food, I am a little overwhelmed with all of this raw food diet/wet vs dry food information. Idk if it's the food disagreeing with her or what but I'll be sure to ask.

These are all great input, thanks so much ladies

I appreciate it

Milagros315 · August 2013

I don't have any advice, but I wanted to say that I'm sorry that your pup isn't feeling well either. I hope they can figure out what's wrong with her soon and she gets well quickly!

nicole mackenzie · August 2013

lookame3639 said:
Ehat sort of food are you feeding? If its EVO then consider switching to a food that has a little less protien. You could try a raw diet. Its human grade meats that are frozen...bikjack and natures viarety has a few that can be found at any pet store.

Has the pup been checked for an blockages? Abdominal xrays? I woukd ask for something like that there may be a blockage of sone sort

Please don't feed a raw diet... This is a bad time to make a change like that and if you do you need to remember that we cook our food to protect ourselves from bacteria and parasites

Also you need to make sure your pet is getting all the vitamins and minerals they need. You can't just give them raw X and nothing but.

Right now what was your dogs diet? Did she get table scraps? Or any human food? Any pork products? Any raw marrow bones? Rawhide? Bones? Anything new to your pet in general?

Dogs can get pancreatitis from fatty foods. Foreign bodies as others have suggested.

Have you had bloodwork or just fecals? Also is it a little blood with each stool or is she passing bright red blood with clots. Or is it black?

I'd get her seen tomorrow because emergency medicine over the weekend will be more expensive.

Id want a physical to determine if she was in pain, radiographs if she is, and possibly bloodwork to rule out pancreatitis.

Although usually they vomit with pancreatitis.

Good luck

nicole mackenzie · August 2013

lookame3639 said:
Ehat sort of food are you feeding? If its EVO then consider switching to a food that has a little less protien. You could try a raw diet. Its human grade meats that are frozen...bikjack and natures viarety has a few that can be found at any pet store.

Has the pup been checked for an blockages? Abdominal xrays? I woukd ask for something like that there may be a blockage of sone sort

Not sure why you would suggest both a low protein food and an all meat/protein diet?

tealowl · August 2013

I hope they find out what's wrong, keep us posted! Poor buddy

divinemsbee · August 2013

As far as paying: talk to your vet about setting up a payment plan. Have you considered pet insurance? I know it seems silly, but when vet bills start adding up insurance can really be the lesser of two evils. I've seen some people on here talk about using CareCredit as well, I don't know much about it, but I think it can be used for pets and people. Worst case scenario, and I mean worst, apply for a credit card and use it to pay the bill, then pay it off. We don't have a credit card normally, but if our insurance hadn't covered our dog's visit at Christmas ( 1 lb of fudge, 1 35 lb dog, surpringly only about 12 hours of sheer terror, he's fine now), that was my next option.

janda426 · August 2013

nicole mackenzie said:

lookame3639 said:
Ehat sort of food are you feeding? If its EVO then consider switching to a food that has a little less protien. You could try a raw diet. Its human grade meats that are frozen...bikjack and natures viarety has a few that can be found at any pet store.

Has the pup been checked for an blockages? Abdominal xrays? I woukd ask for something like that there may be a blockage of sone sort
Please don't feed a raw diet... This is a bad time to make a change like that and if you do you need to remember that we cook our food to protect ourselves from bacteria and parasites

Also you need to make sure your pet is getting all the vitamins and minerals they need. You can't just give them raw X and nothing but.

Right now what was your dogs diet? Did she get table scraps? Or any human food? Any pork products? Any raw marrow bones? Rawhide? Bones? Anything new to your pet in general?

Dogs can get pancreatitis from fatty foods. Foreign bodies as others have suggested.

Have you had bloodwork or just fecals? Also is it a little blood with each stool or is she passing bright red blood with clots. Or is it black?

I'd get her seen tomorrow because emergency medicine over the weekend will be more expensive.

Id want a physical to determine if she was in pain, radiographs if she is, and possibly bloodwork to rule out pancreatitis.

Although usually they vomit with pancreatitis.

Good luck

We did give her a little meat like twice when we had leftovers. It was during this timeframe of diarrhea happening(I know, that was probably not good)

As far as anything being "new", well the thing is everything's new because these problems started a little over a week after getting her so we don't know her normal routine or behavior or anything. Even despite all this diarrhea she's been such a loving, goofy and awesome dog. It's just this one thing. That happens to be a pretty big thing

We are bringing her in tomorrow afternoon. I'm so nervous about the cost since they're probably gonna do a bunch of stuff. I skimmed through pet insurance today and didn't really get a chance to speak with H about it so well discuss more tomorrow.

Milagros315 · August 2013

We used the Care Credit card for our dogs surgery. We still use it for all of our vet bills and some human ones too. It's awesome because it's interest free and you usually have at least six months (we had over one year) to pay it off.

nicole mackenzie · August 2013

@janda426

If this has been going on for months then it could be a dietary thing like ibd and your vet can suggest foods to try plus maybe fortiflora to help restore normal gut flora.

With a blockage or pancreatitis you'd likely have vomiting and a lethargic dog.

Intusseception is another thing I'd wonder about. With this the intestine folds over itself.

I'd get pet insurance ASAP! Because often pre-existing conditions are not covered. There's VPI and the ASPCA has one and others im sure. Sometimes shelters give you the first month free. Do you know if you got that?

Care credit is good for emergencies, it's interest free for a while but the minimum payment isn't enough to pay it off in the promotional period so calculate what you actually need to pay in order to have it all paid off in time otherwise the rate is like 26% or something. It's great to get you to payday or to give you a little extra time to spread out costs.

A lot of vets won't do payment plans because they've been burned too many times. If you have had a good relationship and always paid your vet bills sometimes they will work with you.

Hope you get answers soon.

Wildfire2011 · August 2013

Honestly if she's been bright and alert, with good appetite and energy levels, and this has become a more chronic issue - it doesn't sound terrible; i.e. - not life threatening. It sounds like she has colitis, which is inflammation of the colon and can occur due to many causes. Many causes in a younger dog would be parasitic/infectious, but it sounds like your vet may have ruled those out. Stress-induced colitis could be contributing given her history of recently transitioning to your home. It also somewhat likely this could be a diet-related issue, due to the mild nature of it and its chronicity. It's possible the vet may want to put you on a food trial in the near future if other causes are ruled out. If the the dog is put on a new diet, this requires patience and strict adherence to the diet and it may be weeks before you can appreciate much improvement. I doubt she has a more serious issue like a foreign body, pancreatitis, or partial obstruction given her good appetite, lack of vomiting, and otherwise active. It's even possible she could have primary inflammatory bowel disease of the colon, but that's probably the last thing to look for and is less common (would require biopsies to diagnose). You may not find an answer right away and may just need to stick to conservative measures for a while longer such as bland diet and any medications the vet may prescribe to help lessen the inflammation or treat potential causes.

Sorry you have to go through this. I understand how frustrating it can be to deal with such an issue. I hope things clear up soon and your dog gets back to normal! Good luck!

krdesi · August 2013

My guy had some issues earlier this year and when I took him to the vet, they gave him blood work, an x-ray to see if there was anything obstructing his bowels and then he was given fluids to rehydrate him and also antibiotics and probiotics. Everything in total, including the night he had to stay in the vet to get iv fluids and all of the other medications and exams costed us $1000. This is a dog that eats high quality grain free food and doesn't chew or even touch anything that isn't his and they still thought there could be a blockage.
I would definitely push for an xray, but I'm surprised they wouldn't have already done that.
What is her normal diet though, because it took a while of diarrhea/soft stools before we found a food that agreed with Parker's digestive system.
Sorry that was a ramble...typing on mobile is not efficient.

nicole mackenzie · August 2013

@cruelsound

Most people do a raw diet incorrectly and I've seen a lot of malnourished dogs.

If this dog has something like colitis or ibd they shouldn't be feeding raw.

There is nothing wrong with dog food. There are some commercially available raw diets if you really want to go that route or again make sure your dog is getting a balanced diet with vitamins. It's a lot of unnecessary hassle. Dogs are capable of digesting plant material as they are not obligate carnivors.

lookame3639 · August 2013

nicole mackenzie said:

lookame3639 said:
Ehat sort of food are you feeding? If its EVO then consider switching to a food that has a little less protien. You could try a raw diet. Its human grade meats that are frozen...bikjack and natures viarety has a few that can be found at any pet store.

Has the pup been checked for an blockages? Abdominal xrays? I woukd ask for something like that there may be a blockage of sone sort

Not sure why you would suggest both a low protein food and an all meat/protein diet?

There are a lot of different options for food. Raw is marketed to be most natural to their natural diet though ive never tried it myself, Iit is also suggested that you add some vitamins that the food may lack. Also raw is sold in several different forms, there is freeze dried raw, frozen raw, freeze dried raw with regukar kibble ect. I tried my little pup on EVO and something in EVO gives small dogs bloody mucousy stools. More than a couple of small dogs have come in with the same issues while the owners feed them EVO. I feed her Natural Balance now the synergy formula and she does well on that.

FWIW my mom feeds her beagle pedigree and shes gone through bad stints of bloody diarrhea where only a little poop comes out and a bunch of blood. Shes older though so that could be why she has the bloody diarrhea.

She said shes tried boiled chicken and rice, how long has she been on that? are you making sure shes getting enough water? And pure pureed pumpkin without any additives or seasoning at all is supposed to help clear up diarrhea. What helped my dog when she had bloody stools was to also give her a probiotic.

At any rate you will get conflicting info everywhere...Im going off my expiriences. Only a vet can really tell you wwhat is going on.

lookame3639 · August 2013

nicole mackenzie said:
@janda426

If this has been going on for months then it could be a dietary thing like ibd and your vet can suggest foods to try plus maybe fortiflora to help restore normal gut flora.

I was kind of thinking the same thing.

(Please forgive my original post)

jaytee16 · August 2013

I agree with @calindi about dietary changes. Also, when we changed our pup's food, our vet told us to do it slowly over 7 days, gradually adjusting the percentage of new vs old food. And funny enough, it was the Blue Buffalo that gave our pup issues and diarrhea. We tried 3 foods before her stomach issues seemed to settle down.

Good luck, I hope your pup starts feeling better soon!

TRS48 · August 2013

I'm so sorry to hear this. At first I thought maybe she ate something, have they tried antibiotics yet? My dog had similar issues when he ate frozen, uncooked, expired ground beef. Antibiotics helped get him back to normal. Secondly I would highly recommend signing your dog up for a plan at Banfield Pet Hospital, if you have a PetSmart nearby. We have 3 dogs and they are all on different plans and the cost savings is amazing. I believe they have a plan for around $30/month that includes x-rays, urinalysis, and all the other yearly things (shots, etc). You also get discounts as a plan member on prescriptions and additional services. All office visits are free with the plan. Just in 2 years our plan has saved us over $5k between the 3 dogs. One was also a recent rescue with heartworm/hookworm/other worms (ew) and she needed to be spayed after clearing out the heartworm. I'd also suggest Pets Best insurance if you feel it is right for you. You can look up the rate plans for Banfield Pet Hospital online, just google it. They are open 7 days a week and I am seriously so happy with them. If you have any questions let me know. Good luck with your pup!

smushi · August 2013

Janda any word on your pup?

dragonfly711 · August 2013

Well I lost my post somehow. Pet insurance is great. Problem is it will not help you right now. They do not cover pre existing conditions. It would be good to put her on it for future but know it will not help now.

Diarrhea can be chronic in dogs. I would be concerned if she was also vomiting. Ask the vet about ID or some intestinal type food for a bit even a probiotic.
Diarrhea can be hard to diagnose. All sorts of things can bring on diarrhea so it is not easy.
Keep us posted.

Please be careful w raw diets. Not sure if I would recommend a raw diet for a dog that has diarrhea issues. You have to make sure they are getting all nutrients when feeding that. Before doing that please talk to your vet. I know the vets I worked with were not keen on that diet. But up to you.

dragonfly711 · August 2013

TRS48 said:
I'm so sorry to hear this. At first I thought maybe she ate something, have they tried antibiotics yet? My dog had similar issues when he ate frozen, uncooked, expired ground beef. Antibiotics helped get him back to normal. Secondly I would highly recommend signing your dog up for a plan at Banfield Pet Hospital, if you have a PetSmart nearby. We have 3 dogs and they are all on different plans and the cost savings is amazing. I believe they have a plan for around $30/month that includes x-rays, urinalysis, and all the other yearly things (shots, etc). You also get discounts as a plan member on prescriptions and additional services. All office visits are free with the plan. Just in 2 years our plan has saved us over $5k between the 3 dogs. One was also a recent rescue with heartworm/hookworm/other worms (ew) and she needed to be spayed after clearing out the heartworm. I'd also suggest Pets Best insurance if you feel it is right for you. You can look up the rate plans for Banfield Pet Hospital online, just google it. They are open 7 days a week and I am seriously so happy with them. If you have any questions let me know. Good luck with your pup!

Please be careful with Banfield. A friend of mine who is a vet worked there and they see over 20 appointments a day. She said it is horrible. Get them in get them out. Just a little FYI. They are cheap but that is not always good.

dragonfly711 · August 2013

krdesi said:
My guy had some issues earlier this year and when I took him to the vet, they gave him blood work, an x-ray to see if there was anything obstructing his bowels and then he was given fluids to rehydrate him and also antibiotics and probiotics. Everything in total, including the night he had to stay in the vet to get iv fluids and all of the other medications and exams costed us $1000. This is a dog that eats high quality grain free food and doesn't chew or even touch anything that isn't his and they still thought there could be a blockage.
I would definitely push for an xray, but I'm surprised they wouldn't have already done that.
What is her normal diet though, because it took a while of diarrhea/soft stools before we found a food that agreed with Parker's digestive system.
Sorry that was a ramble...typing on mobile is not efficient.

If there is a blockage there is a good chance that he will start vomiting X-rays are expensive and might not give answers. It is tough Process of elimination unfortunately.

dragonfly711 · August 2013

talon1226 said:

hlmlvt said:

TRS48 said:
I'm so sorry to hear this. At first I thought maybe she ate something, have they tried antibiotics yet? My dog had similar issues when he ate frozen, uncooked, expired ground beef. Antibiotics helped get him back to normal. Secondly I would highly recommend signing your dog up for a plan at Banfield Pet Hospital, if you have a PetSmart nearby. We have 3 dogs and they are all on different plans and the cost savings is amazing. I believe they have a plan for around $30/month that includes x-rays, urinalysis, and all the other yearly things (shots, etc). You also get discounts as a plan member on prescriptions and additional services. All office visits are free with the plan. Just in 2 years our plan has saved us over $5k between the 3 dogs. One was also a recent rescue with heartworm/hookworm/other worms (ew) and she needed to be spayed after clearing out the heartworm. I'd also suggest Pets Best insurance if you feel it is right for you. You can look up the rate plans for Banfield Pet Hospital online, just google it. They are open 7 days a week and I am seriously so happy with them. If you have any questions let me know. Good luck with your pup!
Please be careful with Banfield. A friend of mine who is a vet worked there and they see over 20 appointments a day. She said it is horrible. Get them in get them out. Just a little FYI. They are cheap but that is not always good.
Banfield is shady. One of my friends signed up for a plan only to have his dog die unexpectedly right after. They refused to refund his money and made him pay for a full year health plan for a dog he didn't have. They wouldn't even let him transfer it if he got a new dog. I have not heard good things about their vet care either.

OP, I hope your dog is feeling better soon. My guess would be that it's diet related which means you have to keep trying until you find something that works.

Wow that is horrible. Yeah. Just not good there. So sad for him.

janda426 · August 2013

Sorry guys I forgot to update! We brought her in yesterday afternoon and they said they believe she is having an upper GI issue with not absorbing nutrients since her poop was still a yellowish color before the diarrhea started and they believe the Prednisone she was prescribed caused ulcers in her digestive system and it just hasn't had a chance to heal and its just been getting worse and worse cause nothing was working right. They have her on a probiotic and 2 other pills to stop the spasms that give her the urgency feeling that causes her to just poop without warning, and the other pill for helping her absorption. It was another $200 for this visit and were really struggling to keep paying this kind of money OOP.

I asked the vet if he thinks we're covering all the bases now and he ruled out her eating something because he thinks shed be vomiting also, and it wouldn't cause the poop to be yellow. So he thinks fixing the malabsorption and spasms will help do the trick. We're really crossing our fingers cause this is just so damn expensive and she's lost 16 pounds in the last month cause she's not retaining anything

I feel so bad for our girl

Thank you all so much for your input!!

KatD2011 · August 2013

Try leaving out the chicken and just doing boiled rice with a little broth for flavour. You could also try peptobismol. My vet recommended it and we are lyck with it always helping us. Goodluck! Fingers crossed for you and your puppy!

TRS48 · August 2013

@hlmlvt thanks for the info! I guess we got lucky bc I love our vet at Banfield. If he left I'd follow him-- he seems to be much better than the other vets we have seen there, when he's not in. On a related note-- are you a vet/vet tech? What do you think about dental cleanings? I hate how they have to go under for it so I've been avoiding it even though my plans include it. Is there anyway around the anesthesia?

@janda426 glad to hear you got some answers about your pup! I will keep him in my prayers!

nicole mackenzie · August 2013

@TRS48

Pretty sure hmlvt is a vet tech. I am a tech as well and I highly recommend proper dental care.

Your dog will not be still enough to properly and safely clean the teeth with the ultrasonic scaler. So anesthesia is needed.

Dental health is important to the total health of your pet. Bacteria in the mouth can affect other organ systems if allowed to get very bad.

I did not think your pet was very old? You should consider brushing her teeth. Daily gets the best affect, but do it as often as you can.

There are also water additives that have enzymes to help break down tartar. I cannot speak to the safety of products not bought at your vet.

There are also dental diet foods. The one from purina has enzymes and is a bigger kibble that scrapes the teeth.

Vets also sell enzyme empregnated rawhides. But supervise your dog so you know she won't just swallow them.

There are over the counter options too of course.

Chewing will help with the back teeth but since they don't chew with their canines brushing is the best way to prevent tartar there.

Did your vet recommend a dental?

Edit I got confused who I was replying to and spelling

nicole mackenzie · August 2013

@TRS48

If youre brushing your dogs teeth you can't use human toothpaste. It's bad for them and dogs don't tend to like mint.

You can either buy a kit at vet, pet store, or buy pet toothpaste and use a soft bristle human toothbrush.

I do my dog and cat because I'm a little crazy and my pets are tolerant

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