My shorkie is sick please help

[kamiem]

Rascal has been sick it started about 6 months ago..when he got bad diarhea. I took him to the vet and they gave him a strong antiparasitic for one week. Then 6 months later he started having the same symptoms.. so i took him back and they gave him one dewormer pill. He was doing fine for about a month, then a couple of days ago he started pooping and there is so much mucous in his poop. I took him to the vet today and he gave him some antiparasitic along with antibiotic. Im getting worried. He told me that it was ok.. and that it was normal.. but my poor baby.. he is going through too much. My dog is very pampered.. he has the best food and a very clean enviroment. Im not sure why he keeps getting sick. Does anyone have any advice or expeirence in this.

[shorkiejem]

Let's talk about Diet first. What food is he actually getting?  Did the vet say why he seems to always think it is parasites?  Has the vet taken a stool sample each time?  What was his age when this started?  I'm hoping by her answers we might be able to help you better.  Mucous is created in the colon.  If it is once in awhile, that is ok.  Is there a very bad odor to her stool?
I'm heading to work but will try and respond more when I get home.  You might  want to give her digestive system a break.  Will write more later.  Stay calm for now.

[Mai Tai]

Kami, Mo has had frequent bouts of diarrhea with both mucous and blood since we have had him which is about ten months now.  He did have giardia, which we thought was causing his problems.  After a course of treatment with Metronidazole, he was much better for a month or so, but the blood and diarrhea returns frequently.  We have him on a steady diet of rice and chicken whenever he has a bout of problems to give his intestines a break, as shorkiejem saiid.  He is usually better after a day or two.  The vet believes he is just having irritable bowel, possibly from stress as hs is a small, somewhat nerous dog.  Is your dog easily stressed?  It could also be that he may  need some pro-biotics in his diet to help his intestines.  Ask the vet about that.  I doubt he has been having parasites so frequently, though giardia can be insidious and difficult to get rid of .  Let us know how it goes.

[shorkiejem]

Coccidia is also very very common and is usually treated with Albon.  If Coccidia is not treated with the proper medication, it will remiss and start all over again. But normally, the bowel has a real stink to it.   Make sure your pup is not being exposed to other dogs that may be carriers. Adult dogs don't usually don't show signs of it but they will shed the infective cysts through their own stool. 

[kamiem]

Thanks for the responses. I just got back from the vet. They tested the stool, it is gram negative bacteria. No paraistes. He gave me some medication. To answer the questions; my dog is 2 years old, he has his first bought of this about 6 months ago and Im feeding him IAMS with probiotics.
Im worried about giving him the medication, just because i know it is going to kill alot of his good bacteria too and that is what is letting the gram negative bacteria grow out of control. I have probiotics that I take, do you guys think it would be ok to give him one of mine in some yougurt a couple of times a day while he is taking the meds? And yes he is a very nervous little guy and shakes when i take him everywhere and has to be with my husband of I every minuite. Right in the center of attention.
The vet said we are trying this medication and if it dosent clear up in a few days to bring him back. I hate this.. my poor baby. I had a nightmare last night that the vet told me he had cancer and only 2 days to live, and I cried forever in my dream. I was so sad when i woke up. O my, im so worried about him..

[shorkiejem]

You can give also plain yogurt.  They love it

I won't touch Iams with a 10 foot pole because of the following:

http://www.uncaged.co.uk/iams.htm

[Mai Tai]

I would not give the dog your probiotics as you don't know what amounts to give a dog vs a human, nor if it is even safe for the dog.  I know you are worried about giving the meds to your dog, but what alternatives do you have?  Did the vet offer any?  I know antibiotics can kill the good bacteria in the intestines, and then bad bacteria will flourish.  This happened to one of my daughters when she was three and she became very sick.  We did have to give her antibiotics to kill the bad bacteria though.  It was clostridium difficile, which is hard to get rid of.  If we had not given her the meds, she would have been very very ill.  Now she is fine.  Every time she needs an antibiotic now for any  reason, we always give her probiotics too.  Good luck and I hope your dog is healthy very soon.

[kamiem]

Rascal is doing much better! The medicine worked. Hopefully it stays away for good! Thanks for the advice everyone!

[Mai Tai]

So glad for you.

[Ann]

Oh that is wonderful we are so glad that it worked.

[Kim]

Glad he is doing better.

[kamiem]

I started giving Rascal yogurt everyday and he is loving it! Thanks for the advice.

[3BICKFORD]

I feel so bad for you and your dog.  If this should happen again perhaps it's time to your dog to another vet for a second opinion.  People get second opinions all the time, why not dogs?  Best of luck!!

[kamiem]

i actually have taken him to two different vets for that exact reason. He said if it happens again we will be doing more extensive testing. Hopefully it wont!

[shorkiejem]

Only give him about a tablespoon or less of yougurt, not a lot.  Glad your fur baby is feeling better