We go back to see the vet tomorrow, and I sure hope I get some answers and recommendations. Rocky still is having problems with diarea (I know that is mis-spelled, but you know what I mean). I'm supposed to keep him on the same seafood diet for a few more weeks, but I can't keep walking to PetClub to get it, and a small bag doesn't last very long. Also, he seems to be getting worse, not better. So I called this morning and couldn't get an appointment until tomorrow afternoon, at which time I'm going to press them to do a test or two to see what's wrong. He's lethargic much of the time, although still eats his food with gusto, and still chases his toys around the house, obviously enjoying all the noise and chaos he is making! He's not up to the longer walks we've been doing, and I have to admit I'm not up to it either.
After years of not going "out" much, Jeannie & Donald are taking me to a Napa Valley winery that is a favorite of theirs. We will be joined by my brother & his wife who live closer to San Francisco and will meet us in Napa for the day. I've also committed to spending New Year's Eve in a cabin in the Sierra, and I think I've mentioned it in a previous post. I might have to get a new wardrobe to replace my old "hanging out" clothes.
Today is cool and breezy, and I love it. I wish this was our year-round weather.
I don't have anything else to write - my day has been dog-watching and cuddling!
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Hi Gypsy -- I didn't realize that Rocky has been having diahrea (I can't spell it either!). He should be on a simple bland diet of plain white rice and either shredded boiled chicken or boiled ground beef. Sometimes some plain canned pumpkin (NOT pie mix, just plain pumpkin) mixed in will help. When my girls get this, I also given them a mild antibiotic called "Flagyl" (it has a long name like metronidzole or something). This all stops it up pretty quickly. The vet will probably try selling you dog food like Hills ID (intestinal diet) but it's not something he should be on long-term. I'm also betting that he as worms -- which would account for the lethargy-- and may also be a bit dehydrated. The worms could be any of a number of kinds that dogs seem to get and they can multiply inside a young dog pretty quickly. One of my dogs has food allergies, so we long ago switched them both to Wellness Simple Turkey & Potato kibble which is grain free and has a single protein source. Easier to digest than most fish diets (which I can't stand the smell of anyhow). Good thing you got the vet appt. for tomorrow for him! BTW - Most vets know little about nutritional needs of dogs and quality of dog food. Not something they're really taught in school and - besides -- they treat so many different kinds of animals, including all those different dog breeds, that they really can't be expected to know everything, although quite a number of them will tell you that they do --lol.
ReplyDeleteHere in the Hudson Valley we are having blessedly cool days. I don't even mind the wind and the rain which has been seemingly endless this summer. Enjoy the cool temps out there - and keep human food out of Rocky's mouth until you figure out what's causing the loose poops. Lynn in Kingston NY
Thanks so much for your comments. I know he has had deworming treatments, but maybe for specific kinds? I don't know much about it but that certainly seems to make sense. I have the Wellness puppy food for large breeds but it's chicken based. I've almost run out of the salmon so am mixing what I have, including the chicken. It hasn't made anything worse so far but he's just had a couple of meals like that. I agree the vets don't know anything about pet food. They insisted I get a food for him that had NO chicken - well, that pretty much eliminates everything except a few brands of salmon and/or trout. Everything else has chicken or chicken meal, or chicken byproducts - even when the large label says "Without chicken". The ingredients list it though. What a racket! I would think the vet will probably recommend a med such as Flagyl for him - can't imagine they would let him go untreated. I'm anxious to see how his weight has varied in the past week - he's been gaining pretty well so far.
DeleteYes to L Beman and rice! just plain white rice for tummy problems. I give Dermot rice cooked in chicken broth with chopped up carrots but I don't think carrots are good when a pup is having digestive issues.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you end up feeding him, have you ever thought about purchasing from Amazon so you can get it delivered instead of having to get small bags you can carry? Good luck at the vert tomorrow!
Agree with Lynn in Kingston, NY. Rice cooked in chicken broth with shredded chicken.
ReplyDeleteYes I have heard about the rice and chicken also pumpkin. If you don't agree with the vet maybe try these things they have been around forever. Hope all goes well tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteSpending a holiday in a cabin sound so wonderful to me. I was hoping to rent a little Casita for Thanksgiving but they do not open on that holiday or Christmas. So maybe I will just go in my camper
I will try to post something after I've seen the vet but I;va had an enlightenment! It's not the food at all. This dog chews everything he can get near his mouth, and that includes the artificial cotton used to stuff pillows, toys, and the like. I think he may swallow some of it, and I believe there is an obstruction somewhere along the path from mouth to where it comes out. Some of it has stayed inside and is causing him difficulty. How I can explain this to the vet, and how they can determine if that's what is wrong, remains to be seen. I'm convinced of it though. But I think it it definitely has nothing to do with the legitimate puppy food he eats, and he still has a voracious appetite. He is also difficult to walk on the streets because he tries to pick up EVERYTHING on the ground, from rocks to leaves, to sticks and twigs, etc. Stay tuned -
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