Greetings Fellow GSD Folks,

Well, I made a serious mistake I placed too much trust in our veterinarian (vet) and my dog has suffered as a result. Two weeks ago my GSD puppy went for his scheduled vaccination and to have a rash that had developed on his stomach examined. The vet prescribed an anti-biotic called amoxcillin and neglected to inform me that it could cause the good bacteria in his intenstinal tract to be killed causing diahrrea as a side effect.

Sure enough the rash on his stomach cleared in two days, but his stool became very soft, like pudding, and we have been in a battle to firm it up ever since. At one point his stool was like water, but we've been able to get it back to were it retains its form, but still appears very soft. We are currently giving him a table spoon of plan all natural yogart to promote the good bacteria in his intestinal tract. We are also currently looking for a new Vet with more experience with GSDs.

Just a word to the wise...always ask your vet about side effects and dosage amount or you'll learn the hard-way as we had to do.

You might want to run a fecal to rule out parasites. Might not even be related to the antibiotics. Just a thought.

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You might want to run a fecal to rule out parasites. Might not even be related to the antibiotics. Just a thought.

Yes, that's a good suggestion. Meanwhile, you're doing well with the yogurt (containing live cultures), and it wouldn't hurt to add a couple of tablespoons of canned pumpkin (plain, not pie filling).

I've seen a lot of coincidences in my dog experiences where two thing that happened around the same time, and which I assumed were related, were entirely separate. (Of course, antibiotics can and do cause intestinal distress to many dogs and people.)

Good luck!

Antibiotics can do that. I would rather put up with a little sloppy poo for a couple of weeks than a skin infection/irritation, because THAT cycle is one you are not stopping anytime soon once it takes hold!

Don't let a little pudding like poo mistrust your vet. Dogs get a little pudding poo here and there for 1001 different reasons.

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Antibiotics can do that. I would rather put up with a little sloppy poo for a couple of weeks than a skin infection/irritation, because THAT cycle is one you are not stopping anytime soon once it takes hold!...
Don't let a little pudding like poo mistrust your vet. Dogs get a little pudding poo here and there for 1001 different reasons.

Sammy, I couldn't have said it as well! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Just wanted to letcha know the same thing happens in humans. It's not really anything your vet did, but it would have been nice if he gave you some sort of warning. It's a general side effect of all antibiotics, whether or not one reacts to a dose depends on the individual, the drug, the dosage, and the disease.

I should know... my intestinal tract has been shattered over and over by antibiotics. Yogurt and probiotic supplementation can help; lactobacillus and acidophillus (sp?) are the common ones. Sometimes switching antibiotic families helps a lot. If a dog/person reacts strongly to sulfas, a vet/doc can try an antibiotic outside of that particular family or even attempt the lowest possible dosage.

That said, the diarrhea may very well be NOT a true allergic reaction! Antibiotics should be taken all the way to the end unless an actual allergic reaction develops. The diarrhea can be stopped, but you don't want to create super-resistant infections.

I concur with Sammy, just because your dog has a little loose stool after antibiotics is no reason to shun the DVM. Step up to the plate and realize you should have asked about adverse side effects also; that being said the vet should have also volunteered the info. If what you're doing in the way of diet doesn't work, try cottage cheese with cooked rice-usually relieves loose stools fairly quickly.