My German Shepherd is currently 4 months old, and he has been having diarrhea for the past week and a half. At first it was wattery yellow, and it was to a point where he couldn't control it. He sometimes went inside his crate when I wasn't home, and he normally doesn't do that. At that time I had him on Nutro-Max, and I just didn't feed him one day and kept him very well hydrated. By next day, he was back to normal, so I started feeding him again and the diarrhea started again. But this time it wasn't wattery yellow, it came out pudding-like. I took him to the vet, and they recommended some intestine antibiodics, but that ended up doing nothing. So I assumed that it was just the food, so I over a period of 3 days, switch him over to Solid Gold which was significantly better food and made his odor go away and his coat to shine, but the Diarrhea still continued. I took him to the vet again, and they put him on this prescription diet, and gave him these pills which honestly, they didn't even really explain what they were for. Now, he is getting slightly better with his poop, but he is started to produce some vile odors, and the food has the nastiest ingredients in it, so I'm almost on the line of not giving it to him, but I don't him to go back to wattery diarrhea as well. I'm kind of stuck trying to figure out how to help him. Do you guys have any suggestions as to what I can do to stop the diarrhea and find the source? And also, would it be a good idea to just pull him away from the prescription diet? Thanks in advance for all your help.

- Ali

What have they tested him for?

Hi Ali,

If your dog's stool still isn't normal, I'd recommend doing a fecal culture (not a float)...if your vet already hasn't run one. Cultures uncover a lot more bad stuff than floats do.

Good luck and I hope this ends soon!

Thanks for all the replies!

The vet did infact do a fecal on him. The first vet visit did a fecal on him, and found some bacteria in there which is why they gave the antibiodics. However, she said that there really isnt' too much bacteria, and she wouldn't give him the antibiodics if he didn't have diarrhea. The second time, the vet did a fecal test and also did a Giardia test, and found everything to be negative. I don't know if they tested for everything or not, but the vet said she didn't want to do lab work unless it was necessary.

I've been wanting to get my dog into raw food, however, I just don't know where to start. I tried looking on leerburg.com for some info, but there are SO much info, that I just seemed to get lost. I don't really know how to start him on raw food, but if there was an "easy to read" guide, I'd love to give him a shot. Please let me know if you guys have any other suggestions! Thanks again.

- Ali

At your pup's age, the most likely problem is parasites. Make sure your vet checks for giardia and does the antigen test for it. Giardia can be very hard to find, so don't let them just tell you he's negative if they haven't done the antigen test.

 Quote: Elaine Matthys

At your pup's age, the most likely problem is parasites. Make sure your vet checks for giardia and does the antigen test for it. Giardia can be very hard to find, so don't let them just tell you he's negative if they haven't done the antigen test.

Absolutely.

The diarrhea is the most important concern at the moment.

Then here's a list of beginner Q&A that will allow you to start on a raw diet with no trouble at all:
http://leerburg.com/feedingarawdiet.htm

What's the difference between a fecal test for Giardia and a antigen test?

 Quote: Alex Madsen

What's the difference between a fecal test for Giardia and a antigen test?

One looks for the easy-to-miss protozoa, and one looks for the antigen that proves exposure.

An antigen is a molecule that stimulates an immune response and a giardia antigen shows that the immune system has reacted to giardia's presence.

I think.

I'm going to call the vet and see if she did that or the other...

As far as RAW food, I read a bit, and it seems pretty easy to feed chicken and what not. What would a decent selection of foods be to feed the dog? Sorry this is getting a bit off topic...

- Ali