 What's wrong with my dog? Constipation or worse?
#231867 - 03/18/2009 09:02 AM |
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Bo has been on a completely raw diet for several weeks now with generally good stools. However, while walking yesterday, he tried to poop twice, straining. The only thing that came out were a couple drops of bright red blood. It was a little alarming.
This morning, he tried to poop about five times (that I could see). He got out a few tiny pieces of poop and some mucousy blood. No good poop - that I have seen - since a couple days ago. I think he is constipated and am hoping that the blood may be from a cut or from straining so hard.
Otherwise, he has a healthy appetite and is acting fine - playful and energetic as ever. If it's constipation, it could be from a number of things... but is it something more serious than constipation?
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Re: What's wrong with my dog? Constipation or worse?
[Re: Maegan Ward ]
#231871 - 03/18/2009 09:27 AM |
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What exactly are you feeding him? How long has it been since he's had a normal poop?
Bloody mucous may warrant a trip to the vet, IMO...
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Re: What's wrong with my dog? Constipation or worse?
[Re: Lynne Barrows ]
#231875 - 03/18/2009 10:17 AM |
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Feeding chicken necks, venison meat, an egg, salmon oil, and plain yogurt. He has only been on raw for several weeks now, so I haven't added organ meat yet.
This morning I added some cooked blended carrot to try to relieve constipation, if that's what it is.
Brian fed him some tortillas and bacon grease as treats on Saturday, and Bo had diarrhea on Sunday from that. The diarrhea lasted until Monday morning. He had normal poop later that day. Since yesterday, I haven't seen him have a normal poop.
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Re: What's wrong with my dog? Constipation or worse?
[Re: Maegan Ward ]
#231877 - 03/18/2009 10:25 AM |
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I would definitely continue to give the yogurt.
Sometimes a bout of diarrhea is followed up with a bout of constipation; the gut just gets too overworked and starts acting bizarre.
Tortillas, as in corn or flour?
Either way, keep watching and make sure he gets plenty of fluids (you can make sure he gets enough by pouring half a cup of water over his food when you feed him. He'll be sure to lap it up.)
Cut back a little on the necks and up the venison just a tad- nothing dramatic, we don't want another bout of diarrhea.
Give him the opportunity to get some good exercise, which may help the poop along.
If I were in your shoes, I'd check the dog's temp, just to put my mind at ease, and then continue to monitor closely.
If he hasn't had a normal poo by tomorrow night, I'd see about scheduling him with the Vet for Friday or Saturday at the latest.
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Re: What's wrong with my dog? Constipation or worse?
[Re: Aaron Myracle ]
#231879 - 03/18/2009 10:30 AM |
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Re: What's wrong with my dog? Constipation or worse?
[Re: Aaron Myracle ]
#231880 - 03/18/2009 10:30 AM |
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Flour tortillas. I yelled at Brian for it but he just wants Bo to gain weight and Bo loves it.
The water in food is a good idea. What should his temperature be? (And while you're at it, how do I take it? Rectally?)
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Re: What's wrong with my dog? Constipation or worse?
[Re: Maegan Ward ]
#231882 - 03/18/2009 10:51 AM |
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Taken rectally, between 100 and 102.
You might want to uh, "dedicate" a thermometer to Bo.
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Re: What's wrong with my dog? Constipation or wors
[Re: Aaron Myracle ]
#231894 - 03/18/2009 11:49 AM |
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Yes, good call.
Take his temperature.
After the diarrhea, did he have any particularly boney meals?
Has he had a chance to eat anything obstructive (part of a toy or a sock)?
Desired dog weight gain is not done with wheat, BTW. Please don't let that continue. 
If there is no fear of a foreign object having been consumed, I'm all for the advice to give a meal that's heavier in muscle meat to soften the poop. Plenty of liquid, too, even if you have to bait some water.
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Re: What's wrong with my dog? Constipation or wors
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#231895 - 03/18/2009 11:59 AM |
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P.S. Even bacon grease isn't the best of all possible treats. Bacon is so full of
nitrites, etc. .... in fact, even the salt is extreme. Of course dogs are scavengers and of course some bacon grease is a delight to a dog and not likely to cause any harm at all, but I'd make sure that it did not become a habit. Smoked/cured meats are not at all a good regular choice.
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Re: What's wrong with my dog? Constipation or wors
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#231896 - 03/18/2009 12:00 PM |
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My GSD had something similar happen last year. I was feeding him the Merrick canned foods that had whole chicken wings, etc. which they claimed were cooked with a "special process" that made cooked bones safe to eat.
I don't know for sure if it was that, but he had terrible loose stools that had blood in them for two days. I took him to the vet right away and they gave him some pill that I refer to as "super cork". He didn't poop for about three days or so. I fed him rice and cooked ground turkey with some pumpkin for a few days. The vet and my guess is that something he ate put a small tear somewhere along the digestive tract.
Since then I have switched to 100% raw, since I trust Ed and the people here far more than I will ever trust a dog food company.
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