Last night I woke to our five month old English Mastiff puppy whining. Nothing new, she whines a few times a night and I usually get up twice to let her out/feed her. (She is not sleeping in a crate, just on the floor in the livingroom.) I could smell something wasn't right as soon as I left our bedroom. (Gross, I know.) I went up to the kitchen to find a HUGE amount of feces on the floor. If I didn't know better I would swear a cow broke in and left it there, it was that much and that texture! (A bit thinner than pudding texture, dark brown, in a pile as round as a dinner plate. Sorry for the details but maybe they are important?)

She's never made a mess in the house before and as far as I remembered didn't whine to go outside previous to this mess. I took her outside and she urinated, then came right back in. No food given last night or this morning. She did chew on a few ice cubes. I ended up sleeping on the couch to watch her and she seemed to sleep soundly until it was time to get up.

I went out with her this morning and she passed a small amount of diarrhea, a lighter brown this time. On my way back to the house I noticed a few piles, a couple days old, that were not firm logs either. (I normally clean up the yard every three or four days, it was due to be cleaned yesterday but life happened and it didn't get done. Also, I normally go out with the dogs to check their stools--sort of weird about that--but it's been so hot out I had been lazy and just walked to the end of the deck to encourage them and then let them do their business alone. I feel horrible, I could have caught this earlier if I wasn't slacking off!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I recently read an ad on Kijiji about parvo in our area! I took my pup to town (we're in the country) for some socializing (with people, not other animals) just last week.

Do I make an emergency call to the vet? She's not open on weekends.

Sorry, forgot to mention--she has been eating and drinking normally. I would say she has been slightly, very slightly, less active the last two days. I attributed that to the heat...and growing, that has to take alot of energy.

She's only had her initial puppy shots (before we got her) but the parvo vaccine was included.

Is there any watery poop? Any blood? How is the dog acting otherwise? Totally happy and energetic, or not? Eating and drinking well? Any discomfort evident?

No watery poop, it's just like pudding before it's set. (I am so sorry for the descriptions.) No blood. She's been playful but ever so slightly less than normal. I thought with the heat and teething (she's got a painful snaggle tooth that we'll see the vet about next week) and growing like a weed...well, I didn't think anything of it. I honestly don't see any discomfort. Heck, I didn't even see her antsy about going outside the last few days, most dogs I've seen with diarrhea get in a panic to get out there as soon as possible, she's been completely normal about her routine.

Well, I'd fast for 12 hours and start a soothing diet, small meals, while watching for any other symptoms.

I'd be sure to accompany on poop-runs and watch for any watery poop.

I'd want to see firming starting within a few hours of starting small soothing meals.

The meals could be (small) bowls of very overcooked white rice, like gruel. You could make it with no-salt-added broth to improve palatability. I'd encourage water, too, just in case of incipient dehydration: baited water if necessary (no salt or sugar added, though).

PS

And of course you'll watch for anything else, like lethargy, inappetence, pain, etc.

Will do, thanks so much for the advice.

She's currently waggling around with her new ladybug toy, happy as can be.

So, at this point, is it likely we can wait until Monday to see the vet? (Of course, if any symptom worsens or a new one appears I'd reconsider, but to save on an emergency call...)

 Quote: Carrie R. Voeltz

Will do, thanks so much for the advice.

She's currently waggling around with her new ladybug toy, happy as can be.

So, at this point, is it likely we can wait until Monday to see the vet? (Of course, if any symptom worsens or a new one appears I'd reconsider, but to save on an emergency call...)

I can only say what I'd probably do, and I'd probably watch carefully, doing the fast and then small soothing meals, keeping water going through, etc., and waiting until Monday unless new symptoms appear or old ones worsen.

I just came in from cleaning up the yard. There are more 'puddles' than I originally thought. Both dogs have their chosen spots and I usually don't have to venture far from these areas to do a clean-up, though I do check regularly. I feel terribly guilty. I didn't think anything was wrong though--she was active, eating like a horse, drinking normally.

She pooped again while we were out there--it was liquidy. More liquid than solid this time. Afterwards she went around eating grass, what's left of the grass anyhow since it's pretty much fall time here, and tried to vomit. Apart from some thick, clear 'drool' and a few blades of grass she wasn't able to bring anything else up.

She is now lying in the shade on the deck...she took a few licks of the fresh water I brought to her.

Time to call the vet? I think so.

Well, as I hit "submit" she wiggled back in, picked up her toy and is trying to convince the other dog to play. Still, vet call is in order I think...between the diarrhea and trying to vomit...I'm very worried now.