Sounds like a plan. I'd still do the blood tests if it wouldn't interfere with the treatment. Can't wait to hear that Karly is doing well!

This is a good article - all the info in one place. I am saving this on disk just in case, for my dogs.

Ok, while walking my dogs I tried to formulate the reasons for doing the bloodwork:

Your pup went trough a long period of malnourishment during critical phase in his development. It would not be a question of if but what other organs got affected and to what degree. I hope very much somebody with more experience will correct me if I'm wrong (Betty?) If it were my dog I would like to see the numbers ASAP(and any other test the vet may consider relevant) and to see them improve later. I am sure your vet would be able to explain to you what to look for, what to expect and the best way to treat long and short term if you ask him.

In fact, if Karly's condition is considered normal at the breeder's, who knows what else is going on there?

At a recent visit to a vet for a dental procedure I had them take CBC+chem25 for no other reason than being curious. They are sticking needles in her anyway, right?

DAY 1 morning:
Karly s happy as it seems ... it had been pouring rain so they didnt take him out. i walked him with the caretaker. his poop is still very dark brown/blackish very watery mush (because of the meat).
the vet didnt give him more than half the dose of scourban and ultraflore. he doesnt want to up the intake if it s possible for karly to get better on this.
i asked about the CBC, Vet thought it was a good idea, but still to keep things one thing at a time. CBC would be done when stools are logs.

i asked what they looked for in the stool sample:
it s parasites and imbalance. that s all ...

i m gonna ask him this afternoon if the imbalance is symptom and we cure it, does it mean we d cure the problem? SIBO from the article Ana gave me seems to be close to what m seeing.

guys there something i dont get. isnt SIBO = floral imbalance? bacterial overgrowth = excess bad bacteria in SI = imbalance?!

They always taught us not to try to diagnose things "over the phone" -- this pup is in BEIRUT! Perhaps there are agents of disease there with which we are unfamiliar.
I'd like to see a CBC, would like to know his protein levels, his hematocrit.
We have to trust Karly is in good caring hands where he is.

Michel, I am glad that you are asking your vet a lot questions and that he is taking time to explain things to you.

Thank you Betty for pointing this out, perhaps I am making a wrong impression - read, get informed and discuss it with your vet. This situation requires professional diagnosis and treatment.

 Quote: betty landercasp

They always taught us not to try to diagnose things "over the phone" -- this pup is in BEIRUT!........We have to trust Karly is in good caring hands where he is.

Spoken like a true professional.:smile:

Agree 1000%!

DAY 1 evening:
hi guys. i m glad you re still all here after ELEVEN pages!!!

i just came back from the kennel to continue Karly's training and check up on him.
his energy was supposedly up the roof "right before i had gotten there"..

i talked to a couple of german shep owners. apparently the fluctuating weather in Beirut doesnt help in stopping the diarrhea.
i also met the rep of a kibble called Happy dog. have you heard of it? apparently it should be beter than RC.. one of the dog owners apparently hasnt gone raw because she doesnt trust the meat here in Lebanon ...:S

ah shit forgot to tell you (actually it s really frustrating me):
caretaker tried to walk karly lots of times but he wouldnt poop so the put him in a crate with newspapers so he poos there...
i m afraid that he picks up the habit of pooing in the crate!!! i really dont want him doing that when we come back home!!! vet s like a couple of days dont matter but m concerned..

btw, the shot he was getting by the way is Betamox (amoccicilin).
The vet is being careful not to overwhelm Karly's system with antibiotics apparently.

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

We have to trust Karly is in good caring hands where he is.

Both pple i talked to ONLY trust this vet. i should do that too. m getting too paranoid of people here.

more updates tomorrow. awaiting impatiently the new batch of poop!

Michel, you are doing great, getting information, asking questions and talking to the vet and other dog owners. Anybody in your situation would be feeling very much the same. You have been worrying about Karly for so long! It must be a very stressful time for you and your family.

I wouldn't worry too much about bad habits - is there any choice? If you can you could visit more often and take him out if the vet is ok with it. There will be time to work on habits and training when Karly is well and back home.

 Quote: Michel Karsouny

i also met the rep of a kibble called Happy dog. have you heard of it? apparently it should be beter than RC..

The sales rep would not be my info source.

I would read the ingredients list, perhaps post a link here. I have a bad memory of that name (could be wrong) as being corn-based, with corn in the top ingredient spot.