I am not an expert when it comes to dogs...ask anyone on this forum, but I did notice you posted that you give your dogs Digest Blend supplement. If that is a digestive enzyme product, then maybe my personal experience may help.

I took them along with other supplements when I was ill. After awhile, I had stomach pains, diarrhea, etc. Went off the enzymes, onto soft foods, and got well. Tried an experiment by going back on the enzymes, and had the same experience.

If you are feeding raw (as Leerburg advises and they do know their stuff ) the dogs may NOT need the enzymes. After the vet visit, and after the stools are back to normal, try feeding without the enzymes.

It won't help you determine if the enzymes caused the diarrhea unless you put the enzymes back in the diet, but if they can digest the food and thrive without it, it won't hurt them to miss it.

Of course, I may have missed the mark completely.

Connie,
I was just thinking and wondering if I do get a positive fecal for some parasite or worms, have you ever used the Azmira "Para Clear" to treat naturally?(100% diatomaceaous earth)
I had bought some a little while ago, to have on hand for the fire ants in the yard, but started to wonder about it as a treatment for worms or parasites?
Of course not until I would get the Ok from the vet and a positive fecal.

Hi Jo,
I started to use the digest enzymes, because I switched a new puppy to all raw and wanted to help assist him with the transition.
But I was giving it to the year old as well, thinking it would help her as well.
Right now, I am just fasting her and I imagine that until I get her back to normal, I won't be doing any supplements.

I don't know that much about enzymes but your experience is interesting and well noted. Thank you for telling me your situation, I will have to see what happens.

Just a quick update before bed.
So far, the baby rice cereal mixed with the plain Pedialyte and some very low sodium chicken broth, (very soup like) has worked really well. I warmed it to make it appetizing and she has drank two whole bowls full.
So far, no more diarrhea and little urination, letting me know she was dehydrated, so grateful that she drank my little concoction, that and fasting today seems to be working. We will get in to the vet for a fecal in the morning.

 Quote: Joyce Salazar

J
So far, no more diarrhea and little urination, letting me know she was dehydrated, so grateful that she drank my little concoction, that and fasting today seems to be working. We will get in to the vet for a fecal in the morning.

Joyce, it sounds like you're on the right track - good work with the home treatment plan, and I hope the vet visit doesn't reveal a bigger problem.

My dog (4 y/o male) just got over a pretty bad bout of diarrhea - worst he's ever had. We tried fasting, boiled rice/chicken, probiotics, etc. and ended up taking him in to the vet after 4 days because we just couldn't kick it ourselves (we can usually correct things with a mix of the above treatments, but this proved a bad case). We saw a fair amount of blood too, but, as we've learned from experience with OUR dog, blood can simply be a sign of a very irritated GI tract and, as Connie mentioned, lots of straining (it looks awful, but it doesn't necessarily mean there's a gaping wound in there ).

The vet found absolutely nothing abnormal in Oscar's stool but prescribed antibiotics to soothe his system and make sure it was 100% clear of infection. Worked like a charm, and though we have no way of knowing what caused it, he was back to normal in the #2 department within 24 hrs of the antibiotics. Unfortunately, just as he recovered from the diarrhea he came down with a UTI , so we've been to the vet no fewer than 4 times in the last 2 weeks dealing with the lot of ailments... Oscar is always such a genius about getting me to spend the most money on HIM at Christmas time!

Hang in there though, it sounds like your pup is still acting healthy and alert, so that's certainly a cause for some comfort! Good luck at the vet tomorrow.

~Natalya

Joyce,

I recently (over the weekend) gave my dogs a probiotic/digestive enzyme for the first time. Two out of the four dogs have pudding like diarreah. No blood or watery stool yet, but I too thought maybe it was from the emzymes. I was actually going to post about it, but you beat me to it.

I hope your dog is ok. I stopped giving them the enzyme and am feeding them white rice, real pumpkin and I gave them a famotidine tablet. (acid controller) I am hoping this will help with mine.

Well the fecal came back negative worms or parasites.
It is baffling how she seemed to have such diarrhea and yet tons of energy.
I think she was very dehydrated though because she only urinated once today. She was very hungry today, roaming around the kitchen in search of whatever I was fixing, and whining until dinner.
I am easing back into her food, this morning just watery rice baby cereal, and then this evening a touch more rice cereal with boiled chicken. Waiting for decent poop before adding raw food.
She seems to be doing really well. Also so glad that whatever it was didn't affect my 5 month old GSD puppy. I held my breath wondering if it was a bug that would get him too, thankfully not!

Thank you Natalya and Lisa for your comments and support.
I can't say enough about the kindness and supportive people here on this site. I really am grateful to have the input from you all, thanks a lot!
Once things return to normal I will see about whether to give her the digestive enzymes or not. Maybe I will just try it without and see how she does. Sometimes less is more and worth a try.
I will say one thing, that baby rice cereal and the unflavored Pedialyte with the extra low sodium chicken broth sure seemed to be a good combination.
Well, thanks again,
Joyce

 Quote: Joyce Salazar

It is baffling how she seemed to have such diarrhea and yet tons of energy.

Mine does the same.

You know they need to sit still and rest, but they act so normal.

Normal as in neurotic.

Glad everything is getting better. Just go slow, but you already know that.:smile:

Hey Michael!
My girl is so driven to play, it is crazy! I actually have to tell her "we are done now" and then put the toy up for her to get that we are not going to play anymore.
Then after a brief rest and I do mean brief, she comes over to me and yips and pulls on my sleeve to get me to play some more!
I still can't believe that she has all this energy even when sick!
I have had to force her to take time to rest.
But all kidding aside, I am so glad that she is this lively instead of lethargic, as that is far more worrisome.
It is a slow road, and I hope she gets better soon.