Kirislin Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 I and my 5 whippets are currently staying with a friend to get away from the bushfires. The dogs all seem well enough except for Puck. He is eating fine but for the last two nights he's had to go outside in a rush with soft/runny stools. When they are firmer they have that thick coating of mucous on them. He doesn't seem depressed and his appetite is as good as ever but obviously all is not well. Any suggestions on what it might be and how to deal with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 I and my 5 whippets are currently staying with a friend to get away from the bushfires. The dogs all seem well enough except for Puck. He is eating fine but for the last two nights he's had to go outside in a rush with soft/runny stools. When they are firmer they have that thick coating of mucous on them. He doesn't seem depressed and his appetite is as good as ever but obviously all is not well.Any suggestions on what it might be and how to deal with it. From memory the mucus is a sign of stomach irritation. Any changes in diet? Is he stressed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 I and my 5 whippets are currently staying with a friend to get away from the bushfires. The dogs all seem well enough except for Puck. He is eating fine but for the last two nights he's had to go outside in a rush with soft/runny stools. When they are firmer they have that thick coating of mucous on them. He doesn't seem depressed and his appetite is as good as ever but obviously all is not well.Any suggestions on what it might be and how to deal with it. From memory the mucus is a sign of stomach irritation. Any changes in diet? Is he stressed? To the outsider he would seem fine, happy and playful but I know he is stressed due to the upheaval. I've got their normal food at the moment, it was something I grabbed and packed as we were leaving for this very reason. The only difference is the water but it hasn't affected the others. Two days ago I bought them a tray of lamb chops as a treat and he was a bit piggy with the bones, he might not have chewed them properly. If they have an irritatoin is there something I can give him or is it a visit to the vets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 (edited) Kirislin my view would be to watch and wait. I'd be suggesting a bit of rescue remedy for Puck and a relatively bland diet for a few days with perhaps a bit of slippery elm powder and some Vitamin C. Chicken and rice is always good. If that's too much of a pain to produce from scratch, buy some cans of Hills ID - that's basically all that is in the cans. I hate canned food generally but that stuff smells OK. You've been through hell in the last week. He'd be picking up on that. In addition, his normal routine is upset. If he's sensitive, I'd say that is a stress related thing but I'd be keeping an eye on it. Edited February 16, 2009 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 You could try giving him some plain cooked pumpkin (I usually steam mine). This often helps a lot with either constipation or diarrhea. Hope you're ok Kirislin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 (edited) thankyou Dr's Poodlfan and Erny, Pucky loves pumpkin, I'll get him some. I might go to the health food shop for some slippery elm too. We are OK, I see Mt Riddell went back to Alert this morning due to a small spot fire. I really want to go home but I dont want to get there only to have to turn around and leave again. Edited February 16, 2009 by Kirislin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 thankyou Dr's Poodlfan and Erny, Pucky loves pumpkin, I'll get him some. I might go to the health food shop for some slippery elm too.We are OK, I see Mt Riddell went back to Alert this morning due to a small spot fire. I really want to go home but I dont want to get there only to have to turn around and leave again. I hope you get some good rain soon down there Kirislin. Have some rescue remedy and Vitamins B and C yourself.. . your immune system will be a bit depressed from all this stress. Oh and Dr Poodlefan prescribes chocolate for you - 100g per day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 Oh and Dr Poodlefan prescribes chocolate for you - 100g per day. aaaah I must've known this instinctively, I've been self medicating already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Oh and Dr Poodlefan prescribes chocolate for you - 100g per day. aaaah I must've known this instinctively, I've been self medicating already! Make sure its the good stuff.. no generics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 (edited) I'm one of the lucky ones. The closest fire reached a point about 4kms away from me and the biggest affect (apart from emotionally) from the major fires is the smoke that is now blanketing our area. Do you think I qualify for some chocolate too, PF??? Maybe not the reaaaallly good stuff. Maybe the ordinary but nice stuff? Please? Hope the pumpkin works for your dog and the chocolate for you Kirsilin. I've been hearing more stories this morning (they keep unfolding), one of which was how a family was 'stuck' with no escape from the fires, but I think it was the Mother's son (or OH ... sorry, missed that bit) who was at work, organised a private helicopter charter to get them out. The son and the chopper company negotiated their whereabouts by using google earth and managed to airlift them and get them out and away safely. The chopper company then went on to help other people similarly and refuses to take any money for their work. The chopper company doesn't want to be named. Guesses are that what they did was essentially against the law. Personally, I don't care and I think they deserve a medal, whoever they are. I wish them good returns ten fold ETA: Oops .... that story didn't really deserve to be listed under a title heading "soft runny stools" . Sorry. Edited February 17, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 (edited) Anyone suffering under the blanket of smoke needs chocolate Erny. Swiss or Belgian are the only kinds with proven effectiveness for detoxing smoke. Lindt is probably the best brand to keep in your first aid kit as Lindt balls come in convenient single dose packaging. Quadruple the dose in cases of stress. Edited February 17, 2009 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hhhhhmmm .... Club dark chocolate coupled with a licorice piece (yep, both together) will have to do as that's all I've got. I'll have that after dinner which comprises of a Mexican pasta dish followed by cantelope with water mellon balls topped with a good dollop of crem de menthe flavoured cream. (Have a friend coming over for dinner.) I think all of that should see me right. Although I might end up needing a dose of steamed pumpkin myself tomorrow, given that I am a lousy cook . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest belgian.blue Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 You could try giving him some plain cooked pumpkin (I usually steam mine). This often helps a lot with either constipation or diarrhea. I was wondering last night if this is ok to feed dogs who have soft stools, if it would make them even softer or firm them up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopuppy04 Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hope he feels better soon Krislin. My boy and one of the dogs I was looking after had this - I wonder if it's due to all the smoke as we are still quite smokey where we are?! Good luck with it all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I was wondering last night if this is ok to feed dogs who have soft stools, if it would make them even softer or firm them up? It works either way. It provides fibre, which helps with bowel motions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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