Puppy Poo

[Nushie]

Sorry for the not-so-nice topic.

So being that i pick up his poo 3 times a day i get a good idea of what it is like. And over the past few months it has been what i would think is good for poo Formed, not hard or soft, easy to pick up and doesnt leave a mess. Over the past week it has been alot softer, still formed, not runny but significantly softer and easily turns to moosh when you pick it up. So this morning, it was the same but it had like a mucus on it as well.

His diet hasnt changed at all and he is still as bright and bouncy as always.

I have a vet appointment for him tomorrow afternoon. So i was just wondering if anyone knows what could be causing it?

I was thinking that maybe its the puppy food? He is 9 months old and he seems to have stopped growing and i thought that maybe its got too much of the extra good stuff in it for him now? Should i start introducing some adult food? Is puppy food likely to cause that if the excess nutrients arent being processed?

He gets just under 1/2 cup of Eukanuka twice a day and 2 small kongs stuffed with meat and some veg. He has been eating this every day for the past 3-4 months without problems (obviously the amount of Eukanuka has changed over that time) but otherwise its all the same.

Thanks people

Attached a photo of him aswell. Its a couple of weeks old but i dont have any newer photos on this computer.

[aussielover]

I can't see the photo but I am on the work computer.

Could it be the heat/humidity? our other dog got sloppy poos in really hot/humid weather.

Also our current lab puppy had to be taken off a premium dry diet due to her not tolerating the "richness" of it.

9 months should def be old enough to transfer him to an adult diet though.

[Nushie]

I can't see the photo but I am on the work computer.

Could it be the heat/humidity? our other dog got sloppy poos in really hot/humid weather.

Also our current lab puppy had to be taken off a premium dry diet due to her not tolerating the "richness" of it.

9 months should def be old enough to transfer him to an adult diet though.

Heat and humidity can do that? Never knew

It has been a lot hotter than normal here. Lucky i bought him a cooling mat. Will have to try it out this weekend and see how that goes.

Might also start introducing some adult food.

Thanks

[Sandra777]

9 months old and pooing 3 x daily I would say he's getting either too much food, or too much food he can't digest.

Could well be the heat affecting him, but have you used any flea or other treatments on him? I would definitely have him on adult food by now - he's virtually full grown as he's own a little guy.

[Miranda]

He may have become infected with coccidia. Dogs develop immunity to coccidia as they mature and many adults carry the parasite but show no symptoms, however puppies are far more vulnerable and may develop diarrhea with mucus and sometimes blood in the stools. Your vet can test for it and it's easily treated.

[Nushie]

9 months old and pooing 3 x daily I would say he's getting either too much food, or too much food he can't digest.

Could well be the heat affecting him, but have you used any flea or other treatments on him? I would definitely have him on adult food by now - he's virtually full grown as he's own a little guy.

I thought pooping 3 times a day was pretty normal for growing dog? How many times would be normal for a dog his size? Last time we weight him was about 3 weeks ago and he was 6.5kg. His not fat and i keep an eye on his weight as i don't want him to turn into a typical fat pug.

Actually just checked the pack of Eukanuka they recommend 1 to 1 1/4 cups a day and Jager is getting a little under a cup PLUS his 2 small kongs. So I think I might reduce the amount down as well as introducing some adult food.

[Sandra777]

I thought pooping 3 times a day was pretty normal for growing dog? How many times would be normal for a dog his size? Last time we weight him was about 3 weeks ago and he was 6.5kg. His not fat and i keep an eye on his weight as i don't want him to turn into a typical fat pug.

I don't believe size has much to do with poop frequency but I'd be fine with being wrong about that

At 9 months old I wouldn't call a Pug a ''growing dog'' I'd all him virtually (physically) and adult.

I wouldn't pay much attention to the amounts on a pack of any commercial food. If he's in good condition as in ribs easily felt, all the way up to the shoulders then he's getting the right amount of food.

[AmandaJ]

Does it look like this?

It could be colitis...

Colitis can be caused by lots of things but it is an irritaion and inflamation of the lining of the colon. Parasites and a reaction to certain foods are the main cause. You need to rule out parasites (including Giardia) first. From there you need to replace the enzymes in the gut which have been lost due to the condition. A lack of proteolytic enzymes in the gut not only can be caused by parasites and parncreatitis but can also be due to a dietary insufficiency. Without the enzymes the body can not breakdown the nutrients properly and then the food irritate the bowel as it passes through. There are commercial enzyme replacers on the market but you can also use natural whole foods to replace the enzymes. Pineapple and Papaya are high in proteolytic enzymes. You would also need to repair any damage done to the gut as colitis can become ulcerated. I like bovine colostrum for gut repair....it's proven and has other benefits.

Good luck

Edited to say : If the vet puts the dog on antibiotics get some Protexin too. Antibiotics are not selective in the bacteria they kill so you will kill the good bacteria also. Protexin replaces the good bacteria and re-balances the gut flora.

Edited December 13, 2010 by AmandaJ

[Nushie]

Thanks for the replies.

By our Saturday afternoon appointment he has done 2 prior and both were pretty much back to normal. Vet seemed to think it was just something that he had eaten that he shouldn't have but said to come back as soon as possible if it starts again. Other than that he said that i could start changing over to adult food and to start cutting back on the amount - his reasoning being that cause he has stopped growing he will start putting on weight. Guess i will just monitor his weight and adjust the amounts accordingly.

[Mystiqview]

Pups like to chew things... and as a result sometimes it goes through them.

Around that age, he will want to be start to "set" his teeth, so he may be chewing more things than normal. So it could be something in your garden that does not agree with him.

It could be a gut infection. Pups and diarrhoea go hand in hand.. Things tend to go through them without warning and for no logical reason.

I Keep "Peptosyl" on hand - great for binding up pups

I also keep "Gastrostop" on hand (from chemists)

Rasberry cordial, given straight can be good for settling upset stomachs. About 3ml.

With the first one, read the label. With the second, consult your chemist. I generally give one tablet. If it has not sorted itself within 24 hours, then I will consult the vet. I also will starve the dog for 12-24 hours depending on how bad the squirts are. Then introduce a small meal of very plain boiled rice and then the next meal a small one of dry kibble.

Introduce food too quickly back to an upset stomach, and it will keep happening. You need to wait until the gastro bug causing the squirts to pass.