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View Full Version : Looking for advice: Golden w/recurrent diarrhea


Imperfect4
08-03-2009, 11:52 PM
Hoping to get some help from the knowledgeable posters here ...

Our 20 month old golden retriever had digestive issues for the first 9 months we had him, until around the time he turned a year old. For the past 6-8 months, we thought we had the problem licked -- figured he'd outgrown his sensitivities and was doing well with the food we had him on (Costco's premium dry food, often with a half cup of real chicken or venison added).

A few weeks ago, we discovered Costco had discontinued (or stopped supplying our local store with) our regular food. So we had only about 4 days to try to switch our guy from his old to the new blend (also a Costco dry food). Needless to say, diarrhea ensued. :sad:

We fasted him for 24 hours and started him on plain white rice and boiled chicken, with a tablespoon of pumpkin with his meals morning and night. The diarrhea subsided after a couple days, and we kept him on the chicken/rice for about a week. Then we added in some venison, which he seemed to tolerate for 4-5 days, before the diarrhea started up again today. :huh:

We're fasting him again for 24 hours and making an appointment with the vet. Other than the diarrhea, he's absolutely normal. Appetite is excellent, energy level is excellent -- nothing different about him at all other than the digestive disturbance.

The vet ran the usual tests on him back during his puppy diarrhea days, and nothing was off. That's what I'm expecting to hear yet again, after we take him to the vet.

Anyone have any ideas? Thoughts?

Any suggestions on a high quality pet food once we get this sorted out again?

TIA!

withay
08-04-2009, 01:53 AM
It sounds like he just does not tolerate dietary changes well. I have had pets who had that problem also. What ever food you put him on, ease him into it by adding it to the rice and chicken/venison mix and then decreasing the rice/chicken amount each day. The fact that he seems to feel fine is a really good sign. Hope he is better soon.

Mandymax
08-04-2009, 12:33 PM
Pepto-Bismol may help in the meantime. You can give them a little, and it won't hurt them. I used to do that with my last dog.

Imperfect4
08-04-2009, 01:06 PM
Thanks, withay and Mandymax.

I think we're being a little impatient. It's probably just going to take more time with the chicken/rice, etc.

The frustrating thing is we seemed to have the problem under control and planned to keep him on the chicken and rice+venison while we researched a good commercial food for him ... and then the diarrhea started up again out of the blue.