The last few days have been very trying.  There seemed to be a pattern with Tucker swimming in the river, and getting very bad diarrhea.  This time, Tucker couldn’t control himself a few times and went on the carpet (and once the tile floor, thankfully).   To anyone who has experienced this, I sympathize.  There is no warning, and it sounds like a hose on “spray” and its the most tar-like, slimey, smelly…seriously gag-inducing mess you will ever see.  When Tucker was at the breeders, his litter was struck with coccidia.  We thought maybe he had picked up a parasite from the river, so for the second time, we brought in a sample.

The vet explained that both samples tested negative for coccidia and he did an examination, complete with “the glove”  Because no parasites were detected he came to the conclusion of episodic colitis.  Tucker also still has a very healthy “golden appetite” and has not been vomiting.  He is otherwise his happy, healthy self.   The vet explained that Tucker may always suffer from this.  This would be the time to replace all the nice, plush, light colored carpeting in our home.

So I was prescribed Metronidazole, 250 mgs, 3 tablets every 12 hrs.  Giving Tucker the pills is not an easy task.  He is on no food till tomorrow night, so I couldn’t even hide them in a piece of bread, which is what I usually do.

“Spring” ..before the digging began…

Is this good news or bad news?  I was losing sleep thinking this was a parasite, and how the heck were we going to clean up all that runny stool all over the backyard and keep it from being tracked through the house repeatedly??  Would I ever break the cycle?  My focus now needs to be on a good diet.  So far, there haven’t been too many success stories, but if I find any I will share.

Here’s how our story goes…I mentioned already that Tucker had cocidia as a pup at the breeders.  He was tested clear 3 days before he came home to us.  We began feeding him Orijen large breed puppy immediately, not the food recommended by the breeder. (p.s. I’m Canadian, eh?)  Gradually, Tucker began to have nice firm dark stools, no problems, except for the absolutely undescribable horrible smell of his “movements” (He always seems to manage a way to do them upwind)  I did some more research on dog food, and am a firm believer in the raw diet, but unfortunately it doesn’t fit in with our lifestyle right now (its not easy!) so I thought this food was the next best thing.

Eventually he started getting treats, chewing sticks, gnawing on bones.  The occasional runny stools would appear.  I’m beginning to think that after I give him his small meals of hamburger and rice for a few days, (recommended by vet) that I will go back on his Orijen (now on adult) and not feed him any more treats, until I can find some that are suitable.

A great article I found at dogtime.com explains canine colitus very well.

Caring for Canine Colitis

Currently, by boyfriend and I are taking turns sleeping.  Tucker needs to go outside at least every two hours or we risk having another accident.  I have the patio door open, which is an open opportunity for him to go out and dig large holes in the yard, but holes don’t smell bad, or stain your carpet.  We have settled on the lesser of two evils.  Goodbye yard!

Stay tuned for more “Tucker Files” and please, please share your experiences and success stories!  I love to read them

Shannon