Boxer Republic Message Board

Hi everyone, I am new here. I am hoping someone has advice or tips for us.
My female boxer, Bailey, has had diarrhea for months now. My son walks her and told me this, but I honestly didn't realize it was this bad. (maybe part of me wanted to deny this) So, vet did fecal test and blood work. Fecal was clean-blood work shows low pancreas enzyme. Choice was to treat with meds, diet or proceed with gut byospy or additional lab work.
Put pup on Science diet ID dry...no change in stool (I mean comes out as water)
Spoke to lead vet at practice she feels it is a food allery-so she has been on Science Diet ZD Ulta (72.00 18lb bag) maybe slight change but only every now and then...otherwise all water.
Has anyway been down this road?
Thanks for you help.

Sorry to hear this is going on. Was wondering if they had checked or treated her for Giardia?
We had a problem with this a few years back, I believe the vet treated with Albon and the diarrhea was gone in a matter of days. Not saying this is what is going on with Bailey, just a suggestion. Our dogs had watery, explosive diarrhea with it. Nothing we tried helped and the vets never actually saw anything in their stool that indicated positively that is was Giardia, but we opted to treat "just in case" and that took care of the diarrhea issues.
Like I said, just a suggestion. Maybe others can help.

I would ask for additional testing. Does not sound like allergies to me. We have had issues w/ allergies and this just seems a little to severe. I would also see if you can find some canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling just plain canned pumpkin) and add a few tablespoons to her food daily. Pumpkin helps to bind the stool. I would also (JMO) make a batch of boiled chicken and rice and feed it to her for a few days. Diarrhea for this long is very concerning to me. It would not be acceptable for a person to have this problem for this long so it should not be for a dog either. She is not getting the nutrients she needs to live if her stool is water. Take Care. Please let us know how she is doing.

Thanks-I am going to call about meds for Gardia...
at the vet visit-she has lost 3lbs...she has always been on the lean side but the vet said you can see its protein that she is losing due to her spine showing. I've heard about the pumpkin for cats didn't even think about trying that....
This whole time she is acting fine, playing etc...

I don't really have any other suggestions to add other than to ditto the pumpkin or the boiled chicken & rice. I hope you guys can get Bailey some relief! I always feel so bad for my pups when they have stomach upset. That's good that she's still playing and everything, though!

We had a bout of giardia here as well--it was nasty stuff with all the loose stools. We never noticed any strange behavior just maybe a little more down time then there should have been. Dctrs took care of it and no issue since--unless he gleans the counter for something that was not meant for his consumption-Welcome to BR by the way and I hope you can get this issue fixed up. Pumpkin works good for us and I keep a can on hand just in case.

I followed up with my vet again today...asking about Gardia ...the first meds Bailey was on...was for that...and no improvement.
I think we are going to have to do additional blood work...this test involves a 12hr fast prior to testing. The down side is that our funds are limited and have already racked up $$$$ first tests, meds, rx foods-two types and now this bloodwork.

I do so hear you about the funds. Sometimes if you live near a university with a Vet program they are willing to assit for a reduced fee-or ask some rescues for some advice on lesser expensive options--they can be a great resource. I thought our Lab had a blockage the other day on a Sunday and I was wondering if I had to take her in where the $ would come from too--glad she was better without going in--dodged a bullet there.