Poorly Tummy

beebee · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 12:47 pm Post subject: Poorly Tummy

Dear Lab Lovers,

I have a 8 month old Chocolate Lab called Coffee Bean.

Over the past 2 weeks he has had an on and bad tummy, Yesterday he was fine and today he has Diraehha.
He has very recently discovered his love for water and dived in the river where I live in the country and on Thueday he thought my Mums pond was a paddleling pool.
Could he have cought a bug from the water and if he has what should I do? He's on Chappy and rice to help settle his stomach, My mum has advised me to give him some Charcol in his dinner this is apparantly very good for bad tumms.
His eyes are bright and he is his normal fun bouncy self his gums are also nice and pink? I dont want to take him to the vet get, If it persists until the weekend I may then take him?

Please let me know what you think and what you have found helpful in past experiances.

Many Thanks

Sarah and Bean

dylansdad · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 1:09 pm Post subject:

you could starve him for 24 hours, then a diet of boiled chicken and rice for 24 hours. should settle down then.

some recommend a couple of spoons of bio yogurt addd to feed too to help get bacteria going in tum. (yeovalley organic is apparently the best).

_Mary_ · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:53 pm Post subject:

I`d agree with DD, as for the water, hopefully there is`nt anything nasty in it, hard to know though, but if he has`nt shown improvement by the w/e as you say i`d take him for a check up, though he sounds happy enough if he`s bouncy etc, typrical Lab really!!, there`s always a chance of course he`s picked up something you`d rather he did`nt eat on his walks, Labs are well known for eating just about anything Laughing

kayc · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 4:09 pm Post subject:

Hi Sarah, yes there is a real risk of pond water At this time of year, while the weather is warm, some still water ponds, which are infected, manifest what is known as blue algea or blue green algea. Still water ponds carry it, and the warm weather brings the spores to life.

Some blue-green algae produce toxins that could pose a health risk to people and animals when they are exposed to them in large enough quantities. Health effects could occur when surface scums or water containing high levels of blue-green algal toxins are swallowed, through contact with the skin or when airborne droplets containing toxins are inhaled while swimming, bathing or showering.

Consuming water containing high levels of blue-green algal toxins has been associated with effects on the liver and on the nervous system in some animals, pets, livestock and people. Livestock and pet deaths have occurred when animals consumed very large amounts of accumulated algal scum from along shorelines.

Direct contact or breathing airborne droplets containing high levels of blue-green algal toxins during swimming or showering can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and throat and inflammation in the respiratory tract

Your dog does not have to swim it only has to play with a dog which has been in infected water and the spores can be inhaled.

If you dog has been in contact with these spores there is a serious risk, please, even just to be on the safe side, take your dog to the vet immediately. It may only be a tummy but, but it could be something more serious

Personally I dont allow my dogs swim in still water ponds or lakes from now until late Autumn or early winter, depending on the temperature.

beebee · Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:02 pm Post subject: Poorly Tummy

Dear All

Thank you for your replies, I found them all interesting.
Beans tummy did not improve over the weekend. I have changed his diet to a bland complete food called Beta, for puppies and Junior dogs.
I also took him to the vets this morning, He does have a minor tummy infection, the vet said he could have picked it up from anywhere, So bean has been subsribed antibotic and special prescription food.

He should fingers crossed be all better in about 4 days. So at the mo he is milking all the extra TLC.

Thank you

Sarah and Bean XXX

_Mary_ · Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 5:51 pm Post subject:

Hope that works for him Sarah and that he does`nt have to be on the prescription diet too long, expensive that stuff is!!

beebee · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:58 am Post subject: Poorly Tummy

Hi,

Tell me about it, I have to keep him on it for 4 days then gradually bring in his normal food.

To make thing worse, after the vet said yeaterday to keep Bean away from water, while on a walk last last he just dived straight in the river, And got stuck he couldnt get out and I wasnt strong enough to pull him out. I had to jump in and try and lift him out but he would not go, I was screaming for help for about 10 min's it was so scary.
Bean was really scared to. I thought I am not getting him out, Just as I was about to make a swim for it with Bean, to the end where I new it turned into a stream a Lady who leaves near by heard my screams and came running over, With all of our effats Bean was dragged to saftley , I then got pulled out.
I was so scared and worried. I think Bean may have learnt is lesson about just jumping in any old river. He got a good old bubble bath when we got back then I did the same.
I need to teach him to halt when instructed to when water is near ( any tips ) I have learnt one more thing never go out without my mobile.

However I am sure in the future there will be plenty more times either myself or my partner have to get I feet wet to resure are beloved dog.

Have you had any experances like this?

Thank you

Sarah&Bean

_Mary_ · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 11:40 am Post subject:

Thankfully no, I don`t let CJ off his lead when we are out, he has a lunge lead which allows him loose rein (no pun intended!), and we don`t go near any water where I am, have to take him by car to get at any unfortunately.

Hopefully someone else may be able to give you pointers in training him.

anna · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 12:15 pm Post subject:

a long lead and lots of practice recall im afraid.
whatever the interest to run away you must be more interesting, start far away from water and gradually get closer.
Anna

JohnW · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 12:22 pm Post subject:

As others have said, still water can be a problem at this time of year. Generally speaking moving water, streams and rivers, are not so much of a risk. Be aware of what is up stream. Often cattle have access to the water and often urinate and defacat into it. This can give a dog a "Gippy tummy". Also cattle creeps where cattle go into the water can churn the bank and stream bed quite badly and both dogs and humans can get stuck. Even powerful dogs use to that kind of going can get into trouble. I've seen my Anna struggle and she's been brought up in stiff deep mud.

Training is so important and that means training in ALL places. So often people walk their dogs, insisting of decent heelwork, as far as the park then let it have a good run with no thoughts of heel training until they start home. Heel training should be carried out EVERYWHERE, woods, fields, even the park. It can be a life saver. Don't just settle for walking to heel on the lead either. Train heel off lead as well. Start where and when it's really quiet and gradually scale things up as it all comes together. Obvously you should only train where it's safe but by scaling up I mean working where there are distractions. Water is like a magnet to Labradors so don't start your heel free training there! Move there when it all starts to come together.

The other thing of course is recall training. Work on this until you can recall anywhere anytime!

In all training, beware of fault training. By that I mean training your dog that it's ok to disobey. For example, if you call your dog at a time when you really don't think you are going to meet with sucess then you are teaching your dog that he can ignore commands. The command is then devalued until eventually it becomes just another sound you make!

Regards, John