drinking out of streams

kcolsey · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject: drinking out of streams

Poor Gracie...I took her out yesterday for such a fun hike and everything was good...until last night. She had a lose stool before bedtime. This morning, diarrhea. I had to go to work so I called the dog walker to explain what I noticed and asked her to come a little earlier than usual. She picked her up and took her out and reported that Gracie was acting completely normally, but she did have very watery diarrhea. Well, I came home a short time later and there was Gracie in her crate with diarrhea everywhere in the crate. The poor thing had even tried to get out of her crate and so her nose was red too. Crying or Very sad

As soon as I got her outside, she vomited first (very mucousy) and then went to the bathroom several times. I immediately called the vet and was able to take her right there with a fecal sample. Of course the vet asked if she ate anything unusual. The only thing that I can think of is that Gracie did drink from a running creek during the hike. She didn't drink much, but she and the other dogs were splashing all about and getting drinks. Gracie did get the lepto...(not sure the correct name) vaccine, but the vet said that the vaccine only prevents against 2 of the 8 strands of the virus. Anyway, the results should be back soon from the sample. In the meantime, I've been giving Gracie pepto. and not much else. Tomorrow the vet suggested that if she seems better to try boiled chicken and rice. Since coming back from the vet, Gracie has been sleeping. I know it's been quite a day for her, so I'm hoping she's just tired. Has anyone had problems with your dogs drinking out of running streams/creeks? I'm trying to figure out what the likelihood is that something that Gracie drank is what made her sick. Thanks for your thoughts!

scrbear11 · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 5:42 am Post subject:

Zuna got sick one time from going to the beach and swimming in the ocean. Water aside from what comes out of our taps, contains all sorts of bacteria. It is very possible she could have slurped up some bacteria that don't agree with her system.

Leptosporosis is rare, but deadly if a dog gets it. So I would worry about her having lepto. Like the other post- it seems like when there are outbreaks of it, many dogs in the area get it.

If I was your vet I would have started Gracie on metronidazole. It is an antibiotic that works on anaerobic bacteria (like the ones that would be living in the abdomen and intestines). It also seems to have an anti diarrhea effect too. I keep a supply of it at home!

kcolsey · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 9:29 am Post subject: thanks

Thanks for the information. Yes, I am pretty sure it was something in the stream that didn't agree with her. The good news is that she is acting 100% normal. I didn't feed her last night and waited until later this morning to give her boiled chicken and rice. She ate it right up and so far, her stomach problems seem to be improving. I will definitely bring her back to the vet tomorrow if she continues to have diarrhea. Thanks again!

anne · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:47 am Post subject:

My dogs have gotten giardia from drinking out of some kind of water when out hunting. It happens....
If giardia, I prefer using Panacur rather than Flagyl.

weimamama · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 11:32 am Post subject:

I was thinking giardia, too...
June had Lepto and recovered but it was SCARY... spent 3 days in the hosp and 1 month on meds. Gotit from either an animal's urine in our backyard or the dog park... we have lots of animals around... skunks, squirrels, racoons, possums, gophers, chipmunks... and we dont even live in a rural area! (15 min outside NYC)