Wasting away

Hi, newbie here - and a merry Christmas to everyone.
Our eldest of three Staffs - Hamish - is in a bad way and it's breaking our and the kids hearts.
He's now 10 and we got him as a rescue, aged 1.
He's been suffering from chronic diarrhoea for 6-7 weeks.
We've been back and forth to the vets 5-6 times and as well as checking for signs of pain and distention around his tummy (no apparent problem), bloods have shown his pancreas is working fine but his B12 levels are low.
So they've been working on the assumption that it's perhaps a parasitic issue and have given us antibiotics as well as B12 capsules along with the tinned Royal Canine gastrointestinal food.

But he's now finished the antibiotics and nothing seems to be working - his diarrhoea is worse than ever and he is ravenously hungry and (no matter how much he is fed) getting thinner by the day.

Now waiting to get him seen again by the vet on Thursday, but just wondered if anyone has had a similar experience and how the situation resolved itself. I'm expecting to have to take a stool sample with me for the latest vets visit, but no idea how I'm.going to get one (if you get my drift).
Just the sight of him struggling (for the first time ever, he's refusing to be walked) so badly - and the weight loss - is frightening.
Any advice hugely appreciated, and - again - a merry Christmas.

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Hello, welcome and a very Merry Christmas to you too.

Poor Hamish, he can’t be too comfortable.
First thing that sounds peculiar is that your vets think it’s parasitic so prescribe antibiotics ? I imagine that antiparasite treatment (wormer or other) has already been given ?
Antibiotics won’t help his runs either.

I can recommend the probiotics “FortiFlora” by Purina veterinary diets.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Purina-Fortiflora-Canine-Nutritional-Supplement/dp/B001650NNW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1545749252&sr=8-2&keywords=Fortiflora
They’re sachets of powder that you sprinkle over feed once a day. Nifty even ate the powder as-is as I forgot to put it on her kibble. Her stools were back to normal in a few days so that might help Hamish.

As to the cause of the runs, only your vet can tell you.
You mention changing feed to Royal Canine gastrointestinal food but what was he eating before ? Is it possible that he has been eating something he shouldn’t ? (New house plant, new route during walks).
Apparently it’s not contageous as you don’t mention your other staffs being affected.

I think, after 6-7 weeks without improvement! I’d honestly look for a second opinion if that’s possible.
Good luck on Thursday and do let us know how you get on.

Many thanks Nifty. We will look at the Purina product you mention.
Hamish usually eats Wainwrights dry food.
We suspect he has eaten or drunk something nasty while off lead walking in nearby woods
.As you say, neither of our other two have been ill.
Will let you know how things go tomorrow, and thanks again.

Just one other thought to try to get him as comfortable as possible.
Runs can quickly irritate the bottom, if you see what I mean.
I wipe with a baby wipe and a light application of a human baby or nappy rash cream (zinc & castor oil, for example) can help.

Hope it goes well tomorrow

Many thanks again - my wife gently washed the area this morning. Seems a little more comfortable now.

Hi & welcome.

Poor Hamish, he must be very uncomfortable.

Whilst I would agree with gently cleaning his bum, I wouldn't use anything with zinc. Zinc is poisonous to Dogs & if he licks it (yuk!), it can make his stomach worse! Vaseline may be a better option.

Did you say he'd had blood tests? What about stool tests? If it's parasitic that will show in the stools.

To be honest, I would ask a second opinion, preferably at another practice. If he's losing weight rapidly, there's something other than parasites! My first thought was cancer, but that would show in blood tests.

Are you insured? If so, a scan of his intestinal are may show something?

Hope it went well today and that you have at least a few answers to move towards a speedy recovery

How did the vets go?

Thanks for all your replies and best wishes.
The vets asked for a stool sample - so we have provided what we can (although there is nothing solid about it). Hopefully have news in a few days.

Fingers crossed the results will be good. X

Got everything crossed for you here too !

Please do let us know when you get the results.