Hi guys,
My 4 year old chihuahua started getting diarrhea about 3 weeks ago. After the first instance, we went to the vet, and he told us to give him chicken and rice for a few days, and when the stool becomes more solid, start introducing his kibble. The chicken and rice stopped the diarrhea, but literally hours after putting a little kibble into his bowl, the diarrhea started again. Went back to the vet, and he gave us some medicine and told us to keep doing the chicken and rice. The diarrhea took a little longer to go away this time, but it eventually did. We were told to re-introduce the kibble again, and again this caused the loose stool to return.
I assumed, and the vet did as well, that the food (Blue Buffalo small breed) was the culprit. He advised me to try another brand with different ingredients, and also mentioned prescription foods that he sells. They provide Purina's brand of prescription foods, and I know enough about dog nutrition to stay FAR away from anything Purina. So I figured I'd give another brand a shot, and went with Innova EVO red meat small bites. I waited until the diarrhea went away before I mixed some with the chicken and rice, and again, the kibble caused the diarrhea to return.
I'm starting to get worried that this may be serious, so I'm going back to the vet sometime this week. I have a feeling he's going to push the Purina crap, and I just want to know if it's worth it. It's probably more expensive than his current food, and I've been checking the ingredients to their prescription formulas, and they look just as bad as the regular stuff. Is there a chance that it could solve the diarrhea?
Normally I'd just shell out the cash if the vet recommended it, but I just paid $4,500 for cataract surgery, and he's epileptic so he requires medication for that regularly. I love this dog too much to let money dictate his health, but I'm looking to save money wherever I can if it isn't necessary.
My 4 year old chihuahua started getting diarrhea about 3 weeks ago. After the first instance, we went to the vet, and he told us to give him chicken and rice for a few days, and when the stool becomes more solid, start introducing his kibble. The chicken and rice stopped the diarrhea, but literally hours after putting a little kibble into his bowl, the diarrhea started again. Went back to the vet, and he gave us some medicine and told us to keep doing the chicken and rice. The diarrhea took a little longer to go away this time, but it eventually did. We were told to re-introduce the kibble again, and again this caused the loose stool to return.
I assumed, and the vet did as well, that the food (Blue Buffalo small breed) was the culprit. He advised me to try another brand with different ingredients, and also mentioned prescription foods that he sells. They provide Purina's brand of prescription foods, and I know enough about dog nutrition to stay FAR away from anything Purina. So I figured I'd give another brand a shot, and went with Innova EVO red meat small bites. I waited until the diarrhea went away before I mixed some with the chicken and rice, and again, the kibble caused the diarrhea to return.
I'm starting to get worried that this may be serious, so I'm going back to the vet sometime this week. I have a feeling he's going to push the Purina crap, and I just want to know if it's worth it. It's probably more expensive than his current food, and I've been checking the ingredients to their prescription formulas, and they look just as bad as the regular stuff. Is there a chance that it could solve the diarrhea?
Normally I'd just shell out the cash if the vet recommended it, but I just paid $4,500 for cataract surgery, and he's epileptic so he requires medication for that regularly. I love this dog too much to let money dictate his health, but I'm looking to save money wherever I can if it isn't necessary.