[NellyBean]

Just got off the phone from the vets, Hope's Faeces sample has come back as positive for Giardia, very high levels of e-coli and campylobactor...

Hope is already on a course of panacur for the giardia and the vet is getting some antibiotics sorted that I will collect shortly... Hope seems absolutely fine in herself, since putting her on NI she is eating amazingly, very playful, drinking pleanty, her poos are formed (were only loose last week and her constant shaking has now stopped), although she still has blood and mucus (but could be down to stress of new environment!?) and is very skinny (weighs 2.3kg at 9 weeks, assume thats underweight!?)

My main concern is that the vet mentioned e coli obviously comes from raw meat... With Hope being on NI could the bacteria be coming from her food?? We are being extra vigilent with hygeine and have been since she was ill last tues/wed, but obviously I am very concerned about this passing onto Ben especially with him having diabetes he has a low imune system! The vet advised it is normal to have a small amount of ecoli, but with her levels being so high wants to get on top with antibiotics?

Would really appreciate opinions from anyone who knows more about this bacteria, whether I should be concerned and whether their is a link to her NI diet???

Thanks x

 

[Dee123]

So sorry about Hope. You must be so worried! 2.3kg doesn't sound skinny but depends on her stature. Milo was 2.5kg at 9 weeks and vet felt its ok. E coli is all around us and people often get high levels frOm poor hygiene like not washing hands etc. no reason it has to be from NI not elsewhere! She will be better soon. X

 

[lady amanda]

I am sorry she has been poorly.
2.3 doesn't sound under weight. but cockapoos range so much in size that you would likely need to feel her to see if she needs to gain any weight, you should be able to feel her ribs when pushing slightly but they should not stick out by any means.
I hope someone else can help with the e coli, I have no experience with this.

 

[NellyBean]

So sorry about Hope. You must be so worried! 2.3kg doesn't sound skinny but depends on her stature. Milo was 2.5kg at 9 weeks and vet felt its ok. E coli is all around us and people often get high levels frOm poor hygiene like not washing hands etc. no reason it has to be from NI not elsewhere! She will be better soon. X

Thanks for the reply Dee... I suppose I just wanted reassurance.. I know so many people recommend raw diets (me now being one of those people after seeing her wolfing her food down when previously she was turning her noseup at all food offered!) and the vets reaction to hearing she was on NI took me back, at which he pointed out e coli comes from raw meat just hate to think I may be making her more ill!?

 

[NellyBean]

I am sorry she has been poorly.
2.3 doesn't sound under weight. but cockapoos range so much in size that you would likely need to feel her to see if she needs to gain any weight, you should be able to feel her ribs when pushing slightly but they should not stick out by any means.
I hope someone else can help with the e coli, I have no experience with this.

Thanks x her hips especially are skin and bones, no meat to speak of really, which is what the vet commented on last week.. (she has put a decent amount of weight on though since we put her on the NI) as she was 2.1 when we got her, which dropped down as she wasnt eating at all the first 3-4 days! x

 

[lady amanda]

She will gain weight on NI she will get to a nice and healthy weight...remember tho, if she favors the poodle side she could always be very lean....Lady who is full grown her hips are quite skinny, the vet suggested we get her to gain some weight ( tho it wasn't our usual vet) she is 16 pounds...I feed her for a dog who is 20 pounds and she has gained nothing, she is just a skinny girl. I am sure you are doing what is right for her, and a gradual weight gain is better than all of a sudden gaining 1/5th of your body weight. now that she is on the mend, I am sure she will be just fine.

 

[JulesB]

Betty has really skinny hips and defo takes after the poodle side as she is very petite.

As for weight, Betty was 13 weeks old before she got to 2.3 kg as she is an English working / toy poodle cross and one of the smallest fully grown cockapoos on here.

At least now you know whats wrong with Hope you can get her sorted. I'm sure she'll put weight on and like Mo says, best to do it slowly than too quickly.

x

 

[JoJo]

Oh lovely Hope .. so sorry to hear she is poorly ... you have done the right thing and your vet will help you all the way now.

I don't feed NI so sorry can't help there, but many on here do and I know they will help you all the way...

Regarding weight, as said above the cockapoo mix makes it hard to gage the correct weight for certain ages, but just keep weighing Hope and she should be gaining weight quite rapidly during puppyhood, although all dogs are different, just make sure the weight is gaining not dropping

Sending you hug .. it is horrible worrying about your puppy.. we are all here for you xxx

 

[mandym]

How awful,i hope little hope gets better soon.Is her sibling any better,i remember you saying a litter mate of hopes was poorly too.xxx

 

[Janev1000]

I don't think many vets generally support raw diets and you will just have to stick with what you think is right. I feed NI too and am very happy with it. I felt negative vibes towards it at my vet's puppy parties and they seemed to seek every opportunity to persuade me onto Hills - giving me a free sample pack - which I gave back the following week! When they checked Biscuit's anal glands (sorry!) they gave him these huge nuggets of it and said he would need more fibre to prevent any anal problems - even though the vet had just confirmed there was nothing wrong with them! As JoJo said, keep weighing her every week and look for a steady weight gain.

 

[NellyBean]

Thank you everyone for your kind words and support..

I have spoken with the people at NI and they have assured me all the food is teasted so unlikely to be from their they have been really helpful and reassuring so know I am doing the right thing having he on NI.. Although for a short time are going to put her on chicken and rice till her tummy settles a bit more

xx

 

[NellyBean]

How awful,i hope little hope gets better soon.Is her sibling any better,i remember you saying a litter mate of hopes was poorly too.xxx

Thanks Mandy, last time I spoke to Vicky she said little Teddy was doing a lot better, so fingers crossed they are both over the worst!

 

[Pollypiglet]

There are many strains of ecoli some more dangerous than others. I may be wrong but most people come into contact with the weaker strains possibly on a daily basis hence need for good hygine washing with soap and water. Think if it had been a particularly dangerous strain your vet would have said! Hopefully.

 

[Dylansmum]

the vets reaction to hearing she was on NI took me back, at which he pointed out e coli comes from raw meat just hate to think I may be making her more ill!?

My last dog was a cavalier and I switched him to a BARF diet when he was about 11 years old. My vet and all the staff there treated me like a criminal and indicated that I was abusing/killing my dog. He lived to the grand old age of 17, was walking in the park on the day he died and didn't need to visit the vet for the last 5 or 6 years of his life, so I think I had the last laugh.
These days more vets are clued up about diet and accept that there is a lot of merit in raw feeding and there are some vets who even sell NI, so the reaction to BARF is not usually as bad as it used to be, but I have to say that I would not stay with a vet who did not accept and respect my decision to feed raw, even if they were not personally in favour of it. A lot of them are ruled by profit and will always recommend the brand that they sell, and with others it's a bit like a GP and complementary therapies - if it's not part of their training and experience, some of them don't take the time and effort to learn about it and understand it.

 

[Ali79]

Sorry to hear that Hope has been unwell and hope she is better very soon x

 

[Jeanie]

hi,
poor little Hope,
hope she gets better soon,
if its any ease to ur mind Tilly was only 1.5kgs at 8weeks
only got her weighed earlier and she 7.3kgs and is now 20weeks
she also had blood in her poo.

 

[M&M's mummy]

Awww sorry to hear about the horrible time you are having with little Hope. Must be upsetting bringing home a new puppy and having to deal with all this.

I think whilst her body is dealing with it- I think it would be a good idea like you are doing and put her on a bland diet. Personally I find white fish and some boiled rice easier for them to digest than the chicken.

If she is on antibiotics- pop a dollop of probiotic natural yoghurt on top of her food. This will help readdress the good bacteria in her gut.

Wishing her better

 

[embee]

It doesn't sound like Hope is significantly underweight as Remy was only 2.5kg at 9 weeks. Raw dog food is usually better regarding checks than human raw meat as human raw meat is sold on the basis that it will be cooked whereas raw dog food is intended to be eaten raw. Be guided by NI who will be doing regular checks and like others have said be mindful that some vets aren't great raw feeding fans - it's all too easy to just blame the food and then discount other possibilities. You may never know how she has picked up these bugs but at least she is now being treated. May be be worth checking in with the breeder to see if others from the litter have had any related problems as it's possible these problems may have been present before you brought Hope home.

This is also interesting "The study sampled four canned and dry dog foods. It found E. coli in all of the commercially processed, cooked foods during one of the four sampling periods, and in one brand of dry food during another sampling period." so it's not necessarily exclusively a raw feeding issue!

 

[Scarlett]

I don't have any advice for you but I just wanted to say that I'm sorry to hear that baby Hope is unwell I hope that she gets well soon.

xo from Scarlett and Krysten

 

[puppylove]

Hello Helen, so sorry to hear about Hope's diagnosis. I have Beau who is almost nine months and shortly after he came to live with us he was diagnosed with giardia and e coli. He had chronic diarrhoea and his poos were often yellow and smelly ( sorry for the graphic details ). He has had so many courses of antibiotics I have lost count.

However since being put onto Eukanuba puppy intestinal and having enterogenic powders added to his food things are somewhat improved. I felt that the antibiotics helped a little but never cured him entirely. Just like Hope he was very happy and playful despite being unwell. I have never fed a raw diet so I'm afraid I can't comment on the e coli risk. I hope it helps to know someone has been through something similar.