baby with diarrhea issue

[Roo]

Hi, one of our babies (Talula) has had diarrhea for about a week and a half. She is about 6 weeks old and we have had her for about 5 weeks. She has been on fox valley 1st step and since she started having diarrhea she has been given Albon. her stool ranges from diarrhea to large loose stool with the consistency of whipped butter. does anyone know any alternate treatments for this?

[spykitten01]

Has she had any pedialyte/rehydration fluid recently?

If not - STOP with formula, and sub her feedings with pedialyte for the time being. With a week of diarrhea, Im sure shes dehydrated on some level at this point. Do you have any kaopectate?

[gs1]

:grouphug

hopefully someone can help....

is there any smell?

i'm thinking parasites....

glad she's on fv....

are you near any of our rehabbers? ((meaning what city)). they might have vet access...

:grouphug

[Roo]

Has she had any pedialyte/rehydration fluid recently?

If not - STOP with formula, and sub her feedings with pedialyte for the time being. With a week of diarrhea, Im sure shes dehydrated on some level at this point. Do you have any kaopectate?

she shows no signs of dehydration and is gaining weight at a steady pace. The stools are more lagre and mushy not watery. I work at a veterinary hospital and the Dr suggested trying metronidazole. we were unsure of a dose and if it has been used with good results . Sine she has been on the albon for six days I am concerned about the gut flora and nervous about adding more medication.
what is the dose for kaopectate?

[CritterMom]

Kao is just a drop or two, no more. But that is for diarrhea. Add some probiotics to the formula - either some Stoneyfield Yobaby yogurt (it is full fat and organic) or benebac - Petco sells - small mammal banenac - or lactobacillus - to repopulate gut flora. That alone may take care of things.

[spykitten01]

If you do try the metro, my girls were on metro at the same age and the dose was 0.03ccs twice daily. I used a hypodermic syringe to draw up the liquid and then squirted it into a pre-set non-hypo o-ring syringe in order to correctly get such a tiny dose into them. Worked wonders - poops were perfect within a day or two. However, Id try some probiotics first - no reason to give meds when you dont have to.

[Rhapsody]

Just curious...... how much does she weigh, how much is she eating per feeding and are you adding any cream to the mix?

[Roo]

Just curious...... how much does she weigh, how much is she eating per feeding and are you adding any cream to the mix?

Im not positive on her weight at the moment but she is eating about 6cc of formula every feeding and always wants more, we have not been adding cream to the formula.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Roo...
I hate using Kao on a baby sq:shakehead

dose for metronidazole is 10-65 mg/kg...
I would use 50mg/kg as indicated in Wild Mammel Babies.

I do not use albon, I do not recommend albon...
I have had no luck with it...it's a dead med for the time being...

I love metro, it tastes very bad though...it works well.:thumbsup
Cocchidia or giardia...
It is great to have on hand, it's a anti fungal as well as anti biotic..

You will need a weight in grams to properly dose.
Your vet can do it for you, or someone on TSB.
Good luck...

DO NOT ADD CREAM TO FORMULA UNTIL SOLID POOPS FOR A DAY OR TWO.
ABSOLUTELY NEED PROBOTIC/YOGURT AS CRITTERMOM HAS POSTED.


edit: if diarrhea is stinky, use metro/flagyl IMO.
If diarrhea is not stinky...trimethoprim sulfa is best...200-40/5mg/ml
SMZ-TMP, Sulfatrim, Septra, Bactrim are brand names for it.
It can be filled as a pediatric suspension, pink and sweet...cheap, easy on the gut, choice AB with coccidia IMO.
NOT fast acting for use in any major issue such as aspiration pnuemonia or sepsis. Iffy for cat attack, I would use only if I did not have baytril.

[Roo]

thanks everyone for all of the great info! Talula is 104 grams and will be starting the metro today.


:thankyou :peace :thankyou :peace :thankyou :peace

[spykitten01]

Awesome! Please keep us updated! :thumbsup

[Jackie in Tampa]

:alright.gif good luck to you both...keep us in the loop please!

[Roo]

Talula's diarrhea has never fully gone away. For awhile it got better. Has anyone used tylan powder for squirrels?[/QUOTE]

[4skwerlz]

Sounds like a parasite problem. Can you get a fecal exam done by a vet?

[Roo]

I should be able to have one done. But she is with another baby and he hasnt had diarrhea. They are both about the same age and get everything the same.

[Roo]

I just spoke with my wife and she already did send out a sample that came back negative for parasites and giardia. I suppose that's good and bad news. We have tried watering down the formula and just giving pedialite. We have given her kaopectate and metro and albon but none of these has worked for very long. It just seems to get worse. She has also been sleeping on her back most of the time, I'm guessing her belly hurts.

[grinn75]

We've had other members with the same issue and have used Kefir with success as a supplement to help with GI issues when nothing else has helped. Have you tried any other probiotics?

[Roo]

I don't think we have tried any. Where can I get kefir?

[grinn75]

Natural food store or even some grocery stores have it in the milk section. Most of our members who have used it get the flavored kind and mix some with the formula for a couple feedings.

You could also just try some full fat yogurt if you can't find the kefir.

[Roo]

I will get some and try it. Thanks and I'll let you know what happens

[grinn75]

Hope it helps and definitely let us know if there is no improvement after a day.