[WorriedMom]

My boxer/german shepherd mix is about 11 weeks old.

Took him to the vet who gave him a heartworm pill. He started having diarrhea.... so I called the vet and he said that shepherds often have terrible reactions to that pill. So I should feed him a lot of rice mixed in with his food.

I have been doing this for almost a week (the vet said to do it for a week). He still has diarrhea (doesn't go as often but it is always runny). Also after he goes, he squats there for another 2 minutes (literally) trying to go some more. maybe a little comes out but often nothing.

I've also noticed there is mucous-y stuff in his poop. Also, he has yellow discharge from his eyes all the time in big goops. I clean it off at least 5 times a day.

Is there something wrong with my puppy? His nose goes from dry to semi-wet but sometimes I think it might just be wet because he had some water from his bowl.

I have been doing everything the vet says but he doesn't seem to be getting better.

Positives: his appetite is still up, he is still very playful and likes to go for walks, play outside, and play with other dogs.

I don't know if this is an issue but sometimes he goes outside sits down and just watches stuff. I don't know if he is doing this but someone told me he might be depressed??? I don't think he is... he enjoys being around me all the time. Listens very well, gets walked at least once a day and played with for at least another hour a day.

Does anyone think I should play it out like the vet says or do you think I need to take him in? It makes me sad to watch him try to poop and have such trouble. At first he would go in his crate (if left for over 2 hours) because he just couldn't hold the diarrhea. Now he can hold it but its still very runny and he now seems constipated while still squatting after going.

Please help!!!

Also, I have been feeding him Blue Buffalo since I heard its good for him and its good for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
His coat is shiny and soft.
His anus is not red or anything.

Here is the lil guy I know I shouldn't be taking pics while he's sleeping but he's too cute and growing too fast!

Thanks for any help you guys can give!

[Lara's mom]

Why is such a young pup being treated for heartworm? Was there a positive test?

[Todd]

I would def. take your dogs back to the vet to be sure everything is alright. May meds, including heartworm prevention, can cause side effects that your dog is experiencing, but in rare cases this can indicate a more serious condition/reaction. here is something I found online;

Heartworm preventatives often come under scrutiny by pet owners when a pet suddenly dies or develops an illness that may be associated with drug reactions and the only medication the dog is taking is the heartworm prevention medication. Filaribits Plus (Rx) can cause an idiosyncratic (we don't know why it happens) liver reaction in a small number of dogs. Dobermans seem to react more commonly to this medication than other breeds, too. There are alternative heartworm preventatives, so it is possible to use another medication if reactions occur. The newer monthly heartworm preventatives are often suspected of being the cause of the problem when immune mediated hemolytic anemia occurs in dogs but there is no proven connection that I am aware of. About half the cases of immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) occur for no apparent reason but the most commonly identified reason is probably reaction to an administered medication. Therefore, people are suspicious of the monthly heartworm preventatives when IMHA develops in their pet. Heartworm is a devastating disease and if you live in an area in which it occurs it is essential to use the best medications to prevent it. For most people this is one of the monthly pills (Heartgard Rx, Interceptor Rx and ProHeart Rx).

Loose stool can indicate a liver problem.

[WorriedMom]

It is preventative medicine.

I am not sure what to do. I called the vet will let you know hwat they say.

[GSDS4Life]

You say the vet gave him a heartworm pill. But did the vet take a blood test first "before" he gave it to him? The blood work needs to be done first to make sure he doesn't have heartworms before giving him the preventative.

I would take him back to the vets and get him checked. Take a stool sample just in case.

The diarrhea should only last about 3 days. Any longer is a concern. A pup can dehydrate. As for lots of rice mixed with his food, I wouldn't mix it with his food. I would mix it with boiled chicken.