Bacteria in intestine.

[~Astral~]

Hi everyone,

I got Coco's test resuts back today. The vet says he has a large amount of bacteria in his intestine and this has caused his weight loss and symptoms. I'm so mad the other vet didn't pick this up, if they did he wouldn't be in this state now. Anyway I don't know much about this so Im thinking the worst (like I do lol).

Im picking up 2 courses of 4 weeks antibiotics for him tomorrow morning and vet wants to check him over in 4 weeks for a weigh in and thorough check up.

Does anyone on here know anything about bacteria in the intestine? Is it cureable? What is the prognosis and is there any long term damage? Im looking up info about it now so I know what to do and everything.

Thank you.

PS Coco is 3 years old.

[fairlight]

I know your angry and you probably want to kick yourself AND the vet in the backside...but you are VERY fortunate Astral. My husband had a beagle for 12 years and his leg started blowiing up. He took the dog to his vet and the vet said it was snake bite and treated the dog for snake bite for almost two months. Meanwhile like your Coco....the dog was getting worse. My husband took the dog to a different vet...All the vet had to do was look and then say "Your dog has cancer." My husband tried to save the dog by taking him to the doggie oncologist twice, sometimes three times a week for radiation and chemo but the cancer had been there two long and had spread too far. My husband had no choice but to put his dog down. You are SOOOO Lucky you found another vet that bothered to take another look and run extra tests. If I remember right didn't the old vet tell you to put Coco down?......I wish I could help you with some answers you are seeking....but you are half way there...now at least you have a diagnosis and some meds. Good luck and please keep us posted.

[Dax]

I would think they need to find out why there is an abundance of bad bacteria in the intestine.

Antibotics can kill off the good bacteria that lives in our guts and allow bad bacteria to multiple. My mother was hospitalized for a few days last year from dehydration for this reason.

Hopefully he starts getting better now.

[BratBoxers]

Glad the mystery has been solved!! Now I want you to talk with your vet about giving Coco some live cultured Yogurt, Because not only does the antibiotic kill the bad bacteria it also kills the good which may make the bad come back with nothing to fight it off. Good luck

[Heart_Song]

It's hard to say without knowing what kind of bacteria. As Dax said, there is good bacteria that naturally lives in the intestine, though if their numbers get too large they can cause problems. There are also numerous different kinds of bacteria not normally found in the intestines that can get in there and cause problems.

Either way it is hard to detect because of the fact that there is normally lots of bacteria in the intestine so you'd really have to run special tests to determine if it's too much bacteria or the wrong kind.

It is curable, there usually isn't any long term damage but that depends on the type of bacteria.

Did the vet say anything about what kind of bacteria or what antibiotic you are using or do you remember?

[fairlight]

Brat.....I wonder if live culture yogurt would also be good for ear infections. (Taken orally of course)

[BratBoxers]

Originally Posted by fairlight

Brat.....I wonder if live culture yogurt would also be good for ear infections. (Taken orally of course)

I really wouldn't know. Isn't yeast build up when it comes to ears? I have never had ear problems in my dogs so I really have no clue

Yeah, I could see you slathering that yogurt in that poor pups ears LMAO hehe

[fairlight]

Yes...I had to retract my wording because I didn't want anyone to think I would be smatering my dogs ears with yogurt!

[~Astral~]

Hiya everyone and thank you for your replies. You've all been helpful. Yep the old vet wanted me to put Coco down so I gave her a good telling off and walked out with Coco. My mum said I also told her where to shove her vetinary practise but Im not sure...was too angry at the time lol.

Nope the vet didnt mention what type of bacteria. I wont know what type of antibiotics until I pick them up tomorrow but the vet did say hes been given 2 different types. Yeah the vet did tell me the bacteria test he was performing was a special test...explains why it was expensive but Coco is worth every penny. Im just so glad I know what is going on now.

Does anyone know if this bacteria can be passed between dogs, for example from sharing feeding bowls and such? I'll ask the vet nurse tomorrow what type of bacteria he has. Is it possibe he got this from his mothers milk? Just a idea but I cant think where he got it from as I disinfect and scrub all the bowls and bedding regularly. Im gobsmacked but so happy it isnt a disease of some kind and little Coco drop is going to get better. (Yeah I call him coco drop lol).

Thank you again. All of you.

[lupesmadre]

I'm so glad that you at least have an answer! I hope the antibiotics work and this is an easy fix!