Our 2 y.o. Shih Tzu has never been a good eater, but it has been
getting harder and harder to find something that she will eat. She
also has occasional bouts of empty stomach vomiting and sporatic runny
stools. So far the vet hasn't felt there was a problem.

Is it possible to have a very mild case of Giardia that just hangs in
there? She's due for her annual 'fecal test', would that necessarily
show if this was a problem, or are there more specific test that would
need to be run?

"Derfram" wrote in message
om...
Our 2 y.o. Shih Tzu has never been a good eater, but it has been
getting harder and harder to find something that she will eat. She
also has occasional bouts of empty stomach vomiting and sporatic runny
stools. So far the vet hasn't felt there was a problem.

Is it possible to have a very mild case of Giardia that just hangs in
there? She's due for her annual 'fecal test', would that necessarily
show if this was a problem, or are there more specific test that would
need to be run?

.........Please find a new vet who is interested in the welfare of your pet.
A fecal sample should have been done a long time ago. Did you ask about
Giardia because your dog has had it? If it's Giardia, the sample can
sometimes be negative unless you run successive samples - I hear it's the
mucous that often contains the offending organism. Could also be any other
internal parasite such as worms or Coccidia. Personally I'd also get a
complete set of bloodwork done on this pup - CBC and chem panel. One other
thing that comes to mind is pancreatitis, which can cause runny, greasy
stools, bouts of vomiting and inappetance. When does the vomiting occur
most often? Do you feed 2 times a day? Often the empty stomach vomiting
can be stopped by a small late night snack. Could be your dog is reacting
to something in the dog food which is irritating her gut. There are all
kinds of things that could be going on, but the first step is always to rule
out internal parasites and check the bloodwork for any obvious problems.
Then you go from there.

buglady
take out the dog before replying

"Derfram" wrote in message
om...
Our 2 y.o. Shih Tzu has never been a good eater, but it has been
getting harder and harder to find something that she will eat. She
also has occasional bouts of empty stomach vomiting and sporatic runny
stools. So far the vet hasn't felt there was a problem.

Is it possible to have a very mild case of Giardia that just hangs in
there? She's due for her annual 'fecal test', would that necessarily
show if this was a problem, or are there more specific test that would
need to be run?

.........Please find a new vet who is interested in the welfare of your pet.
A fecal sample should have been done a long time ago. Did you ask about
Giardia because your dog has had it? If it's Giardia, the sample can
sometimes be negative unless you run successive samples - I hear it's the
mucous that often contains the offending organism. Could also be any other
internal parasite such as worms or Coccidia. Personally I'd also get a
complete set of bloodwork done on this pup - CBC and chem panel. One other
thing that comes to mind is pancreatitis, which can cause runny, greasy
stools, bouts of vomiting and inappetance. When does the vomiting occur
most often? Do you feed 2 times a day? Often the empty stomach vomiting
can be stopped by a small late night snack. Could be your dog is reacting
to something in the dog food which is irritating her gut. There are all
kinds of things that could be going on, but the first step is always to rule
out internal parasites and check the bloodwork for any obvious problems.
Then you go from there.

buglady
take out the dog before replying

(Derfram) wrote in message . com...
Our 2 y.o. Shih Tzu has never been a good eater, but it has been
getting harder and harder to find something that she will eat. She
also has occasional bouts of empty stomach vomiting and sporatic runny
stools. So far the vet hasn't felt there was a problem.

Is it possible to have a very mild case of Giardia that just hangs in
there? She's due for her annual 'fecal test', would that necessarily
show if this was a problem, or are there more specific test that would
need to be run?

I doubt she has a "mild case of Giardia". That's kind of like being a
little bit pregnant. You either are or you aren't. Having suffered
through giardia myself a couple times I wouldn't wish on anyone - or
the their pet.

(Derfram) wrote in message . com...
Our 2 y.o. Shih Tzu has never been a good eater, but it has been
getting harder and harder to find something that she will eat. She
also has occasional bouts of empty stomach vomiting and sporatic runny
stools. So far the vet hasn't felt there was a problem.

Is it possible to have a very mild case of Giardia that just hangs in
there? She's due for her annual 'fecal test', would that necessarily
show if this was a problem, or are there more specific test that would
need to be run?

I doubt she has a "mild case of Giardia". That's kind of like being a
little bit pregnant. You either are or you aren't. Having suffered
through giardia myself a couple times I wouldn't wish on anyone - or
the their pet.

"Derfram" wrote in message
om...
.. She's never
been diagnosed with Giardia. She has always been a picky eater and we
probably have her spoiled trying different things until we find
something she will eat (usually not what she should be eating).

She prefers liver, but will eat chicken, beef, and pork, but never the
same thing two days in a row.

...........Chicken,beef and pork what - just meat? Since she doesn't seem to
like regular dog food it just might be easier to home cook for this dog so
the diet does get varied, though you need to start reading some books to
make sure your dog gets calcium, vit Bs, mins, etc. And liver should only
comprise 10% of the diet or you may overdo on Vit D, which can be toxic.

I'm just wondering if symptoms like this *could* be a mild case of
Giardia, and if I should have the vet do the multiple test or elisa
test to look for Giardia. .
.......It's not an ELISA test, just a stool test. I think it is important to
rule out parasites.

When does the vomiting occur most often?

Only when she has not eaten for a day or more.

.........Totally understandable. Either your dog has trained you well or her
stomach isn't feeling well after she eats, so she doesn't like to eat. I'd
stay away from fatty foods to start.

She's due for a check up and some shots next month.
..........What shots? I wouldn't get shots until you've figured out what's
going on. If this dog has been through the full round of puppy shots, then
a full set the next year, she shouldn't need any for at least 3 years,
unless you've got a parvo epidemic or something going on in your immediate
vicinity. This might be behavioral but it is always a good idea to rule out
physical causes first.

Good luck!
buglady
take out the dog before replying

"Derfram" wrote in message
om...
.. She's never
been diagnosed with Giardia. She has always been a picky eater and we
probably have her spoiled trying different things until we find
something she will eat (usually not what she should be eating).

She prefers liver, but will eat chicken, beef, and pork, but never the
same thing two days in a row.

...........Chicken,beef and pork what - just meat? Since she doesn't seem to
like regular dog food it just might be easier to home cook for this dog so
the diet does get varied, though you need to start reading some books to
make sure your dog gets calcium, vit Bs, mins, etc. And liver should only
comprise 10% of the diet or you may overdo on Vit D, which can be toxic.

I'm just wondering if symptoms like this *could* be a mild case of
Giardia, and if I should have the vet do the multiple test or elisa
test to look for Giardia. .
.......It's not an ELISA test, just a stool test. I think it is important to
rule out parasites.

When does the vomiting occur most often?

Only when she has not eaten for a day or more.

.........Totally understandable. Either your dog has trained you well or her
stomach isn't feeling well after she eats, so she doesn't like to eat. I'd
stay away from fatty foods to start.

She's due for a check up and some shots next month.
..........What shots? I wouldn't get shots until you've figured out what's
going on. If this dog has been through the full round of puppy shots, then
a full set the next year, she shouldn't need any for at least 3 years,
unless you've got a parvo epidemic or something going on in your immediate
vicinity. This might be behavioral but it is always a good idea to rule out
physical causes first.

Good luck!
buglady
take out the dog before replying

(Steve Crane) wrote in message om...
(Derfram) wrote in message . com...
Our 2 y.o. Shih Tzu has never been a good eater, but it has been
getting harder and harder to find something that she will eat. She
also has occasional bouts of empty stomach vomiting and sporatic runny
stools. So far the vet hasn't felt there was a problem.

Is it possible to have a very mild case of Giardia that just hangs in
there? She's due for her annual 'fecal test', would that necessarily
show if this was a problem, or are there more specific test that would
need to be run?

I doubt she has a "mild case of Giardia". That's kind of like being a
little bit pregnant. You either are or you aren't. Having suffered
through giardia myself a couple times I wouldn't wish on anyone - or
the their pet.

Thought that may be the case. Thanks.

Derf

(Steve Crane) wrote in message om...
(Derfram) wrote in message . com...
Our 2 y.o. Shih Tzu has never been a good eater, but it has been
getting harder and harder to find something that she will eat. She
also has occasional bouts of empty stomach vomiting and sporatic runny
stools. So far the vet hasn't felt there was a problem.

Is it possible to have a very mild case of Giardia that just hangs in
there? She's due for her annual 'fecal test', would that necessarily
show if this was a problem, or are there more specific test that would
need to be run?

I doubt she has a "mild case of Giardia". That's kind of like being a
little bit pregnant. You either are or you aren't. Having suffered
through giardia myself a couple times I wouldn't wish on anyone - or
the their pet.

Thought that may be the case. Thanks.

Derf