Hi all,
had a few stressfull weeks with me worrying what on earth has been wrong with Harvey.
He has always had loose stools but i put it down to a sensitive stomach and me being naughty and giving him a couple of rich treats. The vet told me there was nothing to worry about when i took him the first time with my concerns.
He has been steadily putting on weight and seemed in perfect health otherwise and is wormed regular but one evening i come home to a kennel full of really loose poop. Took a rather sheepish looking Harvey out of his kennel and gave him a check over and bless him his anus and the underneath of his tail was raw and there was a huge lump on the underside of his tail. Panicking i threw him in the car and sped down to the vets. After a good chat with the vet he gave me some Pro-biotic paste for his stomach called Pro-Kolin and some anti biotics for his raging high temperature ~ my poor little guy
. The diorhea was so violent that it made his anus swell and the surrounding skin to swell and to bleed. and i was advised to put some vaseline on his bum ~ the things you do for love lol. I was told to watch him and check every poo he done for signs of blood and mucus etc.
I took the next day of work watch over him but he was him normal bouncy self. Well 3 days later i come home to the same scene but this time there was mucus in his poop so after another speedy car drive he had a an extremely high temp again and this time i took a poo sample with the mucus in it. after another set of antibiotics some lab tests and alot lighter in the purse we have finally found out he has got Campylobacter Bacteria [pronounced "kamp-e-lo-back-ter"].
He is now on the mend with a 10 day course on antibiotics and we are taking him back for a check up as he may need a further course of anti biotics.
It makes me wonder how long he has had his bacteria and the vets kept telling me it was nothing to worry about~ glad i pushed the issue with them though else i could of had a very sick dog on my hands.
Just thought i would let you know though and maybe raise awareness as im told it can be quite common in young dogs and it can be missed with owners putting it down to worms or diet etc and it can be passed onto humans easily.
Symptoms start 12-48 hrs after initial contact (usually) and may spread to other dogs rapidly.
Dogs are alert, hungry, energetic. Normal feces starts with mucus sheath, continues to get progressively softer until becomes explosive diarrhea. Vomiting may or may not accompany. Feces have a sweet/flowery aroma along with a "slaughterhouse-on-a-summer-day" smell. Feces are *usually* mustard colored then become bloody. Dogs dehydrate at an astounding rate. Dogs are also at risk of intususseption(sp).
The younger or weaker the dog, the worse it is. Some dogs may never get it, even though they may be kenneled with an affected dog. Some dogs also get over this without treatment.
Campylobacter Bacteria 
Have a great day, Sheila-owned by Quentin (b&t,M, dobie), Maggie Mae(1/2 shar pei, 1/2 ?, F, from the pound), and Peaches (red dobie, F)
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