My puppy had a stool sample taken with her first vet visit. She was a 100% raw fed puppy when I got her. The stool was negative for worms, but positive for clostridium bacteria. The vet said it could be a natural flora in a dog fed a completely raw diet, but that it is unusual to see in most dogs. My vet has seen it in other dogs fed raw food. Since my puppy didn't have any signs of ill health, he said not to be too concerned, but to keep an eye on her stools. If they were loose then he would treat the bacteria.
I have switched her from the raw diet to a high quality kibble and canned with raw treats (raw is just too expensive to maintain). She had some loose stools for a few days during the switch, but now she is fine.
I don't want her to have this bacteria, even though it is causing her no problems and could be a natural flora for her. I am an RN and we have people hospitalized with Clostridium infections fairly frequently (it is a very, very bad bug!!). I do not want this bacteria passed to any of us, which it can be.
I am thinking of having her stool retested to see if the bacteria is gone since she is mostly off the raw diet.
I just wanted to see if anyone else has been told their dog tested positive for clostridium in the stools that was fed a raw diet. My vet is very progressive and actually tests for this in addition to the worms. I understand not all vets do? Do your vets?
If you were me would you have her retested and treated if she still has it? I am not really into treating something that is not causing her any trouble, but like I said, I have seen clostridium infections in humans and it is NOT a pretty sight.
I have switched her from the raw diet to a high quality kibble and canned with raw treats (raw is just too expensive to maintain). She had some loose stools for a few days during the switch, but now she is fine.
I don't want her to have this bacteria, even though it is causing her no problems and could be a natural flora for her. I am an RN and we have people hospitalized with Clostridium infections fairly frequently (it is a very, very bad bug!!). I do not want this bacteria passed to any of us, which it can be.
I am thinking of having her stool retested to see if the bacteria is gone since she is mostly off the raw diet.
I just wanted to see if anyone else has been told their dog tested positive for clostridium in the stools that was fed a raw diet. My vet is very progressive and actually tests for this in addition to the worms. I understand not all vets do? Do your vets?
If you were me would you have her retested and treated if she still has it? I am not really into treating something that is not causing her any trouble, but like I said, I have seen clostridium infections in humans and it is NOT a pretty sight.