Fecal Accidents After TPLO Surgery, Antibiotics and Weight Loss

Reader Question

Mt dog had TPLO surgery 8 weeks ago. In addition to the muscle loss she developed a MRSP injection and was on chloramphenicol for 5 weeks. After 3 weeks she quit eating. After trying everything we could think of to get her to eat we called the vet and asked if we could discontinue the last couple days of meds. We made her boiled ground meat and boiled chicken with vegetables and got her eating again, but she had already lost about 15-20 pounds. She is now going to the bathroom in the house. We take her outside and walk her for 15-20 minutes and as soon as she comes in she runs around the house dropping fecal matter in several rooms. It is normal consistancy. We just do not understand what is happening. In addition, her tail is not normal. It is constantly hanging straight down or is between her legs.

The vet is concerned with nerve issues and wants to giver her another week to get the meds out of her system. It has been one week since she has been off them. I cannot find information anywhere telling me that chloramphenicol has this form of side effect. When she got home Aron surgery she had a shaved spilt on her spine near her hind end. Could they have done a spinal tap and damaged something?

We are at a loss on what to do. We don't want to give her up but cannot live with a dog that cannot control her bowel movements. We are at a loss on what to do.

Answer from Our Team