cowanbree Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 (edited) I am looking for some ideas. I have a 7 year old sheltie who is in good health, no known issues at all but 1-2 days a week he doesn’t eat unless I give him 10ml of Scourban. He has been to the vet, had bloods run including thyroid and they have all come back within acceptable ranges. I am having difficulty getting my vet to take this seriously as he just laughs and says he isn’t skinny and seems fine within himself. This is true but this has been going on for over 18mths now and he can’t live on Scourban for the rest of his life. I thought at one stage it might be pancreatic insufficiency but tests came back negative. My vet said he thinks it is irritable bowel syndrome but other than not eating he is completely normal. I am seriously considering consulting another vet but I have been with my current vet for a lot of years now and have a good working relationship with him generally so not sure if that is the right thing to do. Anyhow anyone with any suggestions that I can take to my current vet? Edited January 17, 2008 by cowanbree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOE Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 (edited) You dont think he is addicted to scourban do you and knows if he doesnt eat Mummy will give him some. Maybe he is a dog that doesnt need to eat everyday or he may drink a lot on that day and feels full. Has his teeth been checked maybe he has a toothache, Oliver goes one or two nights without eating but I dont worry about him anymore. Edited January 6, 2008 by kimoliverelka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowanbree Posted January 6, 2008 Author Share Posted January 6, 2008 He hates the Scourban, quite a performance to get it into him. If I don’t give it to him however he doesn’t start eating again, we have gone 4 days without food before I gave in. His teeth are good and he doesn’t have tonsillitis How often does Oliver fast? Cowan eats nothing, not even his morning biscuit. He has never been greatly motivated by food but this is getting to be quite worrying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuralPug Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 (edited) I am really sorry, but to get your vet to take it seriously you are going to have to stop the dosing with Scourban every week. Let the dog not eat. Put down his food twice a day, pick it up again after 10 minutes. If it is still a full bowl, chuck most of it away and then feed the mouthful that is left to another dog - where he can see. (Oh I am a meanie at times!!) If he is still on a hunger strike on day 6 THEN take him to the vet and ask for a diagnosis. Also ask what 18 months worth of weekly Scourban has done to his digestive system - I hope nothing permanent. Edited to add : on rereading this looks a bit harsh I'm sorry. If there is a digestive problem then the scourban is killing off good intestinal fauna every week. Could you try stimulating the digestive system with brewers yeast and yogurt/Protexin? Google to find dosage based on his bodyweight. Edited January 6, 2008 by Ruralpug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOE Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 He hates the Scourban, quite a performance to get it into him. If I don’t give it to him however he doesn’t start eating again, we have gone 4 days without food before I gave in. His teeth are good and he doesn’t have tonsillitis How often does Oliver fast? Cowan eats nothing, not even his morning biscuit. He has never been greatly motivated by food but this is getting to be quite worrying At first it wasa thought Oliver had pancreatis but tests were clear, he usually doesnt eat 1 night a week and sometimes he eats half of it he is a pain I have gone through so much of a variety, he now will eat advance active as long as it has mince rubbed through it and strawberry yoghurt, it was a matter of finding the right thing. But when he first eats I have to stand there and tell him eat eat, if I board him he doesnt eat period. I have also noticed he hates to eat out of rounded dishes it is like he doesnt like his nose in it so I feed him in a large bowl with low sides. Have you asked the vet to xray and scan to ensure there is nothing there in the way of a blockage of types. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwynwen Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 I am looking for some ideas. I have a 7 year old sheltie who is in good health, no known issues at all but 1-2 days a week he doesn't eat unless I give him 10ml of Scourban. He has been to the vet, had bloods run including thyroid and they have all come back within acceptable ranges. I had a dog with 'normal range' bloods that a specialist picked up as showing a problem. He had IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). My boy had weight loss and exercise resistance though - I certainly hope your boy doesn't have IBD, just wanted to point out that sometimes what the lab says is normal, isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 On the days when he doesn't eat, is he still his normal self or does he perhaps sleep more, not be so energetic, anything different? My Sam has a condition and he wont look at food for 1 or 2 days, had this most of his life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 I have a little foxy/IG cross (in my avatar) - he chooses not to eat for 1 or 2 days a week, nothing will tempt him. He is completely normal at this time, poos are normal etc and he still walks and plays, doesn't appear to be in pain. I've never had a dog that didn't want to eat if they were completely well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowanbree Posted January 6, 2008 Author Share Posted January 6, 2008 On the days when he doesn't eat, is he still his normal self or does he perhaps sleep more, not be so energetic, anything different? My Sam has a condition and he wont look at food for 1 or 2 days, had this most of his life. Completely normal. The only thing I have really noticed is on the days he isn't eating he is more aggressive, not nasty but more pushy with the other dogs. What has your boy got? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 (edited) Can't help with the problem as such but personally I would see his being 'aggressive' or 'more pushy' or whatever you want to call it as a sign that something IS wrong and he is NOT being his normal self. Does he go out of his way to be pushy with the other dogs or is it more he reacts more forcefully if they approach? I would stop the scourban and maybe try probiotics but to me this change of personality does indicate he is uncomfortable or unhappy about something. Edited January 7, 2008 by Sandra777 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Why don't you treat him as if he does have IBS and see if he improves. If he is a bit grumpy on the non eating days then it does sound like he is in pain on those days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Well, here's where I'm not going to be much help at all! Quick background - Sam (now 11yo)was about 18 months when he started having days where he wouldn't eat and slept a lot, was grumpy with everyone, probably a few times a month. Numerous trips to the Vet. whom I'm sure thought I was crazy as Sam would seem fine. Numerous blood , urine, faeces, etc. tests done, nothing showing up. The only thing was the not eating, sleeping and to me a slight hardness of the tummy but put his lead on and he would seem OK except I could tell that he wasn't quite right. Various medications tried, can't remember the names now but tummy settling type things and some antibiotics, different diets, etc. nothing worked. He still has these attacks ocassionally, nowhere near as often now but I was always expecting them to end in a hemorrhage or fit or something but just leaving him undisturbed to sleep or move around as he felt and he'd get over it. I doubt I would have noticed any change in him if he had been a kennel dog except for the not eating so it still remains a mystery. So not much help, was I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockerlover Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 I have an8 year old bitch who refuses to eat on a regular basis there is nothing wrong with her @ all im convinsed it is an attention seeking hunger strike ;so now i just ignore her ifshe dosnt eat i give her food to the others in her sight! next feed shes away !its a worry i know; but if youve had him vet checked try ignoring the silly game; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowanbree Posted January 7, 2008 Author Share Posted January 7, 2008 Why don't you treat him as if he does have IBS and see if he improves. If he is a bit grumpy on the non eating days then it does sound like he is in pain on those days. As far as I am aware there is no treatment for IBS. I haven't given him Scourban and we are day 3 of not eating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 I'm sorry he's having trouble. Now... just a suggestion... I have only tried it on SHEEP Was caring for someone's valuable sheep once.. and one went off his food... would nibble, but not eat. I was there alone, and a bit desperate..so... I got his food ready..and then gave him adose of rescue remedy..presented the food..and he ate! I had to do this quite a few times..he would only eat immediately after he had the rescue remedy! Eventually he got over whatever he had wrong... but I have since used RR with success in sick sheep Maybe try here... currently we have 2 humans and 1 cat on treatment http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/ hope all is well soon.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 I would research what ingredients are in scourban & maybe there is an alternative product with an ingredient that does the same. I would consider going to the chemist & buying the tablets for humans with IBS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOE Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Well Oliver is on his no eating day I just remembered I was looking at some photos of my old Vizsla who ate next to nothing and the vet gave me this tube ( nutrigel) and I used to give her that then she would eat not much but a bit, in the end I used to buy her cooked chicken and for some reason that she ate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOE Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 I would research what ingredients are in scourban & maybe there is an alternative product with an ingredient that does the same.I would consider going to the chemist & buying the tablets for humans with IBS active ingredient Sulphadimidine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOE Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 http://www.pharmtech.com.au/msds/scourban.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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