Chronic Diarrhoea

[~Anne~]

I am currently Pug sitting an ex-rescue of mine and her delightful brother. When their owner dropped them off, she explained that she had inlcuded some uncooked rice and pasta as she gave Oscar this because he suffered chronic diarrohoea and this helped his somewhat.

I have discovered, that just as she explained, he always has very loose motions. I would think she has spoken to her Vet about him as she is a great dog owner and they recieve 100% top care and I am told he just has an easily irritated gut.

His current diet, of which I am also continuing to feed him, is chicken necks raw, cooked chicken breast and the pasta and rice. She occasionaly also gives him varying brands of kibble. I have added some yoghurt in the mornings with a touch of watered down pet milk.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what is best to feed a dog with a gut like this? I have noticed he still has very loose motions.

Edited October 19, 2008 by PugRescueSydney

[poodlefan]

PRS try just cooked chicken and rice for a few days. It's very bland and seems to settle guts quite well.

I'd definitely try him wheat free and if it continues, you might want to try further eliminations. I'd be starting with a new protein source.

Perhaps some more veggies too? Digestive enzymes might be something to try down the track. Do pugs get IBD?

Edited October 19, 2008 by poodlefan

[~Anne~]

PRS try just cooked chicken and rice for a few days. It's very bland and seems to settle guts quite well.

I'd definitely try him wheat free and if it continues, you might want to try further eliminations. I'd be starting with a new protein source.

Perhaps some more veggies too? Digestive enzymes might be something to try down the track. Do pugs get IBD?

Thanks PF. Do you think the necks would cause any problems. I wouldn't think so but, gee whiz, he goes to the toilet umpteen times a day and just does a little bit usually and it is very, very loose.

Do dogs get IBD?

[ellz]

Can you find out if the vet checked for pancreatic enzyme deficiencies? It isn't often routinely tested for but is quite often responsible for the kind of things you are describing. Addition of an artificial enzyme can be incredibly beneficial in cases like this.

Just a thought as it sounds similar to what an older dog of mine had many years ago.

[~Anne~]

Can you find out if the vet checked for pancreatic enzyme deficiencies?

I can ask them when they come back. I thought though that with pancreatic deficiencies they can't digest the fat in foods so the feaces are white and they lose weight and condition?? This guy is massive...in fact, he is the biggest Pug I have ever seen (size wise not fat..although he is portly too) and must wieght about 17kilos! He has feet the size of grizzly bears. There is a pic of him in the Pug thread.

[ellz]

Can you find out if the vet checked for pancreatic enzyme deficiencies?

I can ask them when they come back. I thought though that with pancreatic deficiencies they can't digest the fat in foods so the feaces are white and they lose weight and condition?? This guy is massive...in fact, he is the biggest Pug I have ever seen (size wise not fat..although he is portly too) and must wieght about 17kilos! He has feet the size of grizzly bears. There is a pic of him in the Pug thread.

Not always apparently. My boy maintained a reasonable weight, in fact, we were showing him even before he was diagnosed. The main symptom was just this brown slurry that he constantly passed.

[InspectorRex]

Yes dogs do get Inflammatory Bowel Disease, this is different condition from irritiable bowel syndrome( I had one with severe IBD) and the only way it can be accurately diagnosed is by endoscopy.

Can you collect a poop sample and get a Vet to do both a faecal float and analysis? This dog needs to seek a Vet IMHO

In the interim stick with only steamed rice and boiled skinless chicken breast fillets and nothing else

[~Anne~]

The main symptom was just this brown slurry that he constantly passed.

Yes, that is an apt description actually

Yes dogs do get Inflammatory Bowel Disease, this is different condition from irritiable bowel syndrome( I had one with severe IBD) and the only way it can be accurately diagnosed is by endoscopy.

Can you collect a poop sample and get a Vet to do both a faecal float and analysis? This dog needs to seek a Vet IMHO

In the interim stick with only steamed rice and boiled skinless chicken breast fillets and nothing else

Thanks. I'll stop the necks and yoghurt and see what happens. I am reluctant to take him off to the Vet without his owners permission, and they may have already had all these things tested so I would be duplicating.

I'll add a few veges in too perhaps. Which veges woul dbe best for any possible gut issues, assuming that is what it is and not an allergy to food types.

[Danois]

Do dogs get IBD?

Hi PRS - yes they can.

I suspect that Angs had this - it can be an immune mediated condition and he had other immune mediated problems. He suffered loose stools and bad wind. I tried RC, EP and Euk. Finally got him on to Orijien (being grain free) and he started having consistent firm stools and the wind went away.

Try the Orijien food. I got mine from www.petdeli.com.au - they have a sample size.

[CavsRcute]

When my girl had the runs I gave her chicken and rice but this made it worse. She had white fish and potao. This fixed it and every time she had chicken after that it happened again, so we realised that she had a sensitivity to poultry, and this includes turkey. She now only has lamb and beef and no problems.

Slippery Elm and protexin are good to help settle the tummy

[InspectorRex]

I would not be adding any other foods to the chicken and rice or steamed white fish and rice.

Go for a Human grade Probiotic from the Health Food Shop-open capsule and sprinkle on food

as a sufferer of Inflammatory Bowel Disease myself( recently had 8 days in hospital with it, 2nd hospital admission in 6mths) IMHO this dog needs to be seen by a Vet. For humans the first point of call , for me anyway, was IV steriods, to bring the inflammation down in the bowel and bland food.

Even if the owners have had this dog to a Vet I would not be mucking about. I lost my Ch Collie to IBD and I would hate for another dog to go downhill as quickly as she did.

[Rysup]

I have finally cured my young dog of this same problem. Tried everything under the sun. Coprice Family dry food stopped it dead. I am not game to take him off it now!

[~Anne~]

Do dogs get IBD?

Hi PRS - yes they can.

I suspect that Angs had this - it can be an immune mediated condition and he had other immune mediated problems. He suffered loose stools and bad wind. I tried RC, EP and Euk. Finally got him on to Orijien (being grain free) and he started having consistent firm stools and the wind went away.

Try the Orijien food. I got mine from www.petdeli.com.au - they have a sample size.

Thanks, I'll check Orijien out. APart from his diarrhoea, he seems in good health.

When my girl had the runs I gave her chicken and rice but this made it worse. She had white fish and potao. This fixed it and every time she had chicken after that it happened again, so we realised that she had a sensitivity to poultry, and this includes turkey. She now only has lamb and beef and no problems.

Slippery Elm and protexin are good to help settle the tummy

What sort of fish did you feed? WoOuldn't this be an expensive option though for long term? Did you feed the fish raw or cooked?

Yes, I've heard good things about Protexin. Just recently someone said they would send me some samples but they haven't arrived yet.

I would not be adding any other foods to the chicken and rice or steamed white fish and rice.

Go for a Human grade Probiotic from the Health Food Shop-open capsule and sprinkle on food

as a sufferer of Inflammatory Bowel Disease myself( recently had 8 days in hospital with it, 2nd hospital admission in 6mths) IMHO this dog needs to be seen by a Vet. For humans the first point of call , for me anyway, was IV steriods, to bring the inflammation down in the bowel and bland food.

Even if the owners have had this dog to a Vet I would not be mucking about. I lost my Ch Collie to IBD and I would hate for another dog to go downhill as quickly as she did.

Thanks. If he started to go downhill then I would immediately take him to the Vet.

At this point in time, I don't believe it is my call to take over his medical strategies. I am only caring for him for 3 weeks, he is not showing any other issues or signs of ill health, and his owners have already discussed with me his diet and the diarrhoea. I was just hoping to get some dietary ideas at this point or possible scenarios for them to follow up when they reutrn, assuming they haven't already tried all of the things I suggest to them..

I have finally cured my young dog of this same problem. Tried everything under the sun. Coprice Family dry food stopped it dead. I am not game to take him off it now!

Thanks, I assume Coprice is available on the net or through pet supply stores?

[frufru]

My dog suffered from chronic diarrhea as part of her food allergies. She is allergic to chicken and rice (and beef/lamb and wheat) so a diet of chicken and rice actually caused her diarrhea. After many years of being on a fish based diet she can now tolerate small amounts of cooked chicken and red meat (given rarely) raw turkey necks but no grains at all. She can also eat fruit and veg but I never give these in large quantities. She also had amazing flatulence which completely disappeared when the allergens were removed from her diet.

Just something else to consider.

[Danois]

PRS - the other thing to look at is a product called Thrive D which is digestive enzymes (from memory).

[stormie]

PRS - the other thing to look at is a product called Thrive D which is digestive enzymes (from memory).

Enzyplex could be another one to try - its often used to treat EPI.

[~Anne~]

Thanks! I'll look into both.

I am beginning to think it is the rice/pasta, chicken necks or chicken. The reason why is that I am currently feeding my dogs the same diet (normally they would have mince, either beef or chicken carcus with veges on and off and a handful of kibble) and it appears that the others also have loose stools now, but not to the degree that Oscar does.

As of this evenings meal I have thrown the rice/pasta and I am feeding just mince and chicken to Oscar, and mince, chicken and kibble to the others.

[CavsRcute]

Can you try and get rid of the chicken? This will sometimes be the cause of the runs.

Just to answer your question about the fish....I just used frozen fish fillets from woolies or Franklins. It wasn't a long term thing and these were quite ecomonical.

[~Anne~]

Can you try and get rid of the chicken? This will sometimes be the cause of the runs.

Just to answer your question about the fish....I just used frozen fish fillets from woolies or Franklins. It wasn't a long term thing and these were quite ecomonical.

Thnaks. yes, I am also contemplating getting rid of the chicken. Mine are not fed cooked chicken and they don't normally have any issues so there is a possibility it is one of the things I am currently feeding. I am deleting the pasta and rice first and will wait to see if this alters anything. If not, I will also then stop the chicken and revert back to beef mince as the prime meat source.