Rescue Dog. Not Eating Much Loose Poos.

[Guest]

I brought home a dog from a shelter last Saturday. Bought the Hills science diet (huge bag) plus hills puppy tins. They were feeding him a mixture of dry and small amount of tinned moistened with warm water. Had to take him to the vet to get anal glands emptied on Monday. Vet said to feed dry to increase bulk of poos to try to help with the gland problems. Problem is that he only nibbles a small amount when I feed him. Alway does really sloppy poos. Seems to strain to pass lots of little dollops of poo. No real formed bits. Then he scoots his bottom around the carpets and it's pretty messy at times.

I really need some suggestions to find a diet for this little fella. (7.5 kg ShihTzu cross.) Seems to be pretty itchy generally and licks and chews his front paws quite a bit. Would be happy to prepare food for him but not sure how to go about making up a balanced diet that he'll want to eat. I live in Pearcedale (vic. near Frankston/Cranbourne/Langwarrin) Also need some ideas of where to buy the ingredients, or an already made food that would work. He's beginning to worry me as he's quite thin. I have given him a couple of chicken wings. I'm mainly worried about the loose poos. Pretty gross and hard to pick up when out walking or in the yard. Lots of little dollops all over the place. Don' want to make things by changing to something that will make the problem worse by upsetting his tummy.

Sorry, I know it's pretty gross but I'm at a loss to know how to help him.

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

Firstly, relax! A lot of the time, changing a dog's environment will cause them stress. A change in diet may not help when that happens which is probably why the shelter asked you to continue with Hill's.

Why not stop his food for 24 hours to give him time to settle? A dog won't starve in 24 hours. I'm surprised if your vet didn't suggest that.

Next, introduce bland food - usually boiled chicken and boiled rice. This should not irritate the gut. Once his stools are normal, then introduce additional foods. I'd suggest raw foods - keep it simple. Chicken wings are fine. Use some raw veg and fruits too. Perhaps introduce some offal (organs) after a week or two. Keep his fluids up - you can mix up some gastrolyte or similar and offer it to him in place of plain water.

As for the itch, it could be seasonal allergies as it's that time of year.

Good luck, let us know how the little guy does.

[persephone]

Firstly no food for 24 hours .Stop any processed foods for a time ..and try him on either boiled chicken and rice, or boiled chicken and sweet potato . The chicken should be just meat- NOT any bone. Does the vet know he has diarrhoea?If the diarrhoea /straining worsens, or continues after the no food for 24 hrs, or you see any blood,or he vomits , Wally needs to see the vet pronto!!He may need to have some tests done to find the problem.. or it may be as simple as a very confused gut from different food/water/environment.

The scratching/itching may be another sign of some sort of food allergy intolerance ..or it may also be shampoo/flea treatment,fleas, a gardeb plant.....

oops- snap* lillysmum

Edited September 17, 2010 by persephone

[cj-b]

I brought home a dog from a shelter last Saturday. Bought the Hills science diet (huge bag) plus hills puppy tins. They were feeding him a mixture of dry and small amount of tinned moistened with warm water. Had to take him to the vet to get anal glands emptied on Monday. Vet said to feed dry to increase bulk of poos to try to help with the gland problems. Problem is that he only nibbles a small amount when I feed him. Alway does really sloppy poos. Seems to strain to pass lots of little dollops of poo. No real formed bits. Then he scoots his bottom around the carpets and it's pretty messy at times.

I really need some suggestions to find a diet for this little fella. (7.5 kg ShihTzu cross.) Seems to be pretty itchy generally and licks and chews his front paws quite a bit. Would be happy to prepare food for him but not sure how to go about making up a balanced diet that he'll want to eat. I live in Pearcedale (vic. near Frankston/Cranbourne/Langwarrin) Also need some ideas of where to buy the ingredients, or an already made food that would work. He's beginning to worry me as he's quite thin. I have given him a couple of chicken wings. I'm mainly worried about the loose poos. Pretty gross and hard to pick up when out walking or in the yard. Lots of little dollops all over the place. Don' want to make things by changing to something that will make the problem worse by upsetting his tummy.

Sorry, I know it's pretty gross but I'm at a loss to know how to help him.

Poor little fella, and yey for you for adopting him and making his life better.

I would take him to see a different vet asap, to check for worms or other infestations. And to give him a full check up to make sure he is o.k. beside the upset tummy.

Personally I would ditched the Hills, they do offer a money back guarantee, so you should be able to recover your costs. How old is he? Being 7.5kg, I'm guessing he would be in his prime ;) middle age???? Hopefully someone with a little more experience in dealing with dogs with sensitive stomachs, might be of more help but maybe you could try either one of the Eagle Pack Holistic formulas, Artemis Small breed (would be my pick if it's in your budget), Nutro, Proplan senstivie skin and stomach, or if your on more of a budget, Optimum, Aucle Albers or Great Barko have decent feedbacks.

Hopefully someone might be able to help you out more, and I'm sure there is Good luck with him, hope he improves soon.

Edited September 17, 2010 by cj-b

[t-time]

I will 2nd/3rd the suggestion of plain chicken and rice - give it a week.

Another here who doesn't like Hill's Science Diet for my dogs

You can add some Natural Yoghurt or Yakult and then slowly start adding a regular diet but give the runs a chance to settle down.

Also, I am assuming the dog has been wormed?

ETA: mashed pumpkin or sweet potato is also good for food bulk (though not fat) but it will be soothing for his gut and fill him up

Edited September 17, 2010 by t-time

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Most of my dogs get the runs if I give them any raw meat. Changing diets / stress also gives dogs the runs.

Puppy food is too rich for adult dogs as well. Tinned food generally gives dogs loose poo.

I agree with just giving him some cooked chicken and rice (Basmati is best).

I cook mine a risotto of rice, turkey mince (almost no fat) and veggies. I add that to some dried biscuits and their poops are pretty good.

[Guest]

Thank you all for the input. I'll get him some chicken and rice to start after 24 hours. He's 12 months old and has been wormed at the shelter. He doesn't do a lot of poos but they're just sloppy. He seems otherwise well. I'll take him back to the vet if it doesn't settle tomorrow.

The people at the shelter said he wasn't eating much and I'm not sure how long he was actually in there eating the Hills.

I don't mind what the food costs as long as he enjoys it and it improves his digestion.

[Guest]

Most of my dogs get the runs if I give them any raw meat. Changing diets / stress also gives dogs the runs.

Puppy food is too rich for adult dogs as well. Tinned food generally gives dogs loose poo.

I agree with just giving him some cooked chicken and rice (Basmati is best).

I cook mine a risotto of rice, turkey mince (almost no fat) and veggies. I add that to some dried biscuits and their poops are pretty good.

Any particular type of dried biscuits? What kind of proportions of rice,mince ,vegies?

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I often get dogs that are too thin from the pound - to build them up (and not stress their system at the same time), give them 3 or 4 small meals a day.

If you work fulltime (as I do), I give them breakfast at around 5.30 am, something before I leave at 8.30 am, dinner at 6.30 pm and supper at 9.30 pm. Weekends are much easier of course.

If he's a fussy eater, you can get something called "Nutrigel" from a pet store or vet, it's not expensive and it gets dogs started eating again - if they've been underfed for a long time, they sometimes start giving up. I've had to force feed the skeletal ones sometimes with a formula like mix. Then I graduate onto soft food (usually tuna or sardines mashed up because it's very smelly and more appealing).

Only get the brine or springwater though, nothing too oily or salty. I mix that with rice and veggies too.

Re the servings, once we get to a large biccie in the morning and dinner at night routine (it's about a month or so generally), I give them half a cup of dried biscuits and then a cup of the meat mix on the top, stir it all round.

Best sardines are the Homebrand in Woolies. About 60 cents per can, they come in packs of three. My latest foster goes crazy for them!

[Guest]

I often get dogs that are too thin from the pound - to build them up (and not stress their system at the same time), give them 3 or 4 small meals a day.

If you work fulltime (as I do), I give them breakfast at around 5.30 am, something before I leave at 8.30 am, dinner at 6.30 pm and supper at 9.30 pm. Weekends are much easier of course.

If he's a fussy eater, you can get something called "Nutrigel" from a pet store or vet, it's not expensive and it gets dogs started eating again - if they've been underfed for a long time, they sometimes start giving up. I've had to force feed the skeletal ones sometimes with a formula like mix. Then I graduate onto soft food (usually tuna or sardines mashed up because it's very smelly and more appealing).

Only get the brine or springwater though, nothing too oily or salty. I mix that with rice and veggies too.

Re the servings, once we get to a large biccie in the morning and dinner at night routine (it's about a month or so generally), I give them half a cup of dried biscuits and then a cup of the meat mix on the top, stir it all round.

Best sardines are the Homebrand in Woolies. About 60 cents per can, they come in packs of three. My latest foster goes crazy for them!

Thank you Dogmad. I'll add those to tomorrow's shopping list.Thankfully, he doesn't sem to have given up. What a scary thought that is. I can't imagine how awful that would be. He ate the chicken wing, but I'm not sure if the fat on it might have been too rich for his tummy.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I'd definitely stop the chicken wings for now. If you do want to give him a bone, I've been told by a dog trainer/showperson that lamb shanks are the best thing for small dogs. As I say, most of my dogs can't tolerate raw meat.

You might also try adding "Slippery Elm", just half a teaspoon in their dinners helps with digestion. Get a bag from the healthshop - it's not expensive