Dog With Ibd Needs Weight Increase

[Stitch]

I have a 12yo bitch who has IBD. She is on a homecooked human grade kangaroo & vege. casserole diet. Can't tolerate chicken & dried dogfood. She gets kangaroo type treats as well but the stomach problems are never far away.

Weight wise she is OK but on the skinny side and I would really like to see a bit more coverage over the ribs.

Does anyone know if these kind of dogs can tolerate something like DiVetelac or can you suggest something else.

I am scared to try her on different things because I know just how sick she can get.

Edited May 28, 2014 by Stitch

[LisaCC]

My dog had IBD, during a severe flare up I wouldn't add anything else incase they get very sick.

Just give more of the cooked kangaroo diet. Does she have any multi vitamins added to her diet? I don't remember which one Sam was on but the vet had suggested one mashed into his meal.

Edited May 28, 2014 by LisaCC

[Stitch]

Yes I add Digestavite which includes a probiotic, I also add thiamine and calcium.

You get to the stage that you are frightened to give them anything different.

[trinabean]

Stitch, my Boxer suffers from Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis ('Boxer Colitis') and food and environmental allergies. He can't tolerate dry dogfood, or chicken, beef or lamb.

He is very sensitive to any dietary change too, so I understand your hesitation.

Bruno's current diet has been formulated with the help of his dermatologist, and he is "in remission" and looking the best he's ever been. I've found cooked goat and human-grade roo are good for him. Roo on it's own is too lean for skinny Bruno. He eats mostly goat (still a lean meat, but has more fat than roo). He also gets cooked barley and sweet potato, a couple of tablespoons of cold-pressed safflower oil and a vitamin/mineral supplement called 'Balance IT.' He gets some fish oil capsules too, but can't digest as many as the specialist recommends (he gets a runny bum!).

The cold-pressed safflower oil is, according to the derm. vet, one of oils that are easiest for the dog's system to ultilize. We are adding it for omega 6, but also to increase the fat content as the meat Bruno consumes is so lean. You can get it from health food stores. We added it to the diet very gradually, increasing the dosage over a couple of weeks. Bruno is 30kg and now gets 2 tablespoons a day added to his cooked food.

Just a couple of thoughts. :)

ETA: the Balance IT seems to have helped Bruno too. It contains no animal products (so is good for dogs with food allergies) but I get it shipped from the US as there is no Australian retailer. Bruno's diet was so limited and was deficient in some vitamins and nutrients. I think the dietary deficiencies were compounding his gut/ skin problems last year.

Edited May 29, 2014 by trinabean

[Stitch]

Thank you for that Trinabean. It is really difficult to feel confident enough to add more to my girls diet.

I tried adding a small amount of oil to her diet and she was really sick after it. I am very hesitant to add oil again.

The barley is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that and it doubt it would hurt her. Also I am thinking that rolled oats might be good too?

Yes, Balance IT was suggested but I found I wasn't available in Australia.

Can you tell me how to get it?

[LisaCC]

I'm not sure if I would go oats. Oats can be quite the allergen.

In saying that my boy was very bad, only Kangaroo and potato for him

[trinabean]

I'm not sure if I would go oats. Oats can be quite the allergen.

In saying that my boy was very bad, only Kangaroo and potato for him

Yes, the dermatologist wasn't keen on oats for Bruno, I can't remember the reason though. Everything makes sense in the consult, but my brain deletes most of the info shortly after.

Either way, we were using quinoa as the novel protein but it was too expensive for a big dog to eat long-term. Barley was her preference as an alternative, if tolerated. Thankfully it's been fine.

[kelpiecuddles]

I would just add an extra small portion at some point during the day. My dogs are on a simgle diet that is very rarely altered but i adjust their weight by adding more or less as needed. If she's K with the kangaroo you could increase the ratio of kangaroo in her meal or simply give an extra portion at another time.

[trinabean]

Thank you for that Trinabean. It is really difficult to feel confident enough to add more to my girls diet.

I tried adding a small amount of oil to her diet and she was really sick after it. I am very hesitant to add oil again.

The barley is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that and it doubt it would hurt her. Also I am thinking that rolled oats might be good too?

Yes, Balance IT was suggested but I found I wasn't available in Australia.

Can you tell me how to get it?

Hi Stitch, I order Balance IT directly from the US website: Balance IT

I checked with Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) before ordering it. It's within their guidelines, so is OK to import.

It's worth noting that it doesn't come with recommended dosages, this needs to be worked out on an individual basis, depending on what the dog is eating. We had a canine nutritionist draw up a diet for Bruno, and she calculated the Balance IT dosage accordingly. Ours was done by my vet contacting a nutritionist in the US, but it looks like Balance IT offers a similar service through that website too.

I can understand your concern about adding oil to the diet, especially if she got really sick last time. Typically Bruno doesn't handle oil well (and still doesn't do fish oil well) but the cold-pressed safflower oil surprised me. As I said though, we added and increased it very gradually. Might be worth talking to your vet about it though?

Also, can she tolerate any fattier meats, like lamb? Just wondering if the roo is simply too lean for her? My dog lost an unacceptable amount of weight while on a roo/sweet potato elimination diet once, and the vet had to change the plan.

[VizslaMomma]

Thank you for that Trinabean. It is really difficult to feel confident enough to add more to my girls diet.

I tried adding a small amount of oil to her diet and she was really sick after it. I am very hesitant to add oil again.

The barley is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that and it doubt it would hurt her. Also I am thinking that rolled oats might be good too?

Yes, Balance IT was suggested but I found I wasn't available in Australia.

Can you tell me how to get it?

they do ship internationally. They are on Facebook..... maybe try there for info.

Oil is really hard to judge how much to add. Whne my girl was sick, I had hassles ever getting 'oil' dosing correct.

Maybe check if sweet potato or pumpkin might help?

Good Luck

[Stitch]

Thanks for those replies.

Didn't realise that oats would be a problem as I have always thought of them as soothing.

I already include sweet potato with her kangaroo stew...I add celery, potato, sweet potato & carrots and of course the human grade roo.

I will add pumpkin to it but I think pumpkin would only be a filler, not something that adds weight to a dog.

Vet settled on kangaroo as the protein source because it was one protein that she hadn't had previously. The other choice was goat.

I didn't want to stop with the kangaroo in case at some time in the future, if she progressed to not being able to tolerate the kangaroo, I would still have another protein source (goat) I could give her.

Thank you for that link Trinabean, I will check it out....and I will definitely get the barley.

[Erny]

I would be inclined to include broccoli to that mix - it's rich in vitamins including vitamin C, Calcium, and fibre.

Lentils are a good source of protein as well as providing some fibre to the diet.

From my research, sweet potato is preferred to normal potato.

Also whole eggs, if your dog can cope with those. My dog, who I swear is one of the most digestive sensitive dogs I've ever come across, seems to be ok with eggs and I've recently increased his egg intake. I began gently with cooked boiled eggs (no shell) and only one here and there, and then gradually increased (as my confidence and daring improved) to the point where I simply give him a whole raw egg from the carton a few times a week. He eats the whole lot, shell and all without any detrimental effect revealing itself.

I vary the amount of roo mince a little bit. He has a minimum, but when I see his weight coming off a bit, I try to increase it for a while, but then balance it back out if I begin to see the smallest signs of discomfort or down turn. I believe this relates to the proportion ratio of the roo mince : veggie and supplement mix that he's on.

My boy is also on the thin and lean side. Because I've become used to his weight loss/gain and the fact that it is very rare when I can get him to what I'd regard as optimum rib-cover without him then throwing a bout of digestive discomfort, I've come to accept and be happy with him simply being well, and not too worried about weight gain (although if it is achievable, that's good). As long as I know I'm trying to ensure that he is receiving as well-balanced diet as he can possibly cope with in terms of nutrition, the weight is now secondary. Must admit I can say this now, as only 2 or 3 years ago I felt he was too desperately thin and weight gain was a huge focal point.

ETA: I also added dairy free probiotic powder to his diet and noticed a very sudden change to smaller stools, indicating he was absorbing more (and less of my money and food preparation effort was being wasted).

Just my 2 cents and only based on what I do for my dog.

Also to add : Where feasible, use a coat/jacket on your dog through the cooler weather.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Erny

[Stitch]

Thanks for that Erny...so now I will add barley, broccoli & lentils....maybe an egg too, as you say starting off slowly.

My old girl sleeps on the bed and has a selection of jumpers & coats for the cold weather....yep, a princess and very much loved!

[Erny]

Add one thing at a time, and wait a little while. Otherwise, if there's a down-turn, you won't know what did what. But with what you've already done and doing, you probably already figured and planned that out :). Slowly, slowly, wins the race, as they say.

Edited June 6, 2014 by Erny

[Stitch]

By way of follow up.....I found a 'soup mix' at Coles that is a mixture of dried lentils, peas & barley.

It has slowed down the movement of the poos through the body which, I hope, will result in her taking more nutrients from the food.

It has also firmed up the said poos!!

Great success, so far!!

[persephone]

:) :)

[VizslaMomma]

By way of follow up.....I found a 'soup mix' at Coles that is a mixture of dried lentils, peas & barley.

It has slowed down the movement of the poos through the body which, I hope, will result in her taking more nutrients from the food.

It has also firmed up the said poos!!

Great success, so far!!

Good find and great news.

Hope for ongoing success.

[Scottsmum]

I would be inclined to include broccoli to that mix - it's rich in vitamins including vitamin C, Calcium, and fibre.

Lentils are a good source of protein as well as providing some fibre to the diet.

From my research, sweet potato is preferred to normal potato.

Also whole eggs, if your dog can cope with those. My dog, who I swear is one of the most digestive sensitive dogs I've ever come across, seems to be ok with eggs and I've recently increased his egg intake. I began gently with cooked boiled eggs (no shell) and only one here and there, and then gradually increased (as my confidence and daring improved) to the point where I simply give him a whole raw egg from the carton a few times a week. He eats the whole lot, shell and all without any detrimental effect revealing itself.

I vary the amount of roo mince a little bit. He has a minimum, but when I see his weight coming off a bit, I try to increase it for a while, but then balance it back out if I begin to see the smallest signs of discomfort or down turn. I believe this relates to the proportion ratio of the roo mince : veggie and supplement mix that he's on.

My boy is also on the thin and lean side. Because I've become used to his weight loss/gain and the fact that it is very rare when I can get him to what I'd regard as optimum rib-cover without him then throwing a bout of digestive discomfort, I've come to accept and be happy with him simply being well, and not too worried about weight gain (although if it is achievable, that's good). As long as I know I'm trying to ensure that he is receiving as well-balanced diet as he can possibly cope with in terms of nutrition, the weight is now secondary. Must admit I can say this now, as only 2 or 3 years ago I felt he was too desperately thin and weight gain was a huge focal point.

ETA: I also added dairy free probiotic powder to his diet and noticed a very sudden change to smaller stools, indicating he was absorbing more (and less of my money and food preparation effort was being wasted).

Just my 2 cents and only based on what I do for my dog.

Also to add : Where feasible, use a coat/jacket on your dog through the cooler weather.

I second the dairy free probiotic - we mix one inner helath plus into Scotts dinner when we remember - when he first went on them he had his first solid poo in just over a week the next day. Eats it with no question :)

[Erny]

Glad things are looking on the improve.

For what it's worth, the lentils I use are organic ones I buy in cans at Coles. I empty the cans into a sieve and then rinse them off. Not every coles store stocks the "organic" brand, I notice. Buying them in cans isn't the most ideal compared to fresh lentils, but it saves me a lot of time for not having to cook them.

Edited June 11, 2014 by Erny

[VizslaMomma]

I second the dairy free probiotic - we mix one inner helath plus into Scotts dinner when we remember - when he first went on them he had his first solid poo in just over a week the next day. Eats it with no question :)

oh dear.... tired as I am I read that as Scott eats the spolid poo.

Sorry, Scott! I know you are really genteel.

:laugh: