[sheezbusy]

I am wondering if anyone can give me some "fresh" ideas on stool consistency. Tycoon goes from formed stool to liquid without any apparent reason. I have exhausted the possibility of food allergies. Tried diarrhea meds when needed, placed him on metamucil, and now have him on Pepcid 20mg twice a day (this seems to have helped a bit). Took him to the vet.... stool sample negative. They put him on a weeks worth of Flagyl. Again saw improvement but then back to the same ol same ol.

Does anyone have their dog on a continuous low dose Flagyl?

I am most likely going to need a GI specialist however, I am not liking the idea of him being placed on prednisone.

Just looking for any ideas I may not have tried.
Thank you all in advance!

 

[vivienne00]

I am wondering if anyone can give me some "fresh" ideas on stool consistency. Tycoon goes from formed stool to liquid without any apparent reason. I have exhausted the possibility of food allergies. Tried diarrhea meds when needed, placed him on metamucil, and now have him on Pepcid 20mg twice a day (this seems to have helped a bit). Took him to the vet.... stool sample negative. They put him on a weeks worth of Flagyl. Again saw improvement but then back to the same ol same ol.

Does anyone have their dog on a continuous low dose Flagyl?

I am most likely going to need a GI specialist however, I am not liking the idea of him being placed on prednisone.

Just looking for any ideas I may not have tried.
Thank you all in advance!

It would be nice if we knew the age and what you feed and how much and how often and how long this has gone on for etc.

 

[Okie-dobie]

It could be as simple as what you are feeding him.

Like viv said we need more info.

 

[sheezbusy]

It would be nice if we knew the age and what you feed and how much and how often and how long this has gone on for etc.

Tycoon is 6 years old. I have had him about 1 1/2 years now. At first I thought it was a food allergy, or sensitivity. I have tried many high quality foods with the meat product being everything from chicken to venison. He has had a home cooked diet. The only thing I have not tried is raw. Food changes were done over a one month period and he would stay on the food for no less than 2 months. He is now eating Merrick. The vet feels we have also exhausted the possibility of this being a food allergy.

I am pretty sure this is colitis. Or even an IBS. When he has these episodes his stool can be jelatenous. He will be fine and then have an episode for no apparent reason. The vet said he we can try to keep him on Flagyl but if that doesn't work, he can be placed on prednisone. I am not thrilled about having him take steriods.

Just wanted to pick DT brain before making an appointment with the GI specialist to see if there is any ideas I can try before having to decide to put him on a steriod if that is what is recommended.

Thank you again.

 

[Okie-dobie]

Tycoon is 6 years old. I have had him about 1 1/2 years now. At first I thought it was a food allergy, or sensitivity. I have tried many high quality foods with the meat product being everything from chicken to venison. He has had a home cooked diet. The only thing I have not tried is raw. Food changes were done over a one month period and he would stay on the food for no less than 2 months. He is now eating Merrick. The vet feels we have also exhausted the possibility of this being a food allergy.

I am pretty sure this is colitis. Or even an IBS. When he has these episodes his stool can be jelatenous. He will be fine and then have an episode for no apparent reason. The vet said he we can try to keep him on Flagyl but if that doesn't work, he can be placed on prednisone. I am not thrilled about having him take steriods.

Just wanted to pick DT brain before making an appointment with the GI specialist to see if there is any ideas I can try before having to decide to put him on a steriod if that is what is recommended.

Thank you again.

Food trials should be done for no less than 3 months. Anyways if soft stools are the only symptom you could probably rule out food allergy.

Yup I would be seeing a GI specialist.

Have you tried just feeding him very limited ingredients? Say like California Natural, there is only 3 to 4 ingredients. You can also for a short time home cook for him. One protein, a carb like oatmeal, and a multi vitamin.

I forgot if you mentioned it, I'm assuming he has had his stool tested for parasites?

 

[sheezbusy]

Food trials should be done for no less than 3 months. Anyways if soft stools are the only symptom you could probably rule out food allergy.

Yup I would be seeing a GI specialist.

Have you tried just feeding him very limited ingredients? Say like California Natural, there is only 3 to 4 ingredients. You can also for a short time home cook for him. One protein, a carb like oatmeal, and a multi vitamin.

I forgot if you mentioned it, I'm assuming he has had his stool tested for parasites?

Most of the time food was given for about 3-4 months before a switch. I did home cook for him, I did a chicken with rice and then a lamb with oatmeal. Really made no difference. (I actually think I tried Cali Natural.) His stool was tested negative for any parasites.

Guess I am hoping someone here will have a miracle solution. I really don't want him to have to go on steriods. It is so bad for the immune system. (and other things)

 

[sheezbusy]

The other thing to mention is he is a food GULPER! Horrible. Tried wetting kibble, putting tenis balls in his bowl, you name it. I now spead his food out in a horse feed bowl. This has slowed him down a bit, but he still eats too fast. He eats 2x a day. AM PM feeding. Now either my husband or I throw a hand full of kibble in his bowl at a time. When we do this he has no choice but to slow down.

 

[Okie-dobie]

One thing that can really help are digestive enzymes, have you tried them?

Is he under any stress on a regular basis?

 

[Coco Loco]

Have you thought about trying him on raw. Coco was runny on certain high quality kibbles but since she has been on raw for over the last year she has been pretty consistent. I am by no means an expert on dog foods but I know Coco has done very well on raw.:butfly:

 

[sheezbusy]

One thing that can really help are digestive enzymes, have you tried them?

Is he under any stress on a regular basis?

I have not tried enzymes, but I certainly will try. Can you recommend a certain kind?

Tycoon has no stress in his life. He has adjusted to our home wonderfully and he seems to have become more confident and happy as time goes on.

 

[vivienne00]

I have used Eagle Pack Holistics Solution (small bottle of powder for around $10) - hard to find retail but I did manage. I used that for stubborn problems following ab or overfeeding issues.

I now use Nzymes for one dog daily and for the others as needed if they go on ab or have runny stools for no good reason. IO feed yogurt daily as well but I also feed a raw diet and a little home cooked for one of the dogs.

If you feed raw, make sure you include enough bone and organs - you can get ground whole chickens and rabbits in 2lb chubs to make it easy and less worrisome for a gulper. I feed cooked pumpkin - about a tblspn for the one dog I have that also gets a little home cooked.

When you got him, did the previous owner say anything about his digestive issues? Are you able to talk with the breeder about this to see if they have any ideas or know of any history? Am I correct in reading your signature to say that this is a well-bred dog with his CH? Ch Toledobes Phenomenal V Quinn?

 

[sheezbusy]

I have used Eagle Pack Holistics Solution (small bottle of powder for around $10) - hard to find retail but I did manage. I used that for stubborn problems following ab or overfeeding issues.

I now use Nzymes for one dog daily and for the others as needed if they go on ab or have runny stools for no good reason. IO feed yogurt daily as well but I also feed a raw diet and a little home cooked for one of the dogs.

If you feed raw, make sure you include enough bone and organs - you can get ground whole chickens and rabbits in 2lb chubs to make it easy and less worrisome for a gulper. I feed cooked pumpkin - about a tblspn for the one dog I have that also gets a little home cooked.

When you got him, did the previous owner say anything about his digestive issues? Are you able to talk with the breeder about this to see if they have any ideas or know of any history? Am I correct in reading your signature to say that this is a well-bred dog with his CH? Ch Toledobes Phenomenal V Quinn?

Welp! Just came home from work to the strong aroma of dog poop! Tycoon had a flair up. Loose jelly stool and some blood. It looks so much like colitis. Poor doggie!

Thank you for the info! I have used the pumpkin and the yogurt.

Tycoon was bred by Judy Doniere (founder of the prestigious Toledobes), and has passed away. He was sired by Agador from Dabney Dobermans. Linda Krukar is a friend of mine and knows what wonderful care my dogs get. When she found out Tycoon needed a home she asked me. At first I was going to just foster him, but I just fell in love with this big lug. Without getting into things too much, his previous owner had to find a new owner due to health problems. So I got some info on him but the situation was not one I could get as much detail as I wanted.

I have had dogs all my life and this just doesn't seem like it is from food. I am just going to have to make an appointment with the GI specialist and hope for the best.

Thanks again for your info. esp the enzymes!

 

[Okie-dobie]

I have not tried enzymes, but I certainly will try. Can you recommend a certain kind?

Tycoon has no stress in his life. He has adjusted to our home wonderfully and he seems to have become more confident and happy as time goes on.

So I have never used this one however many people have had really good results with it...http://pets4life.com/products/best-in-show-probiotic/

I have used this one with good results..Life Essentials Digestive Supplement for Pets

And I have been using this one,FortiFlora® Canine Nutritional Supplements | Purina Veterinary Diets it's a new one from Purina of all places. It's called FortiFlora. It says guaranteed amounts of live active cultures, proven to promote intestinal health and balance.

And nutritional supplement for dietary management of dog with diarrhea.

I think especially if you feed a kibble, feeding digestive enzymes is really important.

 

[vivienne00]

Welp! Just came home from work to the strong aroma of dog poop! Tycoon had a flair up. Loose jelly stool and some blood. It looks so much like colitis. Poor doggie!

...

I have had dogs all my life and this just doesn't seem like it is from food. I am just going to have to make an appointment with the GI specialist and hope for the best.

Thanks again for your info. esp the enzymes!

OK - I also would be going to a GI specialist with jelly stools and blood. Blood always is a worry. Good luck with the specialist. Yeah, doesn't sound like food causes this but if he starts getting lots of meds, you may want to add some probiotics and enzymes to help him. Yes, pity about Judy passing, such a loss for dobermans.

 

[sheezbusy]

Thank you so much for all your advice. I am going to try Tycoon on a digestive enzyme and see if it helps. Then I feel confident I have exhausted all less invasive interventions. After doing some research on enzymes, I think all three amigos will be on a digestive enzyme, especially since I feed kibble.

Thanks again!
)

 

[MeadowCat]

If you're open to trying raw, you might want to give it a try. I don't feed it myself (but used to). Especially with a bit more bone content you tend to get firmer stools.

 

[mmctaq]

I would vote for trying raw, too, before going the specialist route. I know a couple of dogs (GSD and a GSD mix) who can simply not eat any grain at all or they will experience symptoms. A friend of mine was about ready to euthanize her young bitch who would eat her dinner and then go lie down and wait for the pain... she would have uncontrollable bloody diarrhea multiple times most days, and was a miserable rack of bones. After this and that test and multiple vets and medications did nothing much, I talked her into trying raw as a last ditch attempt to correct things, and it worked. Not saying it will work for your dog, but I certainly would give it a shot.

I would select one single protein to start, preferably a whole ground product (meat, bone and organs from the same animal)... this way, you don't have to add any other foods at all, initially. I would do a good digestive enzyme product as well... I like NOW Foods Super Enzymes, and I would sprinkle the contents of one capsule on each meal. If things self-correct, you can begin to weekly add one item at a time to his diet... if things go bad, you will know it is the last item you added, and you can remove it from the menu.