Sensitive stomach/prior poor nutrition/Help needed: - Page 1

I forgot to add, sometimes he will try to eat his stool (of course, I stop him).  Could this be based on prior lack of nutrition or starving or ....?  Never experienced that with one of my dogs.  Thanks so much everyone.

-Nichole

I had a bitch who was extremely underweight and a bit like your boy in eating something for a few days and then going off it.  My vet said that I must not keep changing the food, but to put the bowl down give it say 5 minutes and then remove the food and not give it till the next meal whether that be 4hrs, 12 hrs or even 24hrs and repeat the 5 minute rule and so on.  Trust me from experience they quickly realise that they are going to go without and will eat what is put in front of them.  Even if he's skinny it wont hurt him to go without for a few days and the lesson learnt will stick with him for life!

As for the stool eating, there are many people who have suggestions of what you should add to their food to stop this, but having read his problems I would suggest that you try aversion therapy instead.  Make him understand that this behaviour is most unacceptable and he should learn to avoid the piles. Also try not to pick up after him in his presence.  For the aversion therapy it depends on how sensitive he is and what works with him, anything from a firm no to water pistol or spray collar have been known to have good effect on dogs.

Hi Nicole,

I have dealt with multiple dogs with a variety of GI issues, including but no limited to, EPI, SIBO, giardia, coccidia, hookworms, allergies, colitis and irritable bowel.

It may be that your new boy needs more time to heal his GI tract.  Giardia, bacteria and hookworms can really cause havoc with the delicate intestinal tissues.  Have you done a proper stool culture?   The vet should collect this, not one you scoop off the ground.  Did you do blood work for a digestive panel?  This will check for SIBO and EPI.  Cultures should detect bacteria such as clostridia and camplyobacter.  Giardia can be difficult to detect, so mutiple stool samples should be collected on different days.  Any blood in the stool?  Mucous?  By constantly switching food, you continue to aggravate the situation.  Stool eating is seen in situations where there is incomplete digestion making it quite appealing to the dog who is hungary due to poor digestion/assimilation.  This is a symptom in the case where pathology exists.

You must identify the underlying cause and get that treated.  In the meantime, don't aggravate the GI tract any further.  I have had great luck in the past with Urban Wolf grain free mixer and Essex Cottage Farms GI blend.  The diarrhea stops almost immediately.  You have the option of adjusting oil amounts and using your own protein sources.  Once things settle down and he is good and healed, you can slowly transition to a regular food.

I have never used L-glutamine, but I understand it facilitates healing of the GI tract.

Good luck..  Hope this helps.

Hi,you need to be patient with him and decide on a food and give it an honest try.I personally would not feed a food with patato in it at that high level.You must have an idea of what he prefers by now.I would suggest feeding a food with normal protein and fat FOR THIS DOG cause of the sensitivities.Then feed the proper amount cause sometimes even in one of my boys .if i give a little more they get a loose stool.Do you know if this dog is digesting his food?Im asking this cause of the stool eating.If you suspect something then try giving him for a while a powder PRO BIOTIC supplement and a digestive enzyme supplement even if you give it for a month or so just to put his system back on track.Once you pick a food you must NOT keep switching cause it will make him get diarrea.It is common knowledge that when you switch foods fast they get diarrea.Pick a decent food and let him heal inside.Now you say your vet put him on Panacur,did he do a stool sample at the lab?What is the reason for the medicines?Unless it is confirmed that he has some parasites or giadia or coccidia.Let me know how you make out and good luck with this boy.You know its these kinds of dogs that are the best once you get them settled.Again good luck and i hope he heals fast and you have lots of fun with him.

Sounds like you are doing a great job with that poor boy!!!

My old departed boy whom was potty trained from day one had Degenerative Mylepothy and also slipped 2 discs in his back at 9 years old.  At 10 He started to poop unvoluntarily on walks... an then 6 months later he would poop involuntarily in his sleep and we would wake up to him eating it!! YUCK!! 

I think he ate it to keep from getting in trouble.....   (I think dogs eat poo for different reasons)

I have deer that run wild everywhere on this island and their poop looks like dog kibble. It is soo tempting for the dogs to eat when they go for a tennis ball and it lands next to a pile of deer kibble... so I am correcting them by grabbing them at the top of neck (scruff) or by both cheeks and giving them a VERY FIRM NO!!  UNacceptable behavior.

I have heard to give the dogs pineapple in the food, that it makes the poo taste horrible. Set up a private camera and when you see the dog poop and go to eat it... go and correct the dog instantly. With your dog's sensitive belly.. don't know if I would give him pineapple and also you are stopping him when you see it... so the camera idea is kinda a moot point.

Both my pups  8 months and 14 weeks have had diarrhea, and it was because I was giving them too rich a diet, too many suplements etc... so I am now on Hills Canine i-d... Can't wait to switch back to a better food. I don't think the dogs feel that great or have that much energy on Hills.... but their poops are now formed!

Good Luck....

Jacob

Try mixing a little something in with his kibble.  Some chicken, bit of salmon or sardines.

NWilz,

Whatever your going to feed, the dog need's a little time to adjust to it.     Constant change's aren't the best way to go about it.

At 4.5 years I would just feed an inexpensive brand dry food and add a little something to make it interesting for the dog.

Egg's, meat scrap, cheese, canned salmon (the cheap stuff).  Mackerel is too stinky for me..lol   

But anything to arouse the dog's appetite.    No high protein or designer food's.

Hell if nothing else just let it have table scrap's along with the dry food, I've never seen a dog turn down my supper.

And definately have the vet checking for problem's.  

The dog's system could just be worn out.

Brent.

I'd get him the best quality food you can afford and that's available in your area, then supplement it with "real" food.  Ol' Roy is crap, Purina isn't much better, and Nutro foods have come under fire, so be sure to read labels and stay away from by-products, corn, BHT, BHA, etc.  Your dog's immune system has already been compromised and needs to be strengthened.  If you live near a Petsmart  I'd try Blue Buffalo brand.  My dogs all seem to like it.  They've never been crazy about the more expensive foods like Solid Gold or Natural Balance.  I will say that the food rolls from Natural Balance are sometimes good for finicky eaters if you either mix it with their dry food or just give it to them alone.  My dog didn't like the Duck version of Natural Balance so if that's the best you can find, just use the regular premium bag.

I've had success with the following combos:

1.  Liver sausage mixed with their food and a little water to create a gravy.  Works on even my most finicky dog.

2.  Cooked liver pureed with their dog food and water.  It creates a mash that you can mix with more dry food or give alone.

3.  A beef stew mixture of cooked stew meat, veggies, chicken broth and water.  Cook meat in a little oil, then add veggies and chicken broth and water to cover meat and veggies.  Cook everything up, then put in a food processor and blend to consistency of canned food.  Add a little of that to dry mixture. 

Since the dog has come from a point of bad nutrition, you really want to make sure that the food going in is high quality so the body processes it properly.  You should also add a little yogurt to the food a couple times a week.  If he's trying to eat his poop, that usually means he's not getting the nutrients he needs, so even adding a digestive enzyme to his food might be beneficial. 

You'll be amazed how much good food and supplements will help him.   Thank goodness he finally found someone who cares!