Colitis

[Sprinkles]

Brody has Colitis. We went to the vet on Thurs following a mucus/bloody poo! 

We have tablets from the vet and he has perked up a lot but he is still off his food somewhat and poo's range from Mr Whippy to not a lot and a bit runny! (Sorry) Sometimes he'll pick at his food and then come back to it later. This mornings is still nearly all there.

After a little search on here I have just given him a tablespoon of probiotic yog (peach Actimal) and have got some fish out the freezer for tea. My questions are:

1. Should I pick his food up if he doesn't eat it?
2. How much fish and rice do I give him? He's not been sick and as I said poo's are varying. Don't want to under feed him.
3. Should I give him a table spoon of yog each day from here on in to keep his tummy ok, even after this has all cleared up?

Thank you!

[Sheepscheeks]

Hi,

Freddie, 5 months, had all the classic colitis symptoms - mucous, blood, sloppy, frequent poos, straining without producing anything, rubbing his bottom along the floor. He is now fed raw (Natural Instinct) and at the moment is absolutely fine. No wind, poo easy to pick up and much less of it, no mucous or blood. I tried weaning him from chicken and rice onto 2 brands of kibble very very gradually but I think he just can't tolerate processed kibble. His sister has had it much worse, her owner spent hundreds at the vet on samples to be told - she has a very sensitive tummy. She is now fed Royal Canin sensitive wet food but her owner might try Natural Instinct as well.

To answer your questions -

Don't know how old Brody is but I guessed with the amount of chicken (or fish in your case) and rice - it is only temporary after all.
I would pick it up if he doesn't eat it and put it in the fridge for later.
I bought pro-kolin pro biotic paste online which helped settle Freddie's tummy. Natural yog didn't help for him.

I don't know what your vet has said but mine said to keep Freddie on chicken, rice and pro kolin til the pro kolin was all gone (I did 5 days), then just chicken and rice for 10 days, then re-introduce his kibble over 10 days. I did all of that but by the time I got to day 9 of re-introducing the kibble, he was going backwards again so I abandoned kibble and got the Natural Instinct. I weaned him onto that over a period of a week.

I have just ordered a small freezer for the Natural Instinct and whn the weather is better will give him a chicken wing once or twice a week. I am no expert as Freddie is our first dog but PM me if you want to know anything else.

[Sprinkles]

Thank you! Brody is 8 months and on Hill's puppy food. we accidently bought "large breed" and the vet said this may have caused it as the nutritional content is different. (I thought it was just the size of the actual kibble) But she said it could easily be something he picked up on a walk. We've bought the smaller kibble now. Thanks for your reply. x

[bajoleth]

No advice but I hope Brody is feeling better soon

[cindere528]

If the Actimel yoghurt helps clear the problem up, I would suggest you keep him on it forever. As long as a dog isn't lactose intolerant, it can't do any harm and could help prevent another flare up.  My two have never had any bowel problems, but after having Nelly who had chronic colitis, I give my dogs a spoonful of Actimel every day on their breakfast as a preventative measure.

[Sprinkles]

If the Actimel yoghurt helps clear the problem up, I would suggest you keep him on it forever. As long as a dog isn't lactose intolerant, it can't do any harm and could help prevent another flare up.  My two have never had any bowel problems, but after having Nelly who had chronic colitis, I give my dogs a spoonful of Actimel every day on their breakfast as a preventative measure.

Thank you!

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

I really wouldnt worry to much about it  

Jack had bouts of colitis until he was about one then he grew out of it. I was just careful with what he ate and if he had a flair up fed him white fish and brown rice for a few days until it cleared up  

[Helen]

I really wouldnt worry to much about it  

Jack had bouts of colitis until he was about one then he grew out of it. I was just careful with what he ate and if he had a flair up fed him white fish and brown rice for a few days until it cleared up  

Absolutely - I've lost count of the pups on COL this year that have been diagnosed with Colitis - Jarvis was the same as Jack, had bouts of it until he was a year old and then his stomach seemed to get stronger.  We worried about it the first couple of times and then managed with bland food for a few days like Jo did with Jack.  TBH I would rather manage it then dose him up with courses of antibiotics (Synulox for example gave him raging diawotsit and that was the cure  )

He also had what it seemed was a chicken intolerance - that changed as well at around 18 months and he happily eats raw chicken wings (we do avoid chicken based kibble just in case) and is fine on chicken and rice if he's sick.

His weak spot is his stomach so we do keep an eye on him even now but on his current diet - half BARf/half Healthy Paws - he's fine 

Things like pigs ears were really bad for him - I would keep a pup away from protein rich treats like pigs ears and even livercake can be too rich for them unless in small quantities.

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

I really wouldnt worry to much about it  

Jack had bouts of colitis until he was about one then he grew out of it. I was just careful with what he ate and if he had a flair up fed him white fish and brown rice for a few days until it cleared up  

He also had what it seemed was a chicken intolerance - that changed as well at around 18 months and he happily eats raw chicken wings (we do avoid chicken based kibble just in case) and is fine on chicken and rice if he's sick.

OMG snap 

Thats why we fed jack on white fish and brown rice chicken seemed to make it worse.

Hes now the same and fine with chicken wings etc tho same again i keep away from chicken based foods.

Jack seems to be able to tolerate most things well now except very fatty or processed foods. When my neighbours fed him pastry the results wernt pretty 

[Sprinkles]

How long does it go on for?? Brody has finished the tabs from the vet today and his poo's still arn't right! He's been on fish and rice (& a tablespoon of probiotic yog each morning) for the last day and a half (following your advice)

He varys from being a normal 8 month old pup to looking really fed up and tired 

[Helen]

Take him back to the vets tomorrow - it can go on for a while but he may need an anti-emetic and and anti-inflam to stop his tummy hurting 

[Sprinkles]

Thanks Livercake. There was quite a bit of bile type sick when we came down to him Sun Morn and just the one lot this morn but no sick during the day and we've been with him 24/7. He bounds about over the field quite happily, but OH & I both think he gets that fed up look after feeding, so probably tummy ache We'll see what tonight brings.

[Helen]

the last bad bout Jarvis had (wasn't diagnosed Colitis but he had a very poorly tum, diawotsit which was water and he was really miserable) he was prescribed zantac to help the stomach acid so don't be surprised if that's what you'll be given.  It really did help.

The morning bile may be caused by him having an empty tummy - I would be tempted to give Brody something last thing at night - we give Jarvis a gravy bone and this seems to see him through 

[Sprinkles]

Do you think one bonio or more than that?

[Helen]

are they the really small bonio's?  If so you could give him 2...