at my wits end

[cheribob]

I have two 15 year old Maltese. I used to feed them Bil-Jac. However, after the petfood scare I wanted to feed them something of better quality. Plus they don't have many teeth left & kibble is difficult for them to eat.

It seems like no matter what I try to feed them they have diarrhea. I have tried Merrick & Wellness canned. I have tried Nature's variety raw.

Presently I am giving them Nature's Variety Kibble moisted with warm water.

Tonight AGAIN I woke up to diarrhea in the kitchen (just off the piddle pads!ARGH!)

Tomorrow I am going to get some canned pumpkin.

All suggestions are welcome!

[Evey]

How often are you changing foods? The fact that you are changing will cause gastric distress.

[tiffers]

I agree with Evey. Frequent food changes are killer (not literally) in small dogs. Your foods also seem to be very rich. Perhaps try feeding "Sensitive Stomach" formulas, maybe their bellies cannot handle the food you're feeding, especially considering their age.

[Macawpower58]

When my boy was diagnosed with EPI, he had at the time severe diarrhea. I used over the counter anti diarrhea meds. to help his system stabilize. They did work (I also used the pumpkin), but remember, they aren't a cure for anything, and are only a help while your stabilizing his system.

[NewfieGrl]

I would tend to ask the same question as to how often you are changing foods. Did you do slow changes or fast changes? How long have they been on the current food? Are they both having the problem, or is it just one?
Michele
owned by 2 Newfies, a cocker spaniel and 2 cats
RIP Bootsie-March ? 1988-April 22, 2007

[Angelfire]

When I change my dogs to the raw diet and holistic dry food they had the runs for about a week but they have adjusted and they love it.

[cheribob]

Well, because of their age & their lack of teeth they weren't doing well on the kibble. They just weren't eating.

That is when I first tried Wellness & Merrick canned. By now I have tried so many different things I would just like to get back to square one.

I stopped the raw & now I am just feeding the Nature's Variety chicken kibble. I moisten it with a little warm water. I have been doing this now for about a week.

But they still have bloody diarrhea. I really am at my wits end! I have to wash my kitchen floor every single morning when I come home from work.

This evening when I woke up I had to also wash the bathroom floor & the laundry room floor. Casey also got the carpet (just had that cleaned at the beginning of August! ARGH!)

Tiffers, I will try the sensitive stomach formulas.

Macawpower58, which meds did you use & for how long?

Angelfire, I fed them raw for about a month. At first they seemed to do very well. They had small hard stools. Then all of a sudden the diarrhea. I thought it might be from the Dermcaps (omega 3 oils). So I stopped that.

Now I just don't know what to do anymore.

How do I get back to square one?

[Julia423]

But they still have bloody diarrhea.


Are you using "bloody" as an epithet, or do you mean it literally? If it is literally bloody, you need a vet not necessarily new food. And soon.

[Macawpower58]

Macawpower58, which meds did you use & for how long?


Cheribob, Julia is right, if the dogs are passing blood in their stools, I'd see a vet ASAP.

As Evey and Newfiegrl stated, do diet changes very slowly, especially with a senior dog. Quick changes can have disasterous results that are hard to turn around. Pick one good food, start to add it (1/4 new to 3/4 old food), moisten with water to make it easy to chew. Slowly increase the amount of the new to the old. It is not a quick procedure, and done right can take up to a month. It's a pain in the arse, but the only safe way!

As for your question:

I used the generic version of Ammodiam. I used a full strength adult dose, but I have an 85 pd German Shepherd.

For dogs as small as a Maltese, I'd recommend a children's version, and base the dosage on weight, or a toddlers dose. Perhaps Tiffers can advise the dosage better for a small dog.

I used them off and on for several months, adding them at each meal. Finally I added enzymes to his food which slowly solved his problem for good, and I then discontinued the diarrhea meds. Don't forget, diarrhea medication is only a bandaid not a cure, use it to help while you get the problem found out. I knew my dog had a Pancreatic disease, and was working on fixing that while I used these meds.

You might also want to try a probiotic (adds good bacteria to stomach) like Fasttrack, or/and a enzyme supplement like Prozyme (helps with digestion). They both are great to add to a dog's diet, especially a dog that's immune system needs a boost. There are other brands out there as good or better, but these are the 2 I use.

[NewfieGrl]

I would definately call the vet and get in there if there is blood in the stool. Better safe than sorry.
And I agree wtih the slow change, especially in older dogs. I typically advise a 10-14 day change, adding the new food slowly to the old food. As Macawpower said, it's hard to go back. And it really is. If dealing with a dog who has problems with stools, or a sensative digestive system, during a change I would change even slower, adding only a tiny bit of the new food to the old.
And I also agree with adding probiotics if the food you are feeding doesn't have them. They are excellent for a healthy digestive system, and the core of the immune system is in the digestive system. Does that make sense?
Give the vet a call and let them know what is going on as far as finding blood in the stool.
Good luck.
Michele
owned by 2 Newfies, a cocker spaniel and 2 cats
RIP Bootsie-March ? 1988-April 22, 2007

[cheribob]

I have already been to the vet 3 times about this & he tells me that there is nothing wrong.

It is too late to slowly change foods. The food is already changed. So is the probiotics the next step?

Thank you everyone for your help & thoughtful comments.

[ReesAkita]

I would consider a second opinion.Bloody stool isn't normal especially if they both have it.

[NewfieGrl]

Just curious, what is the vet saying about blood in the stools? The diarreah wouldn't concern me as much with the change, but the blood would.
If it's diarreah, the first thing I would do is get that cleared up. I would feed something like boiled chicken, or hamburg, and rice, until things clear up. I'm not sure I would add anything else until the stools have cleared up.
I've posted this before on the forum, but it is the rice water, not the rice, that helps with loose stools. Use 1 cup of rice to 2 1/2 cups of water and cook. Make sure they get the rice water along with the rice and boiled chicken or beef.
After things get cleared up I would then introduce the food. Just a little at a time. If a problem begins again, cut back on the food again.
I'm not sure if the food you are feeding contains probiotics. Some foods do and some don't. Probiotics are live bacteria that help promote a healthy digestive system.
But if your vet hasn't given you an answer to the blood in the stools you might want to call them and talk to them about it. You can also call them to get a dosage for something like the immodium or pepto bismal (ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR VET FIRST).

Good luck.
Michele
owned by 2 Newfies, a cocker spaniel and 2 cats

[cheribob]

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions.

I did call the vet again yesterday. He said the same thing Tiffers did (THANKS, TIFFERS!) so I went to the pet store & got a bag of Eagle brand kibble for dogs with sensitive tummies. I kept them off food for 24 hours & then started to feed the Eagle brand with a little low sodium beef broth & Prozyme.

I am THRILLED to report that today was the first time in about a month that I came home from work & there was no diarrhea!!

I did not know that their advanced age could caus estomach problems.

You all helped so much.

Thanks again!

[mynameislola]

I'd also suggest seeing a Vet. regarding the blood in the stool especially since you have been feeding raw. Your dogs may have bacterial infections.

[tiffers]

I did not know that their advanced age could caus estomach problems.

First off, you're welcome.

You have to be careful with Geriatrics. Not only does a sudden change in the house throw them out of whack, but something as simple as a guest feeding them a treat. Their systems are old and tired, and you've got to be careful when changing foods or feeding treats. I'm glad they're pooping good, and I hope to hear they've fully recovered soon. :)

[wolfrunner]

I raise wolf hybrids and diareah is very common when weaning ... I always use plain old yogert stops the diareah and replaces the bacteria in their stomach that has been lost ... works everytime....