Doggy with an upset tummy!

JencParker

iamashoppingaddict wrote: »

Hello

Wondered if I could get some preliminary advice from everyone please? Ultimately I'm going to go to the vets but I can't get an appointment to next week so I wanted to explain the situation here and see if anyone has any valuable experience that might help in the meantime.

We've had him since November. He is an older boy who was in a kill shelter abroad and brought into the UK. He has his pet passport and has had all his jabs as required.

He is a lovely boy who we adore. Such a good temperament and is great fun to be around.

When we first got him he had few runny poo's. We put this down to being moved about quite a lot and thought he'd be better once he'd settled down and in. We didn't get any change over food from the place we go him from so bought some generic dried food. To begin with his tummy and stools seemed to settle down a little but then started being runny again shortly after.

So I did some research and established that Chappie dried food is meant to be good for dogs which have sensitive tummys. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be working either. His poo's are just as runny.

He's not a big eater to be honest so after his morning walk I'll give him his food and he isn't really bothered by it. He gets a quick trot out at lunchtime and when we get back he'll perhaps eat some then. He then gets a proper evening walk whereby he'll get some more food. Sometimes though he hasn't eaten all of the food from breakfast.

This was the same on both types of food he was on. He seems in good health otherwise. Loves going out for his walks, loves being brushed. Not a great 'player' with toys, the squeak of toys scares him!, but enjoys rough n tumble with the other half. His previous owners, wherever they maybe, trained him really well and he is good at sitting etc. However as we don't know his given name, the name we have given him now doesn't register with him and his recall is none!! lol But that's besides the point.

Any suggestions in the mean time for his tummy troubles?

Firstly, it's the Chappie tinned food that's good for sensitive stomachs and used to be recommended by vets before these new specialist feeds were developed, not the dry food.

Has he had a vet check him over since you got him? May be worth a try. It sounds as if he seems happy and healthy, then there may be a number of things. Firstly, overfeeding can cause the runs - although it doesn't sound like that is an issue. One thing though, I have always found the recommended amount on the packets is too much so feed less. If he doesn't finish a meal, I would pick it up until the next meal rather than allowing him to graze. It may be worth trying the Chappie tinned, but if nothing else wrong can be found, a probiotic like Prokolin can help.

Katiehound

I know everyone is recommending chicken and rice for sensitive tums but you might also like to try cold boiled potatoes or sweet potatoes as both these are used in commercial sensitive dog food compounds. My dog loves potatoes!

teddysmum

Do be aware of the toxicity problem when reheating rice, as it causes tummy upsets.

natbags

I would try the chappie - tinned mixed with a little dry mixer (good for teeth) and would also try to reduce his portions, dogs should be hungry and eager for food. You can reduce for a couple of days and then gradually start to increase (little by little)

Griizelda

Please be aware that not all dogs can tolerate rice either - my can't, so he's on a grain and rice free food. Applaws (Encore in Sainsbury's), Taste of the Wild and Wainwright's Grain Free are all good.

krlyr

Has he had a vet check to rule out anything like gastroenteritis, giardia, campylobacter, etc.? Definately get him on a good diet (I'd look at maybe going grain-free incase of an intolerance) but that won't fix an underlying viral or bacteria infection, if one is present.

iamashoppingaddict

Hi all. Thanks for your great advice. Firstly just want to reiterate what was in my OP. I am taking him to the vet but the appointment isn't until later in this week. So those asking about an appointment can be rest assured.

In the meantime I thought I'd try the suggestions just in case it was a bug. I fasted him for a day and he has been on rice and chicken for about 3 days now. But rather him do horrible runny poos he hasn't poo'd at all!!!! That can't be good for him either poor man.

Does this mean an intolerance to rice you think?!!

Johnny_Dangerously

Not necessarily. An intolerance would normally show up as loose stool. If he hasn't pooped for 3 days I'd be a little concerned also. A day or two is normal after fasting as they are pretty empty.

Personally, i'd stick with it and keep a close eye on him for any signs of discomfort in his tummy. If he does show any or doesn't poop in the next 24 hours, I'd hit the vets as right away.

krlyr

A dog who's had stomach problems for 3 months really needs to see a vet, we can only hazard a guess at it being an intolerance, a bug, etc. but messing around with his foods may make him worse.

I can get a vet appointment on the same day at my vets, or within 2 days at an absolute push - I've only once had to make an appointment at another nearby vet as mine couldn't squeeze me in. If you can't get into your registered vet, I'd try others in the area (you can register at as many vets as you like, it's not like GPs) because something is obviously not right with him.

As odd as it sounds, a blockage in the gut can present as an upset tum - if he's now not pooing at all, I'd be very concerned and would be getting him to a vet this weekend, if anything were to herniate internally, he could go downhill very fast as poo is obviously not the kind of thing you want leaking into the body.

rubytuesday

Some canned pumpkin might help firm up his poos.

Hope he's ok x