Question:
I have a 7-year-old rescued Yorkshire terrier that weighs 20 pounds and has a stomach problem. His bouts of sickness can vary with uncontrollable and intense diarrhea, accompanied by mucous stools. At times, he will have just the mucous stools. There are other times when he doesn't eliminate for an entire day. He can be fine for months, and then all of a sudden he's sick. These episodes occur without warning. They also have happened when I have been away and he has remained home. Last summer, while we were away on vacation, he was sick and also throwing up a foamy mucous. I had him tested, and the doctor gave him a shot to stop the vomiting. I've had him tested for Giardia and worms, and he had a clean bill of health. At this point, I feed him two to three cups of Iams Mini Chunks (dry, twice daily), along with a few tablespoons of canned food. We no longer give him commercial treats, as they seem to have a negative effect. He is walked three times daily.
Is it possible he has irritable bowel syndrome, as people are known to have? Are there specific tests I should request?
E.C., Fairfield, CT Oct 04, 2009
Answer:
Your dog is most probably suffering from an inflammatory bowel condition that flares up with any kind of stress and when ingredients in his regular food change. This is a big problem with most manufactured foods, one batch never being identical to the next because of different ingredient sources (not noted on the label). This is why I advise making your own dog food (as per my Web site, www.twobitdog.com/DrFox).
Giving your dog a daily dose of good-quality probiotics or live organic yogurt may help build up a healthy intestinal flora. Also, when he is having problems, feed a little watery boiled rice and give up to 1 tablespoon of aloe-vera liquid and 50 to 100 milligrams glutamine daily (both available at health stores). One of my dogs develops acute diarrhea associated with a proliferation of Clostridia bacteria in his stools when he is stressed. Stress leading to a bacterial imbalance in the gut may be what happened while you were on vacation. Metronidazole is an effective remedy in such cases; it's available from your veterinarian.
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