Question:
We adopted a beagle a year ago, and while she is supposed to be about 5 years old, I would say she is older, as her teeth were in terrible condition and she now has a white muzzle. The problem is that her stools have always been too soft (she has anal-gland problems). Upon changing her food in December, she had a terrible bout with hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Since that time, I have been feeding her brown rice, chicken and broccoli, but these foods have not helped with the soft stools. Recently, after running out of rice, I gave her oatmeal instead, thinking that would be bland enough. Big mistake: The gastroenteritis started all over again.
I am not sure what to feed her. I would like to put her on the homemade food that you prescribe, but am afraid to add the supplements. At the moment, she eats Hill's i/d Gastrointestinal Health food.
S.A., Warrenton, Va May 22, 2011
Answer:
Your dog probably has inflammatory-bowel disease. Many co-factors should be addressed, such as intestinal infection, parasites such as giardia, food allergy and gluten sensitivity. During acute episodes of diarrhea, give rice or barley water with a pinch of salt and sugar and no food for 24 to 36 hours as an emergency measure. Body hydration is important and may require emergency veterinary treatment with replacement fluids. During such an episode, veterinarians often prescribe antispasmodics and metronidazole; they also advise a bland, home-prepared diet of known ingredients like those recipes formulated by veterinarians for various dog and cat health problems available from Balance IT, DVM Consulting Inc. in Davis, Calif.; phone: (888) 346-6362.
Successful treatment with oral calcium aluminosilicate or kaolin and pectin, slippery elm or aloe-vera juice has been reported and could be tried under veterinary supervision. The inexpensive drug tylosin has recently been reported to benefit dogs afflicted by inflammatory-bowel conditions.
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