Question:
We have a 62-pound mixed-breed older dog -- he may be a chow, German shepherd or Lab. We've had him for 12 years, but he was a stray, so we're guessing he's about 13 years old.
He has been leaking feces for months now. Our vet felt inside, did blood work, took X-rays and put him on antibiotics. He guessed it could be cancer and recommended an ultrasound and/or MRI, but those are too expensive. The vet also suggested we feed our dog chicken and rice, which we did for several months. We then started mixing the chicken and rice with his dry food, but he never stopped leaking poop. He strains to defecate in the yard and just dribbles feces. On the patio, he is constantly licking himself, leaving fecal matter behind. We bathe him once a month and try to clean off his behind from time to time.
I've started giving him half an Imodium tablet daily, but my husband says I should not give him something that will "stop him up" when he already struggles to go. Despite the Texas climate, he can't come into the house anymore.
What are your thoughts on this? We have a 62-pound mixed-breed older dog -- he may be a chow, German shepherd or Lab. We've had him for 12 years, but he was a stray, so we're guessing he's about 13 years old.
He has been leaking feces for months now. Our vet felt inside, did blood work, took X-rays and put him on antibiotics. He guessed it could be cancer and recommended an ultrasound and/or MRI, but those are too expensive. The vet also suggested we feed our dog chicken and rice, which we did for several months. We then started mixing the chicken and rice with his dry food, but he never stopped leaking poop. He strains to defecate in the yard and just dribbles feces. On the patio, he is constantly licking himself, leaving fecal matter behind. We bathe him once a month and try to clean off his behind from time to time.
I've started giving him half an Imodium tablet daily, but my husband says I should not give him something that will "stop him up" when he already struggles to go. Despite the Texas climate, he can't come into the house anymore.
What are your thoughts on this?
N.F., North Richland Hills, TX Dec 20, 2011
Answer:
Your poor dog is suffering terribly, being sick and banished from the house. If he is not used to being outside for extended periods, he will be suffering emotionally from separation. You must ask yourself, why are you keeping him alive? I appreciate your patience and concern, but it sounds like he should be bathed daily and be brought indoors. A holistic approach to possible chronic colitis or inflammatory bowel disease is in order if the attending veterinarian did not consider these possibilities. For a searchable list of holistic veterinarian practitioners, visit www.ahvma.org.
I would suggest trial medications like Tylosin or metronidazole, along with probiotics and psyllium seed husks (1 to 2 tablespoons in a gruel of boiled brown rice or oatmeal and ground lamb or turkey). You can also add 2 tablespoons of aloe vera juice (available in health stores) to his food, and encourage him to drink soothing and healing peppermint tea.
If he does not improve on this kind of treatment in 10 to 14 days or with what a holistic veterinarian might recommend, he could have cancer -- the most common cause of death in dogs today. In that case, I would euthanize him rather than allow him to continue to suffer outside.
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