Dogs Got The Sh!ts

[day worker 296]

Any help appreciated! About a week ago my dog started with the sh!ts so I did the usual and starved him for 24 hours then started him back on the kibble! His stools seemed fine but started to loosen again. I've starved him again for 24 hours again and intend to feed a plain diet of chicken and rice for a few days. The stools seem to have a lot of mucus in it and if it continues will be going to the vet but in the meantime any dietary tips or experience of ongoing problems of this type? Thanks

[trenchfoot 4,243]

I know it goes against common advice, but apparently chicken causes gut irritation. try lean beef and brown rice.little and often. And if you haven't, change your kibble.

 

Failing that give the dog some Bisto, help thicken it up a bit

 

good luck

[riohog 5,816]

give the dog a spoon of kaolin

[day worker 296]

I'm actually using turkey not sure if that makes a difference?

[dytkos 17,861]

Mucus in there can be a sign of too much protein mate

 

Cheers, D.

[day worker 296]

I don't think it's that he on a very basic diet co he isn't working at the minute!

[trenchfoot 4,243]

  On 04/04/2015 at 21:01, night worker said:

I'm actually using turkey not sure if that makes a difference?

If I remember, turkey is better than chicken. I cannot for the life of me recollect the reasons why. It came up at a meeting at the Royal College of Veterinary surgeons I was at. But I'm not a vet

[day worker 296]

That's good I've done something right!

[wilt 112]

gravy granules it wont cure it but it will thicken it up abit lol

[paulus 26]

mucus in the poo can be a sign of colitis, inflammation of the colon wall, if it persists go to the vet as it may need antibiotics

 

 

 

 

Colitis and Proctitis in Dogs

Histiocytic ulcerative colitis is a bowel disease that causes the lining of a dog's colon to thicken, with varying degress of loss to the superficial lining (known as ulceration). The thickening is due to the infiltration of various cells in the layers under the lining. And when the colon becomes inflamed, there is a reduction in the colon's ability to absorb water and store feces, leading to frequent diarrhea, often with mucus and/or blood. Proctitis, conversely, is the inflammation of the dog's anus and the lining of the rectum.

Although inflammation of the colon and rectum can occur in any breed of dog,Boxers seem to be particularly susceptible to this condition, and will usually show clinical signs by two years of age.

The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visitthis page in the PetMD health library.

Symptoms and Types

Some of the symptoms that may indicate inflammation of the colon or rectum are frequent bowel movements with a only a small amount of stool, and prolonged straining after a bowl movement. Inflammation can also cause the stool to vary in consistency from semi-formed to fluid (or become diarrhea). Evacuating stool can further irritate the inflamed tissue of the colon and rectum, and cause it to tear. As a result, chronic diarrhea will often have mucus and/or blood in it.

The irritation and ulceration of the colon can also lead to responsive vomiting and weight loss because of the dog's decreased appetite.

Causes

There are a variety of possible causes for this condition. The source can be fromintestinal or rectal parasites; bacterial infection; fungal infection; or an algae infection (water based). It may also be the result of a foreign object or abrasive material being swallowed by the a dog, causing trauma to the intestines.

An otherwise healthy system can occasionally react to infection or disorder by retreating into itself, in some cases, urine or waste products will reverse into the body system instead of leaving it, resulting in abnormal amounts of waste products in the bloodstream. Urea, a waste product in urine, is one of the potentially harmful products that can enter the bloodstream. This can cause other problems for the animal's body, as well, but one of the possible indicators of waste back-up is inflammation of the intestinal tract.

An inflammed intestinal tract can also be a good indicator of an inflammation of other organs. For example, long-term inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) will irritate the intestines. Inflammatory or immune disorders, diet, and the swallowing of foreign objects can also affect the dog's entire system (systemic), leading to inflammation of the colon and rectum.

Perhaps less worrisome than an immune disorder, but a critical consideration nonetheless, is the possibility that the condition is the result of allergies. If an allergy is presenting itself through inflammation of any organ or system, it will be important to pinpoint the source of the allergy, since reactions to allergens tend to intensify with further contact, sometimes with fatal results.

[skycat 6,174]

If the dog has a bacterial infection, often seen as diarrhoea that doesn't respond to starving or diet, then it will need treating with antibiotics. So long as the bacterial infection is there you won't cure it without appropriate treatment, and by antibiotics I don't just mean a coupe of days on a mate's left over antibiotics. Any antibiotics need to be given correctly: usually a 5 or 7 day course of the type necessary to treat a specific bacteria. Some bacterial infections respond better to certain antibiotics than others.

 

Get the dog to a vet before it loses too much condition.

 

Edited to add: just seen Paulus' post

[day worker 296]

Thanks! Really good posts!

[day worker 296]

Well the fasting and turkey and rice seems to have worked! Feeling relieved!