As my collie has got older, I've noticed that she has developed an increasingly delicate stomach. The slightest thing can set her off. I used to be able to give her some of our dinner or little treats, but now there's usually a smelly consequence the next day.
Even something a simple as an overnight stay at a hotel can mean that she has an upset tum overnight (which is hard to cope with!). It could be the change in the water or just the stress of a change of routine.
Is there anything I can do to help her digestive system run a little more smoothly? Or is this just something that happens with older dogs?
Carol Wilby, Waltham-On-Thames
Although my Lab has an cast-iron constitution, I do tend to play it safe and feed her only her dog food, day in, day out. I suppose it is because professionally I have seen so many stomach upsets in dogs after a change in diet, such as eating titbits or scavenging. From my side of the consulting table, such problems are best avoided from happening in the first place by sticking to a stable diet. So, the easy answer is to stick to what you know agrees with your dog’s digestive system. Really, it is much like the situation with ourselves – if you know that you have a stomach upset after eating a particular food, then you avoid it, and curse when you are ill after forgetting or risking it!
A change in the water does seem to be a common cause of an upset stomach, although one cannot rule out ‘stress’ since the water may have changed because of going away to a different place. Stress is hard to quantify and is not simply an unpleasant experience. Stress in this instance could really being used to describe a challenge for the gut, a change in the intestinal environment.
On that basis, pre- and pro-biotics may be worth giving to your dog when you know a change in the water is likely, such as when you go away. Alternatively, you could give her bottled water to drink at home and if it does not cause a stomach upset then try using that as her sole water source when you are away. I must admit that I do not hold with bottled water - I drink tap water – but this may well help your dog.
Alison Logan, Vet
I wouldn't necessarily say it's something to do with being an older dog. I have a 13 year old dog, and he loves to have our leftovers, and doesn't get a runny bottom because of it.
ReplyDeleteMy Goldie is 13 1/2 and has been fed a raw diet for 10 years now and he never gets an upset stomach.
ReplyDeleteCertainly as dogs get older they become more prone to digestive upsets. Older dogs are simply are not as robust. A healthy dog exhibits it's physical state through the quality of its skin and coat, the brightness of its eyes and its natural resistance to digestive upsets.
ReplyDeleteCondition Aid for Dogs with Verm-X contains a blend of 12 specific nutrients, herbs and microscopic compounds, designed to keep your dog in first class physical condition and aid the explusion of internal parasites picked up from the environment. Condition Aid also contains Verm-X which has been formulated as an effective natural control of all internal parasites.
You simply mix with your dog's normal feed...and it helps with smelly breath!!
I agree with the prevous correspondent (Bugs). Old age is not a disease and this is a problem which can occur in any age group. Some dogs can eat anything with impunity but others are much more sensitive i.e. have intolerance to a number of different foods. This could cause a grumbling, low-grade inflammation of the digestive tract. I recommend a highly digestible, low fat diet (Burns has several which should be suitable) which should be fed sparingly. Fed exclusively this should improve the general health and function of the gut. You would then be able to go on holiday with the dog with no trouble. You may even be able to feed occasional treats and bits of dinner but this would be a case for trial and error.
ReplyDeleteJohn Burns BVMS MRCVS
Burns Pet Nutrition.
If it's constant, maybe a check-up is called for, certainly if there is blood or mucus, but if it's only when away, I'd suggest adding Tree Barks powder from Dorwest Herbs to her feed when not at home. It really is very good stuff!
ReplyDelete