Immunity boost needed!

My long coated GSD has had a runny tummy for a few weeks and is beginning to look rather lethargic. We’ve been to the vet and had the usual antibiotics, but he’s no better. The vet is sure there’s no infection.

Is there an alternative treatment which might help boost his immune system naturally?

Joanne Booker, Woking



Alison Logan, vet, replies...

It sounds to me as if your GSD needs further work-up. I wonder whether you have been back to your vet since being given the antibiotics? If we vets dispense treatment and do not hear back from the owner then we assume the treatment has worked. Without knowledge of his age and diet, it is hard to be specific but there being no improvement would suggest that more investigation is needed, such as blood tests and faecal analysis. Alternatively, or additionally, there may be an underlying food hypersensitivity.

Presumably you have already ruled out obvious things in his diet which could be causing diarrhoea? For example, a table scrap you add to his food may be a trigger. Do you give him the milk from the bottom of your cereal bowl? Milk is a common cause of diarrhoea, and obviously would not respond to treatment with antibiotics. Does your dog add things to his diet of his own free will which upset his intestines? I am thinking of scavenging – the cat’s food, under the bird table, take-away leftovers whilst out on a walk, and so on.

It is not surprising that your GSD is becoming lethargic. Passing liquid faeces means that your dog is not able to derive full benefit from his diet and is therefore missing out on energy and other nutrients. You really need to know what is causing the diarrhoea so that the correct treatment can be initiated. As much as an immunity boost will always help, it would be ideal for your dog if the cause of the diarrhoea could be identified and sorted out appropriately.

Also, being long coated must be posing you problems with keeping his rear end clean. Do please take care during this hot weather because he could be at risk of fly strike, a really unpleasant situation.

Are older dogs more vulnerable?

When there's a flu epidemic all the posters in the doctors warn the elderly to get a flu shot. I was just wondering - will my older dog be more susceptible to illness now, too?
What can I do to boost her immune system so she can fight off any challenges she might encounter?
Any ideas?
Robin Anderson, Essex

As the body ages, so do all the body systems which will inevitably include the immune system. It is generally advised to keep vaccinations up-to-date in order to maintain immunity to serious diseases. I would not say that I have noticed a surge in the incidence of illness in older dogs compared to when they were younger, but it can take longer for them to bounce back to health after simple illnesses such as stomach upsets.
Dogs do not seem to experience the same range of illnesses as we do. For example, they do not go through the coughs and colds which characterise one’s childhood and continue through to old age, albeit at a lesser level but with more chance of causing complications. A young dog with kennel cough is often very bright and eating well still, but with a hacking productive cough. Kennel cough in an elderly dog can cause more signs of illness (lethargy, reduced appetite) and the cough can last for longer.
A balanced diet geared to the older dog is important, as is a suitable exercise regime to keep your dog fit and interested in life. Regular short walks over easy terrain are far better than intermittent long walks over unforgiving ground, for example. Above all, though, enjoy your older dog – they still have so much to give us.
Alison Logan, vet