Rescue boxer dog, any ideas?
I am a registered breeder of boxers and help out with boxer rescue when i can.
I have had a lovely little girl with me for 5 months now she has had chronic diahrroea with blood in it since arriving, we have been to the vets now 5 times and has now been on antibiotics and steroids 5 times, been once a month. The vet has now that he doesnt want to give any more medication due to side effect of regular use. To control with diet which she has been on now for 3 months and its not that great still has blood in every poo but vet not concerned as not losing weight.
Is there any long term complications of colitis???? it doesnt seem right to leave her with persistant diahrroea especially with blood in it, vet certain no harm will be done, but in humans colitis cause ulcers which can be painful.
Update:Stacey - thats my worry, she is such a good girl only tiny 19kg (not skinny tho), good with dogs, people, cats anything seems a shame this may stop her finding a good home
Update 3:Sorry yes the vet has diagnosed colitis, and does not feel further investigations are necessary.
This vet has been accurate through every illness and pregnancy my own boxers have had, no reason to doubt him
Comments
Was it checked for GIARDIA & COCCIDIA????
Treat for both!
Neither coccidia or giardia are WORMS!!!!!
GUT parasites....NOT WORMS!
Years ago we had a rescue Samoyed with cronic diahorrea....not a pretty sight.
We feed boiled pumpkin with some cheese grated in while still hot. Plus Asadopholis yoghurt to put the good bacteria back in the gut and bowel.
Cheese and pumpkin are great for binding the poo. You could boil the pumpkin in beef stock to get the dog to accept it more readily.
I'd also be feeding small meals more often of boiled chicken, poached fish and even porridge. All these are easier on the gut and bowel.
Give the yoghurt 3 time a day, about a tablespoon or 2.
This diet has saved serveral Dalmatians who were due to be put down after getting horrendous infections at a show and being walking skeletons after 10 days at the vets on drips.
Has your vet not advised a specialist diet? They do a Royal Canin one for colitis. My rescue Boxer girl has just been diagnosed with Struvite crystals in her urine and will be on a special diet for the rest of her life, she is 2yrs 6mths. I am sure it can be helped with diet. My last dog had colitis in her old age and that was treated with tablets, not sure what they were called, sulphasalazine I think. Good luck.
Has the vet said it is colitis?
I have recently had a rescue Sheltie with the same problem.
I put her on a gluten free,additive free diet ( Aurtarky ) and added probiotic powder to her diet.
This was after 2 days of feeding boiled chicken and rice to settle her tummy completely.
She has no problems at all now.
Maybe she has a tear in her bowel, like a fissure, or a crack near her anus? Maybe try a new vet, get a second opinion on this. I feed my dogs limited ingredients brown rice and lamb kibble. Maybe adding some rice to her food may help with the looseness? Long term steroid use can affect bone density. Good luck.
Have you tried a bland diet with her? Sometimes that helps. If she does well on a bland diet, then placing her shouldn't be difficult. Colitis is tough, I know our rescue (Boxers) gets a few cases a year, and if we can't get the colitis under control, they are virtually unadoptable.
Well take her to a different vet for a different opinion. You really don't sound like a breeder AT ALL.