Dogs and all animals thread

[Yrtbs]

Dog Calmly Playing With Kids After Cop Shoots Himself Trying To Kill it

 

[cristycurves]

Anyone have a dog with colitis

Anyone have a dog with colitis

Apparently it is quite common in dogs. I thought we could share tips, food recommendations etc. I found out yesterday that my dog, my warrior princess( I call her that because she survived neck surgery and an auto immune disease, just recently had 3 moles removed and six teeth, now the poor girl has to wrestle with colitis) She is on a med (metroridacle)twice a day for 2 weeks, and food that is for skin/food senitivities. No treats, nothing, other than this dog food, because it only has one protein in it, apparently and will cause less irritation or stress on the bowels. I'm just starting to learn about colitis, so any experienced knowledge would be appreciated.I was told it can be brought on or caused by food sensitivities or stress.

 

[papasmerf]

Sorry to hear that your pup is suffering

 

[cristycurves]

Thank you Papa, very kind Hopefully someone will speak that has gone through or is going through it with their dog, as I feel it's important to learn knowledge, not only from your vet, but from others and we all know you can't trust all what we find online. She's a strong girl, I know this too, she'll conquer

 

[Madman]

You are a very good soul to take such good care of your princess.

I do not have personal experience with it but perhaps this might help

https://dogtime.com/dog-health/760-colitis-in-dogs-vin

 

[Maurice Boscorelli]

[h=3]Colitis is one of those issues that can sometimes be a symptom of something more serious. Colitis is also very treatable and preventable. Find out more here about what causes colitis and how to make sure that your dog doesn't get it.[/h] Colitis in dogs is an irritation of the colon and is a common malady. It isn’t actually a disease itself, but a symptom of several other diseases and problems. The big ones are stress, infection or parasites, allergies, or any of several bowel diseases.

Read more to find out what these conditions mean, how dogs get them, and what a vet can do to help your dog feel better.
[h=2]COMMON SIGNS THAT YOUR DOG MAY HAVE COLITIS[/h]

• Many small, loose or watery stools
• Straining before or after defecation
• Sometimes passing bright red blood or mucus with the stool
• Your poor pooch may be vomiting, too

If your dog is suffering from these symptoms, chances of colitis are high. Any dog with these symptoms should go to the vet immediately. Colitis is not a condition you should diagnose on your own. However, knowing what causes colitis might help you keep your dog from getting it in the first place.
[h=2]TOP CAUSES OF COLITIS IN DOGS[/h] 1. Stress

Canine stress is a major cause of colitis, especially in shelter dogs. Traveling, moving, and upheavals at home can all cause stress. Each dog has their own hang-up, and these could be causing problems as well. Obviously, if your dog is literally sick with worry, something is very wrong.

Depending on what the source of stress is, the solution may be to remove the problem, or to support the dog through the crisis with training. Sedatives may be called for in some cases, and in others a bit of TLC could solve the problem. Sometimes probiotic supplements are able to address symptoms as well.

2. Infection or Parasites

E. coli, Salmonella, Giardia, whipworms, and other infections and parasites of the gut can cause colitis. Dogs pick up these infestations from contaminated food or water, or from each other, so the simple solution is not to allow dogs to eat or lick anything off the ground--easier said than done, of course!

Remember to bring a water bottle and a collapsible bowl on longer walks so your dog won’t feel tempted to drink from puddles. Remember, also, that even water that looks clean might be contaminated.

Once a dog is infected, the vet may take a stool sample to find out what exactly your dog has, and prescribe the right medication to get rid of it.

3. Allergies

From food to the environment to items in the home, dogs can be allergic to all the same allergens as humans. And, as with human allergies, dog allergies can be tricky to diagnose. Through trial and error, and with some help from your vet, figure out what your dog is allergic to, and remove it from their life. A hypoallergenic food may be in order. Again, drugs can provide symptomatic relief, and treatment with probiotics might help.

4. Other Diseases

There are a number of different inflammatory bowel diseases, not all of which are well understood. Some conditions are diagnosed mainly by ruling everything else out.
[h=2]DIAGNOSING COLITIS[/h] Your vet may want to conduct tests such as blood tests, a colonoscopy, or an ultrasound evaluation. Not only does the vet have to know what to treat, but they also need to rule out worst case scenarios, such as tumors.

In addition to whatever specific treatment your dog may need, the vet may recommend a fast for a day or two, a shift to a low-residue or hypoallergenic diet, or increasing fiber content in the diet.
[h=2]COLITIS IS HIGHLY TREATABLE[/h] In all but a very few rare cases, colitis can be treated successfully, and your dog will soon feel well enough to try to get into the compost pile and get in trouble all over again!

 

[cristycurves]

Thank you MM and Maurice, both helpful articles. She is much better to day, stress is most likely the culprit with my dog as probably food sensitivities. Sadly I raised her to be dependent, causing her to suffer separation anxiety, she has a hard time being alone, even for short intervals, especially since my other dog died. Everything comes with time

 

[Sassy Angels]

I love the fact that everyone here is so supportive and shares ideas, help and understanding. None of mine have gone through colitis, but allergies have always been an issue. If you do have insurance for her, the company should pay for a portion of the food cost (the canned wet bland food is expensive from the vet!) My oldest boxer has degenerative myelopathy in what the vet says is the final stage. She's back on steroids and her back legs are fairly stable again, but it's only a matter of time now.

 

[oldguyzer]

Apparently it is quite common in dogs. I thought we could share tips, food recommendations etc. I found out yesterday that my dog, my warrior princess( I call her that because she survived neck surgery and an auto immune disease, just recently had 3 moles removed and six teeth, now the poor girl has to wrestle with colitis) She is on a med (metroridacle)twice a day for 2 weeks, and food that is for skin/food senitivities. No treats, nothing, other than this dog food, because it only has one protein in it, apparently and will cause less irritation or stress on the bowels. I'm just starting to learn about colitis, so any experienced knowledge would be appreciated.I was told it can be brought on or caused by food sensitivities or stress.

My mother was a vet, and I worked with dogs for canine oncology over the years. Colitis is a common enough issue for dogs and people, usually caused by a parasite of some sort in the food or water. If your dog has diarrhea, give them human Immodium...works great for dogs if you follow the dosing info for people. As for food, use a fairly bland food, or make your own (rice, chicken, something like that) and don't give too many treats with things like cheese or bacon in them (or even their flavour analogs). Spicy food is a big no-no. If your dog doesn't eat much, that's normal (as long as it's only a couple of days). Dogs tend to be scavengers and will eat all kinds of stuff off the ground (which is likely where it got the problem in the first place) so keep your eye on them when outside. Your vet may prescribe some medication, but it's usually an antibiotic/antiparasitic plus a stomach settler.

Hope the pooch gets better fast!

 

[oldguyzer]

I love the fact that everyone here is so supportive and shares ideas, help and understanding. None of mine have gone through colitis, but allergies have always been an issue. If you do have insurance for her, the company should pay for a portion of the food cost (the canned wet bland food is expensive from the vet!) My oldest boxer has degenerative myelopathy in what the vet says is the final stage. She's back on steroids and her back legs are fairly stable again, but it's only a matter of time now.

Myelopathy is common the breed, especially when they get around ten years of age or more. There's little can be done, unfortunately, except pain medication. If your vet has not mentioned it, talk to him/her about Metacam (or the generic equivalent). It's a very effective pain killer, and has shown some rathre impressive results on dogs with severe problems like cancer, arthritis and other problems including myelopathy (mostly anecdotal evidence, but some clinical results are showing up). I put my 15-year-old Australian Shepherd on Metacam when she was in pain from arthritis and myelopathy and it eased her pain dramatically, let her run around a bit, and I believe lengthened her life by a year (a happy year) before the pain became chronic. Heck, I'm even thinking of taking Metacam myself (no reports on human eficacy yet....)

https://www.metacam.com/

 

[Sassy Angels]

Myelopathy is common the breed, especially when they get around ten years of age or more. There's little can be done, unfortunately, except pain medication. If your vet has not mentioned it, talk to him/her about Metacam (or the generic equivalent). It's a very effective pain killer, and has shown some rathre impressive results on dogs with severe problems like cancer, arthritis and other problems including myelopathy (mostly anecdotal evidence, but some clinical results are showing up). I put my 15-year-old Australian Shepherd on Metacam when she was in pain from arthritis and myelopathy and it eased her pain dramatically, let her run around a bit, and I believe lengthened her life by a year (a happy year) before the pain became chronic. Heck, I'm even thinking of taking Metacam myself (no reports on human eficacy yet....)

https://www.metacam.com/

Thank you so much! The one good thing is that she is in no pain whatsoever, and is in perfect health - aside from the partial paralysis in her back end. She was diagnosed two years ago at age 8 when it came on suddenly and steroids helped immensely. So much so that the last 2 years have been totally fine - which the vet says is unheard of. He says that there's nothing more to do except wait for the steroids to stop working over the next month or two, she's on the highest dose now. But - at least there's no pain, and she's happy, so happy and playful still.

 

[cristycurves]

@Og- thank you
@Sassy's- so very sorry to hear about your dog, hugs to you and her

 

[oldguyzer]

Thank you so much! The one good thing is that she is in no pain whatsoever, and is in perfect health - aside from the partial paralysis in her back end. She was diagnosed two years ago at age 8 when it came on suddenly and steroids helped immensely. So much so that the last 2 years have been totally fine - which the vet says is unheard of. He says that there's nothing more to do except wait for the steroids to stop working over the next month or two, she's on the highest dose now. But - at least there's no pain, and she's happy, so happy and playful still.

That's good for her....you might want to read up a bit on Metacam anyway. It's surprising in some of its effects.

 

[Cybermike]

Sorry to hear Cristy, best of luck.

 

[Beached]

@Sassy Angels @cristycurves. I have no advice to offer. Just want to say that your dogs are lucky to have such loving and caring owners.

 

[LarryB]

Searching Google for most loyal breeds. They always seem to be in the top 3. What do you think of the few surprises on the top 10?.





https://iheartdogs.com/the-10-most-loyal-dog-breeds/

 

[cristycurves]

Thanks Beached and Mike, she is doing much better, liking the new food and the medication seems to be working. For anyone giving their pets meds, it is important to know all side effects and to realize not all work positively. Medicam can have adverse, even fatal effects as can prednisone. My dog/s has been on both, and both are known to cause kidney issues, which my other dog died of. But sometimes we don't have a choice, damned if you do and damned if you don't. Thanks all for your kindness and input to this thread.

 

[Sassy Angels]

There's a few things I've tried, that are supposed to help with stress... These are what I've tried over the years and what has and hasn't worked with mine over the years.. (Rottweiler, boxers, pitbull)

GNC calming chew treats - works, makes everyone sleepy

Rescue Remedy for dogs - does not work - I've tried the drops on their tongues (impossible to do and upsetting for all of us) and on bread. No help

Thundershirt - only used it a few times, no one likes wearing it. Pulled over after 2 min in the car to take it off, one time. Supposed to work well, recommended by the vet - nope. Can't use.

Comfort Zone - comes in collars, plug ins, and room spray. It works! I don't like the idea of a collar, with fumes in their faces all the time. But the room spray and the wall plug ins work very well. And my aunt uses a collar on her cat who now is sweet, calm and loving while wearing the collar. I also used the spray on anyone new coming over for the first few visits, on legs and feet.


@oldguyzer - thank you for the advice - I actually tried metacam before going back on the steroids, I should have mentioned that - it helped for a bit with the inflammation for about 2 weeks but it's either metacam or steroids, and the vet thinks steroids will help for a longer time.
@Beached - thank you I couldn't answer yesterday because that made me cry... Lol I'm a bit of a baby...

 

[oldguyzer]

@oldguyzer - thank you for the advice - I actually tried metacam before going back on the steroids, I should have mentioned that - it helped for a bit with the inflammation for about 2 weeks but it's either metacam or steroids, and the vet thinks steroids will help for a longer time.

Metacam is for pain, primarily. Steroids don't help pain at all, but work to correct deficiencies in metabolic processes. The two do not compete, but you should take your vet's advice about whether to mix the two or not (as in this case). If you don't want to try metacam for the pain, and you see pain in the dog that isn't managed by whatever effect the steroid has, ask about using ibuprofen. Human-dose ibuprofen works on dogs like people, but it may interact with your steroids, hence needing the vet's judgement. Pain relief is of vital importance to quality of life for a dog, which doesn't show pain the way we do.

Good luck with it all...hope your pooch has a long and happy life still to come...

 

[Candyman]

Neighbor's dog licked my face after he licked himself.

Neighbor's dog licked my face after he licked himself.

Do I have to shower?.