Collies and soft stools

Question

Brothers   QUESTION: Hi Karen: Our collies Frege and Russell are 11yrs old and weigh around 80 and 90 pounds respectively. Frege has always been a very fussy eater and has always had soft stools, whereas Russell is usually quite robust. Recently, they've both acquired GI problems--with Russell having soft stools and frege having chronic diarrhea. Frege also suffers from constipation at times. He has a propensity to throw up, has acidity and flatulence that makes him refuse food altogether. They are both on the anti-biotic Tylan and while Russell has improved marginally (it's still soft) Frege continues to have diarrhea. We've started him on rice and canned chicken from a natural food store as we can't cook for him--we are vegetarians. Despite all the tummy distress, they both act quite normal and are cheerful. I should add that they are on a tiny dose of Previcox a pain killer for their arthritis. We stopped that for a while but it didn't make a difference, so they are back on it.
Their regular food is 13/4 cup of Natural Balance dry food, and half a can each of various organic wet food on top. They get a few biscuits and 2oz of wet food in the morning.  We give them whole grain toast quite frequently as they love it. Please help us help our senior puppies.
Thanks in advance.

ANSWER: Hi there I am sorry that these doggies are having such problems,but I would suggest taking off tylan take off the rice and chicken and start an total elimination diet combined with the following .
take two sweet apples and prick skin
place in microwave and heat through till soft
carefully remove and cool
mash together and serve to both daily for 6 weeks two teaspoons per meal each

Clearly you will need to make this daily.

The Apple is a colon cleanser and also the cellulose will bind the stool.Apple is also a natural antibiotic so the use of tylan will not be necessary neither will the pain relief.

Diet for the future will be the following

Breakfast  each dog
Bonemeal x 2 tspoon
ground oats 25g
lamb bones with meat.

in the dogs water place 1 tsp per day of benefiber.

NO RICE OR GRAIN FOR THESE DOGS AND NO DRY FOOD AT ALL.


Lunch

Ground oats
1 tsp lecithin granules
tinned tuna with sunflower oil or salmon in bones and skin
tinned carrots one tin per meal mashed into the mix

supplements to be given daily

cranberry extract tablets one daily
benefiber 1 tspoon daily
lecithin 2 tsp in afternoon meal

give these dogs meaty bones to chew daily large ones, never give these dogs dry or un natural diet.

This must be kept up for at least 6 weeks then get back to me for an update.

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QUESTION: Hi Karen: Wow! Thank you for the swift and truly useful response. We are willing to try your diet with our pups, the only catch though is the suggestion we feed them lamb bones with meat. Is there a prepared substitute for this? We are vegetarians and I get nauseous around raw meat. I assume the meat bone is raw and one buys it at the butcher's? I'm kind of clueless there. Also, the boys tend to resist anything large. we have to break everything down to small bites for them. I'm prepared to do anything for my puppies but can't handle raw/ fresh meat. Please help!
K

ANSWER: Sadly dogs are not vegetarians and require a quality protein, but I do understand your dilemma, I suggest that you give pilchards then as these have a great deal of protein and may be less nauseating, they come in tins, just ensure the oil or tomato sauce is washed before giving to them.
Bonemeal is bought from good petstores. Here in the UK we use Hollings as a company.

Keep me updated and kisses to the doggies  and yourself lots of hugs and patience but you will get there.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Karen: We are starting our doggies on the diet this week, but we have a new problem. We can't find any pilchards. There are sardines and mackerel and herring available in cans. And there's the chicken too which Freggie loves. Are any of the above good substitutes for the pilchards? Are there any treats or snacks that we can give them?
Hope I'm not being too "nudgy" : )
Warmly
Kalpana

Answer
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Crown-Prince-Sardines-In-Tomato-Sauce-Seafood-15-oz/10

these are good enough but all sardines mackeral etc is great for them as they are high in omegas and protein and hey so long as they get a quality protein their bodies can do well.
good luck
remember the apple is by far the most important part of this advice.