Greyhound with Gastro issues

Question
Beau,our 4.5 year old greyhound rescue had been on pro plan large breed for 2 years, They changed the formula and I did not care for the "shredded" chicken they added. Beau's stools went from mush to mushier. He never really had solid stools. I changed the food gradually to Pro plan sensitive stomach and his stools got worse. We brought a fecal into the vet, it was negative. He had a gurgly tummy and was not eating breakfast (breakfast was always a struggle) , he had a shot for gastro, a rectal and was sent home with pedcid  BID & Flaygl.It did not get better so we upped the Flagyl to 500 bid. That made him sicker so we stopped. We brought him back in, he had another rectal, shot and blood drawn. All was OK with results. Bloods were higher end of "normal". Still not eating well, loose stools, gurgly stomach. 2 weeks later, I noticed blood in stool. It was pink tinged and i rushed him into the vet during emergency hours. He had x-rays which showed nothing but "Something" in his stomach, but he had not eaten. He had however, been eating a lot of grass. He had repeat blood work and vet felt that blood was due to straining. It has not happened since. At this point, I changed his diet completely to beef and rice. He had been on a chicken based food. He is currently on Flagyl, 250 bid, tylan powder 1/4 tsp, carafate every 8 hours, a pro biotic and I am going out of my mind.
We started adding in beef tripe because he was getting bored and not wanting the beef/rice mix.

Just yesterday, I started adding the ID kibble and took out the rice.

We are now bringing in 3 fecals in a row to make sure it's not whipworm and will be treating with drontal plus regardless of what the fecal shows. I know that will mess him up too.

I also know that the only way to determine if it's IBS is a biopsy which I am so hesitant to do. Beau has been through so much already and he is ultra sensitive to everything to begin with. (If there is something in the kitchen that normally is not there, he will be hesitant to eat)

Anyway, I am at a loss. He has lost weight and is not his usaully crazy self much of the time. He's almost manic. One moment droopy, the next wild and fun.

I am looking for suggestion because i am out of my mind with worry. I do have 3 other greyhounds, one of which is fighting osteosarcoma. She has had an amputation and just finished her last round of chemo. She is a true inspiration. She is also Beau's mother!

Any offerings would be really appreciated. I am meeting myself coming and going and we are totally obsessed with trying to get Beau to eat.

What should I do?

Answer
By eating grass Beau is telling you it's a stomach problem. Honestly I don't have any faith in any kibble and particularly not in Science Diet products. When a dog eats grass it's because they are trying to rid themselves of something in their digestive system. Since dogs are not carnivores the grass goes through whole and scrapes the sides of their intestines. Make sure to do a follow up dose of wormer in a couple weeks. It certainly can't hurt.

Was the beef tripe raw I hope? I'm thinking his sensitive stomach is likely due to grains in the kibble. Kibble has many things in it that many dogs can't tolerate. Diarrhea cab also be due to a lack of calcium in the diet.

I'd try taking him off all kibble and trying a raw chicken leg quarter or some meaty pork ribs. The bones of course would be a calcium source. If the tripe is raw green tripe keep giving it to him and if not find some.

Giving a probiotic while on an antibiotic doesn't work well because they work against one another. Flagyl has to be watched against reactions to other medications very carefully. Blood in the stool is a sign of intestinal worms, especially if the stool also has a jelly look to it. Antibiotics do mess up the digestive system and are given out a little too easily sometimes. I'd stop them and go with the probiotic to get things back to normal if the only reason it was given was because of the bloody stools.

I would avoid any vaccines for him right now till he's better, or any other harsh chemicals like spot on flea products. They should never be given to a sick animal anyway and the possible side effects would be harmful.

As for  Beau's mom, there is a great group out there for dogs with cancer called Oleander Soup for Pets. They talk about many cures and diets for pets with cancer and they are warm and caring people.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Oleandersoup_for_Pets

If you do decide to give raw a shot please write me so I can guide you through the change. I'm not a vet but I do believe strongly in feeding a species appropriate diet and have done so myself for many years now.
cyndiann9@earthlink.net

If you really feel something bacterial is going on try colloidal silver (10-20ppm) from the health food store and hold off on the probiotic till it's had a chance to work. CS works on fungus, bacteria and viruses as well, unlike antibiotics.

I think it's just a problem with the food he's been eating honestly. A week on raw should give you an answer.