IBS

Question
My vet diagnosed our White German Shepherd with IBS.  We have tried a soy protein food but he still hasn't put on weight and has soft stool.  The vet wants to put him on a steroid but after reading the possible side affects from long term use I'm not sure that is a better alternative.  I've heard that the raw diet can help eliminate problems with IBS.  Do you have any experience with this?

Answer
I am highly skeptical of BARF and other raw diets.  When I first heard of them it sounded like a kooky idea.  The AVMA, FDA, and CDC are against them.  See http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/jan05/050115ww.asp  Twice the dog guide school I raise puppies for has included articles in their news letter condemning raw diets.  There are tons of websites hyping them.  But any kook can set up a website, and a good many have.  On some of the forum style websites I have challenged the raw kooks time after time to give me a link to a study proving dogs are healthier on a raw diet than kibble.  All I ever get are links to hyperventilating over ingredients.  

I am a long time volunteer with a dog guide school and have contacts with several other service dog schools.  They are in a position to know how to give dogs a long, active life and have every incentive to do so and give those caring for their dogs the straight story.  My school feeds Pro Plan chicken and rice.  Many of the others feed Iams.  Plain dry kibble without any supplements.  Were it not for your dog's digestive problems, I would suggest the same for you.  I know of thousands of dogs doing very well on such diets.  

Here is a link to one of the most comprehensive and objective websites I have seen.  I don't agree 100% with everything they say, http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/dogfoods.html

I would page down through the list of definitions at the beginning.  Also some of material reflects the experience of a Lab breeder.  As far as I know, Shepherds and Labs have similar nutritional requirements, but I have seen enough of Shepherds to know they have vastly different eating styles from Labs.  Have you ever seen a fat Shepherd or a skinny Lab?  

I am a little disappointed with your vet.  There are many alternative diets available to try before going to steroids.  There are also less aggressive drugs.  You might try a different vet.