Yogurt to help digestion

Question
Hi there!

My dog is about 2 years old, male (neutered), 33 pounds. We adopted him from the local shelter 7 months ago and he's been having issues ever since. After many trips to the vet, several brands of food (including prescription diets), we finally figured out he does well on a small daily dose of Temaril-P, Lamb-flavored California Natural food, Omega 3 oil, and a special shampoo.

His itching is finally under control, but I have noticed that he has bouts of diarrhea or very soft stools frequently. The episodes seem to happen everytime he eats ANYTHING out of his ordinary diet, be it a little bit of cat food, something in the grass, or something he's able to fish out of the garbage when we're distracted. Even the little shank bones we give him for chewing will upset his system.

I heard that yogurt with live cultures is a good way to restore the balance in the digestive system, so I have been feeding him about a tablespoon of non-fat plain yogurt in the morning. Is this a good enough amount to feed a dog his size? Do you agree that the yogurt helps in cases like this or should I skip it and shell out the cash for probiotics?

Thanks for your time!

Answer
I heard that yogurt with live cultures is a good way to restore the balance in the digestive system, so I have been feeding him about a tablespoon of non-fat plain yogurt in the morning. Is this a good enough amount to feed a dog his size? Do you agree that the yogurt helps in cases like this or should I skip it and shell out the cash for probiotics?

ANSWER: I think you answered your own quesiton. If you dog has loose stool AND you have him on medication then you have two things operating here and yogurt alone will not do the trick. If your dog is not lactose intolerant then by all means keep up the yogurt too, but in all honesty YOUR DOG IS NOT DIGESTING SOMETHING PROPERLY. NO VET IN THE COUNTRY CAN ADDRESS THIS PROPERLY CAUSE MEDICATION, STEROIDS AND ANTIBIOTICS IS BASICALLY WHAT THEY KNOW AND PRESCRIBE. I can identify so much with what you are saying and YES YOU DO HAVE TO INVEST IN A REAL FOOD digestive enzyme and a probiotic preferably with blue green algae. If you are going to buy something cheap, as in Walgreens do not bother...too many isolates and synthetics. This alone could play havoc with your dog. Because your dog is on a medication you MUST use a probiotic and because he has diarrhea, you MUST use a REAL FOOD digestive enzyme. I will not send you my link at this time because I do not want to risk you thinking I am pushing a product. But I want to tell you this.

My two dogs BOTH had severe digestion problems and a friend of mine connected me with a wonderful woman who yes, did work for a supplement company. But her supplements come from Lake Klamath, ARE REAL FOOD PRODUCTS, are loaded with blue green algae and do not have a single, solitary isolate in them. I was leary at first. But this wonderful woman counseled me and I credit her with saving both dogs digestive systems. Yup, expensive as heck but I am using these supplements to this day and was and am so impressed that I joined the company as a rep. If you want more info OR HER EMAIL ADDRESS (she will be happy to help you plan meals, supplement,and in general get your dog's system back in shape. She is a marvel--a bit of a fanatic but who cares? If you want her email address let me know..SHE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU AND SHE DOES NOT CHARGE..SHE SIMPLY ADORES ANIMALS. Both of hers, lived to be 19. Let me know if you would like to be put in touch with her...you will never look back.

Having given you all of this info I would start immediately giving your dog DDS Plus, a probiotic that you can find on line or in the Vitamin Shoppe if you can find one. They must be given 20 minutes before meals. Most dogs like to like them right off the plate. They cannot be given with food or the benefits are lost. This is the finest probiotic on the market or anywhere--including the ones I use from my own company...which I do use in addition to DDS Plus..but IN THEIR FOOD. The digestive enzyme that I use is powerful real food and very, very good for dogs and humans.This is where my mentor comes in...she can steer to just the right ingredients you need to give your dog. You cannot just buy a digestive enzyme and think you are done with it. It could be the wrong one, have the wrong ingredients for what you dog really needs etc. Donia is a saint when it comes to targeted counseling--and again, she does not charge. So if you want her email address let me know.

Ok, yes, continue the Yogurt and yes to the probiotic. Also you should add a digestive enzyme. Sorry my response was so long...I tend to really get into writing about things I love. Let me know if you want more info..I am here. Here is my personal email address if you like:  DazzlinDaawg@aol.com

If you decide to shoot me an email or two please ID yourself in the subject line so I do not delete. Ok? Bye now, Sue