upset tummy

Question
I own two 12 week old Pomeranians.  They are both very happy, good appetite and do not have a temperature. I have had them for four weeks and since I have owned them they have both had loose stools.  I have tried everything to try and stop this to no avail.  The vet advised me to put them on a very low protein diet which has not helped.  They have had chicken, fish and I even been mixing it up with ground charcoal.  The only result to all of this has been black poo!!  They have a small amount of probiotic drink everyday but this does not seem to be helping.  I have tried kaolin twice a day and even starving them for a day but as soon as light food is reintroduced they pass loose stools.  This is approximately 15 times per day, at least.
I have bred and shown Yorkshire Terriers for over 39 years but this one has baffled me.  I do not know if this is a problem specific to Poms but would be most grateful for any assistance that can be given as I have run out of ideas now.


Answer
Hi Lesley-

I would suggest putting them strictly on a diet of plain cooked rice for a few days to help soak up some of the stomach acid. Continue with the plain rice for a few days until the stools begin to firm up, and then you can begin adding some plain boiled chicken. The ground charcoal is probably actually making it worse, as charcoal is meant to obsorb and strip the digestive tract, so it is trying to push everything in the body out.

I also don't agree with low protein diets- dogs are meant to exist on high protein diets with very little or no grains and artificial additives.

Give the rice a try and see if that helps. Good luck!