Boxer Colitis anyone?

Doreen · 09-08-2009, 03:57 PM

Hi... I am new to this forum and have just been looking briefly through all the threads on health issues, but didn't notice one on Boxer Colitis. I have a 2 year old that my husband and I adopted about 6 months ago that has severe colitis and I am wondering what solutions others have opted for. Right now Rex is on Tylan powder and metronidazole. Also, I give him rice and a dollop of 100% pumpkin on top along with his Vet formula low residue food.

Someone had mentioned today the use of something called Plantaeris for the diarrhea, a natural product and was wondering if anyone has used this for Boxer Colitis. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

KeeperBoy · 09-08-2009, 04:03 PM

Keepers, our rescue boy had chronic colitis. As far as we know, in the six months before we got him he had never had a solid BM. Ever. When we got him his BMs were yellow, soft, bloody, mucus covered, just horrible.

After dozens of drugs, literally 20 or more types of kibble and every supplement on the market the only thing that worked for Keepers was a raw diet. He still has a flare up once in a while (this summer he had one, maybe two, all summer). I wish I had more ideas! We did use a digestive enzyme and probiotic supplement for a long time during his switch to raw, but I'm not sure if it was the supplement or the food that really helped him.

ETA: If that is Rex in your avitar, he is very handsome!

Doreen · 09-08-2009, 04:17 PM

Thanks, Andrea, yes that is Rex... we also have another rescue, Coco who is 1.

Poor Rex was found walking the street on New Years Eve and a Good Samaritan turned him into a shelter. He was emaciated and in the Euthansia room at the shelter when a volunteer too him home, hand fed him baby food to get his to eat, adding about 15 lbs on to his boney body. He is still on the thin side, but he does run alot with Coco, so maybe in the winter he will put more of his weight back on. They are just very very active dogs! He has had the malabsorbtion test done on his stool and came back fine. I have heard of the raw food diet too. My concern mostly is the blood that drips only after he has been having a BM starting by the 3rd time. He just has to keep trying, the longer he stays outside and running around. The more active he is, the more likely he is going to try to go again and just have some blood coming out.

We have had a pair of boxers before this set, one living to 10 years the other to 12 years and didn't have this kind of a health problem with them. They had cancerous tumors. So this is new to us. But thanks for your information. I will have to look into that more too.

KeeperBoy · 09-08-2009, 04:21 PM

How long have you had him?

Doreen · 09-08-2009, 04:28 PM

We just got him 1-31-09 and he is the cutest and sweetest thing! Great with our grandkids... so is Coco, but Rex is a real clown.

AussieGirl · 09-08-2009, 05:28 PM

Andrea - I have no hands on experience with colitis (just what I've read), I've heard that you need to be careful with the amount of fat when raw feeding a dog with colitis - remove the skin, feed leaner meat etc, is that true?

KeeperBoy · 09-08-2009, 05:42 PM

The only problem we've had with raw is fatty lamb. Nature's Variety prepared raw and other pet store brands have worked fine for him. We've also used a nearly 20% fat ground beef from time to time with no trouble. Never fed much skin though.

I would also suggest a grain free kibble, if you aren't wanting to switch to raw. Keepers (and from my research other colitis pups) can't tolerate grains well.

bruinsBoxers · 09-08-2009, 05:59 PM

I agree that a raw diet or even home cooked may help .I know of a few people who switched their boxers to home cooked and it helped with the colitis .
I would also try putting him on a probiotic to help balance the good bacteria in his intestines .

Doreen · 09-08-2009, 08:42 PM

So can you give me an example of a probiotic... of course I know they have them for humans, but is this something that you buy on line? I give Rex a little bit of Fat free yogurt in ice cube form as a treat once or twice a day. Otherwise I only give him his dry dog food as treats. He takes it and thinks it is special because it comes out of a special container with a lid, LOL. I also give him frozen banana slices as a treat a couple times a day too.

When you are talking about stools, do you consider mashed potato looking stools as diarrhea, or is that closer to normal for colitis? Sometimes his is slightly firmer than the mashed potatoes, but usually only the first time he goes, and gets looser ever time after that if he goes about 3 times in a row.

And what would home cooked consist of?

AussieGirl · 09-08-2009, 08:48 PM

Sally just added a great link to probiotics in your intro thread

.

Quote:

Spyglass Sally Welcome and congratulations on the new additions to your family. I would 'second' the probiotics recommendation. There is more information here about them in general, as well a a particular brand. Our Buddy is 9 months and takes them everyday.

Just click on the underlined "here" and it will take you there