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Ask the Expert on Digestive System Problems

May 18th, 2009

The Question:

Name: Joyce Mason
Pets species and breed: Cocker Spaniel
Pets age and weight: about 3 years, 30 pounds
Pets health status: fair
Are they spayed or neutered? Yes
Brand of food: several
Animal owned for: 6 months

“Muggsy is a rescue dog. He has a chronic problem with his digestive system. He seems OK for two or three weeks, then goes off his feed, acts miserable, stools become very soft and have bright red blood on them. In a few days, he acts better and stools become normal. When I first got him, he ate Science Diet C/D food. I didn’t like what I read in the ingredients list, so I changed to Burns, chicken and brown rice. That didn’t help, and the vet insisted that he eat Science Diet I/P. (If I go to her again, she will again want him on that food.) Next we tried VitaLife duck and oatmeal. He is just getting over another episode. I talked with a K9 cusine adviser, and we wondered if a non-grain food would help. Please help us. He smells really bad sometimes, especially when he comes in from outdoors. Would a zinc supplement help with this? The drainage from his eyes seems excessive, and it quickly hardens into a solid mass. Does he need a vitamin supplement? He is such a sweet and loving dog that I really want to help him feel good.”

The Answer:

“Thanks for your questions Joyce.  We hope to get Muggsy feeling better soon!

While possible, it is unlikely that Muggsy’s problem is with the grains.  The symptoms you describe in Muggsy are classic for a young dog who is not getting enough fiber in their diet.  Fiber is very important to the health of the colon and before I tried anything else I would try to increase the fiber in his diet.  There are natural sources of fiber including psyllium husk, canned pumpkin (not flavored) or you can even add metamucil to his food.  There are also some commercially available high fiber foods.  Ask your veterinarian for their suggestions as well.

It is important to choose dog foods with high QUALITY ingredients.  Poor quality proteins (rendered meats/meals/some by-products) are less digestible than real muscle meat and these poor quality proteins are often associated with adverse food reactions (diarrhea, stomach upset, etc).  Artificial colors, flavors, dyes and preservatives can also be associated with adverse intestinal and skin reactions.

If Muggsy continues to have problems despite fiber supplementation, I would ask your veterinarian about the possibility of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) as Muggsy is the right age for this condition.  See my article at http://www.halopets.com/pet-education/pet-articles/Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease-in-Dogs.html to learn more about IBD in dogs.

I would not recommend a zinc supplement in Muggsy at this time.  I think a high quality vitamin supplement is a good idea in most pets.  The excess eye drainage is not uncommon in Cocker Spaniels and may result from eyelid abnormalities (ectropion) or blockages of the tear ducts.  Ask you veterinarian about checking for these things before you start medicating him unnecessarily.”

Hope this helps.
Dr. Donna Spector

Tags: Burns, fiber, IBD, Science Diet C/D, Vitalife
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