Westie pooing blood...

[Lazarus]

Hi there,

Am posting about my 4 month old West Highland Terrier, he has been in my care for the past 1 1/2 months..

He has had problems from the word go, although apart from this problem he seems to be fit and healthy, playfull and alert...

He has bloody poo (stools whatever).. and they are a little bit jelly...

I took him to the PDSA and they said that it wasn't parvo virus, they suspected something else, although they never really put there finger on it...

Anyhow, reading around he seems to have all the characteristics of a dog with cholitis...

Anytime he has any Tid-Bits, he has bloody poohs, if we keep him on Purina One, he seems to be fine...

The PDSA gave us KAOGEL, which i heard is a thing for Di.a..... (the craps), it hardens the stool.... so they said...

Anytime he has it, he has the runny bloody poohs.. We suspect that this medicine is having an adverse effect on him...

Please.. Has anyone any advice to give me???

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I would take him to the vet. The runniness probably has something to do with the food he is eating. Purina isn't that great of a food, to tell you the truth. Has he been getting anything he usually doesn't get? He might've gotten into something. Has he beeen getting extra treats?

 

[Lazarus]

Yesterday, my mother dropped a load of chicken skin on the floor, and he snaffled it..

Its more the poo im worried about...

We have had it under control... once or twice...

 

[Saje]

could he have gotten into any cooked bones or anything that could have cut him inside?

You really should look into feeding some higher quality food. Especially for a dog that isn't well.

 

[Lazarus]

Like what?

The Vet woman said to use Purina One, as this was altogether better for him, what do you suggest is there a food which would be better for a dog with suspected cholitis?

 

[Martine]

Misha had similar stools when we first got her. The vet tried to convince me it was from eating grass but eventually after some persuasion that it wasn't (!) gave her some liquid called Flagyl which is antiobiotic and I think anti-inflamatory - stopped it within a couple of days. Might be worth asking about?

 

[candy722]

Yeah TOki had some flagyl when he was having major diarrhea.

 

[Saje]

Like what?

The Vet woman said to use Purina One, as this was altogether better for him, what do you suggest is there a food which would be better for a dog with suspected cholitis?

I have to run but I suggest you read some of the threads in the food and recipes forum. That'll give you an idea what quality food is. And there are lots of people here who can help. Especially Mordy who is a dog food expert. She has this site www.mordanna.com/dogfood and she'll answer any questions you have.

Gotta go!

 

[YorkieLover]

That is what they gave our yorkie Houdini when he had loose stools with mucous.... They said the little toy breeds like him are prone to something like irritable bowel and anything from stress to certain foods (that my husband) may give him could cause it. If we give him that anti-inflammatory he seems to be o.k. within a couple days. He is such a stressed out old guy anyway it seems like the littlest things can trigger it.

 

[Renee750il]

Bloody stools are never anything to take lightly. Hardening the stool isn't really that great an idea if bloody stools are happening . . . I'd suggest a second opinion from another vet - and throw the bag of Purina away . . .

 

[Mordy]

if the blood is red and not dark and partially digested, there's most likely a problem in the large intestine (colon). please take this dog to a different vet to get a second opinion.

since the dog seems otherwise healthy, i doubt it's parvo. i'd get this dog tested for campylobacter, salmonella, escherichia, giardia and coccidia.

it may be colitis, which has many causes, including for example parasite infestation, bacterial infection or inflammatory bowel disease. the cause needs to be determined to start proper treatment.

overall i'd recommend switching to a better quality food, preferably a very simple formulation like california natural or wellness simple food solutions to start out. you don't want to stress the dog's digestive system even more by feeding a product with a high number of different ingredients, like most kibbles are. as a supportive supplement you can give slippery elm.

 

[Lazarus]

Yes... Thank you all for your well heard input..

 

[Saje]

You should take mordy's advice she knows what she's talking about. She's helped a lot of people (and their dogs)

 

[siemens716]

I would not feed teh dog anything for a day or two, just give plenty of water. Let her stomach rest. See what happens. Then maybe give her some cooked rice. see if tehre is any improvement.

The blood in the stool is worrisome. Keep an eye on it and if it continues go see the second vet.

 

[avenlee]

What was the past owner/breeder? feeding him? Could very well just be the change of food. I would, however, bring your Westie to another vet for a second opinion.

I was going to post that my Westie, Nora, was in heat at 5 months old and had the same symptoms. Now that she's spayed she's fine. BUT, I realized that you have a male, so I don't think that would apply. lol