I have an 8 year old Boston Terrier who has always had problems with her tummy. The first few years she was always vomiting and since changing her diet to a combination of either rice/pasta/rolled oats with chicken or lamb the vomiting stopped. But the last 2 years we are having all sorts of issues (colitis, diarrhea) and most recently a bad reaction leading to blood in the vomit and two nights in hospital. But most commonly and frequently she gets a rumbling tummy, loss of appetite, need to eat grass followed by runny stool.
Please help as I hate seeing her suffer like this. The vet can only suggest adding some Hills kibble with extra fiber which doesn’t seem to be making any difference.
Hello,
Thank you for your inquiry to Holistic Pet Info. It’s good to hear the home cooked diet improved your dog’s gastrointestinal conditions. First are you using a recipe that is balanced? From the foods you mentioned, there does not appear to be calcium or a vitamin supplement. Dr. Strombeck and Dr. Pitcairn both have published well balanced home cooked diets for dogs and cats they may help is improving the diet ingredients.
With GI issues there are several supplements you may offer to help keep the intestinal tract healthier. Often with digestive problems, digestive support complexes such as NaturVet Enzymes and Probiotics or Animal Essentials Plant Enzymes and Probiotics contain enzymes, prebiotics and probiotics that can help balance the GI system.
I recommend going to see a holistic veterinarian that specializes in nutrition therapy. There may be certain types of foods that don’t work for your dog; therefore changing the protein or carbohydrate may make a big difference with the colitis and diarrhea. Best of luck.
Regards,
Colleen Smith DVM, CVA, CVCP