Should I get a new vet/second opinion?

[Allison and Wilson R. K.]

Wilson's digestive issues have not subsided despite prescription food, fortiflora, changing regular food, eliminating treats, eliminating bully sticks, etc.

Is it time to try another vet?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Has your current Vet come up with a "diagnosis"?

[Allison and Wilson R. K.]

no

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I would get another opinion.  I changed vets with Taquito and they helped me immensely with his issues.  Sometimes another opinon helps.

[Gillian]

I would also get another opinion. We dealt with digestive issues with Maizey for about 2 monhts before I finally switched vets who were much more patient and helpful. In fact, their recommendation was to add a tablespoon of unflavored Benefiber (or Metamucil) to each meal in addition to a probiotic, and we haven't had a stomach issue since we started doing that! I'm not sure what the long term effects of using Benefiber in dogs are, and that's certainly the next conversation I plan to have with my vet, but I imagine it's similar to using pumpkin which many people use daily.

 

Anyway, maybe ask your vet about using fiber supplements -- it worked for us!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This may sound very radical, but food issues are not most vets area of expertise. As we have explained many times in the Food Group, nutritional education in vet school is very rudimentary. It is essentially medical school, not nutrtion school. Most human doctors are not experts in nutrition, either, except as it applies to a particular disease. Your vet is probably a very fine vet, he is just not a good nutritionist.

The nutritional education in Veterinary school is all provided by Big Dog Food...Hills, Purina, etc. That's who publishes and provides the textbooks and that's who comes into your vet's office with products like Fortifliora, which is an inferior probiotic that costs a fortune and is not even as effective as plain yogurt. Ditto with the Rx foods, made by the same companies that send the salesman into your vet's office to promote them. This is not your vet's fault; but it's interesting to note that when you see a veterinary specialist of any kind, they don't selkl this garbage. Jack's dermatology specialist, for example, recommends Orijen and people food/supplements for his issues.

There is a new veterinary specialty degree, which requires three years post-DVM study, and is similar to any other specialty.  But you probably don't need a specialist. Come see us in the Food Group. We've helped a lot of other DK members with these issues, and we can help you...at a much lower cost.

Please read this: Why You Should Say No When Your Vet Recommends Rx Food

And Some Info On Fortiflora

[Lesley, Wellington & Bingley]

 

Have you considered trying him on a Raw food diet?

[Lisa {Zoe's Mom]]

If you have to ask the question, I say Yes.

If you feel the issue is not resolved, I say Yes.

Better safe than sorry.  It might be something simple to cure and be overlooked, or hopefully not vice versa, something terribly bad being over looked. 

 

Simply stated, I get more nervous when it comes to my dogs health than my children.  They have a voice. 

I hope that someone finds out what's causing Wilson's issues and that he has a speedy and complete recovery.  I would definitely head over to the food group and see what they have to say as well.  Positive thoughts and prayers going up for you both!

 

 

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I don't think it ever hurts to get a second opinion.  Ask aroung your area before you choose your second opinion. 

Is the issue just pudding poop? Or does Wilson exhibit other symptoms of digestive problems?  A brand new pair of eyes and ears sometimes will spot something easy. 

 

I have had two dogs with sensitive tummies.  Tigger, my 2 and 1/2 year old ALD is the second.  I currently have him on 1 teaspoon of Perfect Form ( cute name) from the Honest Kitchen (online).  It helps even more than pumpkin.  The probiotic did not seem to help much at all.  Tigger has no medical issues and is parasite free.  He had long bout with Giardia as a young pup and I believe ( vet not so much) it left him with a tender digestive tract. 

 

Perfect form is slippery elm, and other enymes and plants that are considered to be beneficial to the digestive tract.

 

There is always the rice and hamburger (or chicken) diet.  Vets will tell you three or four days.  My experience has been 2 weeks minimum and in weeks 3 and 4 switching gradually, gradually back to dog kibble.

 

However,  first you need to be sure that nothing is really wrong with Wilson except pudding poop ( or gravy poop sometimes!).  In the meantime try not to fret too much as some dogs, just like some humans, do need to be careful of what they eat.