Hi, I've got some bad news as it looks like Pip, our little JRT, is going to have to have further tests for her stomach.  We've only had her since January (she's a 4 year old rescue dog) but she has suffered from colitis and IBS type problems many times since then and last time I went to the vets (23rd May) they said if her problem recurs again we'll need to take bloods and do many more tests on her.  Unfortunately it looks like her problems are back as she's been eating grass to make herself sick, gone off her food, doing poos that aren't right and just generally moping around - when she runs she doesn't look quite right and I'm wondering if her tummy is hurting and she's trying to protect herself.  It's very frustrating as she gets really good food (Arden Grange's sensitive dog food) which is excellent for dogs with this sort of trouble and I've even taken to muzzling her when she's offlead so she can't scavenge food as she's a real pest for this, but still she's off colour.

Anyhow, we're off to the vets tomorrow at 10.30 and this is going to have to be an insurance job methinks - last time she had bloods taken for this the bill was over £100 and I can't afford this sort of money.  We need to get her right long term now, and it may be that she has to go onto meds permanently.

I'll keep you posted.

Could she have food allergies? something like protein intolerance, has she had any allergy tests?

That's part of the things they're going to be checking for.  Poor little love, we just want her right.

Good Luck!  Fingers crossed for you.  :-)

Many thanks!

Well, we went up today at 10.30 but the vet said Pip needs to have not eaten for 12 hours before blood is taken for testing which I didn't realise so we've been sent home with instructions for no food after teatime, and a lovely little pot for me to take a sample of her poo - lovely!!!  We're back in tomorrow at 11.00.

He said they'll run the tests and possibly she may have to have a biopsy taken, so let's hope the first tests show something up so we don't have to put her through too much.  She's actually been brighter today after a lovely roll in fox poo and then in cow poo/water mix which was like slurry so has had a much needed bath this morning :o) I know she's not right though and, once again, she's not eaten much (only just finished what I put down for breakfast) so I'm glad we're investigating the problem further.

Looking out of the window now I see she's sun bathing - lying flat out in the sunshine having a lovely time.  All she needs is some shades and a paperback and you'd think she's on holiday lol!

I have been through all this with my JRT and finally got referred to a specialist who done an endoscopy and found all his stomach inflamed and lumpy and his intestines inflamed.  Biopsies were taken and it points to either allergy or IBS.  Diet change hasn't helped.  He is taking Zantac but reacts to steroids and breaks out in ulcers so is now going onto Atopica to see if he can tolerate it, if it will help him.
If your dog is lethargic at times keep a check several times a day on the colour of his gums, as Milo gets anemic quite a bit due to bleeding in his stomach.
Good Luck its very worrying isn't it and heartbreaking to see them not well for so long.
Just edited to add although Arden grange is a good food on paper a dog food is only good if it suits the dog.
My JRT cannot tolerate any dried food and the nearest we have got him to tolerating something is Nature diet.

What sort of diet is she on? Have you tried home cooking or raw? A grain free diet? Rather than a commercial diet?

Vera

Many thanks for your responses.  Pip has had her blood taken and I dropped off her stool sample and the vet will call me when the results are in.  I actually hope they find something as the biopsy sounds horrid, and I'd hate to put her through it.

This is what Pip has - http://www.ardengrange.com/Pet-Food/dog-food.asp?id=50#Ingredients and it looks like it's grain free unless I'm missing something (wouldn't be the 1st time lol).

I haven't tried raw and I'm not sure I'd be confident enough to do it to be honest as I'd be scared of getting the levels wrong of meat/veg etc.  We'll have to wait and see what the results show and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Pip.

Got some good news as this morning, for the first time in ages, Pip ate up all her food in one go - sometimes it can be down all day and she'll not touch it, so this is an improvement for her.  She's seeming perkier too which is lovely to see.

Sorry to keep on, but Pip ate her tea so well tonight I actually gave her some more - she always used to have 65g twice a day, but we dropped to 50g as she was leaving so much - after tonight she's back up to 65g!

That's really good news :) especially in this hot humid weather :)

I would still try raw. I have a 9 month old puppy who couldn't tolerate ANY dog food and I mean any -you name it, we tried it. As he was/is still growing and is going to be a large dog, I was terrified the constant stomach upsets would damage him as he would not get the nutrients he needed. He now gets only raw meat (no vegetables, nothing but meat) -a variety which we get for next to nothing from the butcher. Bones, chicken carcasses, all sorts of meat offcuts, sometimes even sausages and bacon -it's whatever the butcher have that's left over. Stomach is perfect and he has no health problems whatsoever. Growing well and his bones look great. He does however get sloppy poo the moment he is given any kind of treat or if he steals even a mouthful of his sister's complete food.

> after tonight she's back up to 65g!

So pleased to hear this, I do hope that she is coming out of the woods.  Fingers crossed for you and Pip.