This is the third time Isla my 5 month old pup  has suffered diarrhoea in the two and a half months I have had her.  The first time the vet gave her an antibiotic (she was about 11 weeks old then).  the second time - about a month ago - he said he didn't want to give her an AB again.  He gave her some Pro-Kolin and told me to just give her chicken and rice.  Yesterday she started again with the runs and we are back on the chicken and rice (which I am cooking).  The vet (and my breeder and all my sheltie books) tells me that shelties have very delicate tummies.  However all started off reasonably well when I first had her - she was on four meals of the James Wellbeloved  puppy kibble four times and a day, and then three times a day.  I started mixing some chopped chicken in with it which she loves - but then after a while she would only eat the chicken and not the kibble.  So I changed her to Hills Science Plan (puppy) which for a while she loved and then went off it.  So I started mixing bits of chicken etc in with it - and then she started leaving the kibble again. I don't know what to do.  The vet said if the runs keep occurring I should consider changing her to a special diet.  Does anyone know anything about this?  I am not running off the vet at the moment as I know what he will say (unless she gets worse I mean) - he will say to starve her for the rest of the day and then chicken and rice etc.  I am really confused and feel I have brought it on myself by mixing the puppy kibble with chicken.

But I feel that I must try to solve this - it is not a problem I have encountered in my dogs before but then isla is my first sheltie.  She is in fact veyr greedy about what she likes to eat (she would love to have what the other dogs have) but clearly she has a delicate tum.  I am getting a bit worried as she is quite a fien small boned bitch who could do with a  bit more weight at the mo.

I would appreciate advice as I know this is not an uncommon problem. (By the way she is an inveterate eater of poo - which can't help (have caught her digging up the cats' poo)

Thanks

Snowflake

I wonder perhaps if Isla has had a bit too much change in her diet for such a young one, add in to that the delicious cat poo and you have the 'trots'. Was her stomach ok and settled when you got her from the breeder? If so, I would feel incline to put her back on to the food the breeder was feeding and keep her on it. I would leave out the chicken for a while and then re-introduce in a few weeks when she's more settled.

My Shelties all eat like pigs and I personally think that they don't have delicate stomachs, mine are avid poo eaters and it can make them a bit loose but other than that no problem.

They are a delicate looking breed but it's a bit deceiving, she's probably lean because she's busy all the time and burning off calories, I can feel spine and ribs with a light covering of flesh on my pups and they're fine and healthy.
Try not to worry her stomach will settle down.

Thanks Pinky

She was fine when I got her - the breeder told me not to overfeed her as she is greedy and she would just get the trots if I did!  I think I will have to be hard and not mix anything with the normal food and when she is hungry enough she will eat it.  The other possibility is that I have been giving her treats as we have been doing bits of training and going to ring craft - but they are only nibbly bits.  Think made more difficult as although my other two dogs (Westie and JRT) eat in the kitchen out of sight of her, she still knows that they are eating lovely stuff (LOL) which makes her a bit stroppy!

Snowflake

Your breeder was right about the greedy factor, for small dogs they certainly can hoover up the food, my youngest ones don't actually stop to chew I'm sure. 

I use treats for mine when training but as they're such gluttons the 'treat' is actually only their normal puppy kibble kept in a small pot for rattling.

My pups like your Isla would love to eat the same as my adult dogs but it doesn't put them off their food (they'd eat both given the chance).

I think you just need to be firm with her, feed her only on the JWB for some time, stop the nibbly treats just use the JWB and look away when she looks at you with those big brown eyes. :)

I find that pups from about 14 weeks on can start to be a bit fussy with their food - this usually coincides with teething ;)  of course if you aren't expecting it you might think that they have gone off their food ;)  soaking the kibble a little usually sorts it out ;)

Then at about 6-7 months  - about the time they have almost reached adult size and growth is slowing down - they do it again, stand at the food bowl and look as if to say "is this it?? I was expecting caviar!"  if you aren't expecting it then you might think they are bored with their food when in actual fact it's usually that they don't need as much food as they've been getting so they aren't really hungry ;)

Just been through this with my pup of 7 months LOL   She would get excited for her meal but then stand at her food bowl looking at me with "that look" on her face :-D   I just cut her food down by a little (I use a measure so I can adjust her food easily) and she's back to munching it like a good-un :-D

If you think it's simple Dire Rear (as opposed to a really sick pup) have you tried a little Bio Yohurt on her food? about a Tablespoon would do it ;) I find it's very good for settling tums after they've overindulged or eaten rubbish ;)

Snow, I used to have a problem with one of my Newfies...really just a touch of colitis that nothing worked with! I have tried, successfully, using a BIO yogurt and it helps tremendously...must be a live BIO yogurt though...also works with reluctant eaters, tends to get the gut moving but in a good way...maybe worth a try? :-)

You are not giving her any teeth cleaning products are you? One of my Spanish that I sold was having a similiar problem and they were giving quite a few of a certain product to him a week.  I advised them to stop it and he was tons better.

Thank you for your advice all. No - not been giving her any teeth stuff although find it successful with my 2 other doglets.

I will get some Bio yogurt when I do the weekly shop today.  Isla is better in that we had no runs today and she is fine in herself tearing round the house like a demon as usual with tons of energy.  However this morning when I put down the JWB she refused to eat it.  Sat there looking mutinous and yapping in her crate.  In the end I removed it.  Anyway for better or worse I went round to the vets and bought some cans of Hill's ID prescription diet food (chicken and rice) which I know she likes.  The consistency is quite pate like so it is easy to mix the kibble with and is very bland.  She then wolfed most of it down.  We then of course had to bath her back end, yuck!!
I really don't want meal times to become a battle but the girl does need to eat.  The  trouble with me is I worry if she doesn't eat as she is only a little thing - but is probably as tough as old boots!

Snowflake

Dill

I love it .... Dire Rear - how apt!!!

Snowflake

Well if I agree with Dill it may be worth a try eh?

Sorry Dill, I didn't see your comments about the Bio yogurt...I give it to ALL the doggies now, even the wee ones and found it's certainly a help in getting a reluctant eater going!(but no Dire-Rear thank goodness!) ;-)

:-D :-D

Snowflake it sounds to me as if she is training you ;)   They are a very bright breed and will lose no time in getting you trained the way they want   

In your position I would offer the JWB meal and walk way.  Wait 5 minutes - use a timer if necessary - and if it isn't being eaten then, remove it.  Give no other food until the next meal time and then repeat the procedure.  I'm positive that within a day she will be scoffing it up ;)  - just been through this with my 7 month old ;)

Don't forget Shelties aren't very big dogs and often don't need quite as much as suggested on the bag ;)