Have got a westie with colitis I posted a few months back for help with what to feed him as the Hills ID the vet recommended wasn't working.
I was recommended nature diet lite and almost overnight he has been cured and I haven't had any trouble since he also takes a salozopyrin tablet daily.
Last week whilst he was staying at my mums the milkwoman not knowing his background gave him a dog chew and I was dreading what would happen (It used to be thousands of messes everywhere for three days!) the day after whilst unloading my shopping from Tescos he stole a toffee yogurt and had devoured three quarters of it before I could stop him so I really was expecting the worst. However it never happened and Deefer was absolutely fine.
I'm now wondering whether it would be ok to give him a hide bone now and again what do other people think or can you recommend me a treat for him. Or do you think I should leave well alone.
Thanks for your help

Since I have learned on this forum how dangerous rawhide chews are I'm afraid my dogs dont get them now - or pigs ears, which is a shame as they loved them with a passion. There is no way I would give a rawhide chew now - to any dog, whether it had colitis or not . I will watch with interest what others suggest, as I could do with some ideas too!!

Hi

Sorry I'm still new to this but was wondering why raw hide bones are so dangerous? I've read elsewhere that they are, but still not sure why. are these the ones that go all sticky and wet when they chew them?

Also, is Natures Diet a complete food that I can feed my 15 week old Westie as she is very fussy. She loves chicken but our vet has avised not to feed her on any human food as she will then stop eating hers all together.

Any advice greatly appreciated

In my case my dog got a piece of raw hide stuck across the roof of her mouth - she was going frantic trying to remove it....

Yes - Naturediet is a complete food - some folk feed a mixer with it for 'added crunch' - but I don't - it has added bonemeal which is great for teeth.........

What would you say is the best 'long-lasting' treat to giver her then? As I've also heard that other bones are bad due to the possibility of splintering. She has a nylabone but obviously this doesn't taste as good and I like her to have something to chew on that's yummy when we have to leave her.

I have given her 'Puppy Bones' from the pet shop which looks like bits of the rawhide chew all stuck together. I think you can similar ones in chews and what they call 'munchy ball'. What about these? They seem very easy for their teeth to break up so does that eliminate the danger?

It seems that if they are safe and break up easily, they won't last long (the compressed hide 'sticks' like you describe are gone in about 3 bites!) and if they don't break up easily and become sticky they are dangerous and the dog shouldn't be left unattended with them.

Have you tried "tripe sticks"? They do at least last a little longer than 2 seconds.
:)

Thanks for the advice.

No I haven't tried tripe sticks but I'll give them a go - do you know if they're ok for a 4mth old pup?

Also, the marrow bone - are the ones from the pet shop ok (ie not cooked) or do I need to go to a butcher?

JG

I took your advice on this and we went and bought some of the tripe stick for the girls to see whether they would like them and how long they would last for. (testing your two second theory ! :D)

Well I opened the bag and must admit nearly barfed at the smell.! Then I was thinking what it was when I was picking them out and nearly barfed again ! I had three very interested Labradors lined up in age order as they do when it is treat or dinner time and gave one to each. Well Min swallowed hers in three seconds and the other two were not long behind her !

They loved it but I am not sure I can cope with the smell :( :D

Just out of interest I wonder if anybody has thought about sueing re the hide chews as if they are as dangerous then why are they still being sold ? If dogs have died then should they not be banned ??

Lucy

Hello !

We give Min carrots and that seems to be OK. We do however give all the girls big raw hide chews (always under supervison) and it does tend to give Min loose poos but her enjoyment of teh chews as a treat every so often out ways the poos as far as I am concerned.

Yougurt should be OK for him as we sometimes used to supplement Mins food with bio yogurt. All the girls go mad when we have yogurts as it keeps them guessing who is going to be the lucky to lick the pot out. Sometimes though we have three Labs and one yogurt pot, I amazed they are all able to fit their tomgues in at once !! :D :D

Glad he is still doing fine with the Nature diet :)

Lucy

I agree with withholding rawhide chews and pigs ears - most dogs with colitis seem to react badly to wheat or similar cereals - Nutro do a treat called Natures Choice (chicken or lamb flavour) which are made with meat and rice flour (similar ingredients to Naturediet, which is what my dogs get). They are ideal training treats. For something longer lasting have you considered giving her some of her daily Naturediet in a Kong or similar? Or a dried complete food like Burns in a Buster Cube, Dog Pyramid or simillar...... These devices (kongs and Buster cubes) are great for stimulating the dogs mind...

Hi I give Buddy naturediet in his Kong for a treat. He almost does backflips for it. He will even go fetch it now and drop it at my feet when i say 'fetch your kong'.
He's turning into a clever little chap.
Budmag.

I know what your going through i got the same problem but i was instructed by my vet to not give hide at all as wheat is very bad for colitis and along with colitis usually anal gland trouble starts he was on dried food but i got some advice from a colitis in dog expert and beleive it or not she suggested butchers tins or chappie and add some stuff called protexin pro fibre from a web site called www.hyperdrug.co.uk its £11 something and wow results were amazing he doesnt have many treats now just in case the normal little bones r ok just a thought

Hi Happyme, you said
<not give hide at all as wheat is very bad for colitis>

I'm confused - can you explain the connection between hide and wheat?

I meant wheat and similar cereals that are in these things it was just an opinion thought it could be useful

But hide is skin ......

Indeed it is i was referring to treats along with i was told to stay clear from hide as it can cause choking in many dogs as it gets sticky and tends to stick to the roof of the mouth sorry it looked as though i was suggesting wheat ect was in hide trying to say to many thing in one go bit messed up do apologise for it :o

:)

Also if they chew off a lump of hide and swallow it unchewed, the lump swells up and can cause a blockage which at best usually means surgery and could possibly even cause death.