Since getting my B.C he has had terrible runs, we have tried all types of food. The vet ran lots of tests, everything came back ok, so she said its prob Collitis. I had him on the vet digestive food for a while, then he stopped eating it.
Have been thru tons of different food, and finally CHAPPIE seems to work ok, have been mixing this with Baxters dry complete food, as the Chappie is just so light on its own, he was hungry. Just recently he has started to go off it ! keeps leaving the food again ! He wont eat dry food on its won, so i need to mix it with something else? Also his stools have started to go soft again !! Having spoken to other BC owners they have all had similar problems, once the dogs are older, it seems to sort itself out.

He was on Pedigree chum and mix from young with no probs, once the runs started I took him off that. He is now 14 months old. Vet has advised a low fat diet (he is skinny). Any ideas people for somehting that would not be too rich for his little tum ? Thank you

Are you using the Chappie dry complete, or the tins? Have you tried mixing the two together? They're both complete so it's nutritionally fine to do so.
:)

No im using tins of chappie and dry baxters, have never seen the chappie complete in the supermarkets near me, have looked.

Lots of Beardies have sensitive stomachs and chapie is great for that.  How many times a day is he fed and do you take away the unfinished food.  I would put less than usual out for him next time and his appetite will soon come back.

Try and stick to whatever you decide on because the swapping and changing upsets their digestive systems as well.

Hi, I was feeding him morning and evening, but im thinking of just giving him evening, but am worried a big meal once a day will be hard for him to digest?  He never seems all that bothered in the morning.

I have started to throw his unfinished food away, and he does tend to eat it all the next day.
I wouldnt say he is a fussy eater - but he dont finish the bowl, unless its freshly cooked chicken and rice, then he wolfs it down ! but im not feeding him that everyday...only when he is poorly.

Im not sure it is the food that gives him the runs, as he can be fine for couple of months, and then get it, even tho I haven't changed his food .

Beardies can be prone to bouts of colitis when stressed (I expect lots of dogs can but I don't know about them).  They can also pass watery stools after being in the sea - I suppose they swallow some and as salt water is a natural emetic it cleans them out.  The advice on pro-biotic is very good and I would look into that.  My friend who has been in the breed many years told me dogs can get their pro-biotics from rabbit poo (so that's why they do it), much nicer to buy it from the supermarket.

My boy started to go off his morning snack when he was about 12 months old.  He is now fed at night and the one good meal doesn't seem to upset him at all.  You do need to make sure you leave at least half an hour between the big meal and his evening walk though as exercise on a full stomach isn't good for him.

We did have some problems with colitis when he was younger because of the fireworks but he hasn't had a problem for years, except when he goes swimming in the sea.

I don't think its the food as certainly Chapie is good for sensitive stomachs.  We feed Arden Grange and Tripe, the stink is horrendous but they love it.  It may well be something he grows out of when he settles down a bit.  What am I saying, they don't grow up 'till they're at least 13.  Seriously it may well improve with maturity.

If he has  been tested for allergies and food intolerances via a blood test and does not have any then it is probably a fault in his digestive system.

You can ameliorate this by adding the following to his diet to see if helps with absorption:

Probiotics either via yoghurt or better still capsules which contain several different bacteria, this will help provide a stable gut flora.
Digestive enzyme complex, this will help ensure that if your dog is lacking in any particular digestive enzymes that the load is eased.
Think of adding glutamine to his diet which will help soothe the gut.
B complex might be a useful addition as diarrhoa or malabsorption can strip the b vits, particularly B12
Tree Bark Powder is also a useful gut soother.
Don't forget Fish Body Oils and Vitamin C may also be helpful

All of these are easily available and can be bought at any health food store or chemist. TBP can  be obtained from Dorwest Herbs