Irritable bowel disease. Westie.

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5bs

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Hi, I am a lurker and am desperate for any words of wisdom. Bertie is nearly ten, and has always suffered with his tummy since a pup, it has been on and off over the years and manageable, but the last six months it is getting worse and hard to manage. His symptoms are, basically what appears as chronic colic, his stomach screams, dreadful smelly wind, can be sick but is poos are not bad. Except the time I tried home cooked food for a month and he had seamy runny poos, and they where covered in a sort of mucous membrane.

I have tried various diets over the years, and I had eighteen months a couple of years ago of no symptoms, and then bang six months ago it's back. At the moment he is on, burns sensitive with a small amount of burns moist mixed in.

Three months ago he was put on one steroid a day, this worked but made him almost go mad from the constant want of food, so reduced it to half a day, symptoms came back, he is now on three quarters a day, and today he was suffering so I had to give him a buscapan, and junior calpol, vet told me to use the calpol, properly worked out dosage to his weight.

Investigations. Blood tests all clear. Bowel stomach scan all clear.
So I am going to the vets this pm, to enquire about an endoscopy, as I guess we don't really no what's going on unless you can see inside.

Over the years he has been seen by different vets with the same prognosis, do you have any words of wisdom? I am going away in three weeks to visit my daughter for a month, who lives in New Zealand, and I am wondering if it is time to let him as it is not far on him and my other daughter who will be looking after him.

I type this sobbing my heart out as Bertie, means so so much to me, but he comes before me. When the pain has gone he is his normal , barking, divaish self, the last bad attack he had we had to go to the vets in the middle of the night, be cause he was in so much pain.

Thank you for reading. My horse is at Cambridge vet school, looking like he has snapped his cruciate ligament, if so will be put down, but to loose my dog just yet is one step to far.
 
I first of all just want to say how sorry I am for what you're going through :(

Big hugs from me!

I feel your pain I really do.

It's not the same situation but we lost out beautiful westie two years ago to lymphoma. He was literally my companion from when I was 5 years old all the way through my teens, I loved him so very dearly and still have a little cry now and again when I'm home alone and he's not there.

Westie's are the most incredible, loving breed. Such little characters, Paddy really was a part of our family and I will never forget him. I will never have any other breed but a Westie when the time comes when I am able to have another (work commitments in the way right now).

We started noticing his discomfort and quickly got him checked out to be told the heart breaking news that he had lymphoma which is incurable. We were told we could try chemo and that it could prolong his life but not indefinitely, a year max. He was 11 with so much life left in him before the cancer :(

We tried it and saw an improvement but after three months he started to get worse with no signs of improvement and we decided it simply wasn't right to prolong his pain and suffering. We'd done all we could which is all you can do. We made the heartbreaking decision to have him PTS and I'm honestly welling up just writing this! I took him for one last walk the day before and said goodbye properly.

I know it's hard but you have to do what's right by him. Get him checked out first, you never know if there may be a treatment that will give you longer with him. But if he doesn't get any better you have to put your head before your heart.

I'm so, so sorry you're in this posistion and I wish you all the best. Please keep me updated I have my fingers and toes crossed for your lovely boy x
 
I get a lot of westies with skin & or digestive problems to try & help and TBH I would never feed any maize or wheat. (look at the Burn's ingredients)
Most are ok with rice or potato. I usually feed chicken and potato which I batch cook & freeze in chunks for daily portions. The odd ones that are allergic to chicken I try with pork or fish. Once they are stable I add seaweed power or SA37 in half measures.

Usually a relapse can be traced to picking something up - a piece of toast or sandwich perhaps? One had a flare up after being fed a bit of ham -turned out he was often given a small piece of ham as a treat without problems until the ham happened to be breaded.

Only you can make the decision but how is his quality of life?
 
His quality of life between bouts is good, like a pup, he has no signs of arthritis, is full of character and just a westie. I have been to the vets tonight and he said it will be a diet issue more than likely, so back on one steroid a day to help inflammation and he suggested potato and salmon as his diet. He also suggested purina h/a, or hills hypoallergenic. He never ever has any treats. Also he said to give quatre tramodol when he gets a bout. He said the only way to be sure of what is going on is to do a biopsy, which involves a big incision, and I don't no if that is right with him being nearly ten.

So I will go back to the drawing board re diet, and take on any advice out there, a lot of westies have bad skin but his is excellent, so so want to get this sorted, he is a big part of the family my daughter is getting married at the end of the year, and he is going to be the ring bearer, and our border terrier is going to be a bridesmaid. I no it reads like we are crazy, but it wouldn't be the same without them.

Would you suggest salmon and potato home cooked, or the wafcol seems to read good to the lay person, but you guys no much more.

Many thanks to everyone who has replied, with suggestions etc.
 
Worth trying Wafcol or home cooked.
Or white fish & potato or sweet potato can work.

Which Burns was he on - they are very variable and it is all about finding what his allergy or intolerance is eg I'm intolerant to the colouring in Coke & Pepsi.
 
5bs said:
His quality of life between bouts is good, like a pup, he has no signs of arthritis, is full of character and just a westie. I have been to the vets tonight and he said it will be a diet issue more than likely, so back on one steroid a day to help inflammation and he suggested potato and salmon as his diet. He also suggested purina h/a, or hills hypoallergenic. He never ever has any treats. Also he said to give quatre tramodol when he gets a bout. He said the only way to be sure of what is going on is to do a biopsy, which involves a big incision, and I don't no if that is right with him being nearly ten.

So I will go back to the drawing board re diet, and take on any advice out there, a lot of westies have bad skin but his is excellent, so so want to get this sorted, he is a big part of the family my daughter is getting married at the end of the year, and he is going to be the ring bearer, and our border terrier is going to be a bridesmaid. I no it reads like we are crazy, but it wouldn't be the same without them.

Would you suggest salmon and potato home cooked, or the wafcol seems to read good to the lay person, but you guys no much more.

Many thanks to everyone who has replied, with suggestions etc.
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seriously- have a look at the link i posted and read their story as to how they set up. I cant recommend a raw diet more highly and at least with NI its ready prepared and balanced.
 
Just looked at the raw website, looks very interesting is it possible that he is kibble intolerant even though it is soaked first?

Re raw, is it smelly, what are there poos like, does raw have any health risks to the ?

He used to love a rawhide bone to chomp on, but I stopped them along time ago as they where upsetting him, what bone could he have?

Many thanks to all who have replied.
 
5bs said:
Just looked at the raw website, looks very interesting is it possible that he is kibble intolerant even though it is soaked first?

Re raw, is it smelly, what are there poos like, does raw have any health risks to the ?

He used to love a rawhide bone to chomp on, but I stopped them along time ago as they where upsetting him, what bone could he have?

Many thanks to all who have replied.
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have a read of this

http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/111437-raw-feeding-everything-you-need-know.html

also give NI a ring and speak to their nutritionist, they are so so helpful and will answer any questions

to answer you here - no it doesnt smell, poos are teeny weeny rocks and imho (and many others) there are more health risks associated in feeding a dry diet than raw.
 
Thank you never say never for info, looks like we will be going raw. The border can join in to, hope it stops his wind as there is a permanent green vapour coming from him. Poor boy.
 
I have been and brought some frozen raw packets from my local food supplier today, prize choice, and I got some natures diet to go with it. I no you are supposed to gradually change dog food, but as the kibble has been making him so ill, i decided i had nothind to loose, I have given him three small portions of the new food.

The first one was at two. Well nothing has exploded out of either end, and so far this evening we have not been gassed out by his wind, that is amazing for him.

My Border Terrier who has also been on the burns, has also been very gassy but no other symptoms like Bertie, I have given her the same food and she is also wind free this pm.

When I come back from New Zealand, I will look at doing it myself, but I need to make it easy for my daughter and friend who will be looking after them. Although I must say the frozen packets are very easy to deal with.

When could I give them a bone each, from the butchers, and which bone?
I have given them raw turkey pouches.

Also he has not been constantly asking for food all evening, it seems to have filled him up more.

Really hope this works for him as it was getting desperate. He hasn't had kibble for twenty four hours now, and he was like a pup at the park, running the westie figure of eight, my husband just commented on the fact that Bertie seems cherpy tonight. Hope it's not his last swan song!
 
5bs said:
I have been and brought some frozen raw packets from my local food supplier today, prize choice, and I got some natures diet to go with it. I no you are supposed to gradually change dog food, but as the kibble has been making him so ill, i decided i had nothind to loose, I have given him three small portions of the new food.

The first one was at two. Well nothing has exploded out of either end, and so far this evening we have not been gassed out by his wind, that is amazing for him.

My Border Terrier who has also been on the burns, has also been very gassy but no other symptoms like Bertie, I have given her the same food and she is also wind free this pm.

When I come back from New Zealand, I will look at doing it myself, but I need to make it easy for my daughter and friend who will be looking after them. Although I must say the frozen packets are very easy to deal with.

When could I give them a bone each, from the butchers, and which bone?
I have given them raw turkey pouches.

Also he has not been constantly asking for food all evening, it seems to have filled him up more.

Really hope this works for him as it was getting desperate. He hasn't had kibble for twenty four hours now, and he was like a pup at the park, running the westie figure of eight, my husband just commented on the fact that Bertie seems cherpy tonight. Hope it's not his last swan song!
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i am so pleased for you! Id suggest joining the other forum i linked to for advice as there are a lot of raw feeders there and you will get more replies.
 
Just seen this thread as I don't come on the dog one very often. I have a 16yr old rescue GSD. Over the years we've tried various things. Now have her on Eukanuba dermatosis fp, which has been much more successful than other brands. My son's Westie has it as well when she comes to stay. She has 1/2 chicken breast (from supermarket but not the cheap stuff) with her Metacam painkillers on top. After she has eaten the chicken she has a dental chew (ones with pumice no cereal). She cannot have any other type of treat, no bones, rawhide etc. She cannot have any scraps or trimmings off the meat if you are cooking. If we stick RIGIDLY to this she is fine. But is important to bear in mind that the reaction to that titbit that a well-meaning visitor gave her, may be the next day or several days later.
 
Thank you everyone who has replied. We are now two days into raw and I add natures diet sensitive to it as well the cooked meat 50/50, he has not passed wind once, has more energy, I give him four small meals a day he loves it. Feels like I have got a wild dog with his menu, not a self opinionated westie. Crossing everything, and touching everything that his future is looking brighter.
 
Happy days, glad it is working out for you.

There is a Purina factory near the city where I stay in the USA every spring. There is no way I would put any of their food into my dog. Tripe smells nicer. And hey, I feed tripe!!
 
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