Ripple's Poo Problems

[SteffiS]

As quite a few of you know Ripple is renowned for the disgusting things he eats. It’s actually been more of a problem since Covid as OH is not working and takes Ripple for his walks, and is not as vigilant at keeping an eye on what he eats. This results in episodes of Ripple having really runny poo and occasionally throwing up.

Now we seem to be going through a phase of Ripple being completely out of sync and needing an urgent (runny) poo at random times of the day and night, but not going when on his walks. I can’t work out what he can be eating and OH gets very defensive if I try and question him about it. We tend to walk separately as OH thinks I walk too fast and too far. On the couple of times recently we’ve gone out together Ripple has been fine and his poos have then been normal but it reverts as soon as I stop walking with him.
We have tried swapping dogs and Ripple is then ok but Toffee, who doesn’t eat much rubbish, has increased need to poo.

I’m concerned that Ripple is going to do permanent damage to his stomach, but OH doesn’t want to listen, I’m just at a loss what to do

 

[Atemas]

Aah @SteffiS this is a difficult one and I so understand your concerns. You may remember me posting about Sky becoming ill with haemorrhagic gastroenteritis from eating stuff - mostly other dog poo. We had to resort to a muzzle on her off lead walks after that (it was so awful, we couldn’t risk it happening again). I did hate it and I am sure she must have but it served it’s purpose - she couldn’t eat rubbish and it kept her well.

I think unless you can be ultra vigilant - I appreciate how hard this can be (F came home yesterday and said he caught Red eating some manure off the heap - I was concerned it would upset her as she normally doesn’t scavenge - I confess to righteously thinking that wouldn’t have happened with me), maybe a muzzle is worth trying

 

[Selina27]

I can understand your concerns @SteffiS , as Cass is something of a scavenger too. Although much less so these days, if she does eat something that upsets her insides it seems to start the whole cycle off again.

I have posted on here before that I enlisted the help of a vet who also practices homeopathy, I know many people are sceptical but I believe it has helped a lot, and I usually get in touch with her if things need "resetting". She also advised a supplement to help with gut health, which I use, and changing to raw diet, which I haven't done.

 

[Loraseal]

Tough one. You could use a muzzle when your OH walks Ripple. Maybe suggest it as a trial to see if it helps? Not easy. Do you think maybe using a probiotic for dogs may also help strengthen Ripple's gut?

 

[Shaz82]

It's tough when an OH is involved and won't listen (I know all too well). I don't know how else you can know that Ripple be ok unless you suggest a muzzle when you are not there to keep an eye on him. If it was me I would have to gently suggest it as the best thing for Ripple without putting any blame on OH. Maybe suggest it is recommended by someone who has the same problem.

 

[SteffiS]

I've tried a muzzle in the past, and, although I could get him to wear it in the house, out on walks he just refused to walk and pushed in his face into the ground and clawed at it to try and get the muzzle off. I have suggested to OH we could try the muzzle again but he is very reluctant.

We’ve also been down all the different diets, including raw, in the past and it didn’t really seem to make any difference.
The probiotic / gut supplement might get him sorted now - I do have the Pro-kolin that I use when Ripple is really bad, is there something we can use more on a daily basis? I also notice it’s self- perpetuating, the more his stomach is bad, the more rubbish he wants to eat.

It's tough when an OH is involved and won't listen (I know all too well)

I think a lot of it is an OH problem, this is why it’s so difficult to tackle .

 

[Selina27]

I also notice it’s self- perpetuating, the more his stomach is bad, the more rubbish he wants to eat.

Yes, I notice that too. (I had the mother of all hangovers the other day, and wanted to eat rubbish comfort food ! Must be similar!!)

The supplement I use is from PET Plus Is A Natural Food Supplement Made For Cats And Dogs. I can't say that it's a miracle cure but I know the problem isn't as big these days and so I don't want to stop giving it to her. Also, I think it takes a while to see the response.

 

[Atemas]

I think a lot of it is an OH problem, this is why it’s so difficult to tackle

Yes unfortunately - not an easy one at all

I do have the Pro-kolin that I use when Ripple is really bad, is there something we can use more on a daily basis?

I am a big fan of Pro Kolin. When Red had a bad upset stomach when she was younger, the vet I saw said it was ok to use it for more than a couple of days. It is really expensive but I always have some here

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I've tried a muzzle in the past, and, although I could get him to wear it in the house, out on walks he just refused to walk and pushed in his face into the ground and clawed at it to try and get the muzzle off. I have suggested to OH we could try the muzzle again but he is very reluctant.

I'm conditioning Carbon to a 'don't eat icky stuff' muzzle at the moment. When I discussed his rampant kelp eating with my trainer this week she said, "Use a muzzle while you work on 'leave it' and 'drop it'". My immediate reaction was "but he doesn't like it". And this coming from someone who had a dog who, because of his breed, had to wear a muzzle a LOT and did so happily.

Anyway, my trainer and I had a long discussion about how to get Carbon to love it. All of which I already knew, but where I fall down it doing things in small enough increments and moving from indoors to outdoors (two very different contexts for a dog).

So...for you, great news is that Ripple has already successfully worn the muzzle indoors. Now you need to break down getting that outdoors by very small increments. In the meanwhile, that means walks on pavement, on lead and away from green areas where yummy things are just waiting to be gobbled up. It's a complete pain in the backside for us humans, but it has to done.

I'm feeling your pain right along with you!

 

[Boogie]

Pro-Fibre helps. Tatze and Zaba have it every day. Tatze just has half a scoop. Zaba needs two scoops per meal or his poops become sloppy. He’s not a scavenger at all. Tatze used to be but she’s improved lately.

 

[SteffiS]

So...for you, great news is that Ripple has already successfully worn the muzzle indoors. Now you need to break down getting that outdoors by very small increments. In the meanwhile, that means walks on pavement, on lead and away from green areas where yummy things are just waiting to be gobbled up. It's a complete pain in the backside for us humans, but it has to done.

As soon as I read this I realised that I had just gone straight from indoors to outdoors with no small increments, it never occurred to me. Thank you Emily that gives me something to work on.

As for the walking we have very little in the way of pavements here, but I can see how we can work on the principle. OH lets Ripple rummage about under hedges which I think I’ve now convinced him should be a definite no - possibly a couple of days of having to clear up where Ripple was sick and getting up several times the last couple of nights (I’m getting more practised at pretending to be asleep) have had an influence on this.

@Boogie I recognised the Pro-Fibre as soon as I clicked on the link, I used it when Toffee had a lot of anal gland trouble when he was a puppy. I’m going to get some of that and give it a go.
I also wondered about giving Ripple live yoghurt, I make my own and I know he likes it.

 

[Loraseal]

Kefir and banana's (not too much due to high sugar!) are also natural probiotics. I would also recommend to note how much yoghurt you give Ripple to see if it has any benefit. I guess it will be working out what suits and works well for Ripple.

 

[SwampDonkey]

I used pro-kolin enterogenic sachets(they come in boxes of 30) when Rory had an upset tum and Pro fibre 1 skoop twice a day everyday to maintain his colitis. I order from petdrugs on line usually.
He'll settle down once you sort out OH.

 

[SteffiS]

@Loraseal interestingly bananas give Ripple a bad tummy, they are Toffee's favourite though, he can smell one being peeled from 2 rooms away (I’ve experimented) .

 

[edzbird]

For dodgy Meg I use Yudigest daily (ingredients looks a bit similar to the pro-kolin enterogenic sachets, Yudigest Plus is closer) and when she gets a sloppy bout I use a scoop of the Pro fibre daily to firm her up. We're mainly OK, but as you know, we still get the odd surprise

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

As for the walking we have very little in the way of pavements here, but I can see how we can work on the principle.

Ugh, I hear you. My trainer is always telling me the pavement thing I told you, but I'm rarely in places where that actually works in practice. It's not very fun for either Carbon or me, but I've just had to shorten his lead in places where I can't clearly see what's on the ground. His main thing at the moment is kelp, and my trainer says, "Just take him above the tideline where there's no kelp." Ha, ha. The entire beach - nearly every entire beach - is blanketed in the stuff several inches deep. The big community beach doesn't have too much of it but there are so many people and other dogs that I don't feel comfortable letting him off lead (by law dogs are supposed to be on lead on the beach here but I get in the occasional sneaky hoolie when no one else is around).

But hey, let's both try the incremental thing - really the tiniest little bits at a time - and see how we get on!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

The supplement I use is from PET Plus Is A Natural Food Supplement Made For Cats And Dogs. I can't say that it's a miracle cure but I know the problem isn't as big these days and so I don't want to stop giving it to her. Also, I think it takes a while to see the response.

A heads up for any dog (like Carbon) who could have an adverse reaction or drug interaction : Pet Plus is mainly brewer's yeast. Normally great stuff, but not for all dogs.

 

[SteffiS]

I’ve ordered the Pro-fibre to start with as I know it was fine for Toffee. @Emily_Babbelhund I'll bear the brewers yeast thing in mind, thanks for the heads up.

 

[Selina27]

But hey, let's both try the incremental thing - really the tiniest little bits at a time - and see how we get on!

I think I'll join you -- I've been practising with Cassie, because for the next few months there will be apples lying around and I try to limit her access to them. I don't want her to wear a muzzle for the whole walk, just so that we can cross the orchard more than once.

We have got as far as having the catch done up for 90 seconds , so I'll start from there

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

We have got as far as having the catch done up for 90 seconds , so I'll start from there

Good girl, Cassie - 90 seconds is actually really long when you're sitting there counting!