by Kris
(Indianapolis, IN)
My 5 month old Rottie has had frequent bouts of diarrhea and I’m wondering if a different food or some digestive enzymes/probiotics would help.
It usually lasts 4-5 days and results in 6-8 trips outside in the middle of the night. Both times he’s been to the vet and gotten his vaccines it’s happened. The vet prescribes probiotics and special food each time (for $85 additional dollars!).
He is currently in Iams large breed puppy food. Can anyone recommend a food that might help with the diarrhea and a probiotic or digestive enzyme? I’d really like this to stop.
Thanks!
Hi Kris. Sorry to hear about what’s happening. It’s possible that the stress of the vaccines may be lowering your pup’s immune system allowing bacteria (or even parasites) to thrive and cause this digestive upset…. or possibly your pup is having a reaction to one of the vaccines themselves.
If this only happens after he’s had his shots then hopefully he will be okay now as he should be fully vaccinated. But when it comes time for annual boosters then it could flare up again.
Iams is not a great food and if your Rottie’s tummy trouble is ongoing/chronic it’s possible that some of the ingredients are causing the symptoms, or that he’s especially sensitive to one, or more, of them.
I’d recommend checking out this page on my site.. /best-large-breed-puppy-food.html as it has suggestions and recommendations that should help you pick a premium, nutritious food.
I’d try to go for the lower protein formulas and holistic ingredients. The Canidae All Life Stages formula is a good choice for pups with sensitive tummies.
Probiotics shouldn’t really be necessary if the food he’s eating suits him. But to help settle his digestive system, you might want to look at one of these products…. BM Tone-Up Gold or PetAlive Digestive Support
To help strengthen his immune system and ward off allergic reactions… Nettle Eye-bright Gold for Dog Allergies
One last thing I’d mention is that you might want to have your vet run a fecal test to rule out Coccidia or Giardia. Both these conditions are caused by tiny single-cell parasites that live in the gut and the main symptom is watery, smelly diarrhea. Bouts tend to flare up when the immune system is challenged, which is why I’m suggesting the test.
It could be that the vaccinations lower his immune system enough to allow symptoms to show. Even if he recovers after a few days, that doesn’t mean the parasites are gone, just that his body is holding them at bay.
Antibiotics can put an end to both of these illnesses if a fecal shows that your pup has the parasites in his stools.
Hope this helps you some. I’m sure others will weigh in here too to help you out. Best of luck with your Rottweiler. ~ Sue