Food Intolerances/Allergies

by Jennie Stringer
(Rotherham, England)

Hello,
I have a 6month old Cocker Spaniel and since getting him at 8 wks old he has suffered from runny stools often containing blood and can go up to 10/12 times in 24hrs. He has been to the vets on numerous occasions and has had stool sample tests and blood tests to rule out more serious problems all of which came back clear. On the advice of the vets I have tried various foods from hypo allergenic to home cooked foods containg either chicken and rice or fish and potato none of which seem to make any differance. earlier this week I have started him on Orijen 6fish Dog food which is higher protein and with no grain. So far it doesn't seem to have made much difference although hasn't made him worse!! Do you think it is worth sticking on for a while longer or do you have any suggestions as so what it could be and how I can help make him better?

Kind Regards

Jennie Stringer



Answer

Hi Jenny

I feel sorry to hear that such a young dog have this kind of problem.

Poor him!

If he was my patient I would first work out if any signs of intestinal irritation caused by
a parasite called Giardia (Called Giardia Intesitnalis) was apparent.

This parasite is becoming more and more common in pups and the diagnosis can
be done in stool samples using a special fluorescence techniques.

Then I would see if any abnormalities in the blood samples regarding Folate and Vitamin B 12.

If any abnormalities then it could be a sign of more general intestinal diseases, often involving increased eosinophil white blood cells migration into the intestinal wall.

The disease is called Eosinophil Enteritis

If so, treatment with cortisone and special diets do have a good prognosis.

Reading your mail, i get the impression that it might be primary from the colon the symptoms are coming.

Blood in the stool and frequent toilet visits are both sings of involvement of the colon.

Have you seen any mucus in the stool?

This is another frequent finding in diseases of the colon.

Often the disease found is Eosinophil Colitis and this can be treated.

The problem on the other hand is the medicines.

The medicines used in the treatment has a potential side effect of decrease the tear production.

Cocker Spaniel's have a genetic tendency to develop "dry eyes" (KCS) on their own, so you have to discuss risk and benefits of this with your vet.

Have you discussed biopsy from the colon?

This would be something I would regard as very important to do, even if he still is very young.

This is always a judgement done by the veterinarian and based on severity of the condition.

Biopsy of the colon can be done with a endoscope - so operation should be possible to avoid.

From those small tissue samples from the colonic wall you could hopefully see the cause of his problems.

To sum it up;

Test specific for Giadia.

Then, from what you explain to me, look at the Folate and Vitamin B 12 to see if any more general intestinal disease was going on.

Next; biopsy from the colon would be important to rule out Colitis.

I would be glad if you would let me know later on, how he is going on.

Until then i send you my thoughts.

All the best

DVM Per Schonbeck