Former Region editor Chris Roe with his Maltese Shih Tzu, Toby Trouble. Photo: Chris Roe/Facebook.
Is your dog prone to diarrhoea?
Researchers from the UK analysed the health records of more than two million dogs brought to vets and found that six breeds are more likely to get the dreaded “poonami”: Maltese, Miniature Poodle, Cavapoo, German Shepherd, Yorkshire Terrier and Cockapoo.
The Jack Russell Terrier and Chihuahua were found to be less likely to have irritable bowels.
Dr Rosemary McKean, a vet from Moorong Veterinary Clinic Wagga Wagga, warned dog owners the “old-fashioned idea” that chicken and rice are good for dogs is actually false.
“Yeah, that would definitely align with what we see in the clinic,” she said.
“I think a lot of the poodles and the poodle crosses, particularly the Mini and the toy poodles, are quite prone to get sick in the stomach and get diarrhoea.
“The old-fashioned idea that chicken and rice is really good for dogs with diarrhoea is probably not a great idea.
“We’re seeing that with more and more dogs that have had chronic diarrhoea, when we cut chicken out of their diet, they actually do a lot better.”
Researchers are still looking for the reason behind these food intolerances. Dr McKean advises owners of dogs with weak stomachs to “feed them a consistent, regular diet”.
“[Don’t give] them snacks and food that they wouldn’t get on a regular basis,” she said.
“If you had, say, a toy poodle or a Cavoodle and you start giving them bits of toast, and then you give them a bit of steak and then a bit of this and a bit of that, that’s far more likely to cause diarrhoea than if they’re on the same diet every single day.”
Dr McKean has two almost-nine-year-old half-Chihuahua and half-Cavoodle dogs, Pippa and Pepper, who also have “super-sensitive stomachs”.
“If they get one piece of chicken, they will [get] diarrhoea for two days,” she said.
Former Region editor Chris Roe has a different experience with his two-year-old Maltese Shih Tzu, Toby Trouble.
“He did have some last week, but not normally,” he said.
More than 80 per cent of the dogs in the study recovered from diarrhoea with just one trip to the vet. While experts advised against treating mild or moderate diarrhoea with antibiotics, around 38 per cent of dogs were prescribed such medication.
“If the dog is otherwise well, then just letting it run its course over two or three days is fine,” Dr McKean said.
“Just feeding them slightly less than normal, ensuring that they’re hydrated and that you keep [a] close eye on them, generally, two to three days is all that is required.
“There’s a number of over-the-counter products that are probiotic and they’re very worthwhile, so giving them a dog-specific probiotic, or even unflavoured, no-sugar natural yoghurt, helps to replace the good gut bacteria and therefore reduces the diarrhoea.”
