For those w/yorkie pooh eaters

[Gennies]

I've been battling with Bijou eating her pooh since she was on confinement after breaking her leg...four months now. She's had off and on runny and mucusy or bloody pooh since then. I thought it was just a puppy thing since she wasn't house broken, but now that she's 90% housebroken I thought she'd stop it, but she still tries to eat it, so I took her in to see her vet today. Bijou has something called Colitis. She said it's when there is too much of the good bacteria in the intestines so her intestines are inflamed.

She said that it could be caused from Bijou eating her pooh, or that Excel stuff that I gave her to stop eating the pooh could have made them become inflamed, or it could be her food, or it could just be something she was born with. It's kind of like irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.

So to reduce it she's on an antibiotic called Metronidazole for a week and a prescription food I got from my vet called DCO...stands for Veterinary Diets Diebetes Colitis (No she's not diabetic...I asked if that was possible and she said this food is for both conditions). It's made by Purina ( thought all their foods were trash, but my vet recommends it) it's higher in fiber which is what she needs. My vet said most people give up on using this food because it's higher priced then over the counter dog foods. I was like I don't care if it works...it was only $21.00 for an 8 lb page. I didn't think that was too much, but then again our little ones don't eat that much. Bijou seems to like it just fine and she's started the antibiotic as well.

My vet said that for some dogs eating pooh can become a habit like how some people smoke, it's nasty but they do it. She advised that we see if Bijou stops eating it once she's been on this medicine and food for a while. I hope so, as I'd pay twice or three times that much for her food if it'd keep her from eating the results LOL Otherwise all that can really be done to get her to stop eating it is to be very vigilant with cleaning it as soon as it happens...yeah, like I can quit work to become the pooh police LOL but it's really all that you can do.

I'm attaching a link to a site my vet recommended, I found Colitis on it if you'd like to read more about it. Otherwise, the site's very informative.

Good Luck!!!

Colitis: An FAQ - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!

[dimendgirl1]

Gennies, Thanks so much for your response. We will get this taken care of. have a beautiful day.

[Becca1]

My Yorkie was recently diagnosed with colitis after being treated for some liver issues. She only had two bad days of nasty-looking stools, but I was wondering about colitis and the article you attached helped clear up a lot of questions I had. She is now on an antibiotic for the colitis and I have her on Hills L/D food. She just would like snacks, but I'm hesitant about giving her any because of her liver problems and the colitis, so I'm sticking to just a little cottage cheese when she begs - any other ideas on snacks?

Originally Posted by Gennies

I've been battling with Bijou eating her pooh since she was on confinement after breaking her leg...four months now. She's had off and on runny and mucusy or bloody pooh since then. I thought it was just a puppy thing since she wasn't house broken, but now that she's 90% housebroken I thought she'd stop it, but she still tries to eat it, so I took her in to see her vet today. Bijou has something called Colitis. She said it's when there is too much of the good bacteria in the intestines so her intestines are inflamed.

She said that it could be caused from Bijou eating her pooh, or that Excel stuff that I gave her to stop eating the pooh could have made them become inflamed, or it could be her food, or it could just be something she was born with. It's kind of like irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.

So to reduce it she's on an antibiotic called Metronidazole for a week and a prescription food I got from my vet called DCO...stands for Veterinary Diets Diebetes Colitis (No she's not diabetic...I asked if that was possible and she said this food is for both conditions). It's made by Purina ( thought all their foods were trash, but my vet recommends it) it's higher in fiber which is what she needs. My vet said most people give up on using this food because it's higher priced then over the counter dog foods. I was like I don't care if it works...it was only $21.00 for an 8 lb page. I didn't think that was too much, but then again our little ones don't eat that much. Bijou seems to like it just fine and she's started the antibiotic as well.

My vet said that for some dogs eating pooh can become a habit like how some people smoke, it's nasty but they do it. She advised that we see if Bijou stops eating it once she's been on this medicine and food for a while. I hope so, as I'd pay twice or three times that much for her food if it'd keep her from eating the results LOL Otherwise all that can really be done to get her to stop eating it is to be very vigilant with cleaning it as soon as it happens...yeah, like I can quit work to become the pooh police LOL but it's really all that you can do.

I'm attaching a link to a site my vet recommended, I found Colitis on it if you'd like to read more about it. Otherwise, the site's very informative.

Good Luck!!!

Colitis: An FAQ - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!

[3TerrorsMom]

Oh Geez, long story why a Boston Terrier owner is on a Yorkie Site (my friend's yorkie got terrribly burned at groomers and I joined the site to get help...and yorkie prayers have worked!) - but this topic caught my eye. Poo eating is very common..never knew that until confronted with the problem with my youngest. So common it has a name "Coprophagia". Sounds like it could be a temporary issue with your little one due to the colitis. But if it doesn't help..I offer what worked for me. I tried the Excel, other off shelf and couple different things from vet, was in tears over it. I couldn't pick it up fast enough, she beat me to it everytime...and the only thing that worked (and still does 99% of time) was a suggestion from another dog owner...I changed her food to Innova "small bites" - it is 100% natural, no beef..it's turkey..within a week I saw a major difference. Vet also recommended a diet change due to recent research. I feed all 3 of my dogs the Innova - it's rather pricey and you will need to find out who sells in your area...but well worth the $ to give it a try. A friend also uses it based upon my recommendation and her 2 yorkies love it.

[mly]

Bella used to eat her poop when she was younger. I was told it was because the food had too much protein in it and when she poops it out, it's still good I'm not to definite on it though. Once I switched her food though, she stopped doing it.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by mly

Bella used to eat her poop when she was younger. I was told it was because the food had too much protein in it and when she poops it out, it's still good I'm not to definite on it though. Once I switched her food though, she stopped doing it.

that is a great point as my yorks eat demi's poop and we have to constantly monitor it and she gets organic chicken on her food to get her to eat it so i bet that is why time to cut back on the protein now

[Gennies]

Originally Posted by 3TerrorsMom

Oh Geez, long story why a Boston Terrier owner is on a Yorkie Site (my friend's yorkie got terrribly burned at groomers and I joined the site to get help...and yorkie prayers have worked!) - but this topic caught my eye. Poo eating is very common..never knew that until confronted with the problem with my youngest. So common it has a name "Coprophagia". Sounds like it could be a temporary issue with your little one due to the colitis. But if it doesn't help..I offer what worked for me. I tried the Excel, other off shelf and couple different things from vet, was in tears over it. I couldn't pick it up fast enough, she beat me to it everytime...and the only thing that worked (and still does 99% of time) was a suggestion from another dog owner...I changed her food to Innova "small bites" - it is 100% natural, no beef..it's turkey..within a week I saw a major difference. Vet also recommended a diet change due to recent research. I feed all 3 of my dogs the Innova - it's rather pricey and you will need to find out who sells in your area...but well worth the $ to give it a try. A friend also uses it based upon my recommendation and her 2 yorkies love it.

I have to say, I did have Bijou on Innova small bites and it didn't work for her. What has worked is a high fiber diet the vet sells it. Veterinary Diets Diebetes Colitis by Purina.

We also did the Excel...my vet said it could have made her intestines to become inflamed, or it could be her food, or it could just be something she was born with. It's kind of like irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.

Originally Posted by mly

Bella used to eat her poop when she was younger. I was told it was because the food had too much protein in it and when she poops it out, it's still good I'm not to definite on it though. Once I switched her food though, she stopped doing it.

I've heard that before too. All I can say is if she has runny pooh like mine did it could also be the Colitis. It's not an expensive test either. Was surprised on that one. Sorry I can only tell you what I know that happened with Bijou. Good luck.