Chaucer had digestive problems almost from day one. He never had a normal stool; he could never gain weight. In the beginning, I wrote it off as food changes. Then I wrote it off as, “Oh just something about that food.” My vet at the time assured me that my puppy was healthy, and I didn’t have anything to worry about. By the time I had tried 2 or 3 different types of food, I started to realize that something was wrong, regardless of what the vet said.
At his lowest point, and the time that I truly thought I was going to lose him, he weighed only 42 pounds. My vet had me try elimination diets, he tried different medications, and while we played these guessing games, my dog got sicker. I finally took Chaucer to a specialist and he was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD).
The specialist recommend Science Diet ZD and long term steroid (prednisone) therapy. The one thing I absolutely 100% rock solid refused to do was put him on long term prednisone therapy. I didn’t want to fix the immediate problem, only to lose him to organ failure in a year or two.
Various food choices based on his diagnoses had varying effects, but even with the best stools he had had, he still wasn’t thriving.
Then I discovered Seacure. I do not exaggerate when I say that this supplement was a miracle for Chaucer. I saw a difference in Chaucer almost immediately after giving him his first dose of Seacure. His stools were firmer, he had more energy, and he started to gain weight.
However, the slightest upset in his diet would still cause him to crash…. My father fed him a piece of sausage one day, and in the fallout he lost 8 pounds, and it took me 2 months to get him stabilized again. The Seacure would lessen the time and severity of his “downswings” but they were still a reality we were fighting against.
Then I met the vet I use now. He suggested that we run a food-allergy panel (SPOT test) on Chaucer to help us determine exactly what foods he was allergic to, and on that basis, I switched his diet to California Natural. [Ed Note: California Natural is no longer available, so please research other limited ingredient foods to feed instead. Canidae Limited Ingredient is similar to the old California Natural.] I kept him on the Seacure, and I attribute his “recovery” to both of these.
Chaucer weighs a very healthy 76 pounds today. He can have treats and bones, both things that were off-limits for most of his life. I no longer have to be as vigilant about everything that goes into his mouth. I can give him a piece of whatever I am eating if I want to.
Until you have a dog that absolutely cannot have treats, you can’t possibly know how good it feels be able to give your dog a treat when he performs a command. Yes, I do still keep an eye on what he’s eating, because the possibility of another flare-up is very real…but for now, things are looking good.
My Advice to Anyone who Suspects Their Weimaraner May Have IBD
Find the Right Vet
Find a vet that will LISTEN to you, not not just gloss over your concerns and observations. No one knows your dog better than you, not even your vet. If you think this is food allergy related (and it very often is), have the SPOT test done. It isn’t definitive, but it was the turning point for Chaucer and I highly recommend it.
Put your Weim on Seacure
Whether this is allergy related or not, Seacure will help. If you can calm the dog’s system down long enough for it to stabilize, the dog will be “almost normal.” I recommend keeping a bottle of Seacure on hand to give if the dog gets ahold of something that might be a danger.
Put your Weim on an Elimination Diet
If you don’t want to run the SPOT test, you need to put the dog on an elimination diet. Fast him, then start him on just rice and chicken. Then slowly add in other ingredients. Watch him closely, see how he is affected by the new ingredients. I know this sounds sick, but if you go this route, I recommend keeping a “food and poop journal” to help you be even more aware about what is going in and coming out of your dog.
Try Changing Foods
This is a little bit of a shot in the dark since how do you know what he is allergic to unelss you the test or do the elimination?
That said, I recommend California Natural or other limited ingredient food. [Ed Note: California Natural is no longer available, so please research other limited ingredient foods to feed instead. Canidae Limited Ingredient is similar to the old California Natural.] Most dogs with food allergies need limited ingredient.
Stay Away from Certain Foods
No rich fatty foods, and stop giving treats! At least until you have this under control.
Hey you made it to the end of the article!
If you want more tips like this, just enter your email address below to get 'em for free!
By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from JustWeimaraners. I'll respect your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Amy lives in St. Louis Missouri where she shares her life with her rescue Weimaraners and a Mastiff puppy.
goDog Plush With Chew Guard Technology
Zogoflex Hurley Durable Dog Bone Chew Toy for Aggressive Chewers
KONG - Extreme Dog Toy - Toughest Natural Rubber
Nylabone Classic Power Chew
Hi Amy. I also have a weim with some gas and soft poo.
which California Natural brand did you prefer for your weim??
Thank you
Hi there! I used the Chicken & Rice adult formula with Chaucer, but this was before grain-free commercial foods were readily available. If I had a dog with similar problems now, I’d probably consider a grain-free formula. Every dog is different though, ultimately what worked for one dog might not work for another. Good luck!