Questions:
1) What is your take on feeding flaxoil? - If so - how much?
2) I am concerned about metronidazole side effects - should I be?
3) Have you heard of Prospet Drops and would this seem a reasonable treatment with this set of symptoms? (found on the net while searching for info) (contains: Saw Palmetto, Galium aperine (Cleavers), Echinacea purpurea, Baryta carb (30C)) I found this at: http://www.nativeremedies.com/petalive/prospet-prostate-health-dogs.html

I have a 9 yr old 56 lb, shar pei mix. 06/08 he began repeated long straining when attempting bowel movements. He is castrated. I put him on a liquid diet, yogurt, mineral oil and worked him up to Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul Canned food. Prior he had been on By Nature dry (no meat by products, no by product meal, no white rice, brewers grains, grain by products, no artificial coloring, preservatives, flavors).

I noticed relief but this has continued. He seems to take in enough liquids. 07/08 took him to the vet for only a physical as my income is drastically limited at the time. During a rectal the vet said they found a growth inside, above the rectum which is the diameter about the size of a half dollar.

At this time they put him on 500 mg metronidazole 2x p/day for 1 week and boiled potatoes w/boiled venison (3 to 1). I have continued yogurt and added 1200 mg fish oil p/day. Stools initially were small in diameter and short in length - and he was dropping them one at a time in the yard. On the medication he seemed to improve somewhat - larger stool, little straining. He returned to the vet - the growth has not changed.

Also at the start of this he had a topical cyst on the back right haunch, ready to break (about the diameter of a quarter)and his back right hock was swollen and warm throughout this period. After medication the cyst went down but has not disappeared. The hock swelling went down but periodically does swell - not as much and can be warm. I have noticed one incidence of fever just before the first vet visit. He has had bowel accidents in the house which now sometimes seem dryer than they should be and are small amounts.

The vet, of course, cannot tell us what is going on because I cannot allow 500.+ in tests. They had said to work him back to his dry food. - which at this point he does not want. Although he is hungry he is very picky about what he eats. I am tempted to say this is not being finicky but almost rather what might seem to settle. He is not interested in chicken broth now and remains on his potatoes, venison, yogurt, unsalted saltines, fish oil.

He rarely jumps on the bed and seems somewhat careful about his gate in the rear. His eyes are clear, his gums are pink. He seems to be in pretty good spirits most of the time. No problems urinating.

He has always been very skiddish and leary. In part I do not want to subject him to allot of invasive type treatments as in the long run if he is scared may only exacerbate his problems.

Obviously there is some type of growth causing some type of obstruction. Please try to help by answering my above questions and providing any additional info you may feel relevant.

At this point I believe I am trying to reduce a growth of some nature (possibly lymph or prostrate), keep thriving nutrients in him, possibly fight some type of bacteria or virus, increase his immune system, and help with comfort level.

Sorry this is so long - any help is greatly appreciated.