Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is my wolfdog Midnight, she's part German Shepherd which is why I'm posting. Got to talking with someone a while ago and they mentioned that they use to have a GSD and that they have some kind of digestive problem that would flare up every now and again. I can't remember what they said it was called, but I was wondering if anyone could tell me more about it.
The details they gave me was that the dog would get the runs "for no reason" and have basically bad bowel movements for a short period of time (like a day or so). Anyone know what I'm talking about?

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1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Rex- "normal" orange fire)
1.1.0 Spotted Python (Hotdog and Shoelace)
0.1.0 Emperor Scorpion
0.0.1 Vietnamese Centipede (Miles)
0.1.0 Doggie-dog (Jubei)
0.1.0 Wolfdog (Midnight)

I think German Shepherds have sensitive intestines, and can develop diarrhea a bit more easily than some other breeds. The type of food you feed makes a HUGE difference. Also, whenever there is diarrhea it helps my dogs to give them multidophilus plus--that's friendly bacteria from the health food store, and much be kept refrigerated in order to be properly alive.

I have a Standard Poodle now, and I go ahead and give him two multidophilus plus capsules a day, one capsule with each of two of his three daily meals. It keeps his stools very good.

Dogs are more dependent on having the right friendly bacteria in their intestines than humans are. Because of dog posture and because their intestines are shorter than ours, their food goes through much faster. If they get diarrhea--such as from taking antibiotics or even from stress--that diarrhea washes the friendly bacteria out.

This is also why it is important to change dog foods slowly, mixing the new in with the old gradually, to give the body time to create the right new bacteria to digest the new food.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47