How long until slippery elm takes effect?

[WhereBeThatBlackbirdTo]

Oh, how I wish I'd known about this forum and all your valuable advice when my old collie had colitis!

Anyway, that's besides the point. My 6 mo springer x has runny poo at the moment (sorry, couldn't think of a better way to put it). He has been on JWB puppy for the last 3-4 months. I started giving him slippery elm in some natural yoghurt after reading Solo2s threads about Rollo and reading all the advice given. I've also fed him chicken and rice for the last two meals in the hope that this will help.

My question is - how long until the slippery elm takes effect? Pup is in excellent health otherwise, still hurtling round the house, good shiny coat, sense of humour etc so I'm loathe to take him to the vet unless absolutely necessary.

[ceres]

i've just seen this. is there any improvement yet?

i use slippery elm for my dog who has colitis, it really helps keep it under control. we use it as maintenance so he has it mixed in with his food once a day.

he does still get the odd flare up so we then up the dose - if we hear the familiar gurgles or notice he is straining a bit we try and get the slippery elm into him asap and then add it to both meals for a few days.

i don't mix it with natural yogurt though. i mix the slippery elm powder with boiling water so it goes all gloopy and then mix into his food. from what i have read you need to mix it with boiling water to get the 'gloop'. i have a staffie and generally use a good heaped teaspoon of powder each time.

hope his runny tum clears up soon - if still not cleared by tomorrow may be worth a trip to the vet.

[WhereBeThatBlackbirdTo]

Thanks for your help.

I think you are right - he's still gloopy this morning. Oh well, off to the vet later

[peggyblackett]

Try mixing it as ceres says. I have no prior knowledge of using SE, but I do know that anything dairy irritates my dogs' digestion (they do not have colitis). Therefore the yoghurt may be muddying the water (or the poo :o).

Hope your pup is on the mend soon.

[Mama1980]

Hi I have a 1 year old springer x. When she had poo issues I took her to the vet and was told to feed chicken
And rice as you have done then start her on natures diet wet and James welbeloved dry. Almost instantly she was sorted. I was advised to try nothing else. Hope your pup feels better soon.

[WhereBeThatBlackbirdTo]

I put his SE directly into his chicken and rice for breakfast. I only used the yoghurt mix because it was mentioned in the Rollo thread.

We've got an appointment at the vet this afternoon. It will be interesting to see what he thinks of SE

[readyveg]

Try nature diet, best poo bar raw in my unfortunately lengthy experience of runny bums.

[WhereBeThatBlackbirdTo]

Well, we're back from the vet. Pup's got a temperature, prob bacterial infection so anti-biotics and bland diet.

The vet had never heard of SE!

[AllergicToNutters]

When I saw this thread title I was soooo hoping it was Solo2!!

[peggyblackett]

Me too A2N!!!

[Jellykat]

I'm Not surprised the vets never heard of it, it's a herbal remedy, so slightly 'alternative' really.

I swear by it myself, but it does have to be mixed with water and heated to a transparent gel like consistency to work.

[ceres]

my vet had never heard of it either - until he met me!

he is really pleased with the way our dog's colitis is managed, he rarely has to prescribe meds for the colitis and our staffie is in great condition. people don't believe he is 11 years old.

slippery elm can't do any harm. mix it with boiling water to get a gloop and then mix through the food.

we used to feed nature diet but had a few problems with quality so switched to nature's harvest - very similar foods.

hope your pup is better soon.

[AllergicToNutters]

ceres

[KatyMac]

Can people take it it sounds miraculous

[Jellykat]

Yes KatyMac, you can buy it as a loose powder from good Healthfood shops. Its great as an antacid, or tummy soother if you mix it with a little milk once you've heated it.

Take a look at //www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/slippery-elm-000274.htm for starters

[KatyMac]

Interesting - Thanks

[WhereBeThatBlackbirdTo]

Just a quick update - after his first dose of anti-b's pup is now bouncing around like a loon again. I hadn't realised just how calm he was until his springing returned.

It's good to have him back to his old self, even if it means chasing him to wrestle the clean washing away from him, yet again!

I'll certainly keep the SE in the cupboard at all times for future dodgy tums (pup and human)

[Jellykat]

Aah, that's excellent news WhereBe.. Glad he's on the mend!