Not sure I can do this anymore (please don't flame me) (long)

[Solo2]

I don't think I can do this....I've been up the entire night with Rollo (1 yr old golden retriever) who has developed diarrhoea - again.

Anyone who know his history, will be aware that he had this recurrently for about 5 months, where each time he came off antibiotics, he got ill again. I spent nights and days hosing the lawn and kitchen, had no sleep, could never ignore him of he howled at night, as it usually meant he needed to poo...I spent about £2,000 on vet/ vet hospital fees.

I've found it SO stressful having a dog that even when he's not been ill and has withdrawn from medications and now off everything for about 1.5 months, it's been really difficult. I am constantly torn between Rollo's needs and my children's needs and am massively more stressed than I've ever been and a massively worse mother (solo mum) than I've ever been.

Latterly, Rollo hasn't been able to go off-lead as he discovered hunting and won't come back when called. I'm working on this. I've decreased my self-employed earnings to free up enough hrs in the day to do dog walks and training. I pay vast amounts at w/es and school hols to have the dog looked after by his lovely trainer, so that I can focus on the DCs and keep - barely - on top of household tasks and business paperwork.

However committed I am, I did say to myself that, if Rollo got diarrhoea again, I'd have to rehome him. I'm not sure it's fair on my DCS NOT to rehome him really, as I can't give them what they need and give Rollo also what he needs. I feel despairing.

I signed a contract with the breeder that she'd be informed and have a say in rehoming but my DCs - who keep definitely WANTING to rehome him (they have nothing to do with him at all and never really wanted him) and definitely NOT wanting to rehome him, think they could live with him being rehomed near to us where we could still see him.

I'd LOVE my dog trainer to have him - IF she could/would (she has 3 dogs of her own and lives in a tiny flat but she's known Rollo since he was 7 weeks old and often has him to stay). However, I haven't even approached her about this yet. She was supposed to have him this w/e but obviously can't/won't given he's ill and I've NO idea how to manage the w/e (I'm working Sat. am anyway) and have a sick dog and the DCs too...

She would be brilliant at knowing who locally could have him BUT I'm supposed to do this through the breeder who isn't local to us and hasn't had any contact with us/ Rollo, except an email or two when he was v sick some months ago.

I'm torn apart...I know I'm writing after a night without sleep and with a full day of work and dog-poo mopping ahead but...it's not really working is it? I know many of you will be totally aghast at my thoughts on re-homing and I always believed I could MAKE this work for us and waited a lifetime for a dog but...I really don't think I can go on.

I am barely managing when Rollo isn't ill. I must have now spent around £6,000+ in total on him in the last 11 months and LOST income because of having him too. If I didn't have DCs, I could manage. I'm not sure it's fair on the DCs to keep him, even IF they never forgive me for re-homing him.

Not sure what else to say really and am fully aware that many of you will find it appalling that I'm considering rehoming at a time when so many dogs are rehomed (1 yr+ old). He's got a lovely temperament and I'm told by other dog owners that he's 'easy' , except for the tummy trouble.

Have no idea why he's ill as he wears a muzzle ALL the time we're out and about, never eats anything at all other than his Royal Canin Sensitivity kibble (I am literally obsessive at monitoring him) and was fine on that for over a month and on NO medication. He's even had less contact with other dogs than normal, since I've had to keep him to on-lead walks....I think it must be the underlying condition returning.

Have a vet appointment later today (which also means paying for an after school facility for my DCs) as they can't fit me in earlier....

That's where I am today, after a night up and a future streching out before me
that just feels impossible

bats - commercial dog food appears to be killing the dog!! all the additives, colourings, flavourings, fillers, grains.... all slowly proving to be not healthy for dogs.

batsintheroof What makes you think that? He's no more likely to die from it than he is from eating the kibble that currently is not helping him and if his illness isn't improved he may die of that.

Can raw food kill a dog? I would have thought raw meat was the most natural diet a dog could have, and therefore the most suitable. I feed Jasper a hypoallergenic kibble, and some raw chicken wings a couple of times a week. His poo is always better after the chicken wings.

he's most likely to die from the op's desperation and the vets reluctant 'permission' to have him put to sleep at this stage. i suspect the OP is thinking whether to tell the vet to do this tomorrow.

The bacterial load issue. From my perspective, most dogs can cope with raw because they have evolved as scavengers- they can deal with bacteria in food more than we can. The confusion comes because dogs can't digest properly the grains and crap they put in some kibble brands. This makes poo runny and dogs also become hyper sensitive to the crap in the kibble. BUT a dog that is ill/ immunocompromised will find it harder to deal with the bacteria in the raw food. ESP chicken!! it is just putting a general strain on the dog's immune system if he's fighting off something else and is already weakened.

Oh, that's interesting. I hadn't considered that. Worth thinking about if Jasper is ever poorly.

Er, how on earth can a dog die from raw meat? I think you'll find that's what dogs ate before pedigree chum and nasty additives/colourings etc came along.

It would be such a shame if this dog was to be pts for the sake of changing his diet. I really think you should give it a go, I mean what's to lose if your p him ts sleep anyway?

X posts with bats, ok didn't know that.

Yes but they killed and ate fresh meat not meat that may have been thawed frozen again and stored for long periods. Why don't you try eating raw meat and see how long you last? Especially chicken is very often contaminated with ecoli because of intensive farming methods. This isn't the African plains we are talking about here. The way we farm food introduces many nasties.

Uhm, we are not designed to eat raw meat. Dogs have much stronger stomach acid than us. Dogs stomach acid is designed to kill off all bugs in raw meat.
We are not.
We are not dogs.

Solo, sending you or and hoping you get good news from the vet tomorrow morning.

How about some cooked chicken and rice, thats gentle on the stomach?

Raw meat works fine with my two dogs, anything else gives them the squits, and dull coats.

Sorry not helpful but I read a few comments and after as few glasses of friday night wine I want to cry.... and add a few points
Solo... I've been following some of your posts and admire the effort you have put in.
If your vet is suggesting pts Rollo without even trying raw feeding I would question them (haven't read the whole thread sorry)
If you are thinking about following the vets advice please try Raw feeding first.If I've missed something importantant sorry.

Sorry for not being clear. Food in the wild doesnt last very long and either killed fresh or scavenged- they would've done both- will contain more bacteria than cooked food or kibble. You have to remember that wild animals don't actually live that long and probably many did die from being poisoned- especially from eating sick animals. But the main issue I have is with raw meat that we know has lots of bacteria in and is potentially dangerous- such as chicken.

I would give raw a go too.
Give Rollo a month before you make a final decision.
I've seen a raw diet turn a dogs life around in days. Not just stomach problems, but skin problems too.
Vets aren't likely to advise a raw diet, as they make no money from it, unlike the high priced foods they recommend.

Agree with coca. Please try raw feeding first, before you do anything else.

And have a or and I hope things turn out ok.

solo How many vets (as in different practises) has Rolo been seen by?, i think at the very least you owe it to Rolo to ensure that you seek another opinion.

I to think your issues here lie deeper than Rolo , and wont just go away by re homing him.

I to would try him on a Raw diet i honestly do not see what you have to lose. Rehoming him is not an option imo, his breeder sounds crap from what you have written here, also rehoming him locally would just be cruel.

batsintheroof Where on earth did you get the idea that a rescue would have more money and time to spend on getting a diagnosis?? WFT? dont talk shite!

OP, feel bad for you, it's so stressful when you have a situation that you can't seem to make better. I have read previous threads from you, you sound like a caring dog owner. Many people would have gotten rid of Rollo long ago, one way or another.

I have a lab cross that has had a very sensitive tum pretty much all of his life. He also blew his cruciate ligaments years ago and now has arthritis (he's 10 now). I took him to a holistic vet (disclaimer: I'm in Canada) to see if I could get help with a lick granuloma he has that I think is related to the cruciate ligament surgery he had years ago. First thing the vet told me was to put him on a raw diet and he is now a different dog. No tummy upsets at all. He wasn't a fan of what we call pre-prepared raw (they look like burger patties and it is meat smushed up with vegetables) but I got him on a raw kibble (the company here is called Orijens). I also supplement that with chicken hearts, gizzards, backs and necks. He also is supplemented with a disgusting concoction of raw chicken liver blended up with kale. He is not a food-motivated dog but this liver mixture is his most favourite thing ever.

I am vegan. I have had plenty of arguments with people about it. :D One of the things in support of being vegan is that our intestinal tracts are not built the same as those of animals that are meat eaters. Dogs (for instance) have a much shorter intestinal tract than we do, and much stronger conditions so that bacteria in raw chicken doesn't affect them in the same way it does us. I asked my holistic vet about the bacteria issue and she said the only concern would be if my kids were touching the dog's food, which they don't.

I would support trying the raw diet. My dog is happier and the lick granuloma is almost one now (after 2 years!). He is playful now, I can't remember the last time he played like he does since we switched!

What so scavenged food in the sun doesen't contain bacteria? Please

But dog's stomach acid is designed to kill these bacteria. Also, dog's digestion requires an enzyme to allow dog to thrive. This enzyme is destroyed by cooking / preserving the food.

Dog's are only living longer these days due to veterinary care and medicines. Not due to the wonders of preservatives / grains / unsuitable food.

Yes of course we are not dogs, but not even dogs can take everything you throw at them- especially if they are sick. I personally wouldn't take the risk.

But batsintheroof, the risk is that Rollo is pts. It has to be worth the "risk"

What Risk Bats? the OP is talking about having her dog PTS?

But that is what we are saying bats - dog's digestive systems are designed to cope with raw food, with the bacteria therein and the dog's health requires the enzymes only raw provides.
A sick dog is not adequately nourished. It needs nutrition to fights the illness.
Preserved / manufactured 'dog food' (which is essentially a by-product of our own food industry and as such is pure waste, eyeball anyone?) is NOT adequate food for a dog. It does not provide what a dog needs or is designed to digest.

I firmly believe that modern dog food contributes to the amount of dogs suffering from stomach issues / sking issues / other health worries.

Perfect post BehindLockNumberNine