ASK THE VET
Q: My 11-month-old male border collie, Alfie, always has loose stools. I have been told border collies have sensitive tummies but it’s all the time and every morning he has messed his cage. How would you find out what is causing the problem? HEATHER WILKES, Newcastle
There are numerous causes of chronic diarrhoea in young puppies. Investigations to determine what the reason is can prove quite costly if all are undertaken at the same time. I usually take a gradual and logical approach to these cases, trying to exclude the more common causes initially before progressing to the more expensive tests. Assuming the patient appears happy and healthy otherwise, initially I would recommend a bland diet (ideally a veterinary intestinal formula), veterinary probiotics and broad-spectrum round and tapeworm treatment. Strict dietary management will fix the majority of diarrhoea cases in my experience. If the problem has not settled within five days then there is likely to be something else underlying. The next step would include faecal sampling as infectious organisms are quite common in young dogs. I recommend getting one sample per day for three consecutive days, pooled in the same pot, as some organisms are intermittently shed and so a single sample may not contain the offending organism to be detected. If this fails to achieve a diagnosis and the diarrhoea is still present I would check organ function with a blood test. There may be a congenital organ disease or pancreas problems that are causing the trouble. Although border collies can be prone to ‘sensitive tummies’, the veterinary diets and probiotics will usually settle them and longterm dietary management can often help significantly. Occasionally further abdominal imaging and biopsies may be necessary to achieve a diagnosis and assist in coming to a treatment or management plan.
Please note that advice in this section is for general guidance, and if your pet is very unwell you should contact your veterinary surgeon as soon as possible as this advice does not replace the need for a clinical examination of your pet. Rory Thomson is part of the team at St Clair Veterinary Care in Croft Road, Blyth. If you have a question, fill out the online form at chroniclelive.co.uk/askthevet