Colitis seems to be quite a common complaint, and what works for one dog, may not work for another. We have collated various treatments tried by owners, which may help others.

One lady with Whippets, one of which had what she described as deadful colitis, as often as three times a week which began when the dog was two years old, had tried 'everything under the sun' with no appreciable success and every diet she could think of including honey, night and morning, none of which proved the answer, although Pro-Kaolin helped greatly during the actual attacks. The dog was then put on Nutro for Sensitive Stomachs, and this was sprinkled with Pro Soluble Powder made by Protexin, obtainable from vets. He was on this for the last two of his 13 years of life, during which time he never had another attack of colitis.

Another breeder with Poodles, says she was at her wit's end with one of her Standards as his digestive system was 'a complete mess' and he was unable to tolerate even her home made concoctions. She tried everything she could think of with no success whatsoever. Eventually, after trawling the internet, she stumbled upon an American canine nutritionist called William Cusick, the author of breed specific recipe books for over 100 breeds. These are based on the principle that breeds of dog were bred from ancestors native to different parts of the world and that these ancestors would have eaten what was available in their own particular environments. Having nothing to lose, she purchased the Standard Poodle recipe book. The recipes are split into those for dogs and bitches, being further divided into age categories for puppies, adolescents, adults and veterans. She was amazed and delighted to find that within just three days of feeding the appropriate food to her dog, his digestive system had improved greatly. The diarrhoea stopped as did the vomiting, addedto which his temperament changed for the better. He was very much calmer and far less excitable. The recipe book Canine Nutrition: Choosing the Best Food for Your Breed of Dog , William D. Cusick is available online from Adele Publications and his own web site.

An eight year old Welsh Springer started having colitis this summer, when everything went through him. The owner says she was up and down to the vet on a regular basis and the dog was fine whilst on medication, but once each course was finished, the bouts returned again. his coat and eyes were dull, he had no energy, seemed rather depressed in himself, and was losing quite a bit of weight. First of all he was put on Hills Science High Fibre diet, which he refused to eat. however, he much enjoyed Eukanuba Sensitive Digestion, a complete food, and began looking forward to his meals once more. He was given three small meals of this per day with a measure of Nutrifyba, obtainable from vets or canine chemists, and strictly nothing else, not even titbits or any dairy products. This regime, so far at least, seems to have been the answer, and his weight is gong on slowly, he is much healither and happier in himself and best of all, he has not had a sign of the dreaded colitis for seven weeks.

Yet another remedy was given to a Borzoi bitch, who is now almost eleven years old. At around the age of six, the dog found some chips on the floor in the local park, which she consumed with evident relish. Unfortunately this resulted in a campylobacter infection, which was eventually cured, but then colitis came into her life with avengeance. She suffered from bouts of this around four times a year, very rarely with blood, but they were nonetheless dramatic. An injection calmed things down every time. She was kept on a diet of fish, pasta, chicken and/or rice. However, finally the Hills I/D diet proved the answer for her, and she has been on it ever since with a liberal sprinkle of slippery elm powder on each of her three meals whenever colitis threatens. She also has a slippery elm pill on a daily basis as a maintenance dose.

Another lady tells of how her 14 year old Sheltie, who started having Colitis about six years ago, along with bile, had tried everything without success. She took her in to her local surgery thinking that the end had come, and saw a new vet, who said he could cure the problem and prescribed 'Sulazine', more normally prescribed for human colitis, and she was given this on a gradually reducing doseage until the dog well again. This was like a miracle cure for the owner. She was given a complete food, Waltham Sensitivity diet, which contains blue whiting and tapioca, and it is now four years since she has been really ill, she has put on weight, and is now very well in herself.

A breeder of Japanese Chins, after trying all kinds of pills and potions without success, tried Wafcol's Salmon and Potato diet, fed several times a day rather than in one or two large meals, which worked well, although not a miracle cure. A friend of hers had also suggested Burns' Lamb and Rice, which worked well for her own dog, together with a charcoal biscuit before bed which she fed before bed.

Other products which have proved beneficial are Aviform Top Dog Products' Probiotic, which should be sprinkled on the food, along with Montmonillorite if the dog refuses to eat. Aloe Vera Drinking gel from Forever Living Products can be helpful for any type of irritable bowel or digestive troubles, and this should be given in small amounts to start with, gradually building up according to the severity of the problem. Feeding steamed chicken, with the skin removed along with rice and raw tripe, and a pinch of SA37 has also been recommended.

We have had our own fair share of dogs with digestive problems, and found a course of Protect and Rebuild from Fit n Fertile, together with Protect from Stock Nutrition, fed daily, along with a sensitive or bland diet keeps Colitis under control. Acidophilus, available from all good health stores, has also helped our own dogs with bouts of Colitis.

If anyone has any other ideas and remedies that have helped their own dogs, please let us know by email to collienet2000@aol.com