My senior GSD has recurring stomach issues, what's the cause?

German Shepherds have sensitive stomachs all around. Is it vomiting or diarrhea? I would recommend a gastrointestinal diet, it is typically prescription but this is a great way to help their diets. Sometimes they need a hydrolyzed diet for potential food allergies. I would also talk to your veterinarian about probiotics to see if this will help Zeus also. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Chronic diarrhea can be a frustrating issue! In a young German Shepherd, my main concerns for Charlie are that he may have intestinal parasites, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, or inflammatory bowel disease. If he has not recently had a stool sample checked for parasites, this is a good starting point. If no parasites are seen, consider discussing blood work (CBC, chemistry, B12, TLI, folate) and an abdominal ultrasound to try to get to the bottom of this situation. Probiotics (Fortiflora and Proviable are two brands) may be beneficial. I hope that all goes well!

I am sorry Chingo is not feeling well. With Chingo being older I would recommend taking him to the vet for a good exam and some basic testing like blood work. IT is possible that parasites, gastric upset or even infection has caused the diarrhea. However with his older age I would be concerned about possibly a more sever underlying disease. You can try an over the counter probiotic with a bland diet for 24-48 hours of boiled chicken and white rice. However if the diarrhea does not improve Chingo really needs to go to a vet. I hope that helps

This sounds more like a gastrointestinal problem to me. I recommend switching to a bland diet like Hills prescription i/d or sensitive stomach. Check a fecal also for parasites. GSD also get pancreatic insufficiency that can have similar symptoms and that is treated with an enzyme supplement. I recommend a second opinion with another veterinarian before consulting a neurosurgeon. In the meantime if you apply a thin film of Vaseline to the fur around the rectum and down the legs the diarrhea won’t stick to the fur and she will stay cleaner. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kelly.

Poor girl. Many things can cause loose stool including intestinal parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) or Giardia just to name a few. I would recommend rechecking the stool but also ensuring a Giardia test is also ran. Then I would discuss with your vet about any other symptoms such as weight loss, appetite changes, etc, to offer more clues as to what to test for next. A blood panel may also offer some insight as to what is causing the loose stools. You didn't mention that your vet treated Echo with anything, so I would recommend starting off with Metronidazole and a probiotic to see if this resolves the problem before delving into other extensive testing. I would also recommend a dewormer just to cover all basis, since some fecal tests can come back falsely negative. I hope that this helps and best wishes moving forward with your pet Echo. Take care!

Finding the cause of the diarrhea is the most important thing right now as the treatment will depend on the cause. If you haven't already, having a fecal exam done as well as possible bloodwork or X-rays is best. This can help rule out common issues such as parasites, infections, etc that can cause diarrhea. German Shepherds are also prone to some issues that can cause malabsorption, which can lead to diarrhea, discolored stool, weight loss, etc. Bloodwork can help to rule these out, and in most cases the issue is resolved with a daily medication. If no major issues can be found, then a food trial may be helpful for finding any food allergies causing the GI upset.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor guy! Causes of vomiting are: intestinal parasites, viral or bacterial infections, dietary indiscretion, foreign body, food allergy/intolerance, new food/treat.human food, intestinal disease (inflammatory bowel disease) or pancreatic disease. I am in agreement with you about your dog. German Shepherds, at least in the US have a lot of intestinal and pancreatic disease, specifically Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI). Sometimes they have both conditions. Symptoms of IBD are weight loss with or with out vomiting or diarrhea. Signs of EPI are weight loss and diarrhea. I recommend deworming him 3 weeks apart with Drontal plus to cover parasites: https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=1459 Then I would start him on a prescription hydrolyzed diet, you will need a prescription from a Vet. I like Royal Canin Ultimino or HP or Purina HA: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/royal-canin-veterinary-diet-hydrolyzed-protein-adult-dry-dog-food If there is no improvement in weight or vomiting in 2 months then consider a trial of pancreazyme (supplement for EPI), again you will need a Vet to prescribe it for you: https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11245 I know there isn't a Vet close by but I highly encourage you to find one and have them examine your dog. It is best to figure out what is wrong with someone who can help you along the way. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best!