[NAGDU] Is it safe to give our dogs extra fiber?

[Chaim B. Segal]

Hi All on both lists:

I have been having a strange issue with Yahtzee these past few weeks with  regard to his relieving. The problem is a bit compounded by the fact that he had, and possibly still has, an infection on the pad of his left hine paw which my vet says was caused by allergy. I thought the infection was healed, but discovered the other day that it isn't, which is one reason why Yahtzee has taken to balking when we are walking outside. He is not balking inside, but seems to be getting a little disoriented and distracted more frequently inside. I had an instructor from Seeing Eye out here before the skin infection, who could not figure out what the balking issue is originally from. However, I isolated the problem myself.

On several of my walks these past few weeks, Yahtzee has stopped moving rather abruptly, and seems to indicate that he needs to park. So, I take off his harness and let him do his business, ETC. But, sometimes, he seems extremely constipated, and keeps moving around in a circle without being able to force the waste out. Sometimes, he gives up and starts sniffing, and after scolding him, I put the harness back on him and make him get back to work. When this first started happening, use of a gentle leader got him to stay on task. Now, even that is not always working. This routine is wasting a lot of my time, and I have taken to just plain old healing him in familiar areas until we have walked a sufficient enough distance so that it should be easier for him to do what he needs to. Sadly, sometimes, if I take the harness off altogether, and just  heel him and use my cane, he walks fine. Again, I mainly seem to be having this problem outside.

There was a space of about two days last week when he did not poop. I began to grow concerned, as I could tell he made many attempts to do so. I am currently feeding him Pro Plan Chicken And Rice. My vet has informed me that he feeds that to his own dogs, and the problems with Purina do not effect that line of food. Yahtzee  was doing fine on this food for quite a      while, so I don't understand what's up now.

Okay. Last Friday, he pooped three times  within a four hour segment. It seems his schedule is normalizing again, but his stools this morning were extremely hard. I am wondering if dogs, like some of us, can suffer diberticulitis and irratable bowel syndrome? 

Okay. So, flash back to around 5 years ago. Hava and I were living in our previous town house, and unexpectedly, a container of raw cooking oats fell off the kitchen table on to the floor. With the lid of the container being rather weak, the container opened up, and most of the remaining oats therein got scattered all over the immediate area of the kitchen floor. Unexpectedly, but on cue like a sports player, Keeper, my current guide at the time, (same breeds as Yahtzee), rushed in and gobbled down the entire mess of oats. (Both dogs are back-cross Black Lab/Golden Retriever.) I was momentarily shocked, and tried to stop him due as a means of enforcing proper etiquette. However, there was no stopping Keeper, who was happily sucking in the oats as if they were a prized treat. I figured, "Oh well, I guess they won't harm him." My theory turned out to be correct.

I'm trying to get my vet on the phone to schedule a follow-up appointment concerning the infection on his paw, but the line is eternally busy. I was going to ask him this question as well, but I thought why not ask my fellow users. Would there be any harm in adding some raw oats to Yahtzee's diet in order to enhance his fiber? I would really hate to change his food at this point, as it seems the other quality foods out there give him loose tools, and seem to cause itching. No vets have proven it, but I am beginning to suspect that Yahtzee may have a problem with wheat-based dog foods. Has anyone else ever given raw oats to their dogs? I understand that many dog foods are made with oats. Or, is there a better fiber supplement that I should consider?

Once again, I am backlogged on list messages, so please be sure to send a carbon copy of any responses to the list to me as well.

Thanks!

Chaim   

Chaim B. Segal
Contact Marketing Representative
Sinclair College
Dayton, Ohio

Please check out my web site for more information regarding Part One of my first published work:
http://www.dvorkin.com/chaimsegal

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