Toby’s Mum organised a teleconsult as she was SO concerned about her little 4 year old Border Terrier Toby who suffered from IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease).

Here are her words when she contacted me –
“Toby was diagnosed with IBD 18 months ago. Vets did thorough investigation, he was scoped, biopsy taken, samples taken, bloods etc etc. Sent home on steroids and antibiotics. Advised to eat Royal Canin Anallergenic dry food, and Royal Canin Hypoallergenic Wet Food.

Vegan Border terrier Toby who suffers from IBD

Have weaned him off steroids and has had a couple of mild flare ups in the 18 months, but he just doesn’t thrive that well. His coat is dull. He does hold weight (if I feed him a lot) but he has no top line and is tucked up through the flanks. He is constantly hungry and scavenging for food, eats his own poo, generally unsettled and eats any tissues that he finds. I know all Borders can be cheeky but he is unsettled in his behaviour.

He is active and fit and properly walked but even so I can just tell he could feel better. He is a prolific pooer! I have been very nervous to try any other food, given that the vets have told me that he can’t be on any other food other than the Royal Canin.

I would agree that his problems are diet related ie allergic to certain proteins, I suspect chicken, turkey etc. I have tried fish but I’m not sure. My other dog, labrador, is fed on Skinners Salmon & Rice and Toby can’t have this either.”

 

To be honest, when I read Toby’s history, my heart leapt with excitement as I just knew that transitioning him to a balanced plant-based diet would make the world of difference and sort out all his problems. When I did get to speak to Toby’s Mum however, I realised that my job to convince her was not going to be an easy one!

She owned horses and was extremely knowledgeable about horse diets and management but she knew nothing about plant-based diets for humans and even less for dogs. How I admired that she was open-minded enough to contact me for the sake of Toby’s health.

Then there is the fear of change and going against what her vet recommended. This is the hardest one for all of us to stand up against a professional! She confessed to having spent over £4000 on all the tests and treatment in diagnosing his condition but confessed too that with all the money and testing, Toby still was not right and not happy. So with much hesitation and concern that she was doing the right thing, but equally with nothing else working, she agreed to at least give it a try and listen to my gentle but thorough persuasion over Zoom. I made her promise to let me know how Toby got on and here was her e-mail that absolutely lit up my Inbox just 3 weeks later……..

“Dear Arielle

It’s been 3 weeks since we spoke and I wanted to give you an update on Toby!

All I can say so far is …. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

I took my time moving him from the Royal Canin to Green Crunch but he loves it, and more importantly he now doesn’t poo 8-10 times a day, his digestion seems so much better (down to 2 times a day). He is not running about trying to scavenge the bins, eating tissues, chewing sticks etc. My sister is here staying with me and immediately commented on his shiny coat, before I told her about his new plant-based diet.

He is not frantically itching all the time and doesn’t have that rather sweaty, smelly odour about him. Unless we have a hiccup and an IBD flare up, I think we are on to a winner here! I haven’t had to prop him up with steroids either so that is just fantastic.

Overall he is just being more pleasant to have around!! AND I think his habit of eating his own poo has all but disappeared!

Thank you so much for your help. I’ll be in touch in another month or so with a progress update if that’s ok, but I know all the signs to look out for with Toby and so far they are hugely positive! I’m ordering more food today and my sister, is trying some of the food from me for her Terrier x now too!”

just be kind vegan dogs

“As a vet, I believe in a kinder, healthier way to feed our pets that does no damage to our environment, harms no animals and uses fresh, healthy plant-based ingredients for a balanced and delicious diet”

Arielle Vegan Vet

“If nobody changes then nothing changes but if somebody changes then everything changes!”

Arielle Vegan Vet

just be kind vegan dogs