Two Dachshunds, different gut issues

Two Dachshunds with an eight-year age gap both having gut issues at the same time — that's a genuinely tricky situation, because what's going on in a young dog's digestive system is often quite different from what's happening in a senior's. Probiotics can make a real difference for dogs, but strain quality and dosage matter enormously, and a formulation suited to a puppy or junior dog won't necessarily be right for an older one with a slower gut. Before I point you anywhere useful: what ages are they, what's each one actually doing — loose stools, gurgling, vomiting, something else — and have you had either of them checked by a vet recently?

Right, so you've got two genuinely different presentations. Six weeks of loose stools and gas in a 10-year-old Dachshund is worth a vet visit — not to alarm you, but at that age it warrants ruling out things like exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, inflammatory bowel changes, or a thyroid issue, all of which can masquerade as simple gut upset. I'd push to get him seen fairly soon. The 2-year-old's post-meal vomiting over a fortnight is less immediately urgent but still worth mentioning at the next appointment — could be eating too fast, a mild sensitivity, or early signs of a food intolerance. For the younger one in particular: is she eating a complete dry kibble, wet food, or a mix? And does the vomiting happen right after eating or an hour or so later?

It's possible the food is a contributing factor, especially if you've recently changed bags or the manufacturer quietly altered the formula — that happens more than people realise and can unsettle dogs differently depending on age and gut sensitivity. The young one vomiting within 20 minutes of eating on dry kibble is quite characteristic of eating too fast or gulping air, so a slow-feeder bowl is worth trying before assuming it's an intolerance. For the older dog, same-food-different-reaction is common in seniors because their gut microbiome shifts as they age. Since both dogs need digestive support but for different reasons, I'd recommend a single product that works well across life stages: YuMOVE Digestive Care, made by Lintbells. It contains a well-researched strain — Enterococcus faecium — alongside a prebiotic fibre blend, and it's dosed by weight rather than age, so you can run both dogs on it simultaneously at their appropriate doses. It's one of the very few UK probiotic supplements with genuine clinical data behind it rather than just marketing. It won't fix whatever is underlying the senior's six-week issue — that still needs a vet — but it will support the gut lining and microbiome in both dogs while you're investigating. Available on Amazon UK, and the tub lasts a reasonable amount of time for two small dogs.

Yes, it's safe for long-term use — the ingredients are food-grade and the strain is well tolerated even in dogs with sensitive guts. The dosing is weight-based: there's a scoop guide on the tub, and Dachshunds typically fall into the small-to-medium range, so your 2-year-old and 10-year-old will likely be on similar or identical daily amounts depending on their individual weights. I'd start both at the lower end of the recommended dose for the first week just to let their systems adjust, then move to the full dose. One practical note: keep a simple log of each dog's symptoms over the next two to three weeks. It'll give you and the vet much more useful information than memory alone, especially for the older dog's appointment.

That's exactly the right call — vet first for the senior, probiotic support running alongside for both. If the younger one's vomiting continues past another couple of weeks even with a slow-feeder bowl, mention it at the vet too rather than waiting. Hope they're both more comfortable soon.