A change that crept up gradually
When Edith first began showing digestive symptoms after being spayed in October 2024, her owners thought it may simply be part of recovery or a temporary change in routine.
At the time, Edith was around 10 months old and had always been fully toilet trained. But shortly after her operation, things began to change.
Initially, she started having overnight accidents downstairs where she slept separately from the family. At first the accidents were solid stools, but over time they became larger, more frequent, and sometimes turned into diarrhoea.
Alongside the digestive issues, Edith also began displaying unusual behaviours that her owners later realised were likely signs of discomfort.
"We started noticing repeated stretching of her body, but at the time we thought that was just Edith being Edith."
As the weeks passed, the symptoms became more unpredictable. Some days were perfectly normal, while others brought obvious digestive upset.
A Christmas away — and a telling contrast
In December 2024, Edith's family went away for Christmas and allowed her to sleep upstairs with them and their other dog, Poppy.
Surprisingly, during that entire week, Edith didn't have a single overnight accident.
But once they returned home, the symptoms came back — this time worse than before.
The overnight accidents became more frequent, and blood began appearing in her stools. This was when Edith's owners first sought veterinary advice.
The vet discussed two possible causes: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and gluten intolerance, which can sometimes affect Border Terriers. Edith was treated with a liquid wormer as a precaution, and her owners were advised to try gluten-free food options alongside some routine changes at home.
Initially, the changes seemed to help. The overnight accidents improved, but her digestion still remained inconsistent.
"We would have good days and bad days."
More severe flare-ups, every few weeks
After Edith's second hand-strip grooming session in 2025, new symptoms began to appear. During flare-ups, Edith would experience a range of distressing signs.
"She would cuddle up to me and just want to be held until it passed."
The episodes could last over an hour and were happening every three to four weeks, sometimes more frequently.
Her owners tried various approaches, but nothing seemed to fully stabilise her symptoms.
A prescription diet that helped — but raised new questions
Eventually, the vet recommended trying a hydrolysed diet and prescribed Royal Canin Anallergenic. The results were positive almost immediately. The flare-ups reduced significantly, and Edith appeared more stable. However, her owners still had concerns.
"I had researched a lot of food over the past two years and knew this wasn't a good quality food. Very highly processed and using feathers as its protein."
Although the prescription diet helped control symptoms, Edith's owners wanted to find a longer-term solution that combined digestive support with better ingredient transparency. Unlike prescription options that rely on heavily processed proteins, Ultimate Pet Foods uses freshly prepared meat or fish — never meat meals.
After moving in February 2026, Edith visited a new vet who explained hydrolysed nutrition in greater detail and recommended looking for a higher-quality hydrolysed alternative. That search eventually led them to Ultimate Pet Foods.
What is hydrolysed dog food?
Hydrolysed dog food uses proteins that have been broken down into extremely small pieces called peptides.
This process makes the proteins less likely to trigger unwanted food reactions and can help support dogs with digestive sensitivities, suspected intolerances, or ongoing stomach issues.
Our Hydrolysed Digestive Care recipe combines hydrolysed proteins with carefully selected ingredients and digestive support to help dogs feel more comfortable while still enjoying their food. View our full hydrolysed range.
Gradual transition, swift results
Hydrolysed Digestive Care
Hydrolysed turkey protein, carefully selected ingredients, and added digestive support — made without grain, gluten, or common allergens. We also use sweet potato as a gentle, digestible carbohydrate source.
Because Edith had been stable on her previous hydrolysed food, the transition to our recipe was done very gradually to avoid triggering a flare-up.
Within just 7–10 days, Edith's owners noticed something changing.
"Edith seemed a lot more relaxed and had a different energy to her. My husband and I could both see a change in her demeanour."
The improvements continued over the following weeks.
The difference, side by side
On their third bag and continuing to do well
Now on their third bag of Hydrolysed Digestive Care, Edith continues to do well. Her owners report that she:
Edith today — playful, relaxed, and comfortable
"Her overall wellbeing is much improved."
Perhaps most encouraging of all, a follow-up blood test that had previously been planned was no longer considered necessary by the vet.
"The vet declined to do it as she is so well and there would be no point unless she was having an episode."
One interesting part of Edith's story
Her owners noticed symptoms seemed to worsen after potentially stressful experiences such as:
- Being spayed
- Hand-strip grooming sessions
- Changes in routine
While every dog is different and digestive conditions are often complex, stress can sometimes influence the gut and digestive system in sensitive dogs.
Of course, there is rarely one simple answer, but Edith's journey highlights how multiple factors — including diet, routine, stress, and environment — can all play a role in digestive wellbeing.
"I strive to give my dogs the very best I can afford and just prayed I could find an alternative which I found in your food."
"She seems happy and comfortable. She seems more playful and relaxed."
Digestive sensitivities take time, patience, and the right support
Edith's journey is a reminder that digestive sensitivities can take time, patience, and careful support to manage.
For her family, finding a hydrolysed food that supported both her digestion and overall wellbeing made a huge difference.
If your dog is struggling with digestive discomfort, inconsistent stools, suspected food sensitivities, or regular flare-ups, you are not alone. Many owners begin with a small trial before finding the right long-term solution for their dog.
