Just back from the vet. UPDATE, Monday Update

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I got home late last night from Amsterdam where I have been for the past four days.  I was on business but got to spend two whole days between meetings in that wonderful city.  Cheek by jowl with Van Gogh and Rembrandt!  This morning I got up to diarrhea in he lounge and Boris needing a bath.  I bathed him at 7.30 and got up.  He went again twice and then started throwing up bile.  This went on until lunchtime so I made a vet appointment and we went at 4pm. He had six bouts of diarrhea and vomited bile three times before the vet.   My major worry is that he has eaten something that is stuck and as I wasn't here I don't know what that could be.  My partner said he was eating fine while I was away and had his last meal yesterday evening.  The vet said he doesn't think there is something there bu couldn't rule it out.  No fever so he gave him an anti-emetic injection and told me to cook boiled chicken and rice.  He also gave me some paste in a syringe which I have to give three times per day.  He was full of beans in the vets and interestingly the vet told me to tap him on his head while he jabbed him with the needle saying this would help counteract the soreness of the injection which he said was a sore one and he said he hated the thought of hurting him and making him fearful of vet visits.   Boris didn't flinch so It obviously worked.  It's a T-Tellington touch thing but I wonder if the distraction of me tapping his head was what helped.  We are home now and he has eaten some rice and chicken and I am hoping for an uneventful night.  Fingers crossed.

*MORNING UPDATE*

We spent a very restless night with Boris waking every hour and needing to go outside.  He has stopped vomiting (probably due to the medication) but still has the diarrhea and this is just a little liquid now as he has nothing left in his tummy.  This morning he did take some water but refused all food.  I gave him a popsicle which he has been licking.  It's a frozen yoghurt one.  I'm cooking some chicken broth now and hopefully he will take some of that.  From the straining there is still a little bleeding but it is fresh blood and not internal.  Generally he is in better form than I would have expected but we are very worried.  I will wait to see how the morning goes and if this does not settle will take him to the ER this afternoon.  I cannot think what this could be and we have been wracking our brains to see if we can think of something he might have ingested.  No one fed him any treats that may be suspect and he has not chewed anything inappropriate as far as we know.  I am working to make sure he does not get dehydrated

*Monday Morning*

I think we've turned the corner! We were only woken once during the night at 2.30 and Boris slept straight through until 7.30.  He still has some diarrhea but is back to his normal self, hungry and playing with his toys and with Riley. No more bleeding either (TG) I called the vet and asked about transitioning back to food but she just advised  ID Hills food.  I asked what was in it and she said she didn't know but would call me back.  I did a search and here's what it is

Water, Turkey, Egg Product, Pork Liver, Rice, Whole Grain Corn, Rice Starch, Powdered Cellulose, Dried Beet Pulp, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Caramel Color, Flaxseed, Calcium Carbonate, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, L-Threonine, DL-Methionine, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Tryptophan, Taurine, Iron Oxide, Ascorbic Acid (source of vitamin C), Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Cysteine, Magnesium Oxide, Beta-Carotene, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite.

As I know from the Food Group there is nothing in the above that I would want or need to give to my dogs!!!!  I am waiting for the call back and will have the conversation LOL

I am just feeding the broth that I made myself.  Boiled fat free chicken, rice and sweet potato and hopefully his tummy will settle soon.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Does anyone know what this paste is? I gave my two some human medicine, Imodium, when they had the runs. It certainly helped but it took a few days to get back to normal. And I wonder why no mor broth. Did she know it was homemade?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I can't speak for the paste, but the last time JD was released form the clinic after an IBD flare, they told me that for the rest of the day and overnight, I had to rest his gut and not to let him have anything other than ice or very small amounts of ice water, and they emphasized that it had to be ice water. They did tell me why ice water, but I can't remember the exact explanation.

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The montmorillonite is a clay that's used to help firm up stool, it's used in certain dog foods. Fructooligosaccharides may help with GI inflammation.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sounds like a slow way to dry thinks up. You can also give electrolytes with pedialyte. The fructooligosaccharides may be a way of getting some calories in. All kind of like IV fluids in people.

[F, Calla & Luca]

OK, here's the human explanation:

Fructo-oligosaccharides are made up of plant sugars linked in chains. They are taken from asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, and soybeans, or produced in the laboratory. People use these sugars to make medicine.

Fructo-oligosaccharides are used for constipation, traveler's diarrhea, and high cholesterol levels.

Fructo-oligosaccharides are also used as prebiotics. Prebiotics act as food for “good” bacteria in the intestine. Don't confuse prebiotics with probiotics such as lactobacillus, bifidobacteria, and saccharomyces, which are live organisms that are good for health. People sometimes take probiotics by mouth to increase the number in their intestine.

In foods, fructo-oligosaccharides are used as a sweetener.
How does it work?

Fructo-oligosaccharides pass undigested into the colon where they increase bowel mass and promote growth of certain bacteria that are thought to be beneficial.

[Leslie and Halas]

I hope he's feeling better soon. At least you're seeing some improvement.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Ditto this. Hope he gets better very soon.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I have been giving my puppy, Charlotte, bentonite clay in powdered form for two days, and it has helped tremendously to firm up her stools.  Bentonite clay is a medicinal powder that's often used to combat diarrhea. Montmorillonite, as far as I understand, is another name for bentonite.  The product that I am adding to Charlotte's food is in powder form; yours must be in the form of a paste.  A couple of days ago, I had not heard of either one. It's interesting how much we learn in our quests to take care of our pups.  I hope it helps Boris, too.

[Katie and Sophie]

Poor Boris! Its the worst when they are sick. I hope he starts making big improvements soon!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

It's nearly 11 pm and I'm just going to bed.  Boris had a two hour stretch since the last episode ( a few minutes ago) which is the longest he has gone in the last two days. He is now in bed in the bedroom waiting for me to come in.  I'm hoping for a quieter night but we'll see.  Thanks for being there for me, I don't know what I would do without you all there giving me advice and support. Nicky X

Ps Paste is called Canigest here ingredients:

Fructo Oligossaccharides, Mannan Oligosaccharides,glutamine, roast meat flavoring! Rapeseed oil, Pectin, Kaolin, Enterococcus Faecium NCIMB 10415

Will update tomorrow.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sleep tight.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Hoping you wake up to a happy, healthy Boris.