Throwing up undigested kibble

[Nancy & Bisbee]

This may belong in the Food Group, but I did do a search first for "undigested kibble" and nothing came up. We are at the 9 month old stage, changed dry food 4-times (all good dry foods); Evengers, Cal Natural Lamb/Rice (only 1 bag), Orijen puppy (grainless) and now Innova EVO (grainless). We switched from Orijen (after 1 small and 3 large bags) then to EVO because of throwing up undigested kibble.....everything had been going smoothly with the switch to EVO (now on 2d large bag) and of a sudden today it started again....throwing up undigested kibble (after 5+ hours--4 piles) again????? So, for dinner this evening we mixed more "wet "(EVO grainless canned) to smaller amout of kibble and then added cooked white rice .... so far everything stayed down....this is really getting to be a frustrating mystery... any clues? Just wondered if anyone out there has experienced the same undigested kibble issue?

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Samantha does that every so often but not kibble. She has he gall to throw up undigested home cooked dinners! (lovely visual! - sorry) but as you said, poops are not a problem.
In hindsight, it seems she does (also hours after she ate) (and quickly) and then plays rough with DD - tug, chase, ball. But she doesn't do it all the time. I haven't kept track to see what I cooked or how I fed it to her - sometimes I split it up into 2 eating sessions. I guess that wasn't too smart not to keep track. I will get out the steno notebook and leave it in the kitchen to keep a journal - what was fed - how fast eaten - how long until launching to see if there is a pattern.

I wonder if she would benefit from having her bowls raised off the floor?

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

I may have replied to this previously...Dexter will do this occasionally. If it's happening often I would talk to your vet. Ours occurs very rarely (maybe once every 3 months)...I can't pinpoint anything specific that would cause it.

At my last visit to the vet, he mentioned Dex may have a bit of acid reflux and that we could feed him pieces of bread to help soak up any acid in his belly. Maybe give that a try? Your mention of rice helping triggered my thought of the bread :)

[Christine Lavallee]

Maybe an allergy to something in the foods or just eating way to fast for the food to digest, I am at home during the day so I feed smaller meals more often, 3x a day. They sell bowls that have inserts in the middle to slow them down when they are eating if you are unable to feed more often through the day, they are called anti-bloat bowls online.

[Amber D]

While it's probably not what's happening with your dog, there is a condition called megaesophagus that causes dogs to throw up undigested food. In puppies, it involves a congenital birth defect that causes the esophagus to not function properly, i.e. it doesn't push the food into the stomach. Food then pools in the esophagus and is later "thrown up" undigested. It's not actually vomit though since the food doesn't reach the stomach. If the undigested kibble comes up in a big undigested pool of food with some mucous stuff around it, I would ask your vet about megaesophagus. It can be diagnosed with an X-ray and treated by feeding the dog kibble that's been soaked in water overnight (or soft food) and also feeding the dog upright so that gravity (rather than the esophagus) pushes the food into the stomach.

[Nancy & Bisbee]

Very interesting, I have never heard of this, megaesophagus. If a vet visit should become necessaray we will certainly bring this up. Thank you....

[Nancy & Bisbee]

Thank you all for your interesting replies and advice. All good "food" for thought. :o) I think It just may have been a fluke this time because "everything" is working in tip top order .... perhaps a "mom panic" because of the episode before when he was doing it almost every feeding. I also think mixing the dry kibble with wet (canned) and moist rice, letting it sit for a few minutes before feeding, softened the kibble making it easier to digest. ??? He does have elevated bowls and we started taking up his water for about an hour after he eats (he does have a habit of gulping water). We'll keep a good eye on him and if it should start again...well, off to the vets we'll go. We just wondered if any other doodles had experienced this undigeseted kibble dilemma......Thanks again!

[Nancy & Bisbee]

The water gulping just may be the culprit. Thanks for your thoughts .... have a great doodle-day!

[Marcia Stevens]

Nancy, I asked the owner of the natural pet food store where I buy my Origen...he said that it may be too much water in the stomach either before eating, or after...and, it causes the kibble to swell up really fast...and causes them to vomit the undigested kibble...I don't know if this is accurate, or not..? But, I restrict "Tannor" Magoo's water intake an hour before feeding, and an hour after.....and, he hasn't vomited again.....he did it once...and, hasn't done it since.....so, who knows...? I think with the grainless kibble is that it's very compact....if you add water to it, it swells up alot.....I have taken both my doodles down to 1 cup of the origen in the morning, and 1 cup at night with some EVO canned mixed in...they seem very satisfied with that amount...and are doing very well on the Origen.

[Nancy & Bisbee]

Hi Marcia... Thanks for asking your "food guy" about the problem. I am looking for answers and I think the water thing just might be IT, makes sense (or am I grasping?). We started taking up b's water after feeding for an hour or so, around the time of the EVO changeover. I think we'll start taking up before and after and keep our fingers crossed. We may have given Orijen a bum wrap...but since he seems to like the EVO I think we'll stay with it for awhile. Although, it has been suggested to us Acana is good, grainless, has less protein, a little cheaper and made by the Orijen people. Thanks again ....Hugs to Magoo and Kodie from Bisbee!

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

Nancy ~ got your email and I am glad to hear of the improvement through your process of elimination. I do have another thought I am adding here because I think it may be beneficial to others who may view this post seeking answers perhaps also.

First the water may indeed be a large part of the puzzle. Busy Bisbee did not exhibit this trend in his early life, though the insatiable quest for water has always been clear in ALL of our doods. I cannot tell you how often we refill those bowls. The difference here though is that there is ALWAYS someone else poking their nose in the water too, so they are not going to gorge themselves too heavily. I know as a human I too have literally slammed much water after periods of activity and the feeling that follows in my stomach is extreme discomfort, smaller amounts spread out seem to be more effective and certainly more comfortable.

As a side note to this though and this is VERY important, if you are feeding a very high protein diet it is imperative to take measures to provide adequate water, lots of it. So somewhere in that a balance must fall (I know it never ends).

Second and this was actually the reason for my post before I got side tracked. I cannot say enough good things about digestive enzymes. I especially like Wholistic Pet's Digestive Enzymes (for Nancy see below note), here is a link ~ http://www.thewholisticpet.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display.... We also use this anytime we make a food change because inevitably they eat all of the new kibble out making a gradual change impossible ~ we have NEVER had a change over issue. Also this was instrumental when Ella got eclampsia a couple of weeks ago, she had already been on additional calcium and while we did take extra measures for additional sources I think the enzymes did help her to be able to absorb and utilize it more efficiently. Once a digestive crisis seems to be under control I would recommend Wholistic Pets Canine Complete Joint Mobility ~ http://www.thewholisticpet.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display... ~ it is an awesome supplement that already has the digestive enzymes in it. It is pricey, but a little goes a LONG way ~ as you know we feed a lot of mouths here and it is something we feel our dollars are well spent on.




Nancy ~ Murphy's carries them, but I am sure you can find them in other places ~ though I think you would strongly benefit from a talk with Kim or Patrick ~ unfortunately they are not open on Sunday. If you call and speak to them tomorrow, I have to run in for food and will gladly pick up anything you may need. I would be happy to meet up with you for delivery ~ of course it would be a delight to also meet up with dear sweet busy Bisbee!

[Nancy & Bisbee]

WOW... you are the best...Thanks. I actually still have some of the enzymes you packed in Bisbee's "going home bundle." If he should have another episode we will sprinkle some in (I did use it at first when we started mixing in can/wet variety changes)....The actual food change doesn't seem to phase him, he is easy going and seems to like everything we've given him so far and never shows any of those "other" signs. I really think the gulping before and after is the culprit...at least for now :) and not to worry, he has free reigh of the water bowls (1 up and 1 down) other than right before and now right after eating....He doesn't gulp food, only water. Thanks yet again for your support and words of wisdom, they are greatly appreciated. I will visit those sites you recommended and do some studying. Knowledge is a wonderful thing! BUT this food thing, exhausting............. LOL

[35iu2pambz419]

Dexter is now about 10 months old. We had this same problem a couple of times a while ago. Today I fed him at 8AM and he just did it again at supper time (10 hours later). Maybe he ate too fast? It can't be the food cause he hasn't done this in months. Maybe the water? I find it hard to believe that 10 hours later the food hasn't been digested. It is still in the shape of the kibble, just a little bigger! Keep us posted on what you find out.