Update to "opinions please" post

[Laura & Chewie]

So, last I posted (Thursday) Chewie checked out good at vet and I was to switch to 2 meals/day (as opposed to 3) and keep and eye on him for the occasional vomiting. Well the next morning (yesterday), he ate half his breakfast (he's on Wellness Puppy) and immediately vomited it back up. In retrospect,considering it came up so fast, perhaps he ate too fast, but I was upset and called the vet. He had me bring him in for xrays. They didn't show anything except perhaps his intestines looked a little "puffy" (vet talk) or irritated. He said maybe, even though all fecal exams since the day we got him have been negative, he has a parasite like Giardia. I pointed out his poop was fine, and he said sometimes it doesn't cause loose poops, just an upset tummy. So he put him on Prescription Diet ID and gave me some meds (Panacur) to sprinkle on the food until next week. When I read the ingredients for the ID, I wasn't happy since it goes against all I have read...contains corn, soy, etc. But, as a friend pointed out, if you go to a vet and don't listen to their advice, why go.

Fast forward to today. He has had two meals of the ID, has not vomited, but his poop a little while ago, which is normally very firm, was softer (still formed) but had slimy stuff on some of it (mucus?). Close to $300 later, I am still not convinced there is anything really wrong and now I'm feeding him crappy food that hopefully won't create a problem.

I don't know the purpose to this post, except to vent a little, but would welcome opinions. Thanks!

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Go with your gut. It seems vets know next to nothing about actual nutrition and push low-rated foods. I guess they feel too superior to actually open their ears and be educated by general public people who have done research on nutrition (not counting big dog food companies that pay for the vet to push their products directly or indirectly by funding the education on nutrition. etc...)

My vet touts "medi-cal" a low rated food full of corn and fillers. Even the bags that he sends home medicine and and handouts in have the "medi-cal" logo on it. I would never give my dog that food.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Giardia will cause mucusy poops. When you put him on the ID..did you switch him right on it...or did you switch him slowly over to it. If you switched him to fast...that also could cause the mucus in the poop. Sorry to say but not all Vets are up on food when it comes to dogs, as most dog owners are. They give your a prescription diet that is suppose to be formulated for what ever is ailing the dog, and screw the rest. And as your friend said why spend the money for the Vet if your not going to listen, so now your in a catch 22. For a week..try what your vet is asking you to do, after the week is up..slowly switch him back to his Wellness or research foods and decide what you want him on, we use Fromm and never a problem. When you switch him back, do it slowly so he does not get sick from switching him back. If he is eating to fast, when he vomits is the food mushy or whole, if you see chunks of food not chewed than he is gulping and could be the cause of the vomit, and this is causing him to vomit his food back up, try getting a specail bowl that is made for dogs who gulp their food. It will slow him down and he will chew his food better because he is not getting the larger portion at one time. My first Rottie use to do the same thing, I found it what caused her problem was the way her food digested and the stomach emptied...it was to slow and could of caused her bloat, and sorry to say but even the best food she vomited, we wound up on Fit and Trim, she lived to 13, 5 years past her normal life expectancy. She also out lived every single brother and sister from her litter, most made it to 9 years.

[Laura & Chewie]

I did think of the fact that we switched him to the ID all at once 'cuz vet wanted him on a bland diet. I'm supposed to let him know how Chewie's doing Tuesday, so only a couple more days. As far as what it looks like when he vomits, it always looks like undigested kibble...whole pieces (but softer, of course), even when it happens a couple hours after he eats. I will definitely get one of those special bowls.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Chances are he is gulping his food, or not really taking the time to chew it...try for a few days holding his food and feeding him a piece at a time, that is how I started stoping my Rottie from doing this. Than go to bowl and see if it makes the difference...if he is still vomiting...have your vet check his stomach and how it is emptying...that was Magic's problem and once solved and we went with the Fit and Trim no matter how much I hated it...she did 100% better. We spent every other week at the Vets before learning this all.