GI Issues

[Cynthia Shoe]

Hi Folks, 

We got Lambeau a year ago, when he was 8 weeks old. Since then, we have struggled with diarrhea and vomiting issues every few months. The vet has done all sorts of tests on different occasions and has never found anything of concern. In the past we have been prescribed a few medications and it seems to have worked. We moved off of Purina Pro Plan to Fromm Puppy in January and from Fromm Puppy to Fromm Chicken Ala Veg in May/June. In July, he got extremely ill (vomited 5 times in an hour) couldn't keep down water and was lethargic. He spent the weekend in urgent care with an IV and blood, fecal, and x-rays concluded nothing. We were not prescribed anything (although they gave him an anti-nausea shot that he freaked out on) but Hill I/D food and to keep him off kibble for a week. We did that, gave him pumpkin, sweet potato, steamed chicken, and eggs for a week (he loved it) and all was well. Over the past few days, Lambeau has been waking up in the middle of the night with vomiting and diarrhea. Nothing has changed and there is nothing we can identify that he might have eaten. He is acting normally (for the most part) and keeping down water. We kept him off food for 12 hours, and I made him an egg and that stayed down. I then gave him some sweet potato but he threw it up about an hour later. I know he is hungry (because he is begging for food and pushing at the kibble container and he never does that). I hate bringing him back to the vet to do the same test and have the same lack of results. Any ideas on underlying issues or concerns we should ask the vet about? Some one mentioned Addison's disease one... Or iIf it seems just like a GI sensitivity, would a probiotic help? If so, what one? I feel so helpless when he is sick. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Cynthia, I am so sorry Lambeau is having such a difficult time. I hope you get some answers and can begin treatment so that  you can control these episodes. 

[Cynthia Shoe]

So **fingers crossed ** we might have a culprit. We gave Lambeau a few pieces of steak last week and within a few hours he was sick with diarrhea and some regurgitation. It took a few days of famotadine and I/D food, but I think he is feeling better now. We promptly removed all beef ingredient treats and we had already switched him to Fromm's Salmon ala Veg.

We hope this is the culprit and can prevent the need for additional testing. 

Just wondering though - does anyone know what Heartguard is flavored with? Someone told me it was beef flavored, but I have no idea if there is beef in it. I looked over the box and the insert, but didn't see anything.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Heartgard Plus chewables are flavored with beef. I order the plain Heartgard unflavored non-chewable tablets from VetRxDirect. They will contact your vet for a prescription: http://www.vetrxdirect.com/product/view/heartgard-heartworm-tablets...