Having to take Jack off Orijen or at least mixing it

[Jennifer and Jack]

This has been such a long ongoing process for me. When it was just Jack that had the inflamed bowel loops and constipation/loose stool I was thinking for sure that it was just because of issues going on here.

Molly was at the vet yesterday, I didn't post on here because it was just for dehydration/diarrhea and so many of you have such bigger issues. The did some testing on Molly and Molly also has inflamed bowels.  Thickened loops etc. They actually were not totally sure she did not ingest something since she was so inflamed.

This was Molly's vet in Hilton Head and while I am less then impressed with the foods she recommended, she agreed Orijen is a good food, a great food but that some dogs, especially little ones with sensitive stomachs can not handle the richness and that she has seen more and more dogs come in with inflamed bowels.

My mom who is 70 years old and still lives by the idea that doctor is right no matter what, was ready to put Molly on Royal Canine or whatever it is called. 

I had started cutting Jack's Orijen a while back and mixing it with Fromm grains and it seems like that has helped a bit with Jack, however, we are going back to Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance. It is an okay enough dog food, it is the dog food both Molly and Jack came to us on, Jack loved it, ate well on it and his poops were perfect.

I will update you in a few months after Jack and Molly have been on it, to let you know how their poops are, and I will be getting another test of Jack's intestines to see if the swelling went down.

You know it was a hard decision because I know Orijen is so good, however, if I can get the inflammation down in Jack and now Molly's intestines, I will be thrilled. Sometimes good enough has to be good enough...and Jack and Molly  eating and pooping appropriately is going to have to be good enough. 

I am glad DVP is at least an acceptable form of dog food, though not the best.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Sheer frustration is what I feel right now! Today I have Jack a shower and noticed he had the same skin infection bumps he had three weeks ago.... I fought him back to the vet and sure enough, a skin infection and an ear infection!!! WTD !!!! And I want to insert a curse word or a dozen.

The vet thinks since his loose poop has returned, as well as his skin infection and now an ear infection that he is having a food allergy!!!! This is where I am confused, he is on an oral antibiotic for three weeks and ear drops for one week! Jacks main source of protein has always been duck, except for the few mo ths he was on Orijen. We were just at my moms for a little,over a week and she fed same. Rand Dick Van Patten. It in Chicken...so it is either the chicken or the duck. For now we are just letting him have the duck and sweet potatoes with NO topper at all!!!

Where I am confused is why would the vet if she suspected chicken or duck as the source of the allergy not remove both sources? She told me duck and chicken are closely related so if it was an allergy to chicken she would suggest another protein other then duck??? Why not just take him off both proteins and try something different such as kangaroo or an odd source of protein? I don't want him on antibiotics for three weeks only to have her say, yes it a food allergy. Take him off, why wait since I have other choices? Since he eats such a small amount of food I can get him any kind.

So frustrating that my baby is sick again!!! I know nothing serious but the blisters hurt him!