Orijen alternative?

[Connie & Kramer]

I am concerned about Kramer, he is 11 months and has been on Orijen Large Puppy for many months. He has been vomiting about once a week and gets loose to runny stools too. Sometimes he vomits in the morning which is bile, most likely due to an empty stomach. Other times he vomits food. Last night was bad. He threw up food and bile and had diarrhea in the house. He's never had an accident before. Otherwise he seems fine and wants to play but I'm keeping things low key with him today. He gets a lot of ear wax but it's not infected. Someone said switch his food to see if that is causing the problems.

I used to give him a little peanut butter but I cut that out to see if the problems continue and they have. His treats are Natural Balance duck and potatoe, but again, I give him so little of that, I can't imagine that is the problem. since I have been tracking this issue, I have cut out everything but the food.

I would appreciate any suggestions on alternative foods. I know Kramer has a sensitive stomach, but this has been a recurring problem that doesn't seem to get better. Thanks.

Connie

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Before I would switch foods, I would bring Kramer in to see the vet. Vomiting and diarrhea on a regular weekly basis is indicative of more than a food issue, especially when you are feeding a really high quality food.

As far as an alternative food, I would consider the Acana limited ingredient formulas- the Lamb & Apple, Duck & Pear, or the Chicken & Burbank potato. But I really think he needs to see the vet.

And do not allow anyone (including the vet)  to tell you that this is caused by a food allergy, and requires Rx food. It's not and it doesn't.

[Connie & Kramer]

Thanks Karen. I'll let you know what we find out.

[Diana Erhart]

I too would recommend a visit to the vet.  My daughter's puppy would have this same sort of thing happen to her when she would get sort of parasite.  She went through this many times before they (she and the vet) figured out the dog was picking it up from the common doggie park area near her apartment building.  Obviously someone who frequented there was not taking very good care of their dog :(  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Also, Connie, once you get the GI issues sorted out, whatever food you go with, Kramer doesn't need puppy food any more, he can go to an adult formula, and unless you expect him to go over 90 lbs at full maturity, he doesn't need a large breed formula.

[Connie & Kramer]

I have been thinking back to everything we did yesterday and what Kramer ate.  He was at the pet sitter's house in the morning and I remembered he had that orangy-yellow on his face that he gets when she feeds him pumpkin.  I've asked her not to do it until I figure this out, so we will have to talk about that more.  I'm wondering if the pumpkin is causing a problem.  If he had food allergies or sickness, wouldn't it happen every day?  This is about once a week, not daily.  Normally the stools are firm.  I've eliminated everything from his diet but the food to see if something added is causing the problem.

Have you ever heard of pumpkin causing a problem with a dog?  I haven't seen anything that indicates it would, but maybe he's not used to it or getting too much at once? 

Also, Karen, thanks for the tip on the food.  He's about 60 pounds @ 11 months - so I will consider the Adult Acana to change over. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Vomiting once a week is a concern, and diarrhea once a week would also indicate that something is not right. However, if he is getting something he doesn't eat on a daily basis at the pet sitter's house, that could be the problem. Pumpkin does not normally cause any kind of digestive upset, but if she is giving him something you've asked her not to give him, there may be something else she's giving him that you don't know about. Why in the world would anyone give a dog pumpkin unless there was a digestive issue, it's not like giving a treat. It makes me wonder if she is giving him some other type of food or treat and then giving him pumpkin to try to keep it from giving him diarrhea.

Food allergies do not typically cause GI symptoms, and GI symptoms are never the only symptom even when they do. A food intolerance could cause it. GI disease is weird, a dog can have firm stool one day and diarrhea the next, so it's hard to tell.

[Julie and Charlie]

Oh, my little boy thinks pumpkin is a treat! It's how I manage nail trims, brushing, ear cleaning, and eye crusty-picking, and crate training!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Wow, lucky you! JD gags from pumpkin, and hates all fruits and veggies ecept for lima beans, figure that one out, lol!

[Charlotte and Bo]

Really JD!  No one I know actually likes lima beans :-)

[Christine & Camus]

I agree, a trip to the vet would be best.  Food can, in some situations, cause diarrhea, however since Kramer has been eating the same kibble for many months that does not seem to be a likely cause (IMO).

[Connie & Kramer]

I took Kramer to the vet today.  He vomited again this morning and still has runny stools.  He was lethargic yesterday but he did eat and drink, so I could tell he wasn't in bad shape.  ( I had a cat that ate hair bands and nearly died from a blockage - Kramer is normal compared to how my cat acted).  When he threw up this morning, I noticed a lot of fuzz, so my best guess is that he has ingested toy stuffing and this has been the problem.  The doctor has him on Pepcid and Flagyl.  He also wanted me to add high fiber to his diet to help bind him and pass whatever was left in his stomach.  (ugh...Science Diet WD) - OK, but I'm only giving it to him for a day or two to see if he improves.  We are going to monitor him day to day and decide if we need to do xrays tomorrow.  He's been alert today and is showing no signs of distress other than what I said before.  However, he had a fever of 104, so I'm a little concerned about that and will monitor his temp tonight.

After I saw that stuffing, it made sense.  Kramer developed the skill to pick at the threads on all his stuffed toys recently, and I've been picking up stuffing and throwing out toys for a month now.  That would explain why the vomiting wasn't consistent.  I all ready threw out the toys and bought him new, non stuffing toys, and some new rubber balls (he can tear the tennis balls apart, even the Kongs, in 10 minutes).  He's not destructive, he just likes opening the threads and pulling the stuffing out, but apparently he is ingesting it.

Thanks for your advice everyone - I'll let you know how he does.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad you went to the vet. Did they run a fecal?

The metronidazole (flagyl) is an antibiotic that kills protozoa but is often used for diarrhea, so I guess that's why the vet prescribed it. It won't help get rid of any kind of obstruction. I hope Kramer feels better soon and whatever it is passes. (Pun intended.)