Charlie is acting strange...UPDATE

[Diana Erhart]

UPDATE:

After writing this last week I tried to think back to what had changed with Charlie over the past few weeks.  I remembered that I had bought a new bag of Pupperoni that we had started just before all the tummy troubles.  I know Pupperoni is junk food but we had this tradition of Charlie having just 4 little pieces every night before bed.  Anyway, I decided to stop giving him those 4 little pieces each day.  Ever since then he has been getting progressively better.  No more staring into space or acting like he can't move.  All weekend I could see him getting better and today he is back to being more playful than he has been in a long, long time.  I just got off the phone with our vet and she thinks that the pupperoni's were upsetting his stomach so bad that his strange behavior was coming from pain.  She thinks that if it were from some sort of tick-borne illness that he wouldn't be acting as playful now as he has (it is like he is one or two instead of six years old).  So for now we are going on the assumption that the Pupperoni was causing the problem and we are just doing the healthy treats from here on out.  No junk food, not even a little bit.  Thanks to all of you for your concern, advice and words of encouragement.  Hopefully this is all behind us now!

******

First, a little background.  Mid-June Charlie got his 6 year check up and was deemed very healthy.  Two weeks later he had an upset tummy with diarrhea and wanted to constantly eat grass.  This is not unusual for him as he has a sensitive tummy and many times will eat grass, throw up and be fine the next day.  So he eats grass and he throws up.  But the vomit is pink and has little red bits in it.  So we rush to the vet.  She thinks the pink and red are from a piece of pupperoni he ate the night before (the only thing he ate all day) and thinks he has gastritis.  She gives him a shot for nausea and some meds to coat his stomach for the next 5 days.  The vomiting stops and his poos are getting better but he still is not really eating much but at least some things.

Now, not sure if this is next is related or not, since all this has happened he will sometimes during the day (and night) act like he is either weak or his legs hurt.  He will refuse to come down the stairs and bark until I pick him up and carry him down.  He also acts very lethargic at times.  And sometimes he will just stand and stare for a long time and not move, then eventually bark for me to come and pick him up.  Then an hour later he will be running around like everything is fine, chasing balls, bunnies, birds.  He still isn't eating much but he is eating some.  His tummy seems to be all settled other than that.  But every time I think I need to take him to the vet, then he acts fine again for half the day.  Last night at 2 am he woke me up with barking.  I found him on the landing of the steps just sitting there.  When I came down he slowly went down the last couple of steps and got a big drink of water, went outside to pee and then went back up the stairs by himself and went back to bed.  Now this morning he is acting fine again.  

I am not sure if he is just spoiled at this point or if there is something wrong.  Every time I think I am going to call the vet and take him in, he starts acting fine again.  But when he is not acting fine he looks so pathetic and sad.  I figure that if he is still doing this tomorrow I will take him in to the vet over the weekend (yes, my wonderful vet has weekend hours!) but was wondering if anyone else has every encountered this or has any suggestions of other behaviors to watch for.  

Sorry for the long length.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I agree 100% with exactly what Nancy said here.  Full blood work says a LOT about how a dog is doing.  Always trust your instincts. Always. 

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I totally agree on the full blood panel. Charlie doesn't sound so much spoiled as not feeling up to par. 

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I am just now reading this, so I really don't have anything to add except I hope poor little Charlie gets well soon.  He doesn't sound like he's being spoiled to me; this doesn't sound normal.  I hope you get to the bottom of it!  Keep us posted.

[Sue & Lily Grace]

Let us know when you have an update for Charlie. It is so hard to see these little ones not feeling well.

[Diana Erhart]

Just posted an update on Charlie.  Things are looking up!

[Bonnie and Kona]

This is such great news! I am so glad that Charlie is doing well and that you discovered what it was!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Pupperoni can do more than upset a dog's tummy.

Sorry for the bold print, that's how it copied.

Beef, Soy Flour, Soy Grits, Beef by-products, Corn Starch, Propylene Glycol, Sugar, Molasses, Dry Cheddar Cheese, Calcium Sulfate, Beef Liver, Salt, Garlic Powder, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Smoke Flavor, Potassium Sorbate (used as a preservative), Titanium Dioxide, Caramel Color, Sodium Nitrate (for color retention), Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40, BHA (used as a preservative), Onion Extract

From the Dog Food Project's Ingredients to Avoid:

Propylene Glycol:

A colorless viscous hygroscopic liquid, CH3CHOHCH2OH, used in antifreeze solutions, in  hydraulic fluids, and as a solvent.    

      Used as humectant in semi-moist kibble to keep it from drying out. May be toxic if consumed  in large amounts, and should definitely not be an ingredient in a food an animal will eat daily for weeks, months or even years of its life. In countries of the European Union, propylene glycol is not cleared as a general-purpose food grade product or direct food additive.

BHA: Butylated Hydroxysanisole - a white, waxy phenolic antioxidant, C11H16O2, used to preserve      fats and oils, especially in foods.    

      Banned from human use in many countries but still permitted in the US. Possible human  carcinogen, apparently carcinogenic in animal experiments. The oxidative characteristics and/or metabolites of BHA and BHT may contribute to carcinogenicity or tumorigenicity.

 

Yellow Dye 6:

Industry-sponsored animal tests indicated that this dye, the third most widely used, causes  tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney. In addition, small amounts of several carcinogens contaminate Yellow 6. However, the FDA reviewed those data and found reasons to conclude that  Yellow 6 does not pose a significant cancer risk to humans. Yellow 6 may also cause  occasional allergic reactions. Another ingredient I would rather avoid and err on the side of caution rather than risking my pet's health.

By-products, Soy flour, Titamium Dioxide, Yellow 5 and Red 40 are also listed in the ingredients to avoid, but are not as bad as the ones described above.

Given this info, I would not be surprised if the Pupperoni was the the cause of Charlie's not feeling well. I'm glad you've stopped giving it to him and that he is feeling better.

 

 

[Sue & Lily Grace]

Diana, I am so happy that Charlie has perked up. I have learned so much on this site. When my puppy comes home, she will not even be started on any junk. It is funny how different dogs react to different things, I will never take a chance again. Enjoy him, he is so cute.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I thought it sounded like the pupperoni.  So many of these problems can be traced back to diet.  We have to be so careful about everything these days.  I learned the hard way with my chihuahua, who got really sick from some imported chicken tendon crap.  So glad Charlie is doing better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Glad to hear that Charlie is better and that the cause was such an easy one to treat. There are some really nice and easy homemade treats you can do for him, that are very healthy, and cost effective. I dehydrate veggies, like sweet potatoe a lot. And make their jerky out of top sirloin that the butcher cuts into thin slices. Along with liver treats and just raw veggies like carrots, you can give him things that are always safe as you know exactly what the ingredients are. Priceless to me.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Exactly.

A great treat I have found are Stouffer's Animal Crackers.  Vet suggested I feed those to Taquito for his kidney issues (they are easy to digest for him and easy on kidneys).  Peri goes wacky for them now so that's the treat I use - plus fruits and veggies.

[Diana Erhart]

Interesting.  I will have to give those a try.  I am also going to try dehydrating beef and some organ meat and see how that goes.  Hopefully it won't make the house smell too bad!