Food Intolerance?! Help

[Edwin Roman]

Hi Everyone.  Aspen, my goldendoodle, has had a problem with mostly regurgitation since she was about 12 weeks old.  She now is almost 2 years old.  I've switched her diet around several times with no luck.  She is currently on a limited ingredient diet and it hasn't lessen the problem.  My vet wants to try switching her to an rx food that might be easier on her stomach.  She doesn't chew on her paws and has never had and skin problems.  This leads me to believe that it might be a food intolerance problem instead of an allergy problem.  Has anyone out there experienced anything like this with their doodle?  I would appreciate any help I can get.

 

Thanks

 

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[Edwin Roman]

she eats pretty slow.  it might take her 3 minutes to finish a cup of food.  As for water, I was keeping her from drinking after she ate and I think it made it worse because she seemd to fill up more after i finally gave her water.  She drinks water but not in excess.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I also had the same question as Karen.  Also, when does Aspen vomit...early morning on an empty stomach, right after eating a meal?  Related to the timing would be whether or not the food has been digested....or is it coming back up looking like it did when the dog first ate it?  What are you currently feeding?  How often is the vomiting occurring?  Is Aspen able to maintain her weight and is this interfering with her overall health?

[Edwin Roman]

Aspen is a healthy happy dog.  She is pretty much normal excvepty for this problem. The problem doesn't really have a pattern to it eventough it might happen more often shortly after she eats if she gets excited.  If she goes on a walk she usually do it at least once.  Most of the time the food is undigested no matter of when she ate.  I've tried several different limited ingredient foods without any relief.  She is currently on grain free natures domain salmon and sweet potato.  I feed her smaller quantities 3/day.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I hate to even suggest this, because I know it will sound like something that would be difficult to do.  Both of my Doods have IBS (NOT IBD which is much more significant).  During a flare it usually manifests itself primarily with diarrhea, but there can also be vomiting (especially with my younger guy).  I feed them Honest Kitchen (freeze dried raw) supplemented with home cooked chicken and rice.  The consistency is obviously much different than kibble and it seems much easier on their stomachs.  If they are not in a flare, I can give them kibble...a little every few days but that is much more likely to cause them to spit up the food (and it does look pretty undigested which is surprising).  If I were you I would give the home cooking and/or the Honest Kitchen a try just to see what happens.  Also, I think for dogs like this it is critical not to let them run around at all after eating.  If I let my guys play after a meal one or both of them will throw up.  I keep them quiet for at least an hour after eating.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And, if you can't follow Jane's great suggestion re: homecooked or Honest Kitchen, The Food Group can also help you find a good commercial food that would not trigger any possible food intolerances, which is what the vet has in mind with the Rx food, which contains hydrolyzed proteins that woiuld not trigger a reaction. I would need a list of every formula Aspen has eaten for the past two years, though. 

I honestly don't believe this is just a food intolerance, though, especially since you mentioned that Aspen can get nervous or over excited. IBS is often caused by nervousness and stress, kind of like a spastic colon in people. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Good point about the stress, Karen.  This is especially true with Guinness....e.g. a trip to the groomer can trigger an episode.  I think food consistency may be part of the issue....so even taking the commercial food route I would look for a "soft food" option (dehydrated or canned).

[Edwin Roman]

She get excited not nervous.  She never gotten sick in the car or the vet and she gets pretty excited about those.

[Edwin Roman]

Sorry for my ignorance but, what is the Food Group?

[Jen and Annie]

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

How is her weight?? :)
Do you feed large amounts two times a day or do you let her graze slowly?
How much water does she take in? Is she playing a good hard ball game soon after dinner and drinking a lot?
There are many here with much more ecperiance with GI issues.
I do have a dog with sensitivity, but our solutions are simple as we don't have some of those major issues.

He remains an excellent weight, eats on his own terms, and we watch the water/play after he eats.
Our situation did go on for a few years but settled with routine and age.

[Edwin Roman]

I feed her 3x/day.  She get acup each time and I would say she is a grazer.  She is the same with water.  she drinks a little at a time.  We keep her settle down for at least an hour after she eats.  I try to exercise her before meals instead of after.  Sometimes she'll be toally relaxed an lying down and here it comes. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It sounds like you're doing everything right....but I would try a different food (and think about consistency).  If that isn't the answer I would probably go to a specialist.  It may have already been asked and I missed it, but do you have pet insurance?