vomiting in the kennel

[Alexis]

This week Cooper has been vomiting in the kennel. It's been while no one was home and I've came home to thrown up dog food everywhere. Its in his crate, the floor, and even the walls.

Cooper does not like his kennel at all and cries while in it.

I figured he is stressed out in the kennel and it results in the vomit because this only happens when we leave him in the kennel.

I called the vet after three days of it, today, and they're thinking it may be a reaction to his bordetella vaccine which he received this past Tuesday.

There has been no diarrhea or other irregularities.

Cooper is a 13 week old Goldendoodle.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any help or advice is appreciated.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

How long is Cooper in his kennel when no one is home? 

If this started this week, had he previously been fine when left alone in his kennel, or did you just first start crating him this week? 

[Alexis]

He's been crated since 10 weeks for about 4 hours when crated.

yes, before this week he has been okay in the kennel other than crying.

We went to the vet and they gave him an antibiotic and a steroid medication.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

They gave him an antibiotic and steroids without knowing what is causing the vomiting?

[Alexis]

Yes, should I not give him the medication?

I think I may try a baby gate instead of putting him in the kennel.
Thanks so much for your help!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, drugs should never be given without a good reason, especially to a 3 month old puppy. Drugs should be used to treat specific illnesses or conditions, and of course those conditions have to be diagnosed first. Steroids in particular are very very powerful drugs with major side effects, and should never be used casually. I also can't imagine how a steroid would be effective for vomiting unless the vomiting is caused by a serious GI disease, and of course it's extremely doubtful that your puppy would have one. Antibiotics are only of use in treating an infection, and when puppies are given repeated courses of antibiotics, they often develop digestive problems. Overuse of antibiotics causes the development of strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria. I also can't imagine how an antibiotic could help with vomiting unless the vomiting was found to be caused by an infection. 

Did the vet give you a reason for prescribing these drugs, or explain how they would help? Was any testing done at all? 

It's also important to give probiotics when a dog is taking antibiotics, to maintain the healthy bacteria in the gut that the antibiotics destroy. Otherwise, the dogs often develop diarrhea after the antibitoic is discontinued, especially if it's metronidazole (flagyl). 

[Alexis]

They gave us prednisone 5mg and hydroxyzine 25mg. He is to be taking them twice a day. So far he's had 2 doses. Should I stop giving hem to him?

He's had 2 meals and has been kennel free with no throwing up.

The vet said she was giving him the medication just in case he was having a reaction to the bordetella vaccine. No testing was done other than her feeling his abdomen and checking temp. which was both normal.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Hydroxyzine is not an antibiotic but rather an antihistamine that also has some anti-nausea effects. I would continue the medications as prescribed since they are  reasonable as an effort to treat a possible vaccine reaction.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine, not an antibiotic. That makes much more sense for a possible allergic reaction to the bordatella vaccine. 

It is crucial that you do not ever stop prednisone (or any steroid drug) cold turkey. It's dangerous.

This is why you are usually instructed to taper down by lowering the frequency (twice a day, once a day, every other day) and/or the dosage. 

You might taper back sooner than was advised. What dosage and schedule were you instructed to use? i.e. how many days, etc.  

With all due respect to your vet, I would seriously question prescribing prednisone for a suspected case of a non-life-threatening vaccine reaction in a 3mo. old puppy. (Or in any dog, frankly). 

My own adult labradoodle has a lot of serious health issues, and is under the care of a dermatology specialist for severe allergies. Even in his case, she hesitates to ever prescribe prednisone unless the symptoms are so severe that there is nothing else to do to get some relief for the dog. 

[Alexis]

The prednisone is 1/2 tab every 12 hrs for 7 days, then 1/2 tab once every 24 hours for 7 days, then half a tab every other day.

The hydroxyzine is 1 tab every 12 hours until gone.

There's 15 of each tab.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, I really hesitate to advise anyone to go against their vet's instructions with medication, but that prednisone course seems excessive to me. He'll be taking it for a month. Perhaps you could call and ask if you can go to once a day sooner, and/or go to every other day sooner. 

What does he weigh and what is the dosage, i.e. how many mg. in each tablet?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree we shouldn't go against the vet. but certainly if Cooper seems fine I would call the vet tomorrow and ask if you can stop the hydoxyzine and then taper the prednisone faster. In general it is important to taper prednisone.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Is it possible you could baby gate off a small area and put his crate in the area with the door open?  Beau did not like the kennel - he was just too hot - tried a cooling pad etc.  He just preferred the tile floor.  As soon as we put him in a larger area and left the door open to the crate, he would generally lay on the floor.  He still prefers a cool floor to any dog bed!