sick dog - could it be her food?

[Jen W]

Dory had a bout of diarrhea sometime during the night, another one this morning and then vomited (not foamy bile, but discernible food pieces).

She usually eats either the Pork & Applesauce or Chicken & Veg varieties from Fromm's 4-Star Nutritionals line, but last night she got the Duck & Sweet Potato version from this same line for the first time.  I did not slowly transition her to the duck since it is part of the same line and has the same nutritional composition.  Was this a mistake?  Could her getting sick be from the new food variety?

Thanks in advance for any insight anyone has.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Great tips! Good luck!

[Gail and Bailey]

Fingers crossed that it is nothing serious!

[Jen W]

As Karen predicted, the vet tried to send me home with an rx for metronidazole.  When I questioned its usefulness given that she doesn't have a known bacterial bug, he said we could start with a probiotic instead so I got some of the Proviable DC that I just ordered online this morning.  Also some Proviable KP which is a paste.  I'm not clear on what the difference is though.

The vet said it doesn't sound like there is an obstruction since things she eats are going through and she didn't seem to be in any pain when he pressed on her belly.  She probably just ate something spoiled or that didn't agree with her and given enough time eating boiled chicken, rice and sweet potato should be okay.

He also wanted to give her an injection to stop her from vomiting, but I resisted that b/c it seems to me like if she has to throw up, she should just go ahead and do it.  She isn't dehydrated.  The vet's office is open tomorrow before closing for the holiday weekend, so if there is more/worse tonight, I might go back in, but I am comfortable trying the bland diet and the probiotics for now.

Thank you all so much for your help.  Had I not stumbled upon doodlekisses two years ago when googling potty training goldendoodles I'd probably have just given Dory a dose of metronidazole and started down a path I now know I don't want to be on.

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Apparently Proviable KP has other ingredients that help to firm the stool. The Proviable DC is just the probiotics. 

http://www.nutramaxlabs.com/dog/dog-digestive-health/proviable-kp-dogs

Please keep us posted on how she does. 

[Jen W]

Dory hasn't had any further episodes of vomiting or diarrhea since I put her on the bland food diet last Wednesday.  Her bowel movements aren't totally normal in terms of volume or color, but it is not diarrhea.  She seems really hungry even though I figured out the amount of chicken/rice/sweet potato to equal the # of calories she was getting from the kibble.

How long do I keep her on the bland food diet?  Is it time to start slowly reintroducing her regular kibble (Fromm's)?  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You can start adding the kibble back into her diet. Be sure to continue the Proviable. 

[Jen W]

Thanks, Karen!  I started adding the kibble into her "chicken casserole" yesterday.  I could hardly sleep last night b/c I was so worried about what I was going to wake up to but the rug was just as I left it.  And when we went outside she had the best poop she's had since this started.

I truly appreciate your input on this.  My first thought when I wondered about how long to wait was not to call the vet but to ask you.  I don't tell anyone that I take advice from a stranger on the Internet, b/c frankly, that's not really how I think of you!  Thank you so much!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm happy to help. I hope she continues to improve. 

And thank you for the kind words. :) 

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Great news, glad to hear she is doing better!

and yes, I agree..we are all very lucky to have Karen..she has helped countless members make the best choices for our pets!