GI Issues

[Cynthia Shoe]

Hi Folks, 

We got Lambeau a year ago, when he was 8 weeks old. Since then, we have struggled with diarrhea and vomiting issues every few months. The vet has done all sorts of tests on different occasions and has never found anything of concern. In the past we have been prescribed a few medications and it seems to have worked. We moved off of Purina Pro Plan to Fromm Puppy in January and from Fromm Puppy to Fromm Chicken Ala Veg in May/June. In July, he got extremely ill (vomited 5 times in an hour) couldn't keep down water and was lethargic. He spent the weekend in urgent care with an IV and blood, fecal, and x-rays concluded nothing. We were not prescribed anything (although they gave him an anti-nausea shot that he freaked out on) but Hill I/D food and to keep him off kibble for a week. We did that, gave him pumpkin, sweet potato, steamed chicken, and eggs for a week (he loved it) and all was well. Over the past few days, Lambeau has been waking up in the middle of the night with vomiting and diarrhea. Nothing has changed and there is nothing we can identify that he might have eaten. He is acting normally (for the most part) and keeping down water. We kept him off food for 12 hours, and I made him an egg and that stayed down. I then gave him some sweet potato but he threw it up about an hour later. I know he is hungry (because he is begging for food and pushing at the kibble container and he never does that). I hate bringing him back to the vet to do the same test and have the same lack of results. Any ideas on underlying issues or concerns we should ask the vet about? Some one mentioned Addison's disease one... Or iIf it seems just like a GI sensitivity, would a probiotic help? If so, what one? I feel so helpless when he is sick. 

[Cynthia Shoe]

Hi Kamela, 

We do have someone come spray from time to time, but mostly for the basement. I suppose those bugs could be coming upstairs... We don't do anything in the backyard at this point (fertilizer, seed, spray) because I am so worried about him. He isn't really a floor grazer. If he drops his own kibble on the floor, he turns his nose up at it! 

[Kamela & Beckett]

Doesn't sound like either of those things could be the issue, then.

Good luck! I hope you have some answers soon!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Having a Doodle with IBD I have many of the same questions that Karen asked.  I went through several similar episodes with my Murphy.  We ultimately first rand the GI panel and then went on to do the ultrasound.  Based on the results of these two tests, we went to a Specialist and had an endoscopy done.  That is when we got the confirmed diagnosis of IBD and could move ahead with treatment.  He is on meds and stable now.  Prior to the diagnosis we went through lots of food changes, including home cooking.  It would help temporarily, but then we'd start with another episode. I'm not saying that Lambeau has IBD, but I would at least want to see the GI panel run and go from there based on the results.  Do you have pet insurance?  That would be a good idea before taking the testing any further. 

[Cynthia Shoe]

We have pet insurance. I worry that they are going to cancel our policy because we use it so much! But I will ask about the GI panel today.... 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm insured with Pet Plan and their policy language states that a policy will not be cancelled or non-renewed due to medical condition or claims activity....and I've had enough very large claims to truly test this provision.  I'm so glad that you have pet insurance!

[Laura and Angus]

I totally agree with this! We've had our pup for almost two years and for a while there we were practically living at the vet! And it was pretty much every problem you could ever imagine - rarely the same thing repeated until last Spring when we had the repeated GI episodes. I would read through your policy, but I'm pretty sure they can't just cancel your policy because you use the insurance for illness - that's what it's for!

[Laura and Angus]

I feel for you all..this sounds exactly like Angus. We did the ultrasound and GI panel and nothing came up abnormal. Ugh! In talking through things with our vet, we finally decided to eliminate all other protein sources except beef/bison from Angus' diet. His food is bison and his treats are beef/bison or something without protein (e.g. PB or fruit/sweet potato). We have not (knock on wood) had any of the same difficulties since I wrote a discussion about Addison's disease in May. Perhaps an elimination diet strategy would help by eliminating all forms of protein except 1?

[Cynthia Shoe]

Someone mentioned Addison's to us a few months back at the vet. I looked through the symptoms and outside of the vomiting, he really doesn't have any. Back in July we had just started tranitioning him to Fromm's Pork and Applesauce and when he got so sick (I didn't think they were related) I went back to the Chicken Ala Veg. We have not tried him on fish/lamb/beef as the only source. He has a little bit of everything at this point so maybe we do need to switch... Are you also grain free?

[Laura and Angus]

We accidentally went grain-free some time ago (the packages looked very similar) and we just stuck with it since it helped to firm up Angus' stool (yuck, right?). I'd say you may want to consider having just one protein - we went with beef because Angus really liked the bison and I was seeing a lot of people mention issues with poultry on here. It also helps that there are a lot of DK-approved treats that have beef. If you stuck with one protein (all the time) then you could at least have a constant with diet...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Most of the LID foods on the recommended list are either going to be grain free, or they may contain one less common grain such as oatmeal. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Cynthia, here's a link to a discussion by one of our members whose doodle went through similar issues and similar "treatments" as what you're experiencing with Lambeau. I think this information may be very helpful to you.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/an-upda...

[Cynthia Shoe]

Thanks!