Signature Grain Free Flavors

[Mindy Roaderick]

Good Morning! Bentley has been on Zignature single protein for a few years now after him eating Orijen and Acana. I switched him bc he seemed to throw up pretty often with the other brands. It typically happens after he eats and then drinks water. He is currently eating Zignature Turkey flavor and I have noticed the increase in his thirst which has caused more throwing up.  The salmon and white fish formulas don't seem to cause the excess thirst.  I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this. We try to limit the drinking but sometimes it doesn't work. 

[Mindy Roaderick]

Should be Zignature, spell check changed it for me.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If something in certain foods is causing him to be more thristy than others, it would be the specific ingredients/formula, and not the brand. 

Honestly, though, I don't think this kind of issue would be from the food itself so much as how he is eating and/or how much water he is drinking. 

Does he throw up after drinking water at other times, i.e. not just after meals? 

Does he eat rapidly? if he "likes" certain foods more than others, does he eat more of those at one time, or eat faster? 

Is the Zignature turkey formula new for him, or has he been eating it regularly and now seems to be thirstier after eating? 

What kind of treats does he get? 

Is he exercising shortly before or after eating? 

[Mindy Roaderick]

Hey Karen, thanks for the response.

He does occasionally throw up water after drinking too much at once (non food related). We try our best to limit his incremental intake but sometimes we aren't in the same room to hear him. That has been happening for years but seems to be somewhat cyclical. He is definitely not a rapid eater anymore. I am guilty of the liberal time given to eat but have been working on getting him more streamlined lately. 

He has had the turkey flavor before but mostly fish the past 6 months or so. I have never paid attention to what flavor he was eating when the throwing up increases. I just happened to open the fresh bag about 5 days ago and have noticed throwing up at least once a day, often times several hours after eating. That is when my husband and I both thought it may be the flavor. 

He has about 3-4 Buddy Biscuit grain free roasted chicken soft chews per day. 

Minimum 30-45 minutes of no exercise before  or after eating. We are diligent about that. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The only thing I can think of is that most dogs like their food better when it's very fresh, so maybe he eats more or faster when the food is from a newly opened bag? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Question: when he throws up several hours after eating, does the food look undigested? 

[Mindy Roaderick]

Definitely undigested whole pieces, even up to 8 hours later.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Okay, so that's regurgitation. It's very different from vomiting, and it can be a sign of something wrong with the digestive system, sometimes with the esophagus. I don't want to frighten you, but my Jack's IBD started this way. :(

I think a vet visit is in order. 

[Mindy Roaderick]

Thanks for the clarification Karen. Is there a specific test I can ask for? He just went for his yearly exam and of course they say all is well.

He will turn 7 in October, we adopted him from rescue when he was a year and a half. He has done this intermittently for the past 4 or so years but sometimes he will go months and months with no regurgitation. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Unfortunately, none of the testing that is typically done for digestive disease is something that would be done during a routine physical.

If it's once in awhile, it's not too concerning, but if it's happening every day, or even a couple of times a week,  that's a problem.
Maybe try going back to one of the fish formulas and see if it is related to the turkey formula. One bag of food would be a small price to pay to have that be the case, and then, problem solved, lol. 

[Mindy Roaderick]

Will do, thank you so much for your time and your expertise. You are such a wonderful wealth of knowledge and I truly appreciate your sharing that with us. Please know how much you are appreciated!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you, Mindy.