Update to "opinions please" post

[Laura & Chewie]

So, last I posted (Thursday) Chewie checked out good at vet and I was to switch to 2 meals/day (as opposed to 3) and keep and eye on him for the occasional vomiting. Well the next morning (yesterday), he ate half his breakfast (he's on Wellness Puppy) and immediately vomited it back up. In retrospect,considering it came up so fast, perhaps he ate too fast, but I was upset and called the vet. He had me bring him in for xrays. They didn't show anything except perhaps his intestines looked a little "puffy" (vet talk) or irritated. He said maybe, even though all fecal exams since the day we got him have been negative, he has a parasite like Giardia. I pointed out his poop was fine, and he said sometimes it doesn't cause loose poops, just an upset tummy. So he put him on Prescription Diet ID and gave me some meds (Panacur) to sprinkle on the food until next week. When I read the ingredients for the ID, I wasn't happy since it goes against all I have read...contains corn, soy, etc. But, as a friend pointed out, if you go to a vet and don't listen to their advice, why go.

Fast forward to today. He has had two meals of the ID, has not vomited, but his poop a little while ago, which is normally very firm, was softer (still formed) but had slimy stuff on some of it (mucus?). Close to $300 later, I am still not convinced there is anything really wrong and now I'm feeding him crappy food that hopefully won't create a problem.

I don't know the purpose to this post, except to vent a little, but would welcome opinions. Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Vent away, that's what we're here for.
As to your friend's comment "if you go to a vet and don't listen to their advice, why go", I don't go to the vet for nutritional advice. The food won't cause any long term problems, as Chewie is not going to be on it long enough for that to happen.
I really doubt that Chewie has giardia, since that causes horrendous, unbelievably foul & frequent diarrhea, not vomiting. And even if he does have giardia, changing his diet is not the treatment, other than maybe some pumpkin to firm things up while the meds get rid of parasite. There is no kind of food that can get rid of parasites, lol.
I am so sorry that poor Chewie is having so much troiuble with digestive upsets. I hope he gets better soon.

[Tammy & Gracie]

I understand the venting part. Many times I feel the same. Gracie is going to the vet for allergies. He tells me one thing. But I learn lots of other things here. And in my heart I think what I am learning here is the truth. Our vets just are not trained in some areas. I also think sometimes they will give you what they think you want, some medicine to make it better. I have had the same feeling, why go if I don't follow the advice given. So I have no solution either, just empathy. I love my vet and think he is one of the best in the city. He has treated my dogs for years and has done some pretty good saves of really ill ones at times.

I agree with you. I think your pup is fine if the fecal tests and vet exam showed nothing. Some dogs throw up. And some dogs throw up pretty often. The mucousy stuff happens sometimes also, probably from something he ate. If he shows nop other signs of illness and things don't worsen I would go on and finish the medicine and move on. You may try a special bowl. I don't know what it is called but it is designed to slow down a dogs eating. If he's swallowing his food whole, that may help.

Yeah, I am like you, no solutions, just agreeing with the venting.....

[fergie11]

The bowl has large dividers in it and does slow them down. I used one with Lucy and it did slow her down. She's still a little pic but it did slow her down a bit and I don't use it anymore. I agree with you and Tammy. I think Chewie will be fine as she grows up.

[Laura & Chewie]

Thanks Karen and Tammy for the empathy...definitely helps. So, would you not worry about occasional vomiting in a puppy (4 months) who seems healthy in every other way? If it was the Wellness, would it not happen with every meal? I am not opposed to changing to another high quality food, but who knows if that would be better and I definitely don't want to get into a cycle of changing his diet every other month.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Laura, I wouldn't worry about it, unless it starts happening so often that it interferes with his getting proper nutrition. If his weight is fine, and he plays & seems to be in good spirits, and his poop is normal, I wouldn't worry about occasional vomiting. Try the special dish that slows them down, and try to keep him from being too active just before or after a meal. Watch his weight, check his poop, look at his eyes, and then just relax. Maybe he just needs longer for his digestive system to mature.

[Tammy & Gracie]

No, I definately would not worry, if he is normal in other ways. Like Karen said, if he acts normal, eyes are bright and clear and he has a good appetite, it's nothing. Just wipe his face and go on. if it becomes serious you will know that it is different. They get a look about them when a tummy illness is serious, I say they look kind of "green". Good luck and try to worry less. Also try that bowl. Does he eat lots of contraband? Toy innards, grass, sticks, acorns, etc? If so that will explain the sometimes vomiting and sometimes mucousy poop. That is part of having a puppy. You can't save them from everything!!!

[Laura & Chewie]

I think you guys are right...I worry too much. I am going to look into that bowl. We try to keep a real close eye on him outside eating things and so far he hasn't torn up any toys. He's a big paper shredder, but just shreds and spits the pieces out. LOL. The mucousy poop is new today...only since the prescription food...funny. It is hard to believe there is anything real wrong seeing how feisty and playful he is.

[Lori]

We have a Pekingnese that we rescued from the shelter. She has chronic colitis and takes flagyll everyday for it. She will throw up sometimes but the real similarity is in the mucousy poop, which our vet says it "classic colitis". If she doesn't get her meds it will very quickly turn watery and bloody - but still slimy with mucous. Just something to think about....nothing shows up in any tests with the colitis either. I also figured out on my own that she has a wheat allergy - her now white belly was mostly black spots when we got her. Now with a lamb and rice diet it's a healthy pink. Good luck. A couple of months ago I spent $275 for x-rays for our Shih Tzu for what turned out to be very bad gas! (And the vet bill gave me very bad heartburn!) Keep us posted..I hope it isn't anything too serious.

[Laura & Chewie]

Well, we had an interesting night, to say the least. Chewie was in his crate as usual by 10:30. He woke me up barking at 12:30. He always sleeps (or is quiet) until at least 7:00 am, so I knew something was wrong. Took him out and he peed and has loose stools. Put him back in crate...up again at 3:3O, out again...only peed. Then between 3:30 and 5:30, he barked a number of times, but would settle back down. Out again at 5:30...very loose stools again. Back in crate until finally 7:30. I also think he was very hungry. After breakfast (will talk about that below), went out again...diarrhea, but not much left in him. I am thinking the loose stools/diarrhea is probably from switching abruptly to the prescription ID with no transition (thank you vet!).

So I debated what to feed him. Decided on a little of the ID so I could mix the powdered meds in. Then I added about 1/2 the amount of his Wellness Puppy he normally eats and a couple spoons of pumpkin. Based on reading here, I had bought a can to keep in the pantry for such an occasion. I didn't know how much to give him, but figured 2 tbl wouldn't hurt. How fast will the pumpkin firm him up? I am kind of at a loss where to go from here...aside from back to bed...LOL.

[Kelly Gallagher]

Maddy was having some stomach issues back in August. I was VERY opposed to using the science diet ID but I have to say it did seem to help. There shouldn't need to be a transition period with the science diet it has very little protein in it and it's purpose is to calm things down. What was explained to me is that for whatever reason Maddy's inside were inflamed and they needed to calm down. The vet put her on science diet for 5 days and then we started mixing it with her food for a couple of days and then a full switch back to her food. She was also on an antibiotic for 10 days. He explained that when there is loose stools for a period of time or an upset stomach that bacteria can buildup - there is inflammation in the large intestine - and the body needs to have a bland diet..either science id or chicken and rice so that the stomach enzymes don't have to work too hard to break things down. It calms down the intestines and hopefully within a few days things get back to normal. Believe me..I totally feel your pain..it's frustrating and confusing and tiring at the same time. Hang in there. I would try to stick with the bland diet for a few days and see what happens.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The waking up at night having to go out does sound like giardia. If it is, the Panacur takes three days to stop it. I had that experience last fall with a foster puppy.
I'm so sorry you & Chewie are having to go through these frustrating & confusing issues. Hang in there!

[Laura & Chewie]

But he didn't have loose stools until he started eating the ID. Frustrating and confusing ...definitely. He has not gone poop again since this morning (about 7 hours). I guess the next day or so will tell.