What is wrong with my dog?

[GregT]

All,

I'm puzzled by the behavior recently of our sweet little dog, Daisy. She is almost two years old (call it 22 months), weighs about 13-15 pounds, and is a Maltese-Poodle mix.

Anyway, recently (used to be periodic, now three consecutive days), she will consume her food uneventfully.

After some time has passed (an hour?) she will start to gag, and will up-chuck the contents of her stomach. I've looked at it, and don't see anything unusual other than the kibbles that she eats.

Separately, we have noticed soft stools for about a month now, yellowish-brown in color.

We'll take her to the vet this week because we're a little worried, but her health and perkiness seem very good -- if it wasn't for this one issue, she would seem perfectly healthy.

Any thoughts???

Thanks very much!

Greg

 

[heathpack]

All,

I'm puzzled by the behavior recently of our sweet little dog, Daisy. She is almost two years old (call it 22 months), weighs about 13-15 pounds, and is a Maltese-Poodle mix.

Anyway, recently (used to be periodic, now three consecutive days), she will consume her food uneventfully.

After some time has passed (an hour?) she will start to gag, and will up-chuck the contents of her stomach. I've looked at it, and don't see anything unusual other than the kibbles that she eats.

Separately, we have noticed soft stools for about a month now, yellowish-brown in color.

We'll take her to the vet this week because we're a little worried, but her health and perkiness seem very good -- if it wasn't for this one issue, she would seem perfectly healthy.

Any thoughts???

Thanks very much!

Greg

Does the food come back up looking undigested?

If it does, your dog likely has megaesophagus. It can usually be diagnosed via chest xray.

Megaesophagus can be a primary condition or it can happen secondary to other diseases. Myasthenia gravis is the most common (diagnosed via a blood test), also sometimes endocrine diseases like Addison's disease or hypothyroidism (the former would be common in a young dog, but it is an uncommon cause of megaesophagus; the latter would be rare in a young dog). There are other possibilities but those are the big ones.

If your dog has active abdominal contractions during the event & she is bringing up digested food, then she is vomiting. Megaesophagus would no longer be on the list, instead primary gastrointestinal disease would be most likely but there are many other possibilities. Sorry I don't diagnose/treat GI disease, so I will not be terribly helpful in that event, I'm afraid.

Good luck.

H

 

[GregT]

Does the food come back up looking undigested?

If it does, your dog likely has megaesophagus. It can usually be diagnosed via chest xray.

Megaesophagus can be a primary condition or it can happen secondary to other diseases. Myasthenia gravis is the most common (diagnosed via a blood test), also sometimes endocrine diseases like Addison's disease or hypothyroidism (the former would be common in a young dog, but it is an uncommon cause of megaesophagus; the latter would be rare in a young dog). There are other possibilities but those are the big ones.

If your dog has active abdominal contractions during the event & she is bringing up digested food, then she is vomiting. Megaesophagus would no longer be on the list, instead primary gastrointestinal disease would be most likely but there are many other possibilities. Sorry I don't diagnose/treat GI disease, so I will not be terribly helpful in that event, I'm afraid.

Good luck.

H

H,

Wow! I was looking for general suggestions, and this is terrific -- very clinical in nature, very much appreciated.

Unfortunately, I think I am looking at a GI problem, because the food is definitely partially digested -- looks a little bit like soft serve yogurt with the chunks from kibbles still in it.

But thank you very much for steering me in the right direction. I very much appreciate the comments!

Best,

Greg

 

[heathpack]

Texted a DVM internist "What are the most common causes of chronic intermittent vomiting with a 3-day history of intermittent vomiting in a 22 mo old Maltipoo?"

The list I got is:
Inflammatory bowel disease
Dietary indiscretion
GI parasites
Giardiasis with reinfection
Addison's disease
Portosystemic shunt

The typical starting points are general bloodwork (CBC, chemistry panel, urinalysis), fecal float, abdominal X-rays. Then second level tests/procedures might be (depending on results of initial tests): empiric deworming, abdominal ultrasound, blood test for giardiasis, ACTH stimulation (test for Addisons disease) and/or bile acids test (liver function test, a prelimary test to ascertain if a portosystemic shunt is present). Third level tests might include intestinal biopsies (to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease) or a hepatic scintigraphy (to diagnose a portosystemic shunt).

Of course your vet will take a more thorough history and perform a physical exam which may take things in a different direction.

Good luck.

H

 

[GregT]

Texted a DVM internist "What are the most common causes of chronic intermittent vomiting with a 3-day history of intermittent vomiting in a 22 mo old Maltipoo?"

The list I got is:
Inflammatory bowel disease
Dietary indiscretion
GI parasites
Giardiasis with reinfection
Addison's disease
Portosystemic shunt

The typical starting points are general bloodwork (CBC, chemistry panel, urinalysis), fecal float, abdominal X-rays. Then second level tests/procedures might be (depending on results of initial tests): empiric deworming, abdominal ultrasound, blood test for giardiasis, ACTH stimulation (test for Addisons disease) and/or bile acids test (liver function test, a prelimary test to ascertain if a portosystemic shunt is present). Third level tests might include intestinal biopsies (to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease) or a hepatic scintigraphy (to diagnose a portosystemic shunt).

Of course your vet will take a more thorough history and perform a physical exam which may take things in a different direction.

Good luck.

H

H,

Thank you so much for sending that text, and the detailed responses of what might be wrong. it has definitely confirmed the suspicions that something isn't right. We will take her to the Vet and soon, and will hope for the best....

Thanks again for the time and consideration!

Best,

Greg

 

[easyrider]

Our new dog started doing the same thing so we switched dog food. Rex gets Kirkland dog food made in the USA . The Pedigree dog food from Costco was making Rex gag and throw up.

Bill

 

[Saintsfanfl]

We have a French Bulldog that had previously always had issues throwing up due to being sensitive to many types of food. She had been to the vet several times and they had her on some expensive food that lessened the issue. About 5 years ago I started experimenting with different foods and found one that has all but eliminated the vomiting.

Since yours is a recent development it does not sounds like an alergy. Hopefully it is a minor medical issue that can be treated easily.

 

[DebBrown]

Another lay person chiming in. We call in "poodle tummy". Some poodle and poodle mixes tend to have a sensitive stomach and vomit now and then. One of my three is like this. He usually responds to stress by not eating or vomiting.

Has anything changed in your household? Anyone been out of town or away from home more?

Of course, heathpack is an expert and it could be something more serious. It is good that you are seeing your vet.

Deb

 

[myoakley]

You should definitely take your dog to the vet. However, the solution may be something very simple like a change in food. I had a similar problem with my collie when she was about 2-yrs. old. She vomitied every now and then, but had diarrhea consistently several times a day. This went on and off over a period of several months. I had her checked for parasites which turned out negative. Then, I changed to Blue Buffalo kibbles (which I mix with Iams canned food and/or some table food), and the problem has disappeared. Also, I have completely eliminated the edible chew bones (the kind that are flavored or filled with peanut butter, etc.), because I noticed that the problem was worse after she had eaten one of them. (Especially do not give your dog any bones or treats which come from China!) I beleive that it is worth spending the extra money for a high quality dog food (there are several made particularly for sensitive stomachs) if it eliminates vet bills!
Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[mjm1]

Greg, no suggestions here as we don't own a dog. Sorry to hear about the issue your dog is having. We hope the vet solves it for you. Good luck.

Mike

 

[GregT]

All,

Thank you for your kind comments and concerns (and professional advice). We took Daisy to the Vet today and she was very satisfied her general health. She thought the most likely reason was due to a ringworm pill that Daisy took previously (and had seen similar reactions in other dogs) so she changed the medicine.

She cautioned us to make sure she wasn't eating anything in the backyard that she shouldn't and to bring her back if this pattern recurred.

We will see -- but I hope it was that pill!

Best,

Greg

 

[Passepartout]

Greg, we have been known to give ours a half a chewable Pepto-Bismol with meds known to upset the tummy. Helps with diarrhea too.

 

[MuranoJo]

Our new dog started doing the same thing so we switched dog food. Rex gets Kirkland dog food made in the USA . The Pedigree dog food from Costco was making Rex gag and throw up.

Bill

Our older dog is also not too fond of the Pedigree brand. Welcome any suggestions for healthy dog food, if there is such a thing. I've heard horror stories about some of the products out there.

 

[seussg111]

Pet food recalls

Diamond pet foods is in the middle of a massive recall. Diamond manufactures food for multiple different companies including Wellness and Kirkland Signature (Costco). Do a search on google for Diamond Pet food recall and see what you find. Also, use this link http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recalls/ for a list of recalls for dog products going back some time.

Personally, I started my dog on an all natural holistic pet food some time ago after finding the company online. They are not sold in big box stores, and the food is delivered directly to you. They sent me free samples and I was hooked. The products have never been recalled. I order from www(dot)healthiestpetfood(dot)com

I have had lots of luck and my dog really loved the food. I hope your pet is not really seriously ill and you can get this undercontrol maybe by some simple change in diet. Good luck!

 

[Timeshare Von]

Our older dog is also not too fond of the Pedigree brand. Welcome any suggestions for healthy dog food, if there is such a thing. I've heard horror stories about some of the products out there.

Our Miss Heidi has had a skin condition due to a food type allergy since she was a puppy. Science Diet was the worst for her! She has been happily on Wellness ever since. She had been eating their Super 5 Mix but just graduated to their "senior" version this year.

It is an all natural product and therefore a bit on the pricey side (around $55 for a 30lb bag). If you sign up on the Wellness page you will get a $3 or $5 coupon by email throughout the year, which for us seems to happen right about the time we need to buy a new bag (which lasts about 3 months for her). FYI she is a 60lb pit bull mix.

 

[artringwald]

Our dog also had skin problems. We tried a variety of products, but his skin didn't clear up until we started on Blue Buffalo Grain Free food. It's not cheap, but now we don't have to listen to the poor dog scratching all the time.

 

[Sandy VDH]

I use Costco Kirkland Signature and have had good luck with it. My dog that passed away at nearly 15, last year, had allergies and did well on the KS brand.

 

[Passepartout]

Our older dog is also not too fond of the Pedigree brand. Welcome any suggestions for healthy dog food, if there is such a thing. I've heard horror stories about some of the products out there.

Here's a way to score your dog's food as well as the scores by brand: http://members.petfinder.com/~CA469/files/DogFoodRatings.pdf It sure is confusing with all those bags in the pet food aisle that all advertise heavily and every one shouts 'Complete Nutrition', when all we want is the best- and something our beloved pet will like. It would sure be easier if they could just TELL us.

Incidentally, Pedigree is nowhere to be seen.

 

[klpca]

All,

Thank you for your kind comments and concerns (and professional advice). We took Daisy to the Vet today and she was very satisfied her general health. She thought the most likely reason was due to a ringworm pill that Daisy took previously (and had seen similar reactions in other dogs) so she changed the medicine.

She cautioned us to make sure she wasn't eating anything in the backyard that she shouldn't and to bring her back if this pattern recurred.

We will see -- but I hope it was that pill!

Best,

Greg

Glad your pup is on the mend!

Re: grazing on things in the backyard - we have two dogs, a mutt (perfect health) and our Lab, Buddy. Buddy had been having some obvious digestion problems for about a week and we couldnt figure it out. It wasn't consistent enough to make us take him to the vet but we began watching his intake closely. That's when we discovered that our neighbor's plum tree was dropping fruit near the fence. Buddy was making a beeline to the fence every morning and scarfing up whatever fruit had fallen overnight. Of course we had no idea the fruit was dropping because he was eating all of it! From then on, we went out first and picked up plums before we let him out. Problem solved.

 

[MuranoJo]

Looks like a few TUG recommendations (Wellness, Kirkland, Blue Buffalo) show up with good ratings in Passepartout's Dog Food Ratings list.

Thanks for all the recommendations--will check them out further.

P.S. Greg, glad to hear your pup is doing well and they don't think it's anything serious.

 

[Don]

I used to feed my small dog Beneful. She would always pick out one type of bit and lay it on the floor. She wouldn't eat those until she got hungry later. When Pet Supermarket opened near us, they offered free bags of dog food as a come on. She would eat all of the the pieces. From that chart it is: Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice / Score 98 A. Since she only weighs about 8.5 lbs, we get the small bites version.
After you adjust for the weight differences of the bags and throw in other things like a monthly $2.00 off coupons and a free bag every once in a while from their PALS program, it's not too much more expensive.

 

[siesta]

Our older dog is also not too fond of the Pedigree brand. Welcome any suggestions for healthy dog food, if there is such a thing. I've heard horror stories about some of the products out there.

yes pedigree, purina,iams, all that is garbage. It uses corn as a cheap filler which dogs shouldnt eat. You want foods with no corn, no fillers, no artificial anything, no by products.

I recommend, nutro natural choice, or blue buffalo.

I persnally give my dog, nutro natural choice.

 

[dougp26364]

Our older dog is also not too fond of the Pedigree brand. Welcome any suggestions for healthy dog food, if there is such a thing. I've heard horror stories about some of the products out there.

We switched to the Blue Buffalo brand and have been happy with it. It was recommended by one of the breeders we're looking at for a new puppy. They pay attention to ingredients and how they're obtained. A few years ago they lost an entire liter of puppies when the brand they were using switched from brown rice to white rice (cheaper) and started sourcing the rice from China.

Dog food can really be hit or miss as manufacterors will change sources for ingredients based on price and availability. What's good today might not be as good tomorrow. Just because it says made in the USA or Canada does not mean that some of the ingredients don't come from other countries such as China

 

[dougp26364]

yes pedigree, purina,iams, all that is garbage. It uses corn as a cheap filler which dogs shouldnt eat. You want foods with no corn, no fillers, no artificial anything, no by products.

I recommend, nutro natural choice, or blue buffalo.

I persnally give my dog, nutro natural choice.

we've been using Blue Buffalo for the food and Nutro for treats.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Speaking of dog treats, the best by far are Yummy Chummies, made from Alaskan salmon. Heidi's been on them for years. American made in a small factory in Anchorage. I was fortunate to visit in person back in 2010. It's actually a great family business story . . . lawyer bored with practicing law, creates new product, factory and jobs!

They are pricier than most dog treats (MSRP $25 for a 2.5lb bag) . . . but they can be found cheaper including on eBay and Amazon.