I have been having a problem with my dog and would like some advice. This will probably be multiple questions, and long as it involves health questions too, bear with me . There is a lot of background. He has been on Canidae for about 7 mo. and seemed to be doing well until recently. I have flirted with going RAW but a supply of chicken backs and my husband were holding me back.

Well, about 3 weeks ago I bought his newest bag of Canidae, and noticed right away a marked change in the color of his stools. They didn't get soft, but were very dark. I had never seen this before in all the months he has eaten it. Then about a week ago, I noticed he was losing hair above one eye, in the eyebrow area.(I can post a pic if any one wants to see it, let me know) After talking to a few people it appears it may be a touch of Demo--- I forget how to spell it mange. This usually appears in puppies, or dogs with a compromised immune system from what I understand.

Well, about Sunday I notice my dog seems different. Kind of whiny. I thought is was just because we had been having bad weather and he wasn't getting enough exercise. Tuesday, it was more pronounced, restless, whiny. I took him for his evening walk as the weather had cleared. He passed three stools, each one got progressively thinner, the last one like thin pudding, not water. My husband and I had to go out for a few hours, and my daughter said he cried the whole time we were gone. He didn't eat his dinner. Refused breakfast Wed. And wasn't drinking. He was in obvious distress, pacing, whining, could not find a comfortable position to lay in, but no further diarhea and no vomiting. about 10:00 he had a normal stool. He kept trying to go outside, but then only wanted to eat the grass, so I kept him in. About 1:00 he vomited bile. Now, I call the vet and get him in as soon as I can. This is where the the story would need another thread, it was a horrible vet visit. extremely traumatic. It boils down to they x-rayed him because the felt they needed to rule out bloat and blockage (he has a history of eating socks). The xrays came back showing lots of gass in his system. Stomach, small intestines and especially his duedeum (probably spelled that wrong) but no blockage, and she felt not indicative of bloat. They diagnosed enteritis. No specific type. They gave him a litre of IV fluid under the skin, a shot of Famotidine and sent him home with Sucralate 1gm tabs every 8 hours. I also gave him Gas-x on the vets OK. She wasn't sure it would help, but said it wouldn't hurt. He has been on boiled chicken breast and rice since.

He seemed to be getting very much better, so last night I added about 1/4 cup kibble to his dinner. Then this morning about 3/4 cup. Well, this evening he seems uncomfortable again, and hasn't been drinking all day. I baited some water with yogurt and got him to drink about 1/2 to 3/4 cup, but that's it. I don't know if I should try to feed him again tonight, or with hold food because he seems uncomfortable again.

I keep wondering if there could be something bad about this bag of food? I mentioned my concerns about this food when this all started, and my husband thought it was all in my head. I'm wondering if there is something that is hurting his immune system, making him suceptible to things? Am I crazy? I just seem to have this feeling in my gut....

Tonight my husband tells me, for the first time ever, "I'm worried about Leonidas, maybe we should put him on Raw"

So I'm not gonna wait for a second invitation. But, do I wait until his health issues pass? Do I go strait from the chicken and rice? Since he has been/is ill, what would be the best way to transition him over? This is a sort of complicated issue. I will also be watching him closely and monitoring his condition to see if another trip to the vet will be in order. Any help and advice on his health and his diet will be greatly appreciated. I'm worried. Sorry this is so long.

How was the gastro-enteritis diagnosis arrived at? What did the vet say about the hair loss? Was there bloodwork and a fecal done?

I would keep him on the standard diarrhea-soothing food for now. The bag of food: I would seal it up in a plastic trash bag and save it, but not use it for now.

What breed is the dog? Why specifically did the vet say not indicative of bloat?

No, I would not feed him now, with recurrence of symptoms.

Also, is he pacing/restless or lethargic? Does he look hydrated (skin tone, gum color)?

It is an 11 mo. old Rhodesian Ridgeback. She made the diagnosis by looking at the x-rays, pointing out the abnormal amount of gass, and saying "it is definitely some kind if enteritis". Thats it. She said it didn't appear as bloat to her. No stool sample, no bloodwork. I forgot to mention the hair loss to her. Connie, this was a very traumatic visit, for me and him. I can't seem to find a good vet. I can give you the details if you want.

When was the last formed stool, and was it followed by watery?

Any blood?

 Quote: shody lytle

It is an 11 mo. old Rhodesian Ridgeback. She made the diagnosis by looking at the x-rays, pointing out the abnormal amount of gass, and saying "it is definitely some kind if enteritis". Thats it. She said it didn't appear as bloat to her. No stool sample, no bloodwork. I forgot to mention the hair loss to her. Connie, this was a very traumatic visit, for me and him. I can't seem to find a good vet. I can give you the details if you want.

Personally, I don't like it. I would've wanted bloodwork and a fecal as well as the x-ray.

Was it traumatic because he was frightened and uncomfortable?

He is currently sleeping, but it took him a long time to find a comfortable position. He kept moving, wiggling, whining, I don't know if he has had stool today, i haven't seen it, but my husband let him out a few times and didn't go with him. He has been i guess lethargic, not himself. Not trying to play, not perky. sad expression on his face. He isn't as agitated as the day he got really sick, not to that level of discomfort, just off

I would keep up with the yogurt as well, and maybe a little pumpkin to help balance his stools if he can tolerate it.

A few months ago i ran out of dog food and was low on cash, after bank hours.
So i grabbed a bag of something naturals from the grocery store.
2 dogs refused to eat it and Loki did eat but paid for it.

He had awful gas and was uncomfortable, had loose pudding soupy stools, but not watery, some of them even had blood in it.

My 2 hounds are like goats, literally they ingest all sorts of stuff that isnt good for them with barely a stray burp.

I can only include that A, the food was crap which i knew but they needed to eat.

and B something was wrong with it because I have NEVER seen them not eat anything I have put in front of them, never in 12 years has nico refused food.
So I wrapped up the bag in a plastic trash bag, then boxed it and sent it back on their dime, Customer service sent me a refund check and a bunch of coupons which i passed along to the SPCA cause i wasnt going to be buying any of that food again.

I do have a point lol.. Call Candidae and tell them the issue and that you suspect the food and see what they say.

 Quote: Shody Lytle

He is currently sleeping, but it took him a long time to find a comfortable position. He kept moving, wiggling, whining, I don't know if he has had stool today, i haven't seen it, but my husband let him out a few times and didn't go with him. He has been i guess lethargic, not himself. Not trying to play, not perky. sad expression on his face. He isn't as agitated as the day he got really sick, not to that level of discomfort, just off

And he is not drinking?

I would get a fecal and I would get a second opinion asap. JMO.

they refused to let me help with him for the x-rays, I told them he would not let them do it, they didn't care. they said it was against the law for me to go back there. they took him back without me. I could hear the struggling, the commotion, thumping, crying. It seemed to go on for ever...
then they came out and got me, took me back to try to calm him. (wait, wasn't this illegal a few minutes ago?) He was muzzled, on the table, terrified, had emptied his anals and two techs were holding him down. I held his head and stroked him, soothed him, and cried. They gave him a shot to put him to sleep so they could do the x-rays. I'm crying now again just thinking about it.