Carole, I'm pm'ing ya!

I read into the symptoms and I don't see bloat. There are several things that cause a dog not to digest which is what this sounds like. It could be a blockage but I find it far more likely it's something like giardia which is super common this time of year especially in rescue dogs. Either way they're right. A vet needs to be seen asap. Call around. Many will work out payment arrangements if need be.

angela, how's your guy doing?

Thanks everyone - well I did take him in to see the vet today because he hasn't been getting better (except immediately after his anti-colic medicine). He was still throwing up and acting unhappy, nauseous and uncomfortable.

The vet did an X-Ray and found what she thinks is a piece of bone, about 1/2 inch long, in his stomach (he is not raw fed, so if it is bone, it would have to be a piece of his Rollover ( http://www.canvasbackpets.com/ShopSite/media/6076688109.jpg ) - a roasted stuffed beef bone (supposed to be baked hard to prevent splintering and breakage). I find these things to be very hard but he must have dropped it and a piece came off, then he ate the piece? I just don't know how he got a bone fragment otherwise.

She said his stomach was inflamed/enlarged. Strangely, he's also been burping a lot today. And the colic medicine seems to have been helping him.

She prescribed metoclopramide (an anti-nausea and anti-vomiting med) and sulcrate (a coating medicine used to treat ulcers and irritations). The idea is to help him pass it because the piece is still in his stomach, in spite of him having eaten his meals and all the vomiting he's been doing.

My poor baby.

He did throw up again after I gave him the first dose of anti-vomit medicine (go figure) but since then he does seem to be feeling better.

I forgot to ask if I need to restrict his activity, as I've been taking him outside on leash and he did try to play just now. (Good sign!) I'll have to call the vet again tomorrow to ask.

My rescue co-ordinator suggested adding a little pumpkin to his diet to provide some fiber/bulk to help things along. Other than that I'm just feeding him chicken and rice.

I really appreciate everyone's replies, they have helped. If anyone has had anything like this happen and has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

How many days has this been? If it's been many my thought is that it's beyond the point of fiber to move things along.
My old lab/gsd mix years ago ate a piece of wood that became a blockage. We eventually got to the surgical option and had it removed from the front end after a week of upset stomachs. When we got to it the reason it hadn't moved along or vomited was because it was embedded at the end of the stomach and wasn't going anywhere.

 Quote: Melissa Thom

How many days has this been? If it's been many my thought is that it's beyond the point of fiber to move things along.
My old lab/gsd mix years ago ate a piece of wood that became a blockage. We eventually got to the surgical option and had it removed from the front end after a week of upset stomachs. When we got to it the reason it hadn't moved along or vomited was because it was embedded at the end of the stomach and wasn't going anywhere.

Yes, I'm thinking the same thing.

Also, for future reference, roasted bones are dangerously hard and brittle, IMO. You'll find many posts warning about them here. (I know: It doesn't help if it isn't a post you have read. )

glad to hear the update.

i'm with connie and melissa.

my one thought - metoclopramide works in a similar manner to cisapride, to my knowledge - it is not just an anti-nauseau/anti-vomiting med, though it does impact the dopamine in the brain and is an anti-nauseauant (sp?) as a result.

metoclopramide should also strengthen the muscles and help to pass the blockage. cisapride increases the rate at which the digestive muscles (esophagus, stomach, intestine) muscles move, which then in turn helps move out blockages. the two meds act in similar ways.
(rabbits can be prone to these issues, which is why i know this)

did the vet prescribe the metoclopramide just as an anti-nauseau/vomiting med? my understanding is that while it isn't cisapride, like i said, it works in a similar fashion.

and if that is the case - depending on the kind of blockage, cisapride can actually be dangerous to use. you want to avoid any kind of rupture, and i could be wrong, but i would imagine a bone fragment is a higher rupture risk than say a hair mass or something.

i'm obvs. not a vet, but i would ask yours if she'd taken into account that metoclopramide could speed up digestive movement and whether she thinks that is safe w/the kind of blockage it is, especially when the bone has been there for probably - 5 days now?

 Quote: melissa thom

How many days has this been? If it's been many my thought is that it's beyond the point of fiber to move things along.
My old lab/gsd mix years ago ate a piece of wood that became a blockage. We eventually got to the surgical option and had it removed from the front end after a week of upset stomachs. When we got to it the reason it hadn't moved along or vomited was because it was embedded at the end of the stomach and wasn't going anywhere.

Yikes, that's scary. I hope it doesn't come to that because this is a homeless dog (he's my foster). If he needs surgery they can't afford he will be euthanized. Fortunately the meds do seem to be making him feel much better - so far. He hasn't vomited since an hour after i got him home from the vet yesterday. He's been eating his chicken and rice, and he made a teensy poop this morning.

Jennifer: Because he's eating and pooping, and not vomiting up 100% of his food, I guess the vet decided it is not a blockage. The vet did explain that metoclopramide was to "move things along" but by the time I got home, I had forgotten most of what she said about the drugs so I looked them up. I reeeeeeeally hope he passes this thing.

I was really surprised about the Rollover having been discussed on here, I haven't seen it, and I've been giving them to my dogs for a couple years now. I've been warned about rawhides and I have chewers, so I always thought it was a safe alternative. They are really hard. The only thing i can think is he dropped it on the floor and a piece chipped off. I can't give raw cow bones because one of my dogs actually somehow grinds them up and eats them. darn it, I hate learning my lesson the hard way.

 Quote: Angela Burrell

I can't give raw cow bones because one of my dogs actually somehow grinds them up and eats them. darn it, I hate learning my lesson the hard way.

I don't understand what you mean. What's wrong w/eating raw cow bones? Mine do it all the time.

 Quote: Angela Burrell

I can't give raw cow bones because one of my dogs actually somehow grinds them up and eats them.

Angela.....being this is a mostly raw fed forum, you made my day with this comment.

I mean this sincerely.