Hi everyone. I'm hoping someone can give me some advise. My 7 month old GS female has had a few bouts of vomiting over the last few months, the last of which have been in quick succession (twice over the last 7 days). I've had her to the vets each time and we have ruled out any obstructions. This past occassion, my dog refused food (for the first time ever), which greatly concerns me. We have been feeding her Canidae dry ever since we brought her home, as that was the food the breeder had used. My vet wants me to try Purina EN (Gastroenteric formula) which will hopefully be easier for her stomach to digest at this point. He suggests that if she does better with it that we should keep her on this diet forever with no extra treats.

My girl has a tremendous food drive, and will work for kibble, but I love giving her special goodies when we practice obedience (usually some raw stew meat bits). I have also given her knuckle bones, peanut butter or cream cheese kongs if we are away for a long while during the day.

I have read many of the other posts on this site and others, and have seen that other people have experienced this as a phase that their dog has outgrown over time. I am thinking perhaps that something in the Canidae is just not agreeing with her at this point. Does anyone know anything about this particular EN formula? I know that none of the Purina brands fall under any of the reccommended lists of foods, but it's what my vet is suggesting. Are there alternatives?

A life without treats seems a tough one for a dog, but perhaps it hurts me more than her...

I appreciate your input and thank you in advance.

Susan

Can you recall what she ate prior to the vomiting? A particular treat, the dry food, is she eating grass or her own or other animal feces? Have you examined the vomit? (Yum <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> ).

Have you ruled out Megaesophagus? Has she been on a course of antibiotics?

This is my opinion and what I would do, after a thorough vet examination and/or 2nd opinion.

Stop the cream cheese and peanut butter. Although lots of people use them with no problems; peanuts contain aflatoxins, which are not good for dogs. Dairy products pose a problem because the enzymes to digest them are lacking. (The only dairy is Mum's milk!)

How ofter do you feed? Pups need to be fed twice a day, or else they get the bile pukes.

If the pup has been on antibiotics, then you would need to add a non-dairy Pro-Biotic to her food, found in any health food/vitamin shop. (To restore the good bacteria in the intestines, as the antibiotics kill ALL the bacteria.)

Dry dog foods are known to have 'bad' batches. Try another 'good' brand and see the results. Or better yet, homemade food, AKA: Raw diet. If your dog is having a reaction to an ingredient in the food, your stuck trying to isolate it, not so with homemade preparations.

The treats I use are hotdogs and dried liver, cheap and good.

Good luck with your girl.

Hi Maggie. Thanks for yor response. She had nothing out of the norm prior to vomit. The first bouts were just bile in the morning (we feed twice a day 7am and 6pm). When she finally did eat later that morning (kept it down), and again at dinner (smaller amounts than usual -came back up about 3 hours afterwards)the contents were rehydrated kibble and nothing more. The only medications she had was contained in a muscle relaxer/antibiotic during her last upset about a week prior.

I just got a call from the vets office with results of her bloodwork from yesterday. She has an elevated ALP liver value (something that they say usually occurs in much older dogs, certainly not a 7 mo. pup). I will be picking up a number of items from the vets including Pet Tabs Plus, Pet SA Volitile fatty acids liquid, and something called Denisil. This makes me wonder if Canidae might be associated with liver problems (as rumored) as it has constituted her main diet from day 1..... do you know if there is any substantiation to this rumor?

I will pick up some of the pro-biotic for future use and will continue to try to get to the bottom of this. Thanks for all the info.
Susan