Oakley-emergency surgery

[Chealsie508]

Talk about having shot nerves! Yesterday I had to stay home because Oakley started vomiting at 2 am and continued til about 2:30 in the afternoon. Went to the vet at 3:30 because I was worried about this having something to do with his surgery..turns out it kinda did. Oakley hasn't had regular stools since I switched him from his bland diet to his regular food so finally on Monday I realized his system just wasn't going to reset; I called the vet to see if I could start back at square one with the bland diet of boiled chicken and rice..plan was to do that and give a little yogurt to give him back some good probiotics/bacteria and if his stool returned to normal then continue for a week then very very slowly (5days slow) transition back to his food and see if he could handle it..unfortunately we only got two meals of chicken and rice before the throwing up commenced; turns out his tummy is still uber sensitive and the switch again made him sick. They gave him two shots, one for nausea and the other for coating his stomach. He hasn't thrown up since and today I'm at work hoping for the best when I return; he was starving yesterday and I was only able to give him ONE TBSP last night around 10, he looked real pissed off at me, can't blame him as I'm still trying to get him to gain back all the weight he lost (he got down to 19.5 lbs and is currently at 20.4- he's normally 24)

I think I'm getting gray hairs from all of this..lol

Moral of the story: always have wine and whiskey on hand!

[tanza]

Have you asked about add this to his food - FortiFlora, I get it on Amazon.com

http://www.purinaveterinarydiets.com/Product/FortiFloraCanineNutritionalSupplements.aspx

[ownedbyspencer]

I've been wondering about Oakley and was hoping you would update us. Poor little guy. I'm sorry he's still having issues. It's sad when they get thin like that. And, yes, they will turn you gray in no time. And drive you to drink, too!

The vet gave me FortiFlora for Spencer. He wouldn't touch food with it sprinkled on it, but the vet said most dogs don't mind the taste. I've heard good things about it.

Pls keep us posted on Oakley's progress.

[Chealsie508]

I totally forgot about FortiFlora, I'll call up my vet and see if I get the green light to add it. I hoped he would be able to work himself out but his system is just not adjusting…I can tell he eats his food and it will be a shame if I have to switch because he can no longer handle the Fromms post surgery...I so badly want this over for him; he's had a tough month and I cannot wait to be able to shovel food at him without worry...

[tanza]

My guys have no problem eating the FortiFlora, but I don't just sprinkle it on the top of the food, mix it in with the kibble, little water, and a little wet food…..

[stash]

Seems that Basenji have sensitive stomachs to start with, when starting Kaiser on raw every new meat I introduced seemed to upset him for a day or two then he was fine, after he had goat tripe and that totally upset him out the back end it took a good two days to settle his stomach again so no goat tripe for him. Had to starve him for 24 hours to help his stomach reset and that was so sad so really feel for you and Oakley as mums worry about their kids eating enough and find it really hard withholding food. Sounds like it will be very slow and easy with his tummy until it wants to get back to normal, hang in there you can spoil him with yummies when he's tip top again.

[Buddys Pal]

This recipe is for a dog needing to gain weight (I keep it handy so I can copy/paste) it may be better than munchkins!!!!!

SATIN BALLS
#10 of cheap hamburger meat
1 lg box of Total cereal (1 lb box in USA)
1 lg box of oatmeal (uncooked) (the 32 ounce in USA)
1 jar of wheat germ 10 eggs
1 1/4 c. veg oil
1 1/4 c. unflavored molasses
10 sm pks of unflavored gelatin
pinch of salt and garlic (may not….)
mix all ingredients together well, much like a meatloaf... put into
separate freezer bags and freeze, thawing out as needed. I mixed it in
with kibble. Make "meat"
balls (golf ball sized) and mix with food as well. So sorry to hear of the backslide for his tummy! Yes, the grey hairs abound! I am dealing with grass allergies (i think) but will switch foods again.............scratching and gooey eyes. Vet appointment very soon! and wine bottles!

[Chealsie508]

Anyone have any good suggestions on a high quality lower/ less rich dry dog food?? Since the surgery oakleys had diarrhea and after many bouts of Flagyl we had to stop the fromms altogether ( sad for me bc I like it a lot)…and he is on the ID diet. I have noticed that while he is gaining weighty and his stools are firm he is itchy, shakes his head/ears all the time and is getting flaky and dry skin. I know the point of the ID diet is to be less allergenic/reactive but I swear he is having a reaction to it. I tried after a month and a half to add just ten or twenty tiny nibbles of fromms into his ID and he immediately had soft stool the next time

I think the avg protein is 24%, I'm not sure if the protein is the issue or if its overall just too rich.. Either way, I really want him to get off of the ID since I'm so sure his allergy symptoms are related. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and looked into! I like the idea of orijen but I know the protein content is higher so I'm not sure if that'll be a bad idea or if its worth a shot bc it's not fromms??

Help please?!

[Nemo]

Is he still on the Flagyl or just recently off of it? His gut flora may be way off in either one of those cases.

[Chealsie508]

He was on the Flagyl for ten days lost surgery then on it for 5 days a week later then a month ago he was on it again for a week while transitioning to the ID from fromms. My concern is his stools react anytime I try to add the fromms (even a tiny amt)..I have to check to see if there are grains in the ID diet but he usually gets very small amts of grains/ I wonder if that could be causing allergic tendencies…I've been searching dogfoodanalysis and may try natural balance (don't want to but it's seems lower in protein and limited ingredients) or I might try freeze dried orijen..it's a risk bc of the protein content but the I ingredients look right and it's grain free..ugh...I thought when I found the fromms my food battle was over..

I did ask my ER vet about fortiflora but she seemed to believe that research on probiotics for dogs is inconclusive and likely not beneficial for him; that was about a month ago

[Nemo]

The research with probiotics and people isn't really conclusive or straight forward either but many find benefits with them. But it's one of those things that might help and really can't hurt too much other than your pocketbook and maybe some gassiness with your dog.

Which ID food was it? What was the protein? Which Fromms were you using? In this case you may just have to try a less than ideal food but better than the ID to get him more normal and then transition back to a better food.

One thing to consider is the Nutriscan test (I haven't looked back in the thread to see if it was brought up before). http://nutriscan.org/ It's a bit pricey if you do both panels but it might indicate if he has sensitivities to any particular things and then you would know to avoid them in diet selection.

[Nemo]

Oh, and you might want to consider L-glutamine as a supplement to help improve the intestinal mucosa. I gave it to Nemo on my vet's recommendation. I've also read where it might help with diarrhea.

[eeeefarm]

I know people who use yoghurt with some success after antibiotics, so that might help him if he isn't allegic to dairy. Probiotics shouldn't hurt and might help, so why not try them? After all, you are trying to repopulate the gut with the "good" bacteria the Flagyl wiped out.

And why are you using the dry food? I ask because if it's Hill's ID for example, the wet appears to have a much better formulation, albeit that both contain corn. (which so many dogs are allergic to!) I have used NRG dehydrated for many, many years, and never had any digestive issues or allergic issues, but maybe I have just been lucky enough to have dogs from lines that don't have that predisposition. I don't like dry foods, although they are convenient. But they have no "life". The processing takes that out of them, which is why they have to add the premix because the food would not sustain an animal without it.

[Buddys Pal]

@Chealsie508:

Anyone have any good suggestions on a high quality lower/ less rich dry dog food?? I have noticed that while he is gaining weighty and his stools are firm he is itchy, shakes his head/ears all the time and is getting flaky and dry skin. I know the point of the ID diet is to be less allergenic/reactive but I swear he is having a reaction to it.

I think the avg protein is 24%, I'm not sure if the protein is the issue or if its overall just too rich.. Either way, I really want him to get off of the ID since I'm so sure his allergy symptoms are related. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and looked into! I like the idea of orijen but I know the protein content is higher so I'm not sure if that'll be a bad idea or if its worth a shot bc it's not fromms??

Help please?!

Fromms is highly recommended, I know of a few that have changed over due to recalls etc. But chicken may be the culprit. I noticed the same dry skin and itchiness in Uzie on any chicken. So I switched to a Ocean fish and Beef. I preferred him with Bison, but the kibbles are too big in the Wolf. The Solid Gold 'Barking at the Moon' has 41%protein, 20 fat,4%fiber. (he does run around with other dogs at day care all day and is not 100% couch potatoe, he was weighing in at 25 lbs last week, lost 3 lbs in 6 months) He has thrived on it, any processed chicken product seemed to make him itchy. He gets chicken cooked by me, from time to time with no ill effects…..So if that protein is too much (is this the richness you mention or does his food have too much of fillers like corn, potatoes etc in the first three ingredients?? The ID may have it,?)
PS: does anyone think the protein is too much for my boy? Please advise.....he only gets a total of 1C per day and the calorie ratio is 465/C

[ownedbyspencer]

Sadly, I'm finding that Fromm's does not agree with Ava, as well, though she did great on Fromm Puppy. I've tried three different varieties of Fromm adult food (none chicken; two grain-free), and she has had paw licking, ear scratching and anal gland issues on every one. I give her FortiFlora every day, and she's still having issues. She had a reaction to two kinds of Fromm treats the very first time I gave them to her. I believe they do contain grains.

I think highly of Fromm's, but I'm having to switch brands. I really don't know what's causing the reaction, but the consensus seems to be that it's too "rich" for Ava's digestion. I was advised to stick with around 24% protein, grain-free food with her, and I'll probably go with a salmon/sweet potato or duck/sweet potato blend and mix two different kinds.

[clokatys]

does anyone have a basenji that plucks fur out of another dog. kobi does this to my eskie. than she throws up
hairballs because she eats it. its gross. don't know how to get her to stop. we are having him shaved down so
she cant do it and he will also be more comfortable in this heat.

[Buddys Pal]

Here is a pretty reliable index of dog foods. I say 'pretty' reliable since some of the reviews are a few years old. I got the answer to my question that the protein content is too high for Uzie as he is a small breed. So if you are willing to do a small research project, here is the site:
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/ I gave you the Home page and if you follow the left column down to "index of reviews" there is an alphabetical listing of foods.

and here http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=protein_myth

ok, so the amount of crude protein has to do with the QUALITY! Like the article in TheDogFoodProject-is too much protein bad? Cow hooves, feathers, and shoe leather are protein as well as corn gluten meal. So, in the end, my food is just fine for Uzie, and a little water added is a good thing!

[clokatys]

okay thanks

[Chealsie508]

I just read the ingredients in the ID diet..and oof, they are horrible- corn, brewers yeast, beet pulp, by product meal! No wonder he's it itchy!! The panel idea is interesting, clearly he's sensitive to something but is it an allergy test or something more? I can't necessarily say its an allergy but more of an intolerance..if it is an allergy it's not bad. We have tried all kinds of fromms, but he prefers the grain free beef over the surf and turf, he likes the chicken and even though it has limited grain I don't see a reaction from it..he's always preferred beef over fish. I'm not sure what the richness problem is, whether its too much protein or if its another "richness"…I even looked at less quality foods bc I think that's probably the answer as a lot of the high quality foods we've tried he found too rich for his GI Tracy and now after the surgery he's even more sensitive..but even still I don't know what to choose??

[Chealsie508]

Also, oakleys underweight still at 21.4 lbs, I was thinking of adding fish oil to his diet to help his coat, dandruff and itchiness but I'm not sure what a good dose is?? Any ideas on that and if if will affect his stools? I'm trying to avoid anything that causes us to go backwards and get soft loose stools?