Episodes of being sick- dog

[AlwaysMe21]

I have a dog, we aren't sure of her age, vet thinks maybe 3-5yrs. For the past 3 months or so, she'll have a day or two where she just isn't feeling well. She's not her normal self, very slow moving, vomits, doesn't eat, etc. And the weird thing- she acts like she is stretching alot, she puts her front paws out and has her butt sticking way up in the air, and stays that way for 5 min at a time. This seems to happen every 2-3wks or so, and usually just lasts a day. We haven't been able to find a trigger. We have cut back on table scraps, so she rarely gets that type of thing anymore. Any ideas of what could cause these episodes?

Something I should mention- she is epileptic and is on phenobarbital. She isn't on a very high dose, and has been on it for a year probably. Her seizures are well controlled with it. She is an inside and outside dog. Mostly inside though. When she is outside, she's tied up if we are gone.
Any thoughts or opinions would be great!!!

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

I have listed a comment under your other posting.  Fatty table scraps are a cause of pancreatitis and therefore must be eliminated in her case forever.  Pancreatitis is also painful so it explains her unusual position, and upset stomach.  

[AlwaysMe21]

We haven't had the liver enzymes tested recently. Vet wanted to do them this coming March. Does it sound like she could be in the beginning stages of liver disease/failure?

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

There are a lot of possibilities.  How are her liver enzymes?  Liver enzymes often become elevated when on epilepsy treatments such as Phenobarbital.  Elevated liver enzymes can occasionally alter normal behavior by effecting brain chemistry.  Another possibility is a stomach issue.  Her stretched out position may be her way of finding relief from an upset stomach or a painful back.  Has her back been evaluated for disk disease?  Back problems can be chronic, intermittent problems and have many presentations.  Or, it could be a petit mal seizure, since it is episodic.  Other possibilities include: Anal Gland impactions, and Lyme or other tick borne diseases.  I would check with your veterinarian, of course.