Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

My dog won't eat, has diarrhea, and was vomiting- been to 3 different Vets...

First let me start with explaining that since October we have moved 2x's, I had a baby in November and we got a puppy in March.... (yea its a lot I know)

Mandi is 11 yrs old, a pit-bull/Jack Russel mix and a total momma's girl to the point that she has had really bad separation anxiety when I have left the house and there has been times in the past I had to work with a trainer to get her over her anxiety. She is much better now but all she wants to do at all times is be next to me.

So it all started last October when she started having really bad diarrhea ( I mean real bad exploding horrible diarrhea) and then vomiting started a few days later. I brought her to the vet and we came to the conclusion it was a raw hide she found under the couch and ate almost the whole thing and it must have upset her stomach. She didn't eat for 2 days. Gave her some stomach meds, rice, boiled chicken and it took about 2 weeks to get back to somewhat normal. About a month later the same thing started - no chewy involved this time, so we were stumped. Gave her the meds and same diet, took about a month to get back to normal. We moved again and about 2 weeks after we got here she started up again. She is a picky eater in general so it was hard to even to get her to eat the rice or the chicken. She went 5 whole days of protesting and NOT eating her food. So I gave her the high fatty puppy food my other pup was eating and slowly transitioned her back to her own senior food once she was a little better. Now she is refusing all food, puppy, chicken, rice, carrots, bread, pasta, even a dental bone- she has had diarrhea for a little over 3 weeks now, the vomiting stopped 2 days ago with these anti-vomiting meds she was given. But the diarrhea is so bad, she is now lethargic, no energy, not a happy girl at all- mind that the past 6 months even when she was sick and not eating she was never acting any different- she would play with the puppy and act like her old self (she would just stop in the middle of playing and have to poop). This is the 3rd vet I've been to since October and about $800 later and now she is saying she is allergic to the food she has been on and she needs to be on a high protein - either fish or duck diet with no grain. She had the D/D prescription cans to give her and none of it has helped so far. It has been 4 days and a lot of different meds and she still has diarrhea and she is so out of it and unhappy. She looks like she is in so much pain now and I don't know what else to do.

She has had blood tests - her organs are fine. Feces testing - no parasites. And none of the vets felt any obstruction in her gut. Just a swollen bowel.
I am stumped - anyone have any idea what is going on with my girl. Is it her just being stressed because of the move, baby and puppy all within 6 months or is it that she is really sick and no one can figure it out???? Please HELP!!!
Best Answer
5477458 tn?1369851466
Agree with Margot.  Inflammatory Bowel is going to be diagnosed via biopsy, but let me help with that.  Anytime a dog has a stomach flare up, the biopsies always show inflammatory bowel.  Not much help for an expensive procedure.  I know because I've paid for 10 of them!  

Pancreatic problems can be diagnosed via bloodwork, TLI-PLI testing.  Expensive, but possibly worthy if the vet is suspecting.

Tylan is a REALLY good alternative to Metro.  I've yet to have a dog respond to Metronidazole if Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth is the problem.  

If food allergy is suspected, why not try a hydrolized protein diet?  If you have not done so already.  

As much as I hate Pred, I would probably ask for a course in this situation.  If it helps, your answer is likely an inflammed bowel.  The cause is still unknown though.  Food allergy is often due to the protein source and not the grains, so perhaps go with something with an unusual protein source (California Natural Kangaroo, Merrick Bison, Nature's Variety Rabbit Instinct, etc).  The grain free diets will have the higher protein sources on Average.

So having experienced all the million stomach disorders in dogs, I would opt for a single novel protein diet, Tylan instead of Metronidazole (you can buy it in bulk at KVvet supply and put it in empty capsules), test for Giardia (use the blood test), and ask for Pred.

If the dog is allergic to certain proteins, the very last thing I would give is Chicken, beef, and maybe fish.  I would go prescription hypo-allergenic, AT LEAST until you get control of the situation and can determine if a food allergy is indeed the problem.

I do hope that helps some!
5 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
974371 tn?1424653129
Meant to add,mince you have been in different areas, I would have at least 3 stools checked for Giardia.
Helpful - 0
974371 tn?1424653129
Glad some testing has been done but there can be other causes such as Inflammatory Bowel disease, IBS, malabsorption, pancreatic problems, bacterial or viral infections. Etc.  some of these can only be checked with specific blood work, X-rays and scopes with biopsies being done, which means more Vet bills.  
What food are you feeding?  I might try something other than chicken or beef and no grains.
Hope you can get this resolved.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
metronidazole, cerenia, carafate and imodium -that is what she is on right now. diagnosis now is that she is allergic to her food and needs to be on a high protein diet for now on. - fish or duck...

No prednisone
Helpful - 0
5477458 tn?1369851466
What medications have been tried?  What has been the diagnosis?  Has Prednisone been used?
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Dogs Community

Top Dogs Answerers
675347 tn?1365460645
United Kingdom
974371 tn?1424653129
Central Valley, CA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Members of our Pet Communities share their Halloween pet photos.
Like to travel but hate to leave your pooch at home? Dr. Carol Osborne talks tips on how (and where!) to take a trip with your pampered pet
Ooh and aah your way through these too-cute photos of MedHelp members' best friends
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.