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Avatar universal

Regurgitating dog with diarrhea and under active intestines

My 2 year old golden doodle ( golden retriever and poodle mix) went from extremely healthy to extremely sick in a matter of hours last week.  We woke up to him vomiting his food from the night before, and then continuing to vomit or regurge bile/fluid for the rest of the day.  He also had diarrhea.  We took him in and they gave him an iv under the skin and sent him home.  He declined and became very lethargic.  Now, after 5 days, he has been in the hospital the whole time and it seems his stomach and intestines are not draining the fluid, but we are not sure why.  We have done x rays, multiple ultrasounds, an endoscopy, biopsies, and even exploratory surgery, and everything is normal except the villi in the intestines don't seem to be a lively as usual and the intestines in general are under active when the DMV took them out.  There is no blockage, and they are swollen a bit, but mostly filled with gas and fluid.  

We have two days to let him recover from surgery and see if the new biopsies show anything, but if we can't find anything, we will have to put him to sleep.  Please help, we are so upset and confused with what is going on.  He seems to be the best right after they drain the fluid from his stomach, but then as it fills back up, he becomes lethargic and sick, continuing to regurge liquid an uninterested in eating or drinking.  Te vet is now saying maybe mother nature will turn things around, which seems to be our only hope for him at this point.  Any help is appreciated.
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462827 tn?1333168952
Please type "Chicken Jerky from China causing Fanconi Syndrome in Dogs" in your search bar.....You will be shocked at the reports....The complaints are listed all the way up to today....So, yes it's still going on.....

These treats are sold at alot of stores & the complaints have been going on for years.....It's a must read when you have time......Karla
Helpful - 0
462827 tn?1333168952
Morning......These treats are toxic & I believe you've found your source.....These treats were recalled not long ago (And it WILL happen again)......Although the package makes you think they are American made, if you look closely, somewhere on the package will say made in China. It will be very tiny! They don't want you to see it....

DO NOT buy anything made in China....Read your labels.....Some consider these chicken treats Doggie Crack & yes, they have made many dogs sick or worse!!! Many reports state that a dog will refuse any other foods once they start these treats....That's scary!!!! What is in them?

Good for you & Leo....Thank you for the update....Keep us posted......Happy Day after Thanksgiving......Karla
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441382 tn?1452810569
OMG,that's VERY scary to think that it was because of those treats!  I had heard of dogs getting sick because of them but had not actually known or known OF anyone whose dog was a victim.  Is there any type of legal recourse you can take here?  I would look into it if I were you.  If for no other reason than for help with what must be an exhorbitantly high vet bill!

Ghilly
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Avatar universal
We are very thankful to have leo home.  He started having diarrhea again and threw up bile this morning.  Otherwise he seems great, so we are just watching him and monitoring him.  It may just take time.

On another note, we think we found the cause of his sudden illness.  I always try new treats, and the dogs loved the Waggin Train chicken jerky that I found at Target.  There have been numerous reports that these treats specifically have made many many dogs very sick, or even die.  We are very lucky that Leo is still with us, but I do hope that these treats get taken off the shelves.  I didn't really think about these treats when you asked for foods...

Thanks again everyone.  Hope your thanksgiving was as Blessed as ours was!
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1832268 tn?1326816010
So happy to hear Leo is home and doing better....!  Happy Thanksgiving...!
It is so nice when something has a happy ending...!
I will pray that he recovers in leaps and bounds...give him a hug from me.
Connie
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441382 tn?1452810569
OMGoodness, you are so lucky that he just brought the ibuprofen TO you instead of eating it!   That could have done him in because of his already compromised health!  I am so glad to hear that he is home and doing well!  What a ride you have had these last couple of weeks!  I hope he continues to improve and I hope you have a wonderful holiday!  And NO TURKEY FOR HIM!!  LOL!  He'll have to keep to his special diet, but it will be worth it to have him able to celebrate with you for years to come!  

Ghilly
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Avatar universal
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers.  And thanks for the food info.  I will use that website in the future.

We brought Leo home on Thursday!  So far I thin he is doing okay.  He pooped as soon as we got home so that was great.  Ten this am he had diarrhea, so we are now monitoring him.  He was on 5 meds for the past couple of days, but I think we are with most of them now.  The dvm are treating this as if it is a food allergy although there was never a definite dx.  He is eating cottage cheese, rice, and hypoallergenic dog food 3x a day.  He is not supposed to be doing much, but his energy is back and keeping him settled down is difficult.  I'm so glad he is feeling better, and I really hope the diarrhea is nothing but a change to his diet... The dr said to call back if it continues for the next few days but she's not surprised by diarrhea.  

I kinda think it was an infection from something he ate... He just now found an ibprophen that he brought to us... Something as simple as that, he is good at sniffing out the dangerous stuff.

Thanks again.  I'm sure at some point I will be posting something on here again, I just hope it's not as scary!
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462827 tn?1333168952
Kirkland Dog Food (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

Kirkland Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.

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The Kirkland product line includes six dry dog foods… four claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and two for adult maintenance (Mature Dog and Healthy Weight).

    Kirkland Signature Puppy Formula
    Kirkland Signature Small Dog Formula
    Kirkland Signature Adult Dog Formula (Chicken)
    Kirkland Signature Adult Dog Formula (Lamb)
    Kirkland Signature Mature Dog Formula
    Kirkland Signature Healthy Weight Formula (3 stars)

Kirkland Small Dog Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Kirkland Signature Small Dog Formula

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content


Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and vitamin E), egg product, beet pulp, potatoes, fish meal, flaxseed, natural flavor, brewers dried yeast, millet, dried chicory root, carrots, peas, kelp, apples, cranberry powder, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, rosemary extract, parsley flake, taurine, yucca schidigera extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, L-carnitine, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first ingredient in this dog food lists chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably occupy a lower position on the list.

Which brings us to chicken meal… the second and (more likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.

Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.

The fifth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.

The sixth item mentions dried egg product… a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries… from eggs that have failed to hatch.

In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.

The seventh ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

The eighth item lists potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.

The ninth ingredient includes fish meal. Like chicken meal (already discussed), fish meal is also considered a meat concentrate. So, fish meal contains much more protein than fresh fish.

We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears1 to be ethoxyquin-free.

The tenth item includes flaxseed… one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.

With three notable exceptions…

First, we find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.

Next, brewers dried yeast. Brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient contains about 45% protein… and is rich in other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can be considered a nutritious additive.

And lastly, this food does contain chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Kirkland Dog Food… the Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Kirkland Dog Food appears to be an above-average kibble.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 30%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 44%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 29% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 46% for the overall product line.

Average protein. Average fat. And near-average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.

With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.

Average numbers? Sure. But more remarkable when you consider value-priced nature of this brand.

Bottom line?

Kirkland Dog Food is a grain-based dry dog food using a notable amount of chicken or lamb meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.

Highly recommended.

Those looking for a lite kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Kirkland Healthy Weight Formula dog food.

A Final Word

This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in a specific health benefit for your pet.

For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.

Other spellings: Costco, Kirklands
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462827 tn?1333168952
Just a heads up: This is from DogfoodAdvisor(Dot)Com

Chef Michael’s Dog Food (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

Chef Michael’s dry dog food receives the Advisor’s lowest rating of 1 star.


The Chef Michael’s product line includes two dry dog foods, each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.

    Chef Michael’s Filet Mignon Flavor
    Chef Michael’s Rotisserie Chicken Flavor

Chef Michael’s Filet Mignon Flavor was selected to represent both products for this review.

Chef Michael's Filet Mignon Flavor

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content


Ingredients: Beef, soybean meal, soy flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of vitamin E), brewers rice, soy protein concentrate, corn gluten meal, ground yellow corn, glycerin, poultry by-product meal, ground wheat, animal digest, salt, pearled barley, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, natural filet mignon flavor, dried potatoes, dried green beans, added color (red 40, blue 2, yellow 5, yellow 6 and other color), sulfur, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, potassium chloride, l-lysine monohydrochloride, manganese sulfate, vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, calcium iodate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), biotin, sodium selenite

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Although it is a quality item, raw beef contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

Which brings us to soybean meal. Soybean meal is actually a useful by-product. It’s what remains of soybeans after all the oil has been removed.

Soybean meal contains 48% protein. However, compared to meat, this item is considered an inferior plant-based protein providing a lower biological value.

The third ingredient is soybean flour, a high-protein by-product of soybean processing.

Compared to meat, soy proteins have a lower biological value. Yet both of these soy items are capable of raising the protein content of this food.

The fourth item is animal fat. Animal fat is a generic by-product of rendering, the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.

Since there’s no mention of a specific animal, this item could come from almost anywhere: restaurant grease, slaughterhouse waste, diseased cattle… even euthanized pets.

We do not consider generic animal fat a quality ingredient.

The fifth ingredient is brewers rice. Brewers rice represents the small grain fragments left over after milling whole rice.

This is an inexpensive cereal grain by-product and not considered a quality ingredient.

The sixth item lists soy protein concentrate, what’s left of soybeans after removing the water soluble carbohydrates. This plant-based ingredient contains about 70% protein.

The seventh ingredient is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate washed out of it.

Compared to meat, glutens are inferior grain-based proteins lower in many of the essential amino acids dogs need for life.

This inexpensive plant-based ingredient can significantly boost the total protein content reported in this dog food.

The eighth ingredient is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.

After glycerin, we find poultry by-product meal… a dry rendered product of slaughterhouse waste. It’s made from what’s left of slaughtered poultry after all the prime cuts have been removed.

In a nutshell, poultry by-products are those unsavory and inedible leftovers deemed “unfit for human consumption”.

This stuff can contain almost anything… feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs… you name it.

We consider poultry by-products slightly lower in quality than a single-species ingredient (like chicken by-products).

On the brighter side, by-product meals are meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh poultry.

We’re always disappointed to find artificial coloring in any dog food.

Coloring is used to make the product more appealing to you… not your dog. After all, do you really think your dog cares what color his kibble is?

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.

With four notable exceptions…

First, garlic oil may be a controversial item. We say “may be” here because we are not certain of the oil’s chemical relationship to raw garlic itself. Although the majority of experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.1

However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).

Next, this Chef Michael’s product also contains menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.

Thirdly, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.

And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.

Chef Michael’s Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Chef Michael’s dog food appears to be a below-average kibble.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 32%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 42%.

And both products in the line appear to demonstrate the same nutrient percentages.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbohydrates when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Yet when you consider the presence of multiple plant-based protein boosters (like the soy products and corn gluten meal), this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a modest amount of meat.

What’s worse, it’s difficult to ignore the abundance of so many Red Flag ingredients.

Bottom line?

Chef Michael’s is a plant-based dry dog food probably using only a modest amount of chicken or beef as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 1 star.

Not recommended.
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1832268 tn?1326816010
Wonderful News....!!!  I will keep my fingers crossed, that Leo will continue to recover....!  Thanks for giving us the updates....I am sure there are many of us who are watching this post.
You said it might be a food allergy....if so, what are they feeding him...?
Do they feel it may be Celiac disease...?
It sounds like they are getting closer to figuring this out....Hang in there..
Thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Connie
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441382 tn?1452810569
This is great news indeed!!  I hope that your next update is even better!  :D

Ghilly
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462827 tn?1333168952
What a wonderful report!!!  I'm thrilled! Do keep us updated......Karla
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Avatar universal
Yes, it's not parvovirus, although they are treating him very similary.  

Update: Leo is doing better!  He is off the feeding tube, and eating on his own without encouragement!  Plus he is keeping it down which is even better!  The drs are taking him off the iv today to watch him.  He has been drinking on his own too, which is the first time in over a week.  He is still on Meds, but they will spend the next 24 hrs treating him as we will be at home and watching him closely.  He has also stopped burping up liquids which is great.  They are hoping to send him home tomorrow so wish us luck.  We still don't know what this is, but he is feeling better with much more energy.  Yay!
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Avatar universal
it seems like parvo virus to me have they tested him for that yet
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Avatar universal
Sorry about the random words and misspelling and grammar, I have an 8-week old baby and am doing all this during her midnight feedings.  I'm too tired to check my writing!
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Avatar universal
Hi

We feed the dogs Costco brand dog food and mix in chef michaels with it.  I give them enzymatic chews fir their teeth and just about any treat that I see....  I feed them table food as well, although not anymore if he pulls through this, since one of the possibilities is food allergy.

At davis, they have him on an iv, a bunch of drugs including a pain med, and a tube in his nose to drain the fluid from his stomach and also to feed him a liquid diet.  So far he has kept the liquid diet down and is more interested in eating, which are good signs.  We wont know much until he can eat on his own and be off the iv and not vomit.  They still don't know what it is and were honest in saying that they might not ever know.  He is not happy about the feeding tube, he tried to get it out during a walk yesterday and when the tech wouldn't let him, he peed on her.  We all think that's a good sign and pretty funny since Leo would normally never do that.

We are nice again hopeful, but we also know that so far it has looked better when he is on the iv and not good just hours after it is taken out.  The vets say that they think time will help him the most at this point, whether it's fighting an infection, recovering from surgery, or restarting his intestines.....
Helpful - 0
462827 tn?1333168952
Ashley & Leo......I've been wondering about you both......Maybe there's a silver lining in there somewhere. :)  I'm still praying for his recovery and I'm delighted you got in at Davis....Thank you for the update & hang in there.......Karla  

P.S. Since you mentioned a food allergy: Would you tell me what you feed him? (Including treats)  I could at least do a background check on his food.....
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441382 tn?1452810569
Thanks so much for the update!  We'll continue to keep Leo in our thoughts and prayers.  

Ghilly
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Avatar universal
An update:  Leo continues to have the same problems, recurring water or bile, getting dehydrated aftervabout 4 hours after being taken off the iv fluids...  This is now compounded with recovering from surgery, which has taken it's toll on the little guy, but he seems to be handling that well.  At Davis, they put him back in ICU, on an iv drip, on antibiotics and a motility drug for digestion.  They also put a tube down his nose and continue to drain out the fluid in the stomach that is not moving. He hates it, but I am thankful for that tube because the fluid that doesn't move seems to cause him to slow down and also to regurge.  He won't regurgitate if there is nothing there!  

The main problem seems to be in the small intestine, we think.  One biopsy came back and said possibly a food allergy.  The small intestine has seemed to have stopped moving, and I think that is what we need to figure out... Why and how to help.  They will start Leo on some food tomorrow in hopes that that will kickstart the intestines.  

Thanks again four your thoughts and prayers.  We are hopeful, but also know that he cannot live on an iv, it wouldn't be fair to such an active dog. We will be reevaluating on Monday or Tuesday.

Helpful - 0
441382 tn?1452810569
I'm so sorry that you are not seeing any improvement nor can the vets seem to bring about any resolution to this.  I'm praying that you can get that appointment at UC Davis.  Veterinary colleges are excellent places to go when it seems like all else is failing.  They have state of the art equipment and vets that are up to date on all the latest technology and who have lots and lots of experience with cases that many local veterinary clinics and hospitals never see during their time in existence.  Hopefully they'll bring about a breakthrough for you.  

Ghilly
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1832268 tn?1326816010
I am so sorry to hear about your dog....I hope you find out what is wrong with him soon.....You will both be in my prayers.
Besides Addisons disease...can you tell us some of the other conditions they have ruled out....?  
Connie
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462827 tn?1333168952
Ashley...I'm praying for you and Leo.....I so hope that this can be turned around...Please, keep us updated......Karla
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Avatar universal
Hi,
Thanks for your responses.  This has been a horrible and very sad week.  We tested for addisions, hopeful yesterday, only to find out that it's not that.  The dvm gave Leo a small dose of steroids yesterday, and then he ate a jar of baby food, but not without encouragement.   Later in the afternoon, he Vomited everything. They tried keeping him off the iv, but he needed fluid within hours.  We have one last shot if we can get an appointment at uc Davis, but if we can't we can try keeping him at home, but who knows.  We can't afford icu treatment any longer.

Any ideas would be helpful....
Helpful - 0
441382 tn?1452810569
There is nothing more frustrating than not knowing what is wrong with our pets because they cannot tell us in words how or what they are feeling!  I am so sorry that you are going through this right now!

What is confusing me is that he has diarrhea but almost no gut motility.  During diarrhea, the intestines are in hyperdrive, pushing things through at many times the normal speed, yet his intestines are barely moving.  It makes me wonder if his vagus nerve is somehow involved.  Have you had him tested for diabetes?  Diabetic neuropathy CAN be responsible for this type of thing, and even though he is young, he can still be diabetic.  It might be worth mentioning it to his vet.  

Please continue to post and let us know how he is doing.  In the meantime, I will pick the brains of several of my veterinary friends to see if they have anything to offer.

Ghilly
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