2 dogs with swollen bellies - new dog food

[jessroth]

Hello,

Yesterday (Sunday) I noticed that my miniature schnauzer (male, 4 years old) had a swollen belly when I went to pick him up and he yelped. It is quite firm to touch. I monitored him all afternoon and evening and he was being his usual self, drinking normally, running around, etc.

We then gave both dogs (other is a female Jack Russell, 8 years old) their dinner which is a new variety of the same brand they have always had. It is for small breeds. They have been having this particular one for about 2-3 days. Neither dog ate all of their dinner which is very unusual then I noticed my JR also had a swollen belly, when she was fine in the afternoon when I had checked her after discovering the schnauzers swelling.

I put it down to the new food causing them to have an upset stomach so cooked them up some plain rice which they ate most of. This morning (Monday) they're both still very round, but alert, bouncy and happy. Both seem uncomfortable when I touch their bellies.

As well as introducing the new food, my butcher gave me a bag of lamb offcuts for the dogs which contained bones and fat. I have since read that domestic pets shouldn't eat this kind of thing due to risks of the bones splintering and the high fat content so will be throwing the remaining ones out. However they had one each on Friday and Saturday when usually the only "treats" they get are dental chews a few times a week.

I am hoping that they just have upset stomachs from the drastic diet change and it will settle with a bland diet of cooked rice and oats over the next couple of days, then we will slowly start to re-introduce the dog food they were having prior to the swap. Given that they both seem happy, albeit uncomfortable, are there risks in just waiting and seeing how they go? I really don't think it is bloat or anything medical given that they both have it.

Looking forward to hearing from anyone with any advice.

[ggreg]

Jess, I agree with LoveMaltese's advice.  What has happened is, when you change a dog's diet AT ALL, even if it's just a diff kind of same brand food, you have to introduce it slowly, by, for example, mixing 1/4 of the new stuff mixed with the old stuff for a couple days, again for a couple more, until the change is complete.

The lamb bones MIGHT make things clog up, and explains the  yelp your dog gave out when you touched his tummy... could be the bones are just laying there and touching that spot hurts.

Your vet will take care of everything. They will need, as LoveMaltese said, something for their gas!  What a great insight into your dogs' condition.  We, as humans, take stuff like Tums to release gas, or a bubbly drink, and other bottles of stuff in the drugstore to stop bloating, stomach pain, and so forth.  Your vet MIGHT want to keep them for a couple days, to make sure the lamb bones pass... he may have to use an endoscope (they sedate and then put a little tube into their mouths, work it down to the stomach, and grab out the bones,if needed).

Just remember, no bones of any kind except big, hard, strictly chewing nylon ones from the pet store.  And also, anytime you introduce a new food, mix it a little at a time to their regular food, more and more over a period of about a week, until it is ALL new stuff.  That should make it much easier for the dog's body to be able to accept new foods.

Let us know what the vet does!  I will be thinking of you and your pups and hoping for what I know will be an excellent outcome!

[LoveMaltese]

It sounds like bloat caused from the change in their diets...from ingredients like corn, wheat, rice, soy and oatmeal. These carbs are highly fermentable, and fermentation produces gas. This can be very dangerous if the dog's stomach twists, I would avoid that new food all together and call your vet for what treatment is necessary.