Puking Dog - Scared to eat? Please help

[LtEveDallas]

Hi,

Friend took on a mongrel as a pup from a local rescue, she is a very 'doggy' person - has lots and is very experienced.

Dog is now about 9 months old. He seems to have lurcher in him, maybe GSD, he's very tall, very thin.

Dog has hip issues. He limps a lot. Originally thought he'd had a fall, but after some investigation the vets diagnosed bi-lateral hip dyplasia He was put on anti-inflamatory drugs, but they seemed to upset his stomach. He had D&V for a week and the vets have said that its the anti-inflams that have caused the gastro issues.

Vets have now given him dog gaviscon/omeprazole, and have changed the dose of the anti-inflams - he cannot go without them or he cannot walk.

Anyway, he is now refusing food left right and centre. He is down to something like a fifth of what he would eat, and only with huge persuasion - and seems to throw back up more than he keeps inside. he las already lost over 4 Kilos, and on him it really shows - he is ALL ribs. He is lethargic and very very quiet.

How can she get him to eat? Have you any tricks? We have exhausted all our ideas (from eggs, to blended food, to raw, to pouches). We've just persuaded him to eat a little bit of chicken but it took ages to get him to take it, and he has thrown up within 30 mins (all bile). We think he is getting stressed about food (I know we are) and that in turn is making him worse.

Friend is waiting for a call from the vets, but at this point all they might do is tube/drip feed him and that can't go on.

Would really appreciate any ideas that I could give to my friend.

If anyone reading this can ask Val (and her rescue mate Dave) on FB as well I'd appreciate it, I can't get onto FB from work. Otherwise I'll PM her later.

[1MitchellMum]

My dog had to come off painkillers as they made her sick, so put her onto Yumove. I would think that maybe a drip at the vet would get dog back on track? Maybe some sort of anti nausea jab too? I think when they feel sick it's hard to get them to eat anything. Good luck.

[tabulahrasa]

Has he seen an orthopaedic specialist? Not helpful for eating obviously, but for treatment options.

Anti-inflammatories are the easiest option, but if he's not tolerating them then there are other drugs... But all of them will only mask the problem.

[LtEveDallas]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Haven't heard of Yumove, I will ask.

He is having swimming therapy every friday to build up his legs/hips, but even that is an issue because he is knackered thru not eating. It is making a difference, but his stomach is really bad.

[daisydotandgertie]

I'd be back to the vet for further investigations to eliminate other causes of the stomach problems.

It may be the medication causing it, but of course it could be something else entirely and his problems appear severe enough to warrant a deeper investigation.

[tabulahrasa]

How is he having the painkillers if he's not eating btw? Because if he's having them without food that will cause even bigger problems.

Yumove is a joint supplement, mobile bones is another well regarded one. (I use yumove as well)

He could try tramadol instead of anti inflammatories, or other painkillers if tramadol doesn't suit him either.

There are also drugs like cartophen vet or steroids that can be used alongside pain relief and there are surgical options.

[LtEveDallas]

Tabula, the tablets are 'forced' into him as soon as she has managed to get him to eat a mouthful of food. She knows he can't have them on an empty stomach.

She has managed to get him to the vet this evening, and is going to ask them about yumove.

I will suggest tramadol, but I think she will discount that; one of her other dogs was on tramadol before he was pts and she hated the way that it made him dopey - I felt the same.

We've managed to get him to eat some yoghurt this afternoon, and 3 spoons of tuna pasta and that hasn't come back up yet. Not exactly a good diet though is it? This is such a shame. His sister is with us as well and she's jumping around like a puppy loves to - he's just sitting there

[tabulahrasa]

Ah anything is better than nothing if you're at the point where tube feeding is a viable option.

Tramadol does make some animals drowsy, not others though - my dog tolerates it really well, it makes my cat stare at walls, lol. But there are other painkillers as well, loads of them in fact.