Advice sought re: poorly dog (sorry, rather long - as is the dog!) panicking a bit

[SearedChestnut]

Hi, I was hoping some more experienced dog owners might be able to offer some advice regarding our dog, which we adopted at Easter. He's a lovely male uncastrated 4 yr old lh daschund.

We are going to the vet in two hours time but I am panicking a bit in the meantime. I've been around lots of dogs growing up but never been responsible for one of my own before.

Context: the dog had a very difficult start in life. He came from a seemingly well-off household and we were told that the reason for him being offered for adoption was a marital break-up and a new baby etc. His owners admitted that he had spent most of his puppy-hood alone in their garden and they hadn't taken him out for walks. But the male of the household seemed genuinely affectionate towards the dog and sad to see him go. And the dog, when looked at superficially, seemed well cared for and friendly.

But when we had him checked over by a vet on adoption, it turned out that the dog had been badly neglected. He hadn't had the correct injections as a puppy and in the instances when he had, they hadn't been followed up with any boosters. His teeth had been neglected to the point where he had a horrible infection and had to have an operation. His ears were disgusting to the point of not being able to hear properly. He was underweight and had bad patches of scurf on his skin. It also became apparent that he didn't know how to walk on the lead and was scared of bicycles, other dogs, large men in hats, tall women in hats etc etc etc. He gets fearful if anyone leans over him too much or walks past with a remote control or book in their hand And the vet, having followed the paper trail (we live abroad) thinks that he had probably been bought from a puppy farm.

[Sorry for long ramble but background details significant I think]

Anyway, to cut a long story short; dog has never been a good eater. Every dog I have ever known has been a walking dustbin but adopted dog frequently needs to be cossetted and cajoled in to eating. He eats well for a few days and then just eats a very little or not at all for a couple of days. It is a constant struggle to keep weight on him.

I should add that he is of course now up to date with injections, his teeth are no longer hurting him, he's been wormed, had flea/mite treatments and we've changed from the poor quality dog food to much better quality kibble (he also has rice and chicken and rice and mince - anything he is fed has to be fairly delicate because of his stomach). But with every change, although he has put on weight and his coat has improved immensely, he never seemed quite 'at ease' with eating or enthusiastic about it.

We put this down to his nervous temperament and initially to the pain of his teeth and after the op, possible 'remembered' pain.

But he has had 3 bouts of vomiting (mainly clear gunge like wall paper paste) since Easter. He's often refusing to eat. And last night he was up all night vomiting again - the worst it's ever been - he's cross and grumpy and whimpering today

I'm really worried now. I'm afraid the vet is going to say that his early neglect has left him susceptible to some horrible illness or that there is something more sinister going on?

Does anyone have any ideas as to what this could be? We put it down to his nervous temperament at first, but it is becoming obvious to us now that there is something more serious going on.

What will the vet do? What questions should I ask?

[Slimmingcrackers]

[Sorry, that post was from me, the OP, have nc over NY]

[honeyroar]

Oh no, what a nightmare. I hope that they find something. It must be driving you all crazy, the not knowing and the reoccurrences.

[Slimmingcrackers]

Thanks Honeyroar. The ultrasound revealed nothing sinister or untoward other than an inflammation in a small part of the gastro-intestinal tract (this has something to do with white cells but I am translating from French so don't know what this is called in Eng.) She said this is often associated with an allergic reaction to food. Anyway, she has sent me away with a prescription for anti-emetics plus special dog food to buy from the pharmacy for dogs with delicate stomachs.

She said to get back in touch if the vomiting hasn't stopped with 24-48 hrs and to try him on the new food for three to four months and then we will reassess. If the vomiting starts again in the meantime, she is going to give him an endoscopy.

Not as worried as I was before, as neither ultrasound vet or usual vet seem to think there is really anything serious going on in terms of tumours or disease processes. Here's hoping a new diet will sort him out!

[Slimmingcrackers]

that should have read 'white blood cells'

[honeyroar]

I wondered before if it could be an allergy/intolerance. Let's hope the new food helps. It may upset his stomach changing over for a while though.

[Slimmingcrackers]

He seems to have about three weeks of his stomach being fine between the recurrence of symptoms though. Would an allergy present like that?

Yes, forgot to ask the vet about changing over from one food to the other. Usually they advise doing it slowly over two weeks ... not sure in this case. Might give her a ring about that tomorrow ... .

[Slimmingcrackers]

He seems ok at the moment anyway and is taking the opportunity to rest

[honeyroar]

You wouldn't have thought so for an allergy, but perhaps it's a small ingredient that builds up or something? Is it on a certain walk route? It's a mystery.

Yes I'd ring the vet about changing over. If he's already being sick is probably just give small amounts anyway.

He's lucky he found a good home. I wonder if that's why they gave him up? (I have a rescue dog allergic to grass and I always wonder if that's why she was dumped..)

[Slimmingcrackers]

Gosh, never heard of a dog that is allergic to grass before Honeyroar! That must be very difficult to manage (especially in summer). And how awful that your dog was dumped . Good she found her way to you though (or vice versa)!

Funnily enough, I just said the very same thing to my dsister on the phone today, that is, I wonder if they gave him up because of his stomach issues?

And now you mention it, he did spend an awfully long time at the bottom of the garden this morning chasing squirrels (at around 6.45 am). There was snow on the ground and it was about -6°c so I was surprised that I couldn't get him to come in. And there was a "finding a dead mouse and mouthing it" incident prior to the previous puking incident. I think I'll go and check out the undergrowth thoroughly at the end of the garden tomorrow. Perhaps there is some sort of horrible rotting carcass there ... dead fox or somesuch ... hope not.

[AcrossthePond55]

We also have a Dachshund rescue with tummy issues, but not as severe as yours. We went through at least 4 different expensive foods before we found one he'd eat without basically being coaxed and hand fed! Oddly enough it's HUGE chunks instead of small-dog-sized pieces. He's still not a 'chow-hound' but at least he finishes his food over the course of the day. He also has a tendency to vomit up bile (yellowy & foamy). The vet has just said it's not harmful and is due to having an empty stomach for too long. I guess not uncommon in picky eaters.

We found that if we give him 4-5 tiny 'meals' during the course of the day he finishes his daily requirement and has actually started asking for his evening 'meal'!

[Slimmingcrackers]

Thanks Acrossthepond55 that is really useful info, because, thinking about it, that is exactly how our dog is too (ie not a chow-hound and not particularly keen on his grub). And funnily enough, his vomit was yellow and foamy this morning (it has been clear gunge previously - like wallpaper paste).

[Apologies for tmi and to anyone who is reading this thread who is currently trying to eat their supper.]

V. interesting about the huge chunks too! Think we will do some judicious experimenting with different foods once he recovers. He seems fine in himself tonight and is pooing normally so that's positive I guess!

Do you mind me asking which food you opted for in the end? [I am in mainland Europe but I suspect you might be across another 'pond' altogether] so poss not relevant?

[honeyroar]

Acrossthepond's idea of smaller meals more often is probably a good idea too, especially if he's not wanting to eat large amounts either - he's telling you something, isn't he, at the moment..

[Slimmingcrackers]

Yes indeed Honeyroar I feel awful now for soldiering on with kibble - although the vet kept recommending it ("because it is balanced") and we have got through three different types each one increasingly expensive

I even got advice from a friend of mine who is a scientist and a dog-lover who did her own analysis on the quality (based on the % of ingreds) of dog-food and came up with a list of those brands she felt were even better than Hill's and Royal Canin ie Acana and Orijen, among othes. But I am now not sure if high quality is what is best for our dog, as he may need something less rich.

I find the whole subject of feeding very confusing tbh. I know there is a whole "raw" contingent on Mnset but vet said absolutely not because of the possibility of contamination and furry one's immune system being more fragile than most.

He seems to enjoy the chicken and rice that I cook him, in fact he wolfs it down (occasionally do rice with plain beef mince too) but I know that is probably not ideal in the long term.

[honeyroar]

You shouldn't feel awful. You sound like you're really trying for him. Even the experts don't know what's wrong yet..

[Slimmingcrackers]

Thanks Honeyroar will go along with the treatment and then do some investigating/careful experimentation and see what happens! Will report back!

Thanks again everyone. Really great to have a sounding board on here!

[AcrossthePond55]

It's Hill's Science Diet Oral Care.

www.hillspet.fr/fr-fr/products/sp-canine-science-plan-adult-oral-care-chicken-dry.html

We tried a couple of Hill's types and Royal Canin's Teckel food. We hit on the Oral Care when DH picked it up by mistake. We started by taking about 4 pieces (again, they're large) and mixing them with a spoonful of wet food. Just enough to sort of coat the large pieces. We gradually went from about 6 meals of 4 pieces with wet food 'coating' to 4 meals with 6-7 pieces dry.

You may want to ask your vet if they have any sample packs of the Oral Care. A bit more economical than buying a 5 lb bag only to find he doesn't like it any better than what he's eating now.

[AcrossthePond55]

Here's our boy.

[Slimmingcrackers]

Ahhh he's gorgeous Acrossthepond! He has a very wise and benign "seen it all" expression!

And thank you very much for v. helpful information about food. The vet was saying that we may have to try him on a bit of wet food so will let you know. When he's better, will definitely enquire whether she has a sample of the oral care stuff.

Furry one seems ok this morning. He's eaten a bit of breakfast and had his anti-emetic.

[AcrossthePond55]

I'm glad he's feeling a bit better. Hopefully things will keep improving.

Yes, he thinks he knows it all. And he's seen quite a lot. He was left in a car in which his 'owner' was speeding to evade police & then took off on foot. We joke that he's in the 'witness protection program' because he was actually shipped to another state and placed with us as his previous owner was barred from getting him back & he apparently threatened the shelter staff.

[KiwiJude]

Oh gosh crackers do hope furry one is still feeling better. Our boxer boy used to be vomitous like your lovely boy but seems to have improved since we added cooked veges to his diet (raw was suggested but his tummy couldn't seem to digest/process them properly, as was clearly evidenced when doing poop pickup, sorry if that's tmi folks) and always scoffs his veges first before dealing to his biscuits (he is on a grain-free kibble). Keep us posted :)

[Slimmingcrackers]

Waves to KiwiJude good to hear that it is possible to overcome these problems and glad to know that your boy is better. That's very interesting about the cooked veg; furry one here definitely loves a cooked carrot or two.

Pls may I ask about grain free kibble ie what are the benefits?

As advised by the vet, we weighed his entire daily kibble quota this morning and let him have it in tiny amounts spread out throughout the day and that seems to have gone done well as did a tiny bit of plain rice and plain minced beef.

Crikey Acrossthepond what an incredible life your dog has had! Hope his previous owner doesn't have your address! I'm sure he appreciates having a bit more of a sedate lifestyle now.

[KinkyAfro]

Awful isn't it when you're not getting any answers, I'm in the same boat with my girl at the moment. Mine's back from the vets today following anaesthetic and morphine and she hasn't really stopped whining since. Am just hoping it's morphine come down

[Slimmingcrackers]

Oh no Kinky that's awful . It is really worrying when you don't know what is going on. Was she having exploratory tests? I hope she gradually feels better overnight.

I feel a bit more reassured now that the vets have ruled out anything truly sinister. I hope you receive the same reassurance soon.

[KinkyAfro]

She's had abdominal issues, there's a thread below 'what's wrong with my dog'

[Slimmingcrackers]

Will go and have a look. Hope she feels better soon.