What is Wrong with my Dog!?

[Cleo]

A plea for help and a vent.

We took her to the vet a few weeks ago because she had been throwing up a yellow foamy bile every other day since we got her. Sometimes she'd go a few weeks with only one barf, sometimes its every other day. We never know.

We are very tight for cash right now, so this vet trip was way out of our budget. But we did it anyways. Because we love our dog.

Well, the vet said she must not be eating enough and to start feeding her three times a day, with wet food to get her to eat. And that it is a possibility that she might be eating her own poop outside and to monitor her. He said something must be aggravating her stomach and since no food shows up in her vomit, we must not be feeding her enough.

Um... thanks? For nearly 200 bucks thats all you can tell me? He said he could do some tests but they would be very expensive.

Anyways... we DO monitor her outside. At least I do, my S.O doesnt. She eats two big bowls a day, and I have to prepare it myself, with wet food and dry food. It is expensive, but we love her so we buy her the best. I've been doing this SINCE the first week we got her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I noticed she wasnt eating her food, I bought her wet food and now she eats as soon as I put it on the ground. She has a constant supply of dry food as well after her 'big' meals and she eats it once in awhile.

She has still been barfing. I can;t stand barf but I have been sucking it up and cleaning it. I mean, I have to clean up barf that is ALL over the house because she walks and barfs. Since we dont have a mop, I am on my hands and knees scrubbing the floors afterwards. My S.O is never home when she barfs, or if hes around she seems to barf outside. I'm the lucky one that gets to clean it up. If I don't clean it up, she eats it. I know because one day I had already had my fill of cleaning up barf that day, and my bf was coming home in 30 mins so I just left it there for himt oclean up (mean, I know but you haven o idea how weak of a stomach I have) and when he came home it was gone. Gross. So, needless to say, after that I always clean it up immediately.


Today was the last straw with me.

I was starting a new job at 4 today. I was about to run out of the house and she started barfing EVERYWHERE. On the stairs, in the hall, in the kitchen and down the BASEMENT stairs. I had to clean it up. I couldnt just leave it there. So I cleaned it up, put her out really quickly and prepared her another meal so she wouldnt barf again while I was gone. The whole time I was doing this I was fuming mad. I was screaming at her, telling her what a bad dog she is, and just taking my anger out on her. I know its not her fault and there is something wrong with her but I just couldnt help it. I felt like a monster after. But I am just at the end of my rope.

I was late for my job and they asked me to leave as soon as i got there. Apparently it is company policy not to let trainees work if they are late on their training shifts.

I came home and cried and cried and cried. I am at my wits end. I dont know what to do. Her old owner won't respond to my emails so I can only guess that this is the reason why he sold her. I' m shaking right now. I have no idea what to do, how to tell my bf. I just feel like this is the worst day I have had ina very long time.


Guys..... what do I do?

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

If your vet bill was 200.00, that had to include something else besides just an office call (God, let's hope so). Were there any tests done or meds given?

Persistent vomiting can mean so many things and might require some tests unfortunately.

Others will chime in with their thoughts.

Sorry you're having to go through this! What kind of dog is it and what size?

[SkootiesMama]

Hi there, Sorry to here about your barfy dog. I have heard that dogs sometimes barf due to stress. If you just got her, she might need some time to settle in and relax. It could also be an allergy to something in the food your feeding. What kind of wet and dry is it? Some dogs also grow out of the barfing stage. I know cleaning up barf sucks, but all dog owners go through it. My dogs barf occasionally and like you I have a weak stomach. It could also be too much acid in her stomach, you could try some pepcid or talk to your vet about an antacid that might work. Hope some of this helps. Good luck : )

[Cleo]

The bill was 165.45. lol.

Well, I did get her tested for heartworms, but that was it besides the consult. He was going to do a fecal, but said we should probably wait to see if she gets better first before doing that because that's an extra 50 bucks.

I'll have to find the bill, but I'm fairly sure that is all they did. I know nothing else was included though because we went over her records and discussed when to bring her in for her next vaccinations.

She is a lab/collie mix, almost 2 years old. Perfect little angel of a dog, very obedient, very loving. I can't imagine getting rid of her but I am just at my wits end.

[Cleo]

I've honestly never seen a dog barf so much. Ugh...

Never thought of an antacid, we always figured it was because she is eating poop and poisoning her stomach. I've done every precaution though to make sure she doesn't.

She's not stressed, she's been here since December. She used to be in a crate 9 hours a day, alone, and we are here almost all the time with her. We walk her regularly, every second day, sometimes more.

I thought she might not like the food so I've changed it a few times, with no success. Originally she was eating the same stuff that her last owner used to, but she started getting sick so we changed it.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Originally Posted by Cleo

I've honestly never seen a dog barf so much. Ugh...

Never thought of an antacid, we always figured it was because she is eating poop and poisoning her stomach. I've done every precaution though to make sure she doesn't.

She's not stressed, she's been here since December. She used to be in a crate 9 hours a day, alone, and we are here almost all the time with her. We walk her regularly, every second day, sometimes more.

I thought she might not like the food so I've changed it a few times, with no success. Originally she was eating the same stuff that her last owner used to, but she started getting sick so we changed it.

When you change foods are you changing it very slowly by mixing in just a little bit of the new in with the old and then keep increasing it a little more each day? Some dogs stomach really get out of whack if you just change foods too quickly.

Can I ask what are you feeding her?

[SkootiesMama]

Thanks for the speedy response. My dog used to eat his poop and never barfed from it. The only way she would be poisoning her stomach would be if she was getting into pesticides, household cleaners, garbage, etc. Thank goodness my pup doesn't eat his poop anymore. I think thats grosser than cleaning up barf! Blah!
What food are you feeding her? How often have you changed the food? When you change the food, do you mix the old food with the new and gradually lessen the old food over a period of a couple weeks? Sometimes changing the food alot can also cause stomach problems. Hopefully I will hear from you soon regarding the food you are feeding her.

[Aria]

what the vet said doesn't sound logical to me. If your dog is underweight than yes feeding more times a day is a good thing, however, ( and i know your budget it tight) I am going through something very similar, but my dog has a tumer in his tummy( he is 2 yrs old). I would ( if i where you) do two things... 1 I would not change her food i would feed her what she likes, and make sure she is getting her fill ( even if you feed her instead of 2 big meals a day feed her more often and smaller portions. It could be she is eating to much and pooping out more than her body has time to digest properly. So smaller meals might help me feel more hungry without the barfing . Also i would have some blood panels done... for her liver, kidneys and other body functions ( this was how i found out my pups liver wasn't doing so well ( again he is olny 2). IF the barfing continues ( and i know your not gonna like this answer, but a barium x-ray might help to eliminate any tumers or blocages in the GI trackt or anywhere else which can also start this type of thing. ( again this is how i found my pups tumor). If nothing else seems to work, i would also go to anther vet, and get a second opinion.. sometimes that can help. Good luck! we are hear if you need us =)

[Cleo]

I think I am changing vets. He was quite rude with us, and kept acting like he had better places to be. We just went with the same vet that she had before with her last owner.

She was originally fed Iams, and we weaned her off of it by doing what you said, putting small amounts into her Iams. First I tried Pedigree Large breed, and when her barfing didn't stop, I started introducing Purina Large breed. I think I will stick with Purina. For her wet food, it is just a regular run of the mill brand. Super Saver, is its name.

I know we will have to get all these tests... I just dont know when we will have the money for it. We are soooo tight right now.


Also, she isnt getting into any household stuff. Nothing is available to her.

[dobermom]

RoughCollies may be the one to talk to on this. I think collies often have sensitive stomachs.
You may need to switch her to a better quality food.
I now its frustrating when they p uke, but its really not her fault, she doesn't know your supposed to p uke in the toilet! Remember, if she is p uking, she doesn't feel very good, and yelling at her wont help anything.