Poor Faithey!

[RoughCollies]

Faithey's tummy has been acting up again. It's been good for over two years now! No tummy acid and now it seems to be bothering her again. For those that don't know, Faithey's tummy has been bad all her life. She has to eat right before bed or she won't eat for days and will throw up acid that whole time. In the past, I had taken to bribing her with whatever worked. Once she started eating immediately before bed, it seemed to clear almost completely. Instead of throwing up acid every day, it would be once a month or sometimes even less. Now, after two years of success, she's doing the same things she used to.

It starts with her not wanting to eat, then progresses. Thus far, we've been able to force her to eat. But this won't work forever.

She's been on her current food for almost a year now, the longest ever. Could she be developing an intolerance to it? She's on Premium Edge Skin and Coat.

Should I try and add her famotidine again? It didn't really make a significant difference the first time around.

She has been more sore lately. She can't handle long, long walks like she used to and can only swim for a little while.

My dog is only just under 5! It's way too early for these things to be happening. Why does my baby girl have to hurt!!??!!??

[Dauxside]

I really wouldn't start mucking with her food again, but yes to amotidine again. You might want to discuss Enzymes with your vet. Maybe also try breaking her meals up?

Has she had an endoscopic examination with biopsy of the stomach and intestine? It might be worth considering if the issue persists.

Xing all paws she just had a bit too much of something.

[RoughCollies]

Originally Posted by Dauxside

I really wouldn't start mucking with her food again, but yes to amotidine again. You might want to discuss Enzymes with your vet. Maybe also try breaking her meals up?

Has she had an endoscopic examination with biopsy of the stomach and intestine? It might be worth considering if the issue persists.

Xing all paws she just had a bit too much of something.

She was on enzymes for a while. They didn't help. Maybe I can try a different brand. Any suggestions?

No, she hasn't had any endoscopic exams. I honestly don't have the money for something like that right now. I always try and put my dogs first and they never go without anything they need, but right now, unless it's life or death, we simply can't do anything like that.

I can try giving her a mini meal during the day. If it helps, it will be worth it. And no, unfortunately, this has been going on for about two weeks now. It's the same as it was before to a T. She just isn't throwing up as much because I've been able to get her to eat. So, she didn't have too much of something.

Thanks for the advice, Daux. I will try some of your suggestions. I think I'll call the vet and see what she thinks I should do about the food. Maybe the dog does need to go on RAW.

Poor Faithey.

[Dauxside]

I feel so bad for Faith, we give ours natural enzymes in the form of papaya, other raw feeders tell me I don't need to - but they like the taste, so I can have mine in peace . I do worry that it sounds like it might be inflamed pancreas...of course I'm just guessing but if she's throwing up more than bile it might be something to look at.

The reason I say this is typically, the functions of the pancreas can malfunction in either of two ways. In acute pancreatitis, the dog's pancreas becomes inflamed, causing vomiting and loss of appetite with resulting dehydration. For the severely affected animal, the pancreas has basically ceased to produce one or all of the required enzymes.

Because we feed raw, and I'm not pushing raw, we don't seem to see as many health issues, even with the dogs we rescued they came around healthier. Of course breeding has a lot to do with a dog's health not just food, water, or basic care needs, so please don't think I'm saying raw is the be all end all of feeding - we all have to do what we consider correct for our companions.

[alimel]

Poor Faithey If you switch her food won't it upset her tummy more?

[Dignity]

Poor Faith!!! I know pumpkin helps with dogs that have either trots or lack there of trots... would it help settle her stomach? You know - when she did not have tummy problems she was in dry heat (Cali) and now she has them again and she's in humid heat... do you think that it could be weather related? I know you've been up in the humid heat and weather changing for a year, but maybe it's just wearing down her immune system now.

[weezyNollie]

Have you tried any sensitive stomach diets? Or novel protein diets? Could it be food allergies or IBD?

Have you done any diagnostics? Blood work? Radiographs?

[saluki-sue]

Has she been tested for lyme or other tick born sicknesses. You can also give her an antiacid once a day.

[RoughCollies]

Originally Posted by Dauxside

The reason I say this is typically, the functions of the pancreas can malfunction in either of two ways. In acute pancreatitis, the dog's pancreas becomes inflamed, causing vomiting and loss of appetite with resulting dehydration. For the severely affected animal, the pancreas has basically ceased to produce one or all of the required enzymes.

It's only stomach bile, just as always. And she has barely thrown any up since it started back up.

Originally Posted by alimel

Poor Faithey If you switch her food won't it upset her tummy more?

Faithey is used to getting her food switched every 6 months and it never upsets it more. If anything, it helps out because she shows more interest in new foods, tummy ache or not, because they are different.

Originally Posted by Dignity

Poor Faith!!! I know pumpkin helps with dogs that have either trots or lack there of trots... would it help settle her stomach? You know - when she did not have tummy problems she was in dry heat (Cali) and now she has them again and she's in humid heat... do you think that it could be weather related? I know you've been up in the humid heat and weather changing for a year, but maybe it's just wearing down her immune system now.

I suppose the heat could affect it, but it happened all winter, too, last time.

Originally Posted by weezyNollie

Have you tried any sensitive stomach diets? Or novel protein diets? Could it be food allergies or IBD?

Have you done any diagnostics? Blood work? Radiographs?

We had a ton of blood work and tests the first time around. It all came back normal. It was basically diagnosed as Acid Reflux. We tried her on a vet diet for sensitive tummies and it didn't make much of a difference. If anything the not so great ingredients made her itchy. I am calling my vet later in the week to see what she thinks we should do.

Originally Posted by saluki-sue

Has she been tested for lyme or other tick born sicknesses. You can also give her an antiacid once a day.

Faith has never once had a tick embed into her. I check after every long walk all over her. She's on garlic and Frontline Plus. She has none of the other symptoms. She's had her joint issues for over two years. They are just progressing with age and temperature, I think. Her tummy issues have happened on and off all her life as well.

Good news is she readily ate her dinner tonight. She also ate her breakfast without too much of a fight.

[rubyred]

Poor Faithey. I don't have any advice, but am hoping she gets straightened out soon. I know how much we worry when our fur-babies are not feeling themselves.