Alan Again

[Guest ss556]

He vomited twice last week, this morning he threw up his breakfast - a pile of chicken and rice my DS said. He's acting fine, he's happy to see some snow outside, looks forward to his walkies, so why would he throw up 3x in a week? The vet coincidently called tonight and he doesn't know why. The blood test for the pancreas was normal and Alan just had a complete blood and urine test a few weeks ago. We know the BUN and creatinine is elevated, but does anyone have any ideas? If he throws up again, I'm going to start to worry, right now I am just concerned.

[RobinM]

Personally, if he is otherwise acting normal, his weight is ok and seems alert, happy outgoing etc. I wouldn't stress so much unless of course, it gets worse. He could have something intestinal that he is trying to get rid of.

 

If he were not throwing up, but was listless, agitated and generally not a happy boy- then I'd worry.

 

My beau has been going through serious tummy issues for 2 weeks and we can't figure it out either.

 

Hang in there, this too shall pass!

 

hugs to you and Alan.

 

 

[Batmom]

what tummy med is he on?

 

If a.m. urpies continue, might be worth trying this -- as soon as you get up in the morning, give him a large dog biscuit or a slice of bread, and then wait 30-40 minutes before you give him his breakfast.

[MerlinsMum]

I have no ideas, but I wanted to send hugs and good thoughts. Thinking of you and Alan. I hope you get to the bottom of this.

[RobinM]

Also. Longo has Beau on extra strengh pedcid 2x a day. See if that helps. (check with her first). Can Alan take Flaygl? we have Beau on 100 mg a day for 10 days now to try and get to the bottom of his tummy upset.

[Guest kaotic1]

Has he eaten anything he shouldn't? Sammy was throwing up a few weeks ago and he eventually threw up peices of the Terrier's chew bone he had demolished. He had eaten that several weeks before you would think it would have gone out one way or the other sooner!!

[greysmom]

Does he bolt his food? And is it always breakfast he's urping up?

 

Just some thoughts, but I know there have been several people talk about their pups bringing up what they just ate when they eat/drink too fast. I wonder if slowing him down would help.

 

The other thing is that someone mentioned that when they give their greys a snack late at night, their tummies don't get so empty. The urping happens when their breakfast hits an empty stmach. As I'd had a couple 3am barfy sessions, I tried giving them a bigger bedtime treat and we haven't had that problem since.

 

Thinking good thought for Alan.

 

greysmom

[CaliforniaGreys]

I can't imagine what's going on. I'm surprised he's on chicken, I always thought chicken was so high in protein which wouldn't be good on his kidneys. What about trying one of the prescription diets and see how he does.

[patricia]

Sending prayers.

[Guest SoulsMom]

I agree with Claudia. Try an I/D diet and see if it helps. . . . all his bloodwork looks normal? Is his tummy gurgly at all? Poops are normal?

[Guest ss556]

The poops have been normal for him. The vet said to stop giving alan the pepcid xtra strength twice a day and give him one every other day. This is a vet that doesn't know alan well. He gets some chicken and rice on top of prescription k/d kibble - he will not eat kibble alone, never has. He was getting soft poop when I tried the k/d cans added to the kibble. some nights he get Iams prescription low residue (intestinal). Alan is complicated. I was giving him his meds w/ ricotta cheese (lower phosphorus than some others) with no problem. The vet said no dairy. So I've had to give him pills w/ turkey breast - I know, protein, but I cannot pill him all the pills he gets a day. His tummy gurgles a bit every day, but that's the way he's been. To top it off, I ran downstairs to the basement and heard a thump. I think he fell in the kitchen but was up by the time I flew up the stairs. More grey hairs for me. I will just observe him for now, that's all I can really do.

[Batmom]

Try giving the pepcid every day instead. The effect doesn't last long enough for it to be given every other day.

[CaliforniaGreys]

Well I sure do know what you mean about grey hair. Misty has given me a headfull She would never eat dry food alone but she does well on the KD can. With not being able to have any dairy, it must be tough to give him his pills and if the turkey works, great. I think their mission in life is to make us nuts!!

[Guest ss556]

"I think their mission in life is to make us nuts!! " I totally agree!

 

[Guest Greensleeves]

If he's a kidney dog, the upset stomach is probably from the kidney disease... in which case, I'd go back on the extra strength Pepcid twice a day, as well as looking at adding baking soda/water and Tums throughout the day. Our vets (regular and specialist) also add metacloperamide for kidney dogs that are vomiting.

 

(I'm sorry; I can't remember the baking soda:water ratio--hopefully your vets will know. Our specialist prescribed it and said it can help reduce the acids in the bloodstream.)

[mangos_mom]

I don't know anything about kidney disease proper - I'm following my vet's advice to feed k/D because Mango's kidney levels were 'slightly elevated' at her annual check-up earlier this year. She never urps up anything, except once in a blue, blue moon.

 

On the other hand, Takoda, who doesn't have kidney issues, routinely urps up a meal. It's not all the time, and there's no rhyme or reason. He doesn't wolf food down, at least not to my eye, and not compared to some of the fosters I've had here. But, through trial and error, I've learned that T's stomach is sensitive.

 

My vet suggested feeding him smaller amounts more often. When I tried that, voila' - no urpies. Might that work?

[greyhead]

I don't know anything about kidney disease proper - I'm following my vet's advice to feed k/D because Mango's kidney levels were 'slightly elevated' at her annual check-up earlier this year. She never urps up anything, except once in a blue, blue moon.

 

For Alan's and Mango's/Takoda's moms, and whoever else:

Jeez, I just wrote a tome of a reply on kidney stuff and then lost it when I moved to get this link: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9KidneyDiet/ This is a good group for asking questions and getting the experience of lots of people owned by kidney dogs, some of which are greyhound people too. It's best to learn this stuff sooner than later, I found.

 

The gist of what i wrote and lost is: Most vets follow what they learned in vet school, and traditionally for kidney disease/issues/whatever, they learned to limit protein in the diet. Five years ago, at least, new research came out that restricting protein early in the course of the kidney problem creates a vicious circle of further problems, for the kidneys and other organs. My kidney greyhound (I've also had two cats with kidney disease) also has had "slightly elevated" numbers this year on BUN and creatinine, as well as lower-than-normal urine specific gravity. With the vet's blessing he eats Wellness Core Low-Fat kibble, plus canned food as gravy, and its protein level is 32%! (We picked that particular one because this dog just doesn't do grains, and it doesn't have any.) Since starting that 8-9 months ago, his numbers came back to normal range, just barely. Retesting is recommended at 6-month intervals when things are going this well, which for him will be in January. Later in the course of kidney disease, it becomes appropriate to lower the protein because the kidneys just can't process as much as before. But something like k/d may not be optimal for Mango or Alan at this stage.

 

Mango's mom, vomiting daily or every other day can be related to kidney problems, and you might want to think about having Mango's kidney values retested. (I always do the liver values too, since they are not unrelated to how well the kidneys are doing their job.)

 

Mary

 

Edited to straighten out the dog's names and the quote thingys, and I'm still not sure they're right cuz I'm probably too tired to have written this tonight!

Edited December 17, 2008 by greyhead

[patricia]

Checking in on Alan. Pavé Maria barfed this morning...she is KNOT sick...she barfed up a toy that she destroyed and apparently decided to eat.

[Guest ss556]

Pave' Maria - what did you do???

Alan was fine this morning. He had kibble with a little boiled and then rinsed chopmeat. He looked fine - DH will go home at lunchtime to see how he is and take him out. Keep your paws crossed!

[Guest EnzaFerrari]

I've found that Enza goes through stages. Every once in while, she will just decided to urp what she just ate. And she is fine so not sure why. She'll do it a few times in one week, then nothing for months.

[Guest md7nd]

Just wishing Alan and family much good luck and all!

[Remolacha]

my guess (not a vet nor do I play one on TV ) based on experience with a crf cat, is the kidney issues are upsetting his tummy. I'd ask about taking Pepcid every day, and maybe a snack last thing at night and/or first thing in the morning. Also, can he take Pill Pockets? Does he like them? What Mary (greyhead) said about the "new" thinking on protein is right on, too. for Alan

[crazygang]

Sending well wishes for Alan....

[CaliforniaGreys]

Thinking about Alan here too

[Guest Greensleeves]

Yes, about not limiting protein in the early stages of kidney disease.

 

If the dog is experiencing *nausea* from the kidney disease, however, it means that kidney function has been lost and the toxins are building up in the body and changing the pH of the stomach acids. Which means it's appropriate to begin limiting protein intake.