Posting in desperation after 10 weeks of veterinary confusion and mystery. Our Ridgeback/Malinois puppy (aged 7 months) for the last 10 weeks has had ongoing vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Pretty much every second day he is miserable for a good 8 hours, retching and heaving bile into the garden and refusing food/water. He often vomits blood or partially digested blood. The days in between he’s absolutely fine and you’d think nothing is wrong with him (other than very inconsistent stools - sometimes fine, sometimes just liquid). He’s had antibiotics for giardia, we’ve switched foods, he’s had a stool sample (clear), a blood test (clear), an ultrasound (no obvious masses or foreign bodies, slightly enlarged lymph nodes which is apparently normal in a puppy). He’s now on another round of antibiotics and is taking two stomach liners, and for the last week has been on Royal Canin Gastrointestinal vet diet (both kibble and dried). The last week has been the longest he’s gone (7 days) without having a vomity day, but this morning he’s unwell again, pooed inside overnight, very gurgly tummy, and has refused breakfast (so I can’t even get an anti-nausea tablet into him). Has anyone had a similar experience with their large puppy? Any ideas, thoughts on things that I should ask our vet? We’re awaiting the results of another stool sample but I fear that this will provide no clues again. The likely next step is a gut biopsy but at $1200 for this (in addition to the $1000+ already spent) I’m keen to exhaust all other avenues. Any/all suggestions sooo welcome. Thanks.
Argos
I have not got any ideas really but it all sounds dire, poor dog. Can you get referred to a specialist. I think it sounds like you have covered all the obvious and need a specialist to try and get to the bottom of it.
I had this problem with my baby who now passed away, the vets prescribed the royal canine sensitivity food for her but wasn't getting any better on it but said it can't the food as it's for sensitive stomachs, this went on for years vomiting with chunks of blood diaherra with mucus. Then one summer I took her to a dog show and was given a free sample of grain free dry food tried her on it her issues disappeared, I never looked back and only ever gave her grain free food and treats from that day.
I knew my dog was grain intolerant, so refused the sensitivity food which had rice in.
It's worth trying grain free, do carry on with probiotics, and if it's due to protein sensitivity, there are foods where thee protein is sort of pre-digested a bit so the dog's immune system doesn't recognise it as something to be got rid of. This is hydrolysed food and can also be found in grain free versions.
I agree with getting a specialist involved or at least a second opinion.
The only other suggestion I can think of is an antacid for dogs or acid blocker of some sort.
How are the other puppies in the litter doing? I wonder if it is something congenital? Ridgebacks are knows for having cast-iron stomachs but malinois not so much. Are there any stomach issues on the malinois side do you know?
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