Prayers for Oliver...
 

Oliver is throwing up again. It started out just in the morning yesterday, but today he's been sick multiple times. He won't touch food, although he did have a couple bites of plain boiled chicken about an hour ago and so far has kept it down. I don't have any rice on hand, or I was gonna make that, but I tried to give him some plain canned pumpkin and he wouldn't take it. I've been following him around outside to see how his bowl movements are, but no dice yet. I don't see anything unusual out there now.

If it keeps up, we'll be heading to the vet in the morning. He is playful and even played ball with me for about 15 minutes, I cut the game short though as I don't want to overdo it with him being ill, especially with him not eating. He is drinking, and he's playing with his toys. He's so hard to read sometimes. He just laid down at my feet for a rest, so I guess even a little bit of play took everything out of him.

I've having a tough time with this emotionally, as I feel like I made a mistake getting a rescue. I knew there could and likely would be health issues, I just worry that this is now the 2nd time that he's been ill since I got him, so this could be a lifelong thing. Even if he does recover I am going to request a full blood panel just to be sure. I love him more than life itself, but if there's something really wrong and I can't afford to take care of it, I need to allow the rescue group he came from to find someone who can. I worry about liver shunt and know that if it is that, I will likely need to surrender him. I don't think it is, based on his symptoms, but the thought still runs through my mind. I should likely request that test as well.

We are supposed to leave on Sunday for 2 weeks to see my brother, and I am so looking forward to finally meeting my one year old niece. I am terrified that he'll be too sick to go, and I'll have to stay here with him. My emotions are just running wild and I guess I could use a little prayer too! I need this vacation desperately, and I really need to finally see my little one and hold her and let her know how much auntie Jen loves her... but Ollie is my #1 priority and if I have to stay, I will. It will just break my heart.

Hopefully his little tummy settles and a vet trip isn't needed and I don't have to miss a day of work again. If it is, please pray it's something minor and that he starts to feel better soon. It breaks my heart to see him sick.

Sorry for the ramble.

I'm so sorry Oliver is sick again.

Was a blood panel done when he was neutered by the rescue he came from? I would assume one was done you so may be worrying needlessly about bigger health issues. Why not contact them and ask to ease your mind?

I hope it's nothing more serious than a sensitive tummy that maybe would benefit from a change in diet.

I'm sorry to hear that Oliver is ill. I haven't been following your story, so don't know how long you've had him. But give it time. He may (as Ladymom said) just have a sensitive tummy and it might just be a matter of figuring out what bothers him. She gave you great advice about the blood panel, I'd check with the rescue.

I want to take a moment to thank you for taking on this rescue baby. I don't know how long he's been with you, but I know its not uncommon for rescue moms to worry if they did the right thing. You did. Right now you are giving him love and kindness and you are making certain the right thing is done for him. That's all anyone would expect.

Don't worry about having to turn him back into rescue at this point. Cross that bridge if and when you come to it.

Hugs and prayers are being sent your way. Hang in there, and give him an extra hug from me.:)

Prayers and blessings for you and your little one.

Are you feeding him the same kind of food that the shelter was?

A blood panel was done, xrays too, he had a full workup. All they found was a mild luxating patella in his left hind leg. I have all the paperwork. The vet that saw him said he was in excellent health, other than that one leg, which she didn't expect to cause him a problem.

Maybe I should change his food? He's eating Before Grains chicken flavor. He does like it, but has his picky days where I have to add water to get him to eat it. I've thought about going raw but I don't know if that would be easier on his tummy or harder.

It can be so hard to figure out foods. Between Ginger's allergies and Bernie's sensitivity I spent the better part of a year figuring out what to feed them. As I'm sure you know, you can't change the food quickly, so its days/weeks until you know how they are responding to something new.

I'm glad to hear he had a clean bill of health.

Does he eat things he shouldn't? Paper, etc???

Thank you for your encouragement... Oliver has been with me for exactly 4 months, and it has not be an easy transition for him. He was sick a couple months ago with the same symptoms. He eats everything and anything he can find outside, so the vet eventually concluded he likely just ate something he shouldn't have. He was put on 2 medications and had a shot to settle his tummy and within 3 or 4 days he was fine.

I can't think of anything that could be causing this to keep happening... I know he's stressed as I've been working extra hours so I don't lose out on a full paycheck for my vacation... maybe that's it...

Thank you.. yes, I am.. the foster family had him on Before Grains so I just kept feeding him that, it's a good quality food and he likes it. But I am starting to think I should switch, I just don't know to what! He's a picky boy.

He sure does... he'll eat almost anything he can get his paws on. He loves paper and he eats acorns and bugs outside all the time. He also eats a ton of grass everyday. I have him in obedience training but "leave it" seems to be something he's not responding to. You can only puppy proof so much!

I have a Pommie who eats anything and everything. He scares me. A stick could get stuck in his digestive system. He could pick up all sorts of bugs from animals wandering around. About 2 wks. ago my vet put him on antibiotics because of it. Helped in about 24 hrs. She's also put him on probiotics. That has also helped firm up his poo. I have a senior Yorkie, Rosie, who fusses about her food. Just in the last 3 months I have finally figured out that she will eat anything if I mix in a few smashed unsalted canned green beans. I have tried everything else....changing brands, mixing canned with her dry, mixing in chicken and rice, mixing with a little cheese. No dice. But beans worked. Go figure. And thank you so much for adopting a rescue. I have 4 rescues. My tiny 3 lb. Yorkie has had many health issues. Some are chronic. When I got these guys I knew that I was looking at vet bills. Too many of them come from BYBs or mills. I adore my babies but I know that rescues can definitely be a drain on finances. The last 6 months have cost me thousands. It's a gamble. Good luck with your baby.

Did your vet suspect pancreatitis last time? Unfortunately, Yorkies are prone to it. If you do take him to the vet, have him do a blood panel. Dogs with pancreatitis have elevated amylase and lipase values.

Pancreatitis (Inflammation) in Dogs

Many of the high protein diets are also high in fat which can trigger pancreatitis. They are not appropriate for all Yorkies.

The vet didn't think it was pancreatitis, no, but I have thought about it. I do know his food is high in protein. I think I will change it, just to be safe. Any suggestions on something lower in fat and protein? Price is not an issue here. If it will keep him healthy that's all I care about.

Quick update before I head out to work: Oliver slept well last night, but did need to make 3 quick dashes outside. He has not thrown up though since around 7pm last night, so around 12 hours. I have been forcing him to drink, and he ate 6 of his training treats this morning, but refused his food, even hand fed. I'm going to try and come home at lunch and bring him some rice and see if he'll eat that. It's been a day and a half since he's eating a meal, so that concerns me. He's 11 pounds so it's likely not a big deal, but I still don't like it.

I checked his food this morning and it's 32% protein and at least 15% fat. Is that high for dog food? I feel so uneducated, lol. If pancreatitis is a worry, what percentages should I be looking for? I also found out that my mother has been feeding him cheese when he won't eat, she says a few small pieces with eat meal but I witnessed her giving him a few small pieces twice in one meal as he stopped eating. I've told her that that stops NOW and that very well could be what's made him ill. The only people food I've ever given him is veggies with nothing on them and he's never had an issue with those.

Hoping I get to stay at work today and don't have to take him in... I'll update again when I get home, whenever that may be. Hoping not till late as I have a hair appointment after work, and if i can go it means he's doing alright. Fingers crossed, for his sake! (Well, and mine too!)

It's not so much Oliver's weight, but the fact that if he hasn't eaten in a day and a half, he is probably dehydrated. Dehydration causes dangerous electrolyte imbalances that can cause cardiac arrest. Early on, subq fluids are usually enough, but if a few days go by, IV fluids are usually necessary. Eight pound Lady ended up on an IV several times after only 48 hours with an upset tummy when she was younger. I learned the hard (and expensive way) not to "wait & see" with stomach upsets with a toy breed dog.

Sorry Oliver has not been feeling well. I know exactally how you feel
worrying about him all the time. It's so scary when they are sick.
I would boil the white rice and add it to some boiled chicken breast.
Adding alittle chicken broth to entice him to eat just might do the trick.
If he likes this you can continue this for a couple of days and then start
adding some of his kibble to it. The food that he is on is high in protien.
32% is pretty high. There are many good quality kibbles on the market
today, Wellness and Natrual Balance are two.
Natural Balance Organic (Natural Chicken only protein in it) has 22% protein.
I have been using this along with boiled chicken and veggies for about 4yrs
with wonderful results. Buddy never misses a meal:p
I hope your Oliver feels better soon and likes the rice, chicken and broth
so he will start eating once again.
Good luck,

I hope Oliver is doing better today. My Cali has colitis and has frequent episodes of tummy problems so I keep her on one dog food and the same brand health bars for treats and absolutely no people food to help minimize the episodes. Hopefully Oliver just has a sensitive tummy and the right food will help.

Oliver is doing much better today. He has had about a cup of plain yogurt and about half a cup of rice and a teaspoon of pumpkin. He is perky, readily eating, playing, bright eyed, and no more throwing up. I am going to keep feeding him the rice and yogurt and maybe some chicken tomorrow, and then Saturday I will introduce a new food along with it. A co-worker is bringing me a sample of Eukanuba (not sure if that's the right spelling) lamb and rice that she feeds her Yorkie's to see if Ollie likes it. I definitely need to find something with less protein, and I sure hope that that will keep these episodes from happening. I'm concerned about all the food changes while we're traveling, but I'll have to make do! I'm just glad to see him doing better, and I hope it sticks. The last time he was sick like this he got better for a day and then went back downhill, very fast. Fingers crossed...

Glad he's doing better.
Sounds like the cheese alone could cause an upset stomach and make him not eat his food to get people food.:rolleyes:
My boy was picky when we brought him home from the breeder, he was on Chicken Soup then decided he didn't like anymore. I contacted every manufacture and had samples sent with no luck, the vet had given me a sample of Prescpt Diet i/d. He ate it and loved it, i tried to switch him back to the Chicken Soup and it didn't work. So for the past 7 months he's been eating the i/d with no issues. Although not a great quality food, he eats it and didn't like any of the higher quality foods, vet also said the higher quality could be to rich for his tummy to handle...good luck to you and don't be alarmed if he doesn't eat much during your vacation, mine doesn't for the first day, then he eats very little thereafter until we get home..;)

I absolutely swear by Animal Essentials Plant Enzymes and Probiotics. Lady had terrible digestive problems including three episodes of HGE in four months. Once I started adding probiotics, she has had no more tummy problems.

I will definitely look into some probiotics, thanks! Anything that I can do to prevent this, it's so hard on him, and me!

He had an awesome night, we played right until bed time and then had a great sleep, he slept thru the night.

Thanks so much everyone for your prayers and or good thoughts and advice... YT'ers at the best!!!

Lexi has had several bouts with vomiting. The Vet said that dogs are programmed to eat everything and they vomit up what isn't good. He advised giving her 1/2 a caplet of pepto bismol. The caplets are rounded and go down better. Also, pill pockets by Greenies are a Godsend! The bout before last I had her spayed and it upset the bacteria in her stomach and had to be on antibotics to balance out the bad with the good. She got better within a day or so. The latest bout she ingested something poisonous which I think was a mushroom. I pulled one from her mouth when she was outside. The mushroom had hardened and really looked like a piece of wood. She spent two days with an IV flushing out an inflammed liver and is now back on another round of antibotics.

Try the pepto and go to the Vet. These dogs go downhill very quickly. Hope your baby is better!!!!!

Another food possibility.
 

Disclaimer: ASK YOUR VET FIRST.
I notice you are from Canada, and I don't know the size of the town you listed. We are in a rural area so we have an ample supply of venison. Wild meat like venison and elk are lower fat than beef. I make rice and venison for my little guy when his stomach is upset. (5 cups of cooked rice plus 1 cup of slivered or ground venison) It isn't balanced enough for full time, but it works when we need to get him to eat. He had SERIOUS ulcers in both the upper and lower digestive tract before he was two years old, and continues to have periodic digestive sensitivities. I freeze the rice and venison in ice cube trays, so whenever his stomach is upset, the food is ready. I give the little cube to him frozen. He LOVES it.

sounds like ibd to me and dogs with ibd should not have a chicken based diet per our ims. If his amylase and lipase are elevated that can be tied to ibd as well as pancreatitis. I do not think this is pancreatitis as your dog would be tossing and turning and doing the prayer position alot as it is very painful. Also panting is a sign of pain.

The protein count is too high as well as the fat as my dex who has had pancreatitis twice and has ibd in small intestines is on 8% fat diet purina ha - it is a hydrolized soy diet. The reason hydrolized works is it breaks down the protein so they can better digest it.

Stay clear of white potato and chicken. Was he having these issues with rescue if so then definitely the food. If not could be the cheese. I would recommend a more highly digestible diet like fish and sweet potato or venison and sweet potato by natural balance - more of a limited ingredient food and keep protein aroun 22% and fat content down around 10%.

Also probiotics help dogs with intestinal issues - if you have a vitamin shop near you - i use dds plus which is acidopholus, biffidus and fos. Give 15-30 min before breakfast - open 2 capsules and have him lick from plate.

Dogs can go without food for 5-7 days so when sick resting tummy for 24 hrs is good - BUT WATER IS ESSENTIAL you need to make sure they are drinking water although when in a vomitting fit you have to pull water to calm the cycle of vomitting drinking vomitting if that is occuring. He is a good size like mine is with ibd and pancreatitis as my dex is 10.7lbs.

I think with all the change he is probably stressed and it is upsetting his whole system. I am concerned though about you leaving him when he is having all the issues so can you board him at vet or are you taking him with you?