HELP!! Almost 4 YO, 7lb Petey vomiting/diahrrea
 

I apologize for the length of this post ahead of time, but I want to put it all out there and ask for everyone's help who has been through this or knows someone who has.

Petey is almost 4 yo, 7 lbs as of his last visit which was Monday. We have had this problem before but never this bad. We have had him since he's a puppy and he has never been one to eat a lot or even eat all of what we put in his dish (unless it's canned food).

So this all started about 4 weeks ago. Maybe once/day or a couple times/week, he would vomit the yellow foam/bile (maybe a quarter size, not much). No biggie, happens sometimes, I just monitor his eating and usually stops. The latest episode stated the night we had that big snowstorm about 2 weeks ago. He was vomiting the bile once/day then the night of the storm, he stopped eating or drinking altogether. He's never done that. Called the vet (since we were snowed in) and were told to give him half of one of our leftover Cerenia (antinausea) pills which I did, then start him on the homemade boiled chicken/rice. I did that and he was back to normal within a day. 2nd day started transitioning him to another food (Purina One). As much as I tried the "transition" with the combination, he would only eat the new food. So within a week he was only on that food, but then he started again with the bile vomiting. Gave him canned chicken/rice and the bile stopped right away and took him to the vet this past Monday and they tested him for parasites, none. Said as long as the canned food is helping, move to that. Well that whole day he had canned chicken/rice and he was back to normal but then overnight he began diahrrea and vomited this morning which was food from yesterday AND bile (which never happened before, usually it's only the bile). I'm making him boiled chicken/rice as I type, but wanted to get opinions on what the heck is going on??? Vet says he doesn't think it's anything serious because he's not lethargic or dehydrated, but the diarrhea is new since I have been so I am calling today again. Has anyone else experienced this with your Yorkie and if so what happened? I am worried and frustrated. Thanks in advance!!!

Oh and I've read that the canned food we are using could have too much protein causing the diarrhea. Thoughts on that??

I see that you are starting him on Purina One. It might be the new food that is making him sick. What were you feeding him before this food?

diarrhea, is there blood and /or mucus in it? if there is, could be colitis. As I am very well sure that you know changing dog foods can cause diarrhea. you are doing the right thing by taking baby to the vet. I pray they find what the issue is. I know for me, when my baby gets sick and several things have not helped, I am sick with worry. Please keep us updated. God bless your lil baby.

We had tried multiple foods (can't remember them all LOL) but all at the vet's recommendation/approval. Last one before Purina One was Purina Dog Chow...please don't judge...I know it's not top of the line, but after spending a lot of money on the expensive brands when we transitioned him to adult food as a puppy, he loved Purina Dog Chow so it stuck and he was fine with that for over 2 yrs until we have the problem I am describing above.

Thank you!!

Thank you so much! No blood in it, a little mucus I think, but it's not a lot and it's not a very watery diarrhea, it's just very, soft. Not coming out as liquid is what I mean if that makes sense. And only at the times when he usually has BM, except for overnight which has been only once.

Got ahold of the vet nurse (Dr not in yet) and she recommended to continue the Pepcid (which I forgot to mention above...2.5 mg 2/day) and go ahead with the home made boiled chicken/rice until she can talk to the Dr. He just ate it all (2 TBSP) :) I will continue to post updates...if anyone else has any thoughts, please share. Thanks so much!!!

Hello again, you can also try boiled chop meat with rice, 2 tbsp. of boiled chop meat to 1/2 cup of uncooked rice. Buy 85 or higher % fat free chop meat, boil in water and mash the meat as it's cooking. boil 1/2 of rice, when rice is cook, mix in 2 TBSP of chop meat. I feed my baby 2 x's a day, he's not tiny, weighs 10 lbs. I feed him 1 cup a day, so he gets 1/2 cup food in the morning, 1/2 cup at night. When I buy the chop meat while it's in the package, I take off the wrapping paper, I cut the chop meat into 3 portions, I cook one portion & freeze the 2 portions in separate freezer bags . so all I do when I need to cook more chop meat I just take out of the freezer another portion. If you cook the entire package of chop meat it will spoil before you can use it up, then you have to throw it out. My baby has colitis, the amount of rice & meat is what my vet told me to use, I try to buy the smallest amt. of chop meat. I have appliance that sucks the air out of the plastic bag so its vacuum sealed, no freezer burn. I also use the chic & rice as a change for him. Loose, tarry stools with mucus is cause for concern, but you are doing the right thing by consulting your vet, you can ck with the vet about the chop meat & rice, never take what us member recommend as a sure cure, always, always consult your vet first. I hope they find what wrong with your lil furbutt, and cures him of it, As moms when our babies are sick, it makes us sick to, they can't talk so we do what our vet tells us. please keep us posted on his progress.

Thanks so much for your thoughts. I always, always do what my vet recommends, but like to hear other people's experiences as well. I will update in a separate post. Thanks again!! ;)

Ok, so Petey did great yesterday with eating the homemade chicken and rice. He still had diarrhea, but continued to drink and eat all that I gave him. His energy is fine, just tired from being up all night, but will follow me with as much energy as usual when I leave the room. Today he started the ID Intestinal Plus (low residue) diet (from the vet). He didn't seem to like it too much, but with some coaxing, he ate his morning meal. Continuing the Pepcid as well and have no vomit in 2 days! Yah!

He did pretty good overnight, but was up between 1-3am pacing and more diarrhea twice, but still peeing as well so no concern for dehydration. Praying by tomorrow we see more solid stools again!!

A tablespoon or two of pure canned pumpkin...not the pie filling....or cooked yam will work wonders to stop the loose stools. After I open a can I freeze what I don't use in tiny ice cube trays so that I always have some handy.

Has the vet prescribed any antibiotics? Clostridium (bacteria) is very common esp. with all the wet weather lately... I'd also keep him on a bland diet for a few weeks till this clears up completely and not mess with changing foods, as that can also stress the intestines. Also ask about adding probiotics to his food.

If nothing is showing on a fecal exam at the vet's, I'd have a fecal sent to the lab for more thorough testing.

He has not prescribed antibiotics yet. He wants to see how he does on this prescription food first. He suspects it is from the change in food. If the diarrhea doesn't stop within a couple days we go back for bloodwork. I have probiotics on my list to ask about when I go back! Thanks for your thoughts!!

Sorry, I guess I'm more 'Old School'... you said this has been on going for a month now... IMHO (Vet Tech), this is becoming a chronic condition and I'd be in search of a vet to be a bit more aggressive (or push your vet to get more aggressive) at finding answers and getting my pup back on the road to a healthy state.

Blood work at least to get a baseline to work from and to rule out anything medical going on, possibly X-rays to get a picture of anything obvious in the gut.

Food experimentation should only be attempted in healthy dogs bc you'll not know if it's the food change or the illness causing the problem.

Also, illness in the gut takes time for the gut to recover and heal, and is best accomplished on a bland diet, easily digested.

Yorkies are good at hiding their illnesses, after owning them for 40 years I've learned it's better to use what's medically available to get to the core of the problem asap and to treat appropriately then to guess with these guys.

I appreciate your opinion. I guess I should have been more clear, but by saying it has gone on for over a month, it started VERY slowly. I am told repeatedly, by vest and Yorkie owners that the occasional vomiting of the bile is "common" when the stomach is empty, which has happened since we had him but not frequently. When it began to happen every day (with no other symptoms) that is when the vet attributed it to him not liking his food, because he was eating less and less, but again, no other symptoms. When we switched him 2 yrs ago, we had no issues. this time, it backfired. I truly value your opinion so thank you for sharing! Believe me, if I felt there was something seriously wrong, I would be pushing for more tests more quickly, but we have used our vet since we had Petey and 100% trust him.

Thanks for the clarification... if he's vomiting a small amount of bile in the morning... and it's a food issue... a snack late at night will stop it from happening, can be a treat or two or a small meal.

Eating less could be a problem.... at 4 years of age (or between 3-6) some Yorkies develop sludge in their bile ducts... this throws off the liver enzymes in the bloodwork and can cause a decrease in appetite.

Has a Bile Acid Test been done? That will give a clue as to how well the liver is functioning.

Not yet, but I will be sure to ask about that! Thanks so much!!!!

KJC, if it is the bile sludge, how is this treated?

absolutely ALWAYS, ALWAYS follow your vets advise, I do, what works for one baby may not work for another, I just told you about the chop meat in case you needed a change, but always ck with your vet, last week I ran out of chop meat, could not get to store always have boneless chic cutlets in freezer for my baby, so I boiled chic cutlet grated that and added to his rice. Chic has less calories then chop meat, I am also weight conscious when it comes to my dogs, I hate to see FAT dogs that no longer look like the breed their supposed to be, besides over weight is bad in so many ways. It's always good to gather other info. good luck. yes plz update us

Stool color can also be an indicator:
From: Topic: All about POOP! - EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

The short list of stool color-condition possible indication are as follows:
1. Mucus indicates a possible imbalance in the colon, or possible lining shedding.
2. Tarry black stools indicate bleeding in the upper part of the intestinal tract.
3. Red blood in the stool indicates problems in lower intestine or rectum/anal area (blood in the stool can indicate parasites, ingesting something sharp and un-digestable, or infections, polyps,cancer and allergies.)
4. Gray (or pale yellowish-grey) stools may indicate liver problems. Not enough bile production.
5. Yellow or orange stools usually indicate an imbalance. Most often it means there is not enough good bacteria. (possible SIBO). Other causes cab be certain foods, medications, and/or supplements.
6. Green stools may indicate decreased bowel transit time and/or not enough good bacteria.
7. White stools may indicate too much bone material passed unabsorbed.
8. Large volume of stools indicate improper absorption of nutrients. (Unless you are feeding your pet a vegetarian diet or one high in fiber, which will normally result in a larger volume of stools).


The biggest concern with an EPI dog is yellowish poop that is “usually” indicative of SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) ... but sometimes, there are other benign reasons.

A pill given for a predetermined amount of time... Ursodiol or similar.

Thank you again for everyone sharing their thoughts! I really appreciate it and makes me NOT feel so alone in this!!

Well, I am glad to say after a not so great night last night (he was up twice 10pm and 2am having to go to the bathroom), his stool is finally getting more solid and normal coloring!!!! I am so relieved!!! I think we may be past the worst. I even was able to give him a bath yesterday...hate to do it when he's feeling sick, but he had a poopy butt LOL, so I had to do it. He seemed grateful actually and actually seemed to enjoy the low hair dryer too! ;) He's got a brighter pep in his step this morning and am praying he's on his way back to normal!!

As far as his diet, we continue the presciption low residue for the next week and if he does well, we either keep him on it (and add in the dry food as well) or try to transition to a lower fat, lower protein food. Not sure how I feel about changing again, but will take it one day at a time. Just glad he's on the mend!!

Thanks so much for this post...this is very informative!! Although, he had one or so poops with a yellowish/orange tint, it went right back into the brown so I am not worried it something serious. And again, with no other symptoms, I tend to agree with the vet saying it's the Purina one or Purina canned that did it. Too high in protein/fat for him. Thanks again!! ;)

Update:
Petey stopped eating the Low Residue food so I had to go back to the vet to get ID, which he has had before. Happy to report he's eating that fantastically!!

Also soooooooo happy to report Petey slept through the whole night last night!!!!!!!!
He hasn't pooped since yesterday afternoon so I am anxiously waiting to see the consistency, but am guessing the diarrhea will be gone. I will be so relieved when this happens, but am glad he slept thru!! Thanks again for everyone's advice and sharing!

So glad he's feeling better!

Last Update: So Petey slept thru the night again. He's doing great on the ID food so looks like that's the winner!! Ding, ding, ding! LOL! We'll slowly mix in the dry to the canned and I think we are good to go! He did poop a little this morning, which was harder and back to dark brown so we are good there too. Thanks again for everyone's advice, sharing and support! I love this forum!! ;)