Gibson

     I don't claim to be an expert at nutrition, but maybe the incident you describe had nothing to do with his diet change. I can see my own DH having the same reaction :), but if you think the new food is something good, try it again. For all you know, Gibson may have found a "little treat" all on his own that made him feel quesy

     Personally I like to find a food that my dogs like, and do well on, and just stick with it, but many other people change their dog's food frequently, and have great sucess. It seems to me that dogs upchuck pretty easily, and I think that it is nature's way to empty the stomach of something that shouldn't pass through (like bits of bone). Often the dog eats grass that seems to wrap around the indigestible stuff, and up it comes, safely packaged. Perhaps the fact he couldn't get to grass made his body wait until his belly was full of food.

     Hopefully he will be just fine from now on!

Home cooking is not hard -- you cut a LOT of corners you don't even know are corners to cut (like our prior discussion -- you NEVER PEEL anything).  You can use a crockpot if you want to use cheaper cuts of meat.  You manage to feed you and your husband!!! 

You might feel better having a consult with someone like Sabine Contreras, or just start with 2 ingredients and add stuff one at a time to make sure stuff is well tolerated.  I cook just once a week -- for about 95 pounds of dogs and just dole it out as needed.  That keeps it consistent and it's easier for me to figure that way.  You could start with something REALLY easy like beef and white potato. 

I work -- so for my own convenience I use ground beef, and a lot of frozen veggies (which are mostly chopped).  But I know a lot of folks use cheaper cuts like pork roasts, or whatever is on sale this week.  If you put something like a 7 bone roast in a crock pot, you just toss the bones.  If you've used something really boney like a turkey -- use the water you would boil the carcas in to cook the veggies at the same time.  The meat will slide off the bone easier and there's no waste.

For we humans we're used to cooking everything separately so it looks "attractive" - you don't do that for the dogs.  If the potato is flavored by the meat broth **that's good!!**. 

Just use good enough potatos that they are *not* green.  (you'd have to peel that off otherwise and you lose all that nutrition under the skin)

BilJac is pretty rich for  day after day. 

You learn as you go -- start ***simple*** and go from there.  I've often said my Prissy lived on a little ground beef & mostly rice (with an egg and garlic powder) for EIGHTEEN YEARS.  She thrived on it.  I know better and do better now, but they thrive better when the gut isn't upset all the time. 

I do understand that yesterday problems might not have anything to do with the food....just tired of thinking it might be. And it might. Not the chicken since the EP he got was chicken based..and its either chicken or ground beef he gets when I cook him bland food. Perhaps the much bigger kibble than he is used to??  I don't know.  But you know.... kibble is still kibble....and in my head I can't see kibble as good food anyway.  Not even good kibble...not after all it has to go thru to get in those bags. Yes, BilJac is on the rich side....but years ago it was suggested to me for my Dane/sheperd Cindy...because she had a lot of stomach gas and diarrhea.  That was back in the day that you didn't hear of premium dog food.   Cindy survived well on BJ frozen..  its easier to digest.  My problem is it has an ingredient or two I don't like.   It wasnt that many months ago that I was feeding him full time BJ frozen because he was getting sick a little too often for me not to consider food, he did well but I hated those ingredients so I eased EP kibble back in.....but he still gets it at lunch.  You feed less of it than kibble. 

I will try hc again Callie...I did try ( right before putting him on BJ ) but he was growing too much and I could not keep his weight up.  Besides of course...the fact that he was growing I wanted to make sure he got every nutrient he was supposed to have. 

I tend to kind of think enough is enough.....and you know what.....is feeding him these really great ingredients as important as it is to feed him food he can eat.  Of course.... thats not to say that he could do exact same thing after he is just on BJ.   Gosh..I long for Bubblegums stomach...she never threw up a day in her life that I had her..... and diarrhea was usually caused by me giving her something that didn't agree with her like a bone that had too much meat still on it.

I was nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs when we first got Tink until Glenda got on the phone with me (after she spent time analyzing the difference between puppy and adult food with her sources) and all that's different was pups get a TINY bit more protein usually.   But I had fed her canned  (which meant I was feeding ALL the dogs canned) for months because *I* wanted to make sure she got all she needed. 

But it can help a whole lot and it doesn't have to be a huge burden.  And having a dog with a lot of digestive issues is work in and of itself.

calliecritturs

And having a dog with a lot of digestive issues is work in and of itself.

Boy...how so very true.  Tonight I took back the C.N...and got two bags of BJ frozen.  Felt really bad....told the girl maybe in another time I will try again....but for now...I have to do this.  I need to do whatever it is I can, I'm so very tired of worrying about my dog. Today even though in the back of my mind I was still concerned and  hoping for no more sickness....he was wonderful.  He ate... played...and was so fun...the way a dog should be.    I WILL home cook for him....soon.  I have tons of information set aside from Bookcove ( sp??) and another lady that owns a dane from my dane board....... now that he is just about full grown I suppose.......I can feel a little less scared.  I already cook for him....just have to cook a whole lot more.

Dyan, I'm not sure what's going on with him. Willow sometimes shows similar symptoms and I either try to get her to eat something quickly or put a Pepsid down her throat.  It's usually acid reflux that makes her do what Gibby is doing.  I give her the Pepsid right when she's showing the symptoms.  Pepto won't work for this, Pepsid is better. 

I'm with your husband though.  I'd go back to the Bil Jac if that was working well for him.  If I were going to homecook, it would be the blandest diet I could get away with.  I can't see him doing well with veggies and pieces of potato, etc.   I have to mash potato for Willow.  And, the only veggie she's ever been able to handle is broccoli and it has to be mashed into a pate type consistency. 

willowchow

Dyan, I'm not sure what's going on with him. Willow sometimes shows similar symptoms and I either try to get her to eat something quickly or put a Pepsid down her throat.  It's usually acid reflux that makes her do what Gibby is doing.  I give her the Pepsid right when she's showing the symptoms.  Pepto won't work for this, Pepsid is better. 

Oh thanks Lori...its good to know that another dog does kind of do the same thing...although..sorry for you!  I do give him Pepsid...and have also given him Tums...he loves them but know they are not as good or work as long.   I gave him Pepto when he actually vomited after I gave him Pepsids.   My vet says 2,,but another vet that I took Bubby to when she was very sick said 4. When I questioned it he said she could even take more...I never did throw out that sticky note and attach it to my new pkg of Pepsid.  Maybe it is acid reflux..... but why? 

I also try to give him something to eat quickly when he starts this.... and usually a Pepsid because once he starts it...he seems to have problems for a few hours.  I have taken him to the vet and they just make sure he is not bloating.  Which is another scary thing...

I'm really kind of happy I made the BilJac decision..... he seems to digest it much faster than kibble. But we'll see how it goes for a few months. My biggest problem with home cooking is when I cook with what starts out to be a lot of meat...turns into hardly anything when you have to feed so much at a time.

How is he today?

willowchow

How is he today?

Geez....you know....I thought GREAT! He's been playing,,eating,,,acting fine and normal.........I was sitting down and doing some mail..went upstairs to get a stamp and he was up at the top of the step eating food "he already ate!" HHHmmm!  Beyond me what happened, and I didn't see how digested it was or was not because it was already gone.   But he is still acting fine and not sick.

It could be he ate too fast becaues I had just eaten.....don't know. This kind of thing I don't worry about too much and it usually doesn't happen...

Thanks for asking Lori!

dyan

least until I can home cook with confidence

If you want to feel 'safe' about your home cooking, check out http://www.completeandbalanced.com/

You can get it through your vet, it comes with a cookbook, recipes calculated by a nutritionist.
The book has a bunch of recipes, including recipes for different health conditions. It is also possible to request a custom recipe through your vet.

Jana

babelfish

If you want to feel 'safe' about your home cooking, check out http://www.completeandbalanced.com/

Thanks!  I will look into this. 

Gibby has been good for days. He is eating BJ frozen only... I haven't even been adding toppers on it...just to see whats what.   This morning he got into bed with me as he usually does ( spoiled brat...I started this when he was a baby that I could almost pick up with one hand...just letting him in my bed close to the time to get up, he cuddles up and goes fast to sleep ) but layed only a couple of minutes and got up by himself. I knew THAT was not normal..so I got up and hurried to throw some sweats on because its less than 20 degrees outside. I got him in the kitchen somehow before he threw up bile.....but while I was wiping it up...he finished in the living room on the carpet......( sigh........yet another spot ) I gave him 2 Pepcids...then about 30 min. later give him breakfast since a long time ago... I realized he is vomiting bile when it is time to eat.... wondering if its acid in his stomach...so I feed him.    So far its amost 2 hours later and he is sleeping on his bed...something he usually does now that he is settled down more....he gets up to get last licks from yogurt... last might of toast...etc.     

I am kind of bummed.  It boggles my brain...kind of a let down because I was trying to keep a good attitude now that I took him off kibble.....  I guess all in all...its probably not food at all...its just some food might be worse.   

 Is he acting completely normal aside from the occasional vomiting??

 Dyan, perhaps you should consider an appointment with a specialist - seems like it's all digestion related, so a good gastro vet might be a great option and might very well be able to solve the issue once and for all.  Neither of you is benefiting from all the worry and upset his vomiting and touchy tummy issues cause.

3girls

 Is he acting completely normal aside from the occasional vomiting??

Yes..... and not just occasional vomiting....often he is not vomiting but kind of drooling...wanting to eat grass...I mean frantically...not just a dog that likes to graze on grass.  Most of the time he doesn't vomit,,,just does excessive swallowing and trying to eat grass/plants..etc...seems to have to get SOMETHING in his mouth.     Its NOT after eating...mostly before its time to eat.  Most often bile.    An occasional eating too fast and barfing it up to eat it again...isn't a big deal to me....and he has only done the once or twice.  He almost always is looking to eat when he is like this.... so I usually give him something...like a cracker.. piece of bread.