Allergies/Stomach Issues and food
Submitted by Mom2NicolasAlli... on September 15, 2013 - 3:38pmHi! I have a 1 1/2 yr old bulldog. She has had throwing up issues since she came home. If she doesn't take frequent breaks when she eats, she pukes, if she drinks too fast, she pukes. It has gotten better than it was. When she used to puke, it could be hours later and the food would still be whole...which I thought she can't be digesting it properly. She was on Blue Buffalo Basics/grain free and was giving her Freshpet with it. After visits to the vet, they changed her over to Science Diet Hills prescription D/D-she didn't like it, this is a dog that would WAIT for me to put her food out. Now, they said to try the Hills prescription V (?)--complete hyperallergenic. She did puke the other day and it was broken down which I guess is good. Her tear stains are HORRIBLE though since the switch to the Science Diet food and when she was on Blue Buffalo, they completely went away. How good is this food? My last bulldog did great on Wellness so I was thinking of switching our Lily to the Wellness Simple/Grain free. I feel like if they have the tear stains that bad, there is a problem and I need to get to the bottom of it... Any thoughts? THANKS!
Linda
Try anything, but get her OFF that Science Diet!
It is terrible food. Try Wellness, and give a tablespoon of plain, fat-free yogurt with each meal. It will help her digestion some.
Amy and Sophia
I totally agree...
Get her off this food and have her palate checked. Elongated palate can cause vomiting. Any good grain free food would be better.
Have you had her palate checked?
This could very well be an elongated soft palate issue.
Yes, I meant to mention that as well!
Totally forgot to mention an elongated soft palate. And...go to a bully familiar vet, one that knows bulldogs and their issues.
Amy and Sophia
Thank you all!!!!!
I did read a little about that palate problem. What do they do for that? Is that confirmed with an xray? I did some reading about Science Diet food last night, not such good stuff out there. Why would my vet recommend it??? Makes me mad. Our vet is a bulldog specialist, I will talk to him. Maybe I will try the Wellness Simple/grain free. THANK YOU!
I believe that....
..,.,, vets get paid to sell or promote certain foods. I think they get a kickback when they sell that food to their clients. There is lots of good grain free food out there. Good luck and use Brita filtered water. I have found the filtered water has helped Tucker's tear stains. I know most here do the same.
Katie & Tucker a.k.a "Porkchop"
I worry that your vet may not be as bully knowledgeable
As you might think. If he/she is a good Bully vet, they should have already mentioned and checked his soft palate. Make certain your vet is what you think, or be ready to get a second opinion on most things bully related.
Amy and Sophia
Or find a new vet
There is no vet that specializes in breed specific practice.
Well except Dr. Butchko ... LOL
so I guess I can't say that.
Science Diet = Crap
Yep vets get kick backs for selling that horrible stuff. Unfortunately vets are the worst for food recommendations. Most don't specialize in nutrition and most have no experience feeding bulldogs.
There are lots of excellent grain free foods that you can try.
Palate definitely needs checked. The only real way to check palate is to put them under anesthesia, but a knowledgeable vet can at times see down the throat when the dog is panting or sometimes they can simply feel the throat. But the only way to really know is when the dog is under. Soft tissue does not show on an xray.
I would use probiotics instead of yogurt. Many dogs cannot tolerate dairy products and you need a huge amount of yogurt to get the same benefit as a probiotic. JMO
I also use filtered water (Brita Filter) and I've not had a tear stain since. That horrible food is what is contributing to the tear stains.
I feed an organic raw diet.