JenniferG
New member
- Nov 15, 2013
- 8
- 0
We've had our 4yr old male Donozo since he was 9 weeks old from a very reputable breeder with many years experience. We love our Donozo and love our breeder, she has been great and supportive. Our breeder guaranteed his health and offered to exchange him or give us another dog and has even financially reimbursed us because we didn't want another dog, we love him. So please know I understand some dogs just have a condition and it doesn't reflect negatively on the breeder. Having said that, this is what I'm seeking guidance on.
Soon after we brought him home at 9wks old, within a couple weeks, he started developing explosive diarrhea, bloating, and gas. He would also regurgitate his food a few times then re-eat it. We tried numerous foods for more than a year recommended by the local pet boutique, raw food, probiotic for 30 days, antibiotics, blood work and stool tests. When he was a year old we put him on Royal Canin Rx dry food Hydrolyzed Hypoallergenic food that immediately took care of the diarrhea but he continued to regurgitate his food after eating and then he would re-eat it. We were so happy to find resolution to the diarrhea that we finally gave up looking for a cause to the regurgitation. He would often vomit when he got excited, after running around outside, barking at strangers, or eating too fast. We tried the funny bowls that made him eat around obstacles to slow him down. I was happy if he only threw up 1-2 times a day instead of 6-12. On average he would throw up 2-4 times a day, usually after eating.
In July of this year he stopped being able to keep anything down and over 11 days he went from 54 pounds to 40. We spent almost $4000 between numerous vet visits, emergency room visits, follow up visits, fluids, IV, medicines, overnight stay to rehab his health, and tests including an inconclusive flora scope. We had numerous diagnosis and speculations over the 11 days from gastritis, pancreatitis, esophagitis, hernia, sphincter problem, and mega-esophagus. He does have a mega-esophagus and sphincter problem and we still are not sure if he has a sliding hernia, but they are treating him as such and the surgeon was pretty convinced that he has had it since young which has caused him to regurgitate his food for almost 3 years (so angry at the vet that couldn't figure this out for so long). Not sure what flared him up so bad, but we were finally able to get him to keep food down after the 11th day with medication (Cisapride and Prilosec) and canned Hills i/d food. And I put fluids under his skin for another ten days after that.
I just discontinued the Prilosec this week because he developed diarrhea last week and immediately upon discontinuing Prilosec his stools went normal again. He is still taking Cisapride 3 times a day to help the esophagus work properly (we tried Reglen initially then again just a few weeks ago, but it doesn't seem to help and it's too bad since it's only a fraction of the price) and he is still eating Hills i/d canned food. The canned food solely because of the sliding hernia and mega esophagus, and the i/d food because of the previous explosive diarrhea problem that led us to feed him the Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Rx food. We have been feeding him 3 cans a day and he still hasn't gained any weight, he is still only 40 pounds after 2 1/2 months, so I just emailed my new vet (one we changed to during all these problems) to ask her about increasing his food intake to at least 4 cans daily. This makes me cringe because I am spending $80/month on medication and $225/month on i/d canned food. The 4 cans daily will increase his food costs to $300. Which is more than my personal grocery budget.
We love him and will do whatever we need to do to keep him happy and healthy, but wondering if anyone else out there has had any experience with sliding hernias, mega-esophagus, and/or hydrolyzed diet food alternatives.
I'd like to try a different food to save me some money (the i/d costs $30 for 12 cans). The surgeon told me he would have to stay on canned food because of the hernia and mega-esophagus. So I guess I'm looking for an alternative to the prescription food.
Any ideas?
Soon after we brought him home at 9wks old, within a couple weeks, he started developing explosive diarrhea, bloating, and gas. He would also regurgitate his food a few times then re-eat it. We tried numerous foods for more than a year recommended by the local pet boutique, raw food, probiotic for 30 days, antibiotics, blood work and stool tests. When he was a year old we put him on Royal Canin Rx dry food Hydrolyzed Hypoallergenic food that immediately took care of the diarrhea but he continued to regurgitate his food after eating and then he would re-eat it. We were so happy to find resolution to the diarrhea that we finally gave up looking for a cause to the regurgitation. He would often vomit when he got excited, after running around outside, barking at strangers, or eating too fast. We tried the funny bowls that made him eat around obstacles to slow him down. I was happy if he only threw up 1-2 times a day instead of 6-12. On average he would throw up 2-4 times a day, usually after eating.
In July of this year he stopped being able to keep anything down and over 11 days he went from 54 pounds to 40. We spent almost $4000 between numerous vet visits, emergency room visits, follow up visits, fluids, IV, medicines, overnight stay to rehab his health, and tests including an inconclusive flora scope. We had numerous diagnosis and speculations over the 11 days from gastritis, pancreatitis, esophagitis, hernia, sphincter problem, and mega-esophagus. He does have a mega-esophagus and sphincter problem and we still are not sure if he has a sliding hernia, but they are treating him as such and the surgeon was pretty convinced that he has had it since young which has caused him to regurgitate his food for almost 3 years (so angry at the vet that couldn't figure this out for so long). Not sure what flared him up so bad, but we were finally able to get him to keep food down after the 11th day with medication (Cisapride and Prilosec) and canned Hills i/d food. And I put fluids under his skin for another ten days after that.
I just discontinued the Prilosec this week because he developed diarrhea last week and immediately upon discontinuing Prilosec his stools went normal again. He is still taking Cisapride 3 times a day to help the esophagus work properly (we tried Reglen initially then again just a few weeks ago, but it doesn't seem to help and it's too bad since it's only a fraction of the price) and he is still eating Hills i/d canned food. The canned food solely because of the sliding hernia and mega esophagus, and the i/d food because of the previous explosive diarrhea problem that led us to feed him the Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Rx food. We have been feeding him 3 cans a day and he still hasn't gained any weight, he is still only 40 pounds after 2 1/2 months, so I just emailed my new vet (one we changed to during all these problems) to ask her about increasing his food intake to at least 4 cans daily. This makes me cringe because I am spending $80/month on medication and $225/month on i/d canned food. The 4 cans daily will increase his food costs to $300. Which is more than my personal grocery budget.
We love him and will do whatever we need to do to keep him happy and healthy, but wondering if anyone else out there has had any experience with sliding hernias, mega-esophagus, and/or hydrolyzed diet food alternatives.
I'd like to try a different food to save me some money (the i/d costs $30 for 12 cans). The surgeon told me he would have to stay on canned food because of the hernia and mega-esophagus. So I guess I'm looking for an alternative to the prescription food.
Any ideas?
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