Andy was sick!!!

Sorry Andy is not feeling well Rita, we feed Blue Buffalo to Lucy and Bubba and have never had a problem.
Even little Zachery ate BB. So maybe Doc is right and certain dogs just can't do well with it.
I don't know but I do hope Andy is better soon!

Sher

Pancreatitis is a serious problem not to be taken lightly. My dog Had a couple of bouts with it while on the road. Almost lost him. IV's intensive care etc.

It's a delicate balance between liver, kidneys when the pancreas becomes inflamed.

Whatever you do don't let the vet suggest Omeprazole, or other brand otc to relieve any bloating. They contain Xylitol which causes liver failure. I would also take a look at the whipped cream can and see if it had xylitol in it. Albeit not all are required to list it. Deadly to pets.

I spent months looking for a dog food that still had grains in it and low fat and low protein. Blue Life Protection Formula was the only one that fit the bill.

My dog that almost died? Is alive and well because I switched him to that dog food.

All this hype of 'no grain' dog foods and everyone running to buy it has seeped into the brains of vets too. Who btw are not trained nutritionists.

Just look at the protein/fat levels in these 'no grain' foods they are off the charts! Most of them have way more protein and fat than what the average at rest house dog needs. Give it to a small breed dog and multiply the problem. Making livers and kidneys working overtime. We've all seen dogs throw up hours after eating and the food is still in kibble form.

During my dog's episode IMHO I found switching to another product while he was recuperating just exasperated the situation making recovery time even longer. We don't suddenly change food when they are well to prevent upset stomachs so why do it when they are debilitated?

I quit the whole switch to rice, eggs, Hills ID, etc that the vets suggest that was not helping him improve.

I took his kibble (Blue Life Protection Formula) and put it in a smoothie blender until powered. I then add water to that and make my own canned consistently dog food.

Small meals thru out the day that digest 'readily' and 'faster' than kibble. Thereby giving the pancreas a time to rest and recuperate.

He is doing so good and no more pancreas episodes that since he is 14....I have kept him on THIS way of serving him his Blue Life Protection formula dog food. It's his very own canned dog food of his dry kibble!





Glad your little guy is doing better. There's chronic pancreatitus and then episodic. Let's hope your little guy's was just because of that shot of whipped cream! And check the protein/fat of which formula of Blue you are feeding. Then check out the Life Protection formula, yellow bag.:C

dturm wrote:
I have found that issues with dog foods are more often the dog than the food, with the exception of adulteration, toxins or bacterial contamination. The food isn't necessarily bad, just a bad combination of that food with that dog.

I hope Andy improves and the I/D is only a short term necessity.

Doug, DVM

X2 My quennsland/chow mix had skin allergies over the last 6 years of her life. We were able to narrow it down to diet and even then we had to change food three times to keep it under control. As she aged she just couldn't handle eating the same things. She absolutly loved vanilla sandwich cookies but overnight she went from no problems to skin rash and vomitting from eating them.

I have read on several dog forums I'm a member of, that some dogs don't do well on Blue Buffalo (diarrhea, some vomiting, don't like the life bits, that contain the vitamins/minerals). I'd look for a kibble that's low fat to avoid another pancreatic incident. Some people have had good luck with Natural Balance LID diets (simple ingredients and low fat %). You can find them at Petco and other pet stores. There are other good choices too, but you probably should stay on the vet diet until he's stablized.

This type of dog should never have table scraps, b/c they tend to be too high in sodium, fat, and sugar for dogs. I have dogs with normal stomachs, and I don't give them table scraps, just on principle. Exceptions are unsalted canned/frozen green beans, baby carrots, and very small pieces of fruit (apples, watermelon, bananas) on occasion.

I hope your dog feels better soon!

Thanks, Pops, I know what you are going thru with the liver issues - Champ had them too. Hope this is just a passing thing with Andy but if he requires Hill's Prescription Diet, so be it, just as long as he's feeling ok. Today he's his old self again. Hope Calvin is doing well - enjoying that new jeep you bought for him! Andy's just happy to ride in our Chevy or the old Dodge truck when we pull our camper.

Rita

Aw geez Rita! When Harlee had her pancreas attack, it was recommended that I put her on ..... Aw heck, it was one of the Hill's formulas, can't remember which one it was.

Calvin takes a pill half hour before each meal to help his food move through his digestive system. Without it, he use to vomit quite a lot. So far he's down to once every other month or so.

He also takes a Pepsid, or Metronidazole every once in awhile for his stomach as well.


He also takes Milk Thristle and SAM-e for his liver. Tow of the three counts are still above the normal range, but going down, and one is actually back to normal, on the higher side of normal, but still back down.

Hope you get to the bottom of what's ailing Andy!

Pops

I have found that issues with dog foods are more often the dog than the food, with the exception of adulteration, toxins or bacterial contamination. The food isn't necessarily bad, just a bad combination of that food with that dog.

I hope Andy improves and the I/D is only a short term necessity.

Doug, DVM