Vomitting & Pooping

Question
In August 2005 I adopted Maggie, a 2.5 year old now 27 pound BT. (18 pounds when I got her.) She is obedient, loving, intelligent and playful. Prior to adoption, she was in foster care in Missouri & in Illinois, where she spent most of the summer crated due to successive knee surgeries. I learned when I picked her up in Illinois that until she got into rescue she had not been immunized or spayed and that the owners crated her all day and she would come into the house and poop after they let her out in the yard. (I have 1/4 fenced so she chases around a lot with her "sister" every day.) What I also did not know was that: 1. she often pooped in the house after having been outside for long periods of time. 2. She was subject to vomitting and diarrhea (food allergies, I tried 8 brands of kibble before potato and duck). She will eat poop periodically and vomit up that. More often it is white foam and also food. 3. She is alpha to my other meek female BT.

Last spring she actually threw up in the vet's office on a Wednesday morning a piece of hamburger that she had eaten Monday evening. We were to have a very expensive blood test done. Then I had surgery and decided to wait.

I have given her expensive vet prescribed pills for nausea plus antihistamines when things were really bad. About a month ago I began giving her a Pepcid AC in the morning at the Vet's suggestion. This helped for a while. I have three different rug shampooers and my carpet is a mess but less important than my babies.

I don't think she has an elongated palate. The vet who did the surgeries did not have that opinion. The positives are that she crates herself or wants outside when she is gagging the most or tries to hit the tile. I wish that was true for the pooping!

This is a dog completely without fear of noises although she does respect the Scat Mats. She pooped three times in my bedroom and once in the basement in the past three days. And once at my office. (I take the girls to work with me every day and they sleep quietly most of the day.)

I hate to get into a lot of medical tests. Any suggestions about whether a half of a benydrl might help?

Thanks. Barbara

I have considered.  

Answer
dear Barbara,

Your poor baby doesn't know wheather she is coming or going. Unfortunatly, dogs that have suffered neglect, oftentimes become very hard to manage in a new home...AT FIRST. It may take some time...a looong time, but she really will eventualy get on track. I have a girl that I got from rescue....there is no stopping her from eating poop unless I am right there to stop her. She also throws up after playing. I just accept that this will happen and limit the wild play to outdoors.
I'll bet your girl had kennel cough at one time. The throwing up frequently is a side effect that may be with her forever. I do not think there is a medical reason for hger problems. I bet on the changes and uncertainty in her little life. I m glad to hear the love and patience you show in your writing. She will need it to overcome her fears.
Best of luck.
Lisa