QuestionHi, Dave, I wrote to you a few months ago with questions about my sheltie. Your advice was invaluable and he has really settled into our home and routine.
I have been feeding him Nutro Natural Dog Lamb and Rice Small Bits. Two weeks ago Oh yes, one more thing, my Mom's sheltie was eating the same Nutro though regular size bites and started vomiting. she changed his diet right away, and he is fine - though high strung and we thought nothing of the food, so Mom gave the bag to me. At the same time, I was gone for a couple of days, and my brother fed my dog Priority with Lamb and Rice in Gravy (which has just been recalled - I checked the UPC code and verified that mine was indeed one that had been recalled). Since then, my Robbie has been vomiting after every meal. When I took him to the vet, they did x-rays and a barium swallow and diagnosed IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease and found thickened intestines and inflamed pyloric v). They haven't done blood workup to see if it could be anything else.
Do you think this is a coincidence or could either the change in Nutro or the recalled food have caused this? He never vomited at all before eating the two above foods, and ate, drank and pooped normally. He is now losing weight and on Metoclorpramide, Sucralfate, Famotidine and eating Hills i/d. While he is eating and acting normally, he is still vomiting.
What other things should I be asking the vet? What research should I do? I love my baby and want him healthy.
AnswerKerry,
I really hoped I would not see this question from anyone after I saw the recall.
What I understand is that with aggressive treatment your Sheltie can recover. First, google the recall on the pet food and see if there is any information to give to your vet. Second, call the vet and get him on the phone in person to reassure you that the treatment he is giving is consistent with the malady related to the recall. IF he cannot tell you that the treatment is related, get the right medications. Write down the meds you are taking or should be taking.
How much confidence do you have in the response you got from your vet? It is ok for you to do the following to reassure yourself:
AFTER you talk to your vet, grab a phone book and call a second vet. Tell them you have a dog infected/affected with the recall food and ask what medications should be given. Tell them you have your vet treating them with what meds and that you want confirmation that your treatment is the right one or go to that vet now if they don't agree.
I hope that helps! Let me know!
Dave
