Re: Ava's Tummy

Sammycat1 · ‎03-09-2010

Insist your vet take a comprehensive look, including her blood values on the liver and pancreas. That much vomiting is not normal--even vomiting in the morning. I think another poster or you wrote this, but our vet said that they're finding that pepcid isn't the best for these issues...prilosec is...once you figure out what's really wrong.

As you know, our Frankie the Cat has many gut issues, but one medication that has helped her enormously is cisapride. It works on motility....making sure food is moving through the system and it also has protections against acid reflux. In humans, this drug was pulled because it could cause heart issues but this isn't happening in dogs or cats.

She is also on ursodiol and denamarin to keep the liver/gallbladder running more smoothly.

Another thought: she may have a food intolerance that is emerging.

Good luck and please report in when you're able. And smooches of course to Ava.

sceniccoast · ‎03-09-2010

@NickNack

I'm sorry Sweet Ava is having digestive problems.

My DH's dog, large black lab named Connie, will sometimes throw up bile in the A.M. DH likes to sleep later on weekends, so he feeds Connie later. He thinks because he's a tad off schedule with her breakfast, this may be the cause of her getting sick. It happens about every couple of months. It never happens before supper or when he's up earlier during the week.

Just a thought, you may wish to discuss with your vet. Good luck & I hope Ava feels better soon. Please update us when you have a chance.

Thank you.

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

Thank you @Sammycat1 . I know you've had a lot of experience with this. I mentioned omeprazole (Prilosec), and I'm definitely going to discuss switching her to this. I can understand trying Pepcid first, but it doesn't seem to be working completely. It seemed to really help at first.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

Sammycat1 · ‎03-09-2010

@NickNack wrote:
Thank you @Sammycat1 . I know you've had a lot of experience with this. I mentioned omeprazole (Prilosec), and I'm definitely going to discuss switching her to this. I can understand trying Pepcid first, but it doesn't seem to be working completely. It seemed to really help at first.

It's not normal for dogs or cats to vomit this much--too often, they start throwing pepcid or omeprazole at it, hoping that it does the trick without knowing what really is going on. Make your vet find the cause and not throw the medicine at the problem without a diagnosis that involves blood work and imaging. Sounds like a lot of money for some upchucking, but it will save you future heartaches. It's no good for an animal (or a human) to be on these ompeprazole every day long term (i.e., 14 days at a clip) without identifying the true cause of the problem. Sometimes a different medication is warranted.

Maybe you know this, but I'll throw it in here in case you don't. Pepcid is an H2 blocker that decreases the amount of acid released--often used to treat gastritis and minor peptic ulcers. Omeprazole is a proton-pump inhibitor--BIG difference. Shuts down the pumps that produce the acid in the stomach. Often used to treat true reflux, coughing because of reflux, damage to the esophagus, and food getting stuck in the esophagus.

I've been on both of them (so have our pets over the years!) but omeprazole is not long term because it's not great to totally to inhibit acid production in the stomach. Bone fractures, kidney problems, stomach cancer are side effects of long-term use.

Good luck with little Ava! She has the best care possible in your hands.

Lali1 · ‎08-21-2014

I'm so sorry Ava is having tummy troubles. Lola won't always eat all her food in the morning. She's on prednisone right now for a rash and is eating like a horse. Lily on the other hand always east really well but for a while she would throw up right after. I belive she was gorging and also getting too hot.
i don't know if Ava eats fast or not but if so you could maybe give her a little at a time. I give my crew a mix of dry and wet food. Also when they have upset tummies I give them some canned pumpkin in their bowls along with their food.

m0rgan · ‎09-30-2012

@NickNack Try some low sodium chicken broth warmed slightly first thing in the morning to warm her tummy and get it ready for food, then feed in about an hour. This has worked for my dogs.

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

@NickNack wrote:
Last weekend Ava didn't eat her breakfast one day. The next day was fine, but at least three or four times she has skipped breakfast since then.

This morning she ate her breakfast, and a couple of hours later threw all of it up. I mentioned to my Vet the last time I saw her that Ava was throwing up bile sometimes in the morning before breakfast. She said to give her Pepcid AC in the morning and night, which I've been doing.

I'm taking her to the Vet tomorrow. I wonder if she needs to be on omeprazole or something like that instead of Pepcid. I also think I should probably switch her to a food for sensitive stomachs (not a prescription diet). Blue Buffalo has one called Blissful Belly. Wellness has one, and so does Purina Pro Plan's Focus line. Normally I wouldn't consider Purina, but Dog Food Advisor gives their Focus line four stars. She eats Fromm Gold right now.

I'm anxious to hear what my Vet suggests for her.

@NickNack I would request an x-ray. My former dog had a stomach issue, but it wasn't addressed because so many other unnecessary tests were performed. Finally, an x-ray showed that she had a benign tumor in her stomach, which eventually killed her because it grew in time, and took over her stomach, causing her to throw up a ton of thick fluid all over one night.

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

Thank you everyone. @Sammycat1 @mousiegirl I didn't think Ava was that sick when I took her in. I thought a change to omeprazole and diet was all that was needed. The Vet mentioned x-rays though. She said if the x-rays didn't show anything that I could fast her for 12 hours and she would do the GI blood work.

I brought Ava home and went back out to buy the sensitive stomach food. When I came back she had thrown up huge amounts in five places. I gave her Cerenia to stop the vomiting. I called the Vet and brought her back in. She took x-rays and showed them to me.

There's something in her stomach, but it's not obvious what it is. She said some things show up very clearly on x-rays and some don't. It could be food, although I don't see how she could have any food left in her stomach. She wants me to bring her in after fasting on Monday morning for repeat x-rays to see if it was food. If it was food she will do the GI bloodwork. I just hate seeing her so sick.

She did switch her to omeprazole and said I could try a sensitive stomach food. I bought Blue Buffalo Blissful Belly. I chose that because the calorie count is similar to what she's eating now. I also got a small bag of prescription diet for the weekend since I don't have to slowly switch over to that.

@mousiegirl I'm so sorry about your dog with the stomach issues.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

sceniccoast · ‎03-09-2010

@NickNack

I feel bad for both Ava & you. I'll say a prayer for Sweet Ava that her condition is treatable & has positive results. And, for you to have the strength to go through this until the 2nd x-rays on Mon.

I hope tomorrow goes smooth for you both. Comfort hugs being sent to both of you. Take care.