My heart is heavy, I don't know what to do...

[Lex_Luthor]

Some of you might remember a while back, about a year and a half ago, my wife and I took in a puppy, Roxi. https://www.ar-15.co/threads/56915-Pitbull-puppy-in-need-of-adoption

She is a pit-mix, and we think her mix is with Great Dane. She is a wonderful dog, but is VERY and I mean, VERY sensitive to food changes. We normally got our dog food at Sam's, and I was very careful to pick a food with good protein and fat content, as well as searching for one that wasn't primarily made up of fillers like wheat and corn.

Sam's discontinued their food line, and we were forced to switch her food (along with our other 4 dogs). We went back to Purina One Smart Blend, with the chunks of meat in it. She has been very sick the past few days, I would almost call it projectile vomiting. Her puke doesn't smell like dog food, it smells terrible, like poop or REALLY sour stomach. The first day she puked like this, she threw up a huge chunk of rubber, probably a piece of her favorite Kong toy that she shredded. It was probably 2"x3" and about 1/2" thick. It was kind of slimy, like the stomach acids had been trying to break it down.

My wife used to be a vet tech, and has her certificates and such. We have been giving her water, and this morning we gave her a Peroxide treatment to try to empty her stomach of whatever might be upsetting it. She puked big time, and a LOT more undigested food came out. She has had normal stools.

Here's where it gets tough. My wife, new daughter (6 months old) and I are barely making it right now. We have a roof over our heads, and heat, and food on the table. We do not, however, have ANY money left over to take poor Roxi to the vet. I listed about 6 items from around the house on Craigslist to try to fund some treatment for her. We took her in because she was going to be sold to someone who was involved in dog fighting, and we definitely didn't want that kind of life for her.

Is there anyone out there that might be able to help us treat Roxi? I really HATE to ask. I'm a very prideful person, but this dog's health is more important than my pride. We were trying to find a home for her before she became attached to our family, but there wasn't a lot of interest, and a couple flaky people, so after a few weeks had gone by, she stole our hearts. At this point, I don't know if it is in her best interests to be eating cheap(er) dog food, or not given the kind of care she desperately needs. Our other 4 dogs are pretty adjusted to the food. But Roxi has special dietary needs, and I'm just not sure if we can hang with them. Is there someone trustworthy that can help to fund a doc's visit, and might consider giving her a home? We usually go to Hermosa on Federal, as they are very reasonable in their pricing. Sometimes we have to wait quite a while for service, but they are good doctors, and don't charge a ton just because they can get away with it.

Has anyone encountered this before, and might have some insight as to what might be causing her sickness. She was perfectly fine until a few days ago...
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EDIT: We have put together a website to raise some funds for Roxi's surgery to remove the blockage.

http://www.gofundme.com/77ufk8

[TheBelly]

There's a concept of food that we treat Didi with when she gets like that:

BRAT

boiled chicken
rice
applesauce
toast

water

[TheBelly]

This was suggested by our vet when Didi started barfing up everything she ate.

We also had to feed it to her slowly so as to give her time to get used to it and not gobble it up.

then, we weaned her off of it by mixing in her regular food (which is a VERY high quality) until she was back on her normal diet.

[newracer]

When you switched food did you do it gradually? There are a lot of food out there for sensitive dogs. Our GSD has been on a special diet for years. We are having issues right now as well, she just won't eat.

Plan baked potatoes is another food that dogs can usually handle.

[Lex_Luthor]

We've done the BRAT thing. We've put pumpkin in her chicken & rice mixture too. It's supposed to calm their stomachs down. So far, she is just puking really hard and suddenly. She isn't working it up like a dog normally does before they puke. No warning, just BWWAAAAAAAAA, and it sprays.

Yes, we switched it over very gradually. Over the course of about 2 weeks. The other 4 handled it fine, graduated it over like 3 days and they were ok.

[BPTactical]

You like your dog? Then do not give them Purina.
Give me a call Lex, I will get you with an expert on dog food.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Human Baby food for the next few meals and see how she takes it. We make our own dog food due to the same issue w/ our English bulldog. I hope your puppy gets well.

You didn't respond to my text btw. I hope you are moving forward.

[Mazin]

I have nothing nice to day about hermosa at all. I know caring hands vet clinic up off of 136 and Colorado will do payments if that helps at all. I'm getting ready to just start making my own dog food because all of the special diet stuff is way to expensive. If I come up with anything better to suggest I will, GL man!

[mountainjenny]

I can kick in some money for a vet visit if you decide to go that route. Can't give her a home at this point though.

[Lex_Luthor]

I'm gonna take the other 4 for a quick walk and we're gonna take Roxi to the vet right after. Thanks everyone. I might have to take you up on that Jenny. Thank you all for your compassion. We are hoping that her dark vomit was not full of blood.

[UncleDave]

Lex shoot me a PM. My vet is very good and willing to work with you. He never turns any ailing pup away. Also, do brown rice and cottage cheese for a few days until her stomach calms a little. Then go to Ranch Foods Direct and get their dog food, it is ground scrap meat from their organic beef, turkey, bison. It runs the same as a quality store food, about a dollar a pound. Your dogs will love it and they will be much healthier.

[ChadAmberg]

Not sure if you have / know someone with a Costco membership, but a great food for a great price is their Nature's Domain food. It's grain free and rates like all the 50$+ bags of food, but is more reasonable in price at about 30 a bag. If I was up your way I'd give you 10lbs of some to try out.
Do you use paypal? PM me your address on there if you do and I'll throw some funds your way as thanks for taking in a good dog...

[SideShow Bob]

Puked up a piece of rubber toy ? A good sign that there maybe another piece down deep causing blocked intestines. The symptoms are the same as a dog we once had that had a Barbie doll head lodged in his intestines, it had to be removed at the vet's office.
Pits are notorious for eating odd items.

[Robb]

Hey Alex,
I got nothing to offer other than my dogs are sensitive to diet, but when things change they just get the runny sh*ts for a few days, no barfing. I'm guessing it's more than diet and think SideShowBob is probably on the right track that it's more than just diet.
Good luck, I wish I could offer some real help.

Shoot me an email sometime, just to stay in touch.

[BPTactical]

The symptoms are the same as a dog we once had that had a Barbie doll head lodged in his intestines,

And Bob was sad after that, all he had to play with was "Shithead Barbie".....you know, the one that has ALL the crap.

[mountainjenny]

I'm gonna take the other 4 for a quick walk and we're gonna take Roxi to the vet right after. Thanks everyone. I might have to take you up on that Jenny. Thank you all for your compassion. We are hoping that her dark vomit was not full of blood.

Hoping the best for her. Send me a PM in case I miss the thread later today. Glad to help if needed.

[Lex_Luthor]

I don't know if it's her intestines that are blocked up, because she is pooping normal. It's been a little less quantity recently because she hasn't been able to hold anything down. It could be very possible that something else is in her stomach, even from months ago. She had to have eaten that piece of rubber more than 3 or 4 months ago! My other Pit Brutus ate a toy too, and puked up a massive chunk later on. He never had this kind of vomit though. We are packing Roxi up into the car and taking her to the vet as soon as the baby is packed up too. Thanks everyone for your generosity, I will send you my email address.

[Bailey Guns]

Hey Alex,
I got nothing to offer other than my dogs are sensitive to diet, but when things change they just get the runny sh*ts for a few days, no barfing. I'm guessing it's more than diet and think SideShowBob is probably on the right track that it's more than just diet.


This is absolutely possible.

This thread: https://www.ar-15.co/threads/69883-More-Dog-Issues?highlight=lola

details the issue I went through with my Terrier, Lola. She ate so much grass that she couldn't digest that it was starting to block the entrance from the stomach to the intestine. Her vomit also smelled like poop. That's when we decided to get her to the vet ASAP.

Just enough food was making it through that she still pooped a little. That was back in Nov 2012.

A few months ago she was back to the same symptoms. Only this time she managed to vomit up enough fiber filling (like the type of stuffing from a dog bed) to stuff a king-size mattress. Fortunately the issue resolved itself this time without surgery. Now we watch her 24/7 if possible, if not she stays in a crate with nothing in it.

I wish I could offer more but we're going thru issues with a sick Corgi now. It never ends with dogs...especially if you have a weakness for adopting the ones with special needs.

[Lex_Luthor]

The vet didn't think it sounded like a blockage, since she has had normal stools. He gave her a couple shots, and some medication that will hopefully clear up the sickness. They said if it doesn't improve in the next couple days to bring her back for x-rays.

What a nice start to my wife & I's 4 year anniversary from when we first got together. I told her sorry I couldn't get her anything, but at least our poor doggie was getting taken care of. Thank God she understands. (shebetter,she'stheonewhomadeuskeepthedamndog!)

[nynco]

Do they make dog enzyme pills or treatments. To me it sounds like this dog has an issue with lack of certain digesting enzymes. Just a thought hope it helps.

[newracer]

They do have pro-biotic pills for dogs, mine takes them twice a day.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

My dog does as well with the probiotics. When things get really bad, she gets expensive ones from teh vet. Otherwise, she gets cheaper ones from Amazon. I use the jarrodophilus product for humans and occasionally take them myself.


I have nothing to offer or no expertise other than empathy from a fellow dog owner attached to a girl with some GI issues herself. I cleaned up barf myself today.
If you do really get in a bind, PM me as well for a few bucks for the Vet. :(

[Lex_Luthor]

I am overwhelmed by the generosity of members of this board. It makes me proud to say I'm a part of this type of community here, and the fact that most people are local makes it that much better. With the help of some forum members, Roxi made it to the vet today, had a couple shots and will start medication tomorrow morning. We are hoping this takes care of the issue, otherwise we'll have to get x-rays if it doesn't clear up. Thanks so much to the members of CO-AR15 for helping us out! When things turn around for us, I will most definitely make it a point to return the favor to someone else in need.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

[Clint45]

I hope your dog recovers quickly. One idea for good food for sensitive stomachs is ground turkey. The one pound tubes in the frozen section at Costco or Wal-Mart are often on sale cheap. I used to get a pot of water boiling and drop in 4 or 5 tubes and let them cook for 30 minutes or so, still in the tubes. The cooked tubes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. I used to give my dog half a pound, mixed with good quality kibble, twice a day. It takes a little prep work, but it is cheap and nutritious.

[Vanniek71]

How is Roxi doing? Hopefully better!

[Lex_Luthor]

Hey all, I was going to post an update, but things have been crazy. So far Roxi is doing better. She was so skinny, but seems to have her appetite back and is gaining her weight back. Thank you all again for your support.

[Lex_Luthor]

Poor Roxi is throwing up again. The vet told us if she continues to vomit after finishing her medication, then to bring her back in. We'll have to get her x-rays.

I wonder if she has an intolerance to something in this food. We'll have to look into switching. The problem is that my wife and I are already stretched so thin, changing to a higher quality food (more expensive) for all 5 dogs could break us. And buying 2 different foods might work, but every now & again we'll end up having to buy double our budgeted amount for the food. Eventually they are bound to run out together.

[Whistler]

Lex if I hadn't moved 1000 miles south I'd take her off your hands. There are some great suggestions on here for foods she might find more palatable though I understand the difficulty trying to stretch. PM me if you can't make something work and will help best we can.

[jslo]

PM me your contact info and I'll pitch in what I can. Good luck.

[Lex_Luthor]

Thanks guys. I really wouldn't get rid of her, She is a part of our family. But often times I regret not being able to give her the proper nutrition she needs. We will keep looking into it. PM's will be sent here in a few minutes. I really appreciate everyone's helping hands.

[Bitter Clinger]

Way late to the party here, If I can do anything for your pup I would love to help. I can get you some coupons fro purina PVD (prescription dog food), as a disclaimer, I make it, I work for purina. Our Beneful and Dog chow brands are rather ho-hum middle of the road type food, I have always fed my dogs purina, even before I was an employee. The PVD line has saved the lives of countless pets. Since I make it I KNOW whats in it and what it takes to make. We are held to the EXACT same standards as human food, Nestle nor the FDA make any difference between the two. Ask your vet if PVD digestive will help, I'll get you some coupons, It's the best I can do unless we have a giveaway, and that is never the high dollar stuff. I make it and have to pay full price if I don't have coupons. They are usually 60% off

[Lex_Luthor]

Ok Roxi is at the vet for the next couple hours. They are going to give her some medication that will reveal her digestive system when they x-ray. We'll find out this afternoon (hopefully) what is causing her vomiting.

[Lex_Luthor]

Way late to the party here, If I can do anything for your pup I would love to help. I can get you some coupons fro purina PVD (prescription dog food), as a disclaimer, I make it, I work for purina. Our Beneful and Dog chow brands are rather ho-hum middle of the road type food, I have always fed my dogs purina, even before I was an employee. The PVD line has saved the lives of countless pets. Since I make it I KNOW whats in it and what it takes to make. We are held to the EXACT same standards as human food, Nestle nor the FDA make any difference between the two. Ask your vet if PVD digestive will help, I'll get you some coupons, It's the best I can do unless we have a giveaway, and that is never the high dollar stuff. I make it and have to pay full price if I don't have coupons. They are usually 60% off

Thanks BC, I will ask the vet today when we pick Roxi up and will let you know if we could use the coupons. Thank you again.

[Lex_Luthor]

Damn allergies....

Roxi definitely has a blockage. She needs surgery to get it out. That's going to cost at the very least $1200 that we don't have. We might have to put her to sleep. Damn this sucks. I hate this.

[TheBelly]

Damn allergies....

Roxi definitely has a blockage. She needs surgery to get it out. That's going to cost at the very least $1200 that we don't have. We might have to put her to sleep. Damn this sucks. I hate this.

[Cry]

[jslo]

Don't know how bad the blockage is but my guy eats rocks. When he was 8 months, and much smaller, we had to have him cut open to free the blockage. Now at 135 #'s when he starts to get blocked up we feed him white rice for 2 or 3 days. Expands his innerds and slicks him up enough to pass the rocks.

[Whistler]

Check with Cambridge Animal Hospital (http://www.cambridgeanimalhospital.com/) in Longmont (Mead actually), best I've seen and bet they will do it for less or may even have an alternative. Seriously they are good people over there and very affordable. You may also have to consider allowing someone else to adopt her that's in a better financial state at the moment before making the tough decision to put her to sleep.

[Lex_Luthor]

Putting her to sleep is the worst of the worst. Right now that's not even an option. It's easy to get caught up thinking negatively though. We are putting together a fund raising website for her and we'll blast it out this weekend.

[Bitter Clinger]

Be sure to post that here bro. Im in for some $$, I love dogs

[Lex_Luthor]

I don't know if I should start a new thread, but here is our webpage for Roxi's surgery fundraiser. We had to set the total needed at $1400 in order to compensate for the 8% cut that the website takes.

http://www.gofundme.com/77ufk8

Thank you all who have previously helped. Please spread the word to anyone you know.

[DEAGLER]

I don't know if I should start a new thread, but here is our webpage for Roxi's surgery fundraiser. We had to set the total needed at $1400 in order to compensate for the 8% cut that the website takes.

http://www.gofundme.com/77ufk8

Thank you all who have previously helped. Please spread the word to anyone you know.

Or put it on original post at least.

[DEAGLER]

I don't know if I should start a new thread, but here is our webpage for Roxi's surgery fundraiser. We had to set the total needed at $1400 in order to compensate for the 8% cut that the website takes.

http://www.gofundme.com/77ufk8

Thank you all who have previously helped. Please spread the word to anyone you know.

Or put it on original post at least. Goodluck, man.

[TFOGGER]

Looks like you're getting there! Back to the top!

[Lex_Luthor]

Wow we are so blessed. Donations for Roxi are coming in. Trying to keep this thread at the top.

[Irving]

Our vet told us about a Care Credit credit card that is interest free for something like 18 months. That's what we did for our cat's surgery (same surgery for a blockage) a few months ago. Surgery only ended up costing $800, but the X-rays were $200. Good luck.

[Whistler]

The website is a great idea Lex, best wishes for Roxi.

[Jmetz]

Posted to my FB.

I will also add that I will donate 100% of the sale of the next 3 shirts sold from my site in the link in my sig. I will also give each of those sales 2 free small CO-15 stickers.

[TFOGGER]

Yay Roxi! Hang in there, girl!

[Lex_Luthor]

Thanks Irv, we have already tried care credit and didn't qualify. We even tried to get our parents to do it and us make payments to them, but they didn't go for that either. Thank you to all so far! We are getting closer!

Please share this on your FB or send to your email contacts. We need this to spread!

[Bitter Clinger]

Your about halfway man! pulling for your pup! Come on guys! We can save this pup!

[SamuraiCO]

Donation sent from my pack to yours.

[jslo]

Has the surgery happened or at least scheduled?

[Lex_Luthor]

We are going to call tomorrow (Monday) to schedule the surgery. Our preferred vet at Hermosa is there on Friday, so that's hopefully when we'll schedule the surgery for. He said she should be ok until then, but of course if she takes a turn for the worse, definitely get her in ASAP.

I just posted the link and story into the Pets section of CL. Hopefully we can get some more exposure.

[hobowh]

just saw this donation sent

[mountainjenny]

You are getting pretty close. TTT

[Lex_Luthor]

We are almost to our goal! Thank you all to those who have donated and shared this page to their networks. We will leave the fundraiser open until the day of her surgery, which will most likely be Friday.

[Jmetz]

You're over funded now. :D Get your pup back to healthy. [Beer]

[newracer]

Why wait until Friday? I'd get that dog in ASAP. I hope it goes well. I had to put my GSD down Saturday night.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Glad the funds came together. Awesome for those that donated.


Why wait until Friday? I'd get that dog in ASAP. I hope it goes well. I had to put my GSD down Saturday night.

Sorry about your loss newracer.

[Lex_Luthor]

Thank you all! I can not say it enough, or in words to properly express our gratitude. I thought my wife had scheduled the surgery already, but I will do it first thing in the morning. There are 2 vets at Hermosa, and the one that we have good rapport with is back in the clinic on Friday, that's why we were trying to do it then. I'll find out if we can see him any sooner.

EDIT: newracer, if the vet knocks any of the surgery cost off our price tag, do you need any of the money for expenses relating to your GSD? We would like to pay it forward to you.

[newracer]

Thanks for the offer but I have it covered. I spent about half of what you are looking at for emergency services and eventually euthanasia.

[Lex_Luthor]

UPDATE: Roxi is spending the next two nights at the vet. She is being hydrated & prepped for surgery tonight, procedure tomorrow and staying till Thursday if all goes well. Please send her your prayers / positive thoughts! Again and again, words cannot express the gratitude we have toward this community. I feel like a broken record, but I could never say thanks enough to properly express.

[Lex_Luthor]

UPDATE: The vet removed an entire tennis ball from Roxi's stomach. It was a smaller sized one than a regular tennis ball, that we let the small dogs play with. She must have taken it from one of them and swallowed it hole. Of course the green fuzzy covering had been completely eaten away by her stomach acids. Must have happened MONTHS ago, probably around late summer that I recall those type of balls being around. I made a new thread specifically to thank you all who helped give Roxi a second chance. I can't even describe the gratitude I feel toward you all! [Beer]

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[Great-Kazoo]

UPDATE: The vet removed an entire tennis ball from Roxi's stomach. It was a smaller sized one than a regular tennis ball, that we let the small dogs play with. She must have taken it from one of them and swallowed it hole. Of course the green fuzzy covering had been completely eaten away by her stomach acids. Must have happened MONTHS ago, probably around late summer that I recall those type of balls being around. I made a new thread specifically to thank you all who helped give Roxi a second chance. I can't even describe the gratitude I feel toward you all! [Beer]

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Our friends have 2 LARGE english mastiffs. When they visit we pick up our dogs toys, or they'd be eaten, as is. Good to know all is progressing towards a positive outcome.

[Bailey Guns]

Best wishes for Roxi's continued recovery.