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-P...ed-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.