Re: Upset Stomach

In Reply to: Upset Stomach
Posted by:  Paul Vancelette
Posted on:  July 30, 2001 at 11:44:00

: My 4 1/2 month JRT "Rebel" (broaken coat) seems to be experiencing a high frequency of upset stomachs which results in him throwing-up.

: My Vet isn't concerned yet, and your forum hasn't revealed additional insight for me.

: I would like feedback from you, who really know the breed, and collectively have dozens (& dozens) of years of experience. Your love for these little guys really shows, and I thought one of you may have gone through this before.

: Is Rebel out of the "Norm"?

: General background & symptoms-

: 1. Consistent diet since 9 weeks, occasional small tastes of table food, fruits, vegitables and varieties of dog biscuts.

: 2. Typical puppy eating of bugs, roots, sticks, grass, but never unsupervised, nor what I feel is any excess. He loves his digging and is quick to chomp on whatever he finds.

: 3. He is actively replacing baby teeth, has the associated bad breath, but seems fine and still consistently eats well, is growing and gaining weight in expected proportion (currently 13" and 13 lbs.).

: 4. Inconsistly, or randomly, Rebel will get sick during the day, night, full stomach, or even empty stomach. After he gets ill we try to get him to settle (as much as a JRT will) and he will consume his next meal as if nothing happened.

: 5. We can't associate his symptoms/reactions to any specific intake of food or activity (thus our vet feels that it may be the blood he is injesting from his teething).

: 6. His stool is normal and on schedule, amount varies when he is 'going' on an empty stomach.

: 7. Lately (last 3 weeks) he is randomly sick 4-6 times a week. Poor Puppy. At best, Rebel has gone two days without getting ill over this period.

: 8. My yard and surroundings have been carefully reviewed by friends and neighbors looking for clues, but nothing unique or seemingly harmful has been found.

: Could this be as simple as teething reactions (which your forum has informed me will last until Rebel is 7 months old or so)?

: I wanted to check with you before I start considering another/different Vet check.

: Thanks ever so much for a GREAT forum, excellent website, and all your dedecation and hard work keeping up with such an eclectic mix of owners of this very stable and healthy breed.

: I can't imagine my life without my little buddy, and he is a constant source of looking at life from a different perspective, his!

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Hi Paul,

Sorry to hear that Rebel is having such problems!

First, as you know, none of us are vets nor do we play any on television ;)

The first thing I would do is stop giving Rebel any table scraps, veggies or fruit. These things can be too rich for a little puppy. Keep him on his puppy food and maybe an occasional doggie biscuit.

The next thing you must do is really watch him outside to make sure he doesn't eat something he is not supposed to. They are babies and as you know everything goes in their mouths.

Personally I have never had any type of situation like this with any of my dogs.

This seems like way too much vomiting being done, even with teething.

I personally wouldn't settle for your vet's answer and I would immediately seek out a second opinion.

Just like doctors, some graduate at the head of the class and some graduate near the bottom.

These are symptoms that warrant another trip to a different vet and the sooner the better.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Good luck to you and Rebel, hope he is feeling better soon.