Regurgitation

D

Dore0021

Forums Regular
Hi Everyone,

I just read the debarking thread... so I'm hesitant to post this, but I need your opinions. I imagine this thread will get locked eventually but here goes nothing. Hopefully you can all give me your respectful opinions and not beat me up ;-)

My 1.5yr old male is debarked. Not sure at what age he was debarked but it was less than a year. When he came to live with me he was just over 1, we noticed if he drank water too quickly/or was too active after drinking he would regurgitate it.
Lately, it's been getting worse. He still regurgitates water probably daily, but now he's regurgitating his dinner. Normally 1/2hr - 1.5hrs after he eats. 3 nights in a row. The next night I kept him very quiet and calm for the evening and everything stayed down.
He is also a panter. He pants from the moment he wakes up till the moment he goes to bed. The only time he's not panting is when he's resting. He pants when it's +20 degrees, he pants when it's -20.

All of you out there with debarked dogs.... have any of you suffered the same after effects? Or do you think this is something totally unrelated to being debarked?
 
I don't have a debarked dog, but this sounds like it is not related to his bark softening procedure.

Has he been seen by a vet? His panting all day would really concern me. You should consider taking him to a vet and get a professional assessment of his condition.

My dog doesn't regurgitate food unless she is sick, but she does often regurgitate water. She tends to drink too fast and then spits some if it up.
 
I have five debarked dogs, one done twice because she heals so well. I think it's unrelated, and warrants a vet check in my book (which is saying something), especially combined with the panting. Regurgitation is a digestive problem, not a scar tissue in the throat problem.
 
ClantyreSheltie said:
Regurgitation is a digestive problem, not a scar tissue in the throat problem.
Click to expand...

That's where I'm unsure... I've been googling the problem, which I know a 'parent' should never do, :no: and this is what I read:
(he also had his regular yearly appointment in Feb, I mentioned the panting, which he was obviously not doing at the time and he said his lungs sounded clear and he is very obviously not in pain since he's crazy happy constantly :-)

"Regurgitation is the relatively effortless expulsion of undigested food, without retching. It occurs because the esophagus is physically blocked or because it lacks peristaltic activity. In either case, the food accumulates until the esophagus is overloaded, after which the food is passively expelled.

Regurgitation should not be confused with vomiting. Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of stomach contents, preceded by drooling and retching. The material vomited is usually sour smelling, partly digested, and stained with yellow bile.

Chronic regurgitation (the kind that comes and goes but seems to be getting worse) suggests a partial obstruction caused by megaesophagus, stricture, or tumor."

Thank-you soooo much though for pipping in... I also emailed the breeder,I really trust her opinion. I imagine I'll hear back today.
 
Just spoke to his breeder. Since it's only happening at night with a full tummy, after he's been running around we're going to try to keep him crated (he's crate trained) for 30mins after he eats for the next two nights and see what happens.
I'll update with the results incase anyone else is experiencing the same thing...
 
The panting in this scenerio is what concerns me. Constant panting is not common in a sheltie unless they are under stress or in pain.

How long has he been panting? Is this a new symptom or something that he has always done?

I would say that if this continues after keeping him crated after his meal, that a vet check is definitely warranted.
 
The panting and throwing up worry me.

Personally, if he were mine, I would take him to the vet right away.

Note: I do not mean to come off as a know it all. I say the above out of caring and concern.
 
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Is it possible he ate something he shouldn't have that may be causing a blockage? If the food can't pass the blockage it may have no where to go but back up? The panting and vomiting also has me concerned. I would definitely pay a visit to the vet. Even though he seems happy Shelties are working dogs and very good at hiding their pain. Good Luck and please keep us updated.
 
I know our boy Baron used to do that...spit up his food now and then. Once we switched to a different food...one easier on the tummy for him...now, it's rare that he does it. For him...if he's too active too soon after a meal..it still happens once in awhile, but the food switch did help.

At 1 1/2, he's likely a pretty active guy. Are you sure the panting isn't from that and since you're already worried about the spitting up...it's more apparent to you? It's never a wrong choice to check with the doc. Little one's like that (& even older one's) often chew things they shouldn't ;-). I just wanted you to know what our experience has been, and what resolved it :yes:

I should also add that one of our three is de-barked.."Spring age 3". She came to us that way @ 1 year old. Early on..she'd do this cough/gag type of thing like she was clearing her throat, but no regurgitation. She doesn't do it at all anymore. I also want to add that although we probably wouldn't have had the procedure done ourselves (& I've heard it's really hard to find a vet that will do it), it's a real blessing that it was done for her because she's our biggest barker...well..."whisperer" ;-).. It surely keeps her out of trouble with the neighbors.
 
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My Belgian's esophagus was damaged when she was spayed. We think that they tried to pass a tube that was too large and it caused a megasophagial type problem. She was 4 years old at the time. Anyway, I have to soften her food to the point that it is still formed but has no firm spots in it and with enough water that it slides down her throat. We have been doing it now for nearly 7 years. If she does collect food in the pouch - you can see it quite clearly - she does throw up and it seems that she is likely to throw up the next day and so on. Even with all that she is not panting or acting like anything is wrong once she has regurgitated the food.

Your dog needs to be seen by a vet to possibly have a full GI workup and bloodwork with possible ultrasound or xrays. The continuous panting suggests a discomfort to me. It could be Irritatable Bowel disease which sometimes shows itself as discomfort and vomiting but no diareahha. At the very least I would try giving food in small, softened and moistened quantities several times a day.
 
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