[Bailey&Me]

Dee, I'm wondering what your vet told you about Shoni's reflux problem. What you described is exactly what Bailey has been doing. He has done it for a few months now and it has gotten more frequent in recent months. I have had him on Animal Essentials probiotics for many months now (however I dont refrigerate it...didnt know I had to! the nutritionist at the store I bought it from said that it didnt need to be) I was wondering if you did see your vet and if you were able to solve this issue with Shoni. Thanks!

 

[Bailey&Me]

The vet wasn't much help. He said I could give Shoni 1/4 of a Prilosec tab. before a meal once a day or let him have Tums. He didn't think in Shoni's case that it was bad enough to X-ray or further test for. It has not been happening recently, so I only give him Tums occasionally and not anything like Prilosec.
I always give Shoni Missing Link on his food (which isn't a Probiotic) but nothing else at this point. I changed to Nature's Variety Raw frozen food and he has really liked that! I think there is probably enough natural occurring intestinal 'flora' in raw meat.
Sorry I'm not much help.

Thanks Dee. My vet didnt have many suggestions on ths either...other than keeping him on Famotidine for life...

 

[Bailey&Me]

This is just my opinion, not telling anyone here what they should do, just what I'd do if it were my dog.

I'd test for parasites if not already done if my dog had vomiting or reflux.

99% of GERD is caused by food intolerance, or intolerance to an ingredient in a supplement. I've never been a big fan of Missing Link, and I am very careful to choose oil supplements very carefully. No, not careful, I'm actually paranoid about rancid oils. I think it's a huge problem in supplements for humans and pets. So many products that have fatty acids/oils in them have rancid oils, which can cause all sorts of things. Look at the ingredients in Missing Link:

Flaxseed, Rice Bran, Primary Dried Yeast, Cane Molasses, Sunflower Seed, Freeze Dried Beef Liver, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Dried Carrot, Ground Beef Bone*, Dried Fish Solubles, Ground Barley Grass, Dried Kelp, Freeze Dried Oyster

Why molasses? Too many unknowns. Like, what is dried fish solubles? Where are they getting the other ingredients?

If it were my dog who had reflux issues, I'd try feeding only one protein, like ground bison, and one starchy veg or tuber, like sweet potato or pumpkin for a 3 weeks to a month, nothing else, no supplements, nothing, except maybe Animal Essentials Calcium, then see what happens. Just my opinion. Not telling anyone what to do, just what I'd do.

Thanks Suzan! I will definitely try the limited diet with Bailey to see if that helps or at least tells me what food/supplement ingredient he may be sensitive to. It might actually be fish because the last two dry foods I have had him on (Acana and Fromm) both are fish-based. But I try so many different foods, I cant be sure. Once he feels completely better (he had stomach blockage issues and just had surgery) I will try changing his diet. Thank you!