How can I solve my westie's tummy problems?

Question

We have a 10 year old and a 2 year old westie, both adopted last year. The 10 year old has a dodgy tummy. I know its very common but there must be something to help/stop it. Basically it happens once/twice a week where his tummy makes a load of noise (grumbling/griping) and he wants to eat grass etc to make himself sick. Its also accompanied by wind, the runs and a tendency to be sick randomly. It can happen at any time, morning is the most common time before walks, but it sometimes happens at 3/4am which is not good as he wakes us up all through the night to go out to eat grass! (Which we don't have in the garden!) I changed his food a few months ago from dry to 'wet' meaty food with no artificial stuff which seemed to improve the condition. It seems to have gotten worse recently tho and I'm out of ideas. The vets seem to not have a clue about it but I just cant accept that this 'common' condition doesn't have some kind of cure.

Answer 1

I wouold TAKE HIM TO A VET. My dog started off with what u said, and she had to go for 3 surgeries...a huge vet bill...she took 6 differnt meds...and after battleing the problem for 3 years on and off we finally said enough is enough, no more suffering and put her down just last month.

Answer 2

Feed your dogs a food which does not contain grain. The experts now say that grain, dairy foods and anything remotely connected to beef causes degestive problems.

Change over gradually mixing a small % of the grain free food with its present food. Be patient, it should take about two weeks for the change over,  and stop giving your dogs biscuits

I know that this might sound perverse as dogs should not be given dairy food, however GOATS yoghurt can help with dodgy tummies. Add a tiny amount of Bicarbinate of Soda to two tablespoons of yoghurt and it will help until your dog become established on a grain free diet.

Answer 3

I really think wet food is not a good solution. First of all it's not good for their teeth, it makes them weak and bad smelling. I also think you should really try upgrading dog foods... this is usually the cause of most dog's stomach and skin problems. I don't know what you use now but if it's really cheap then it's also probably really bad. Things like Kibbles n' Bits are like feeding your dog McDonald's everyday... and I think that would give anyone the runs after awhile! Dog foods like Nutro are really good but also not too hard on your wallet. Yes it costs more but they don't need to eat as much of it because it has alot more nutrients and vitamins in it, plus it's made with much higher qualityfood products. Try Nutro's sensitive stomach formula. My dogs have been eating Nutro their whol lives (they are 3.5 and 4.5 yrs) and both of them have never had any stomach or skin problems. Hope this helps! And if the better quality food doesn't help, go to a NEW vet and get a second opinion... him throwing up all the time is not ok.

Answer 4

mmmm

well you can take him to the vet to sort it out properly

or listen to whatever some random people are saying on here.

mm. well. i feed my westie leftover human food, and since converting from tinned to human (he used to have tummy problems aswell) he's been much better. You don't need to buy extra food for the dog just give him the leftovers.

Personally I'd just take him to the vet.

Answer 5

if you take him to the vet there are two things they could do for you... one is to recommend giving him meds : benedryl, antiacids, or a prescription... the other is giving him a more sensitive stomach food, at the vet clinic i work for they recommend hill's w/d formula (either dry or wet).

i've seen this a couple times since working at the clinic and they usually try all of the above.

but if you dont want to go to vet just yet, try about 1/4-1/2 a pill of an antiacid. (the amount varies with the size of the dogs tho)

Answer 6

Seems very strange that it happens once/twice a week, surely if his food was the cause the upset would be virtually constant ??!!!??!?!

Could it be a case of somebody who visits your home occasionally is feeding your babyboy tidbits behind your back that's turning his tummy ?? :-)  

I would be tempted to feed only boiled chicked and boiled rice for a week or two and cut out all treats to see if he improves on this.  Then you will know if it's the food causing the problem or if it's a health digestion problem with him.

Answer 7

get the vet to xray him see if there is anything wrong inside his stomach.  dont worry i am sure that the vet will know how to make the problem better.  but if not then get to another vet.  vets should have all the medicine that an animal needs  

Answer 8

take him to the vet to get him properly checked out

Answer 9

You need Burns dry dog food for mini dogs.

I promise it will cure your problem!

It was developed by vets and has no additives and is gluten free.

Feeding live yogurt everyday for a week will also help.

For a westie I would give 2 desert spoonfuls daily in his food or off the spoon.

I own Shelties and they are prone to delicate tummies.

Like you the vets didn't know what to suggest next after years of dicky tummies.

A friend of mine who's Poodle was the same gave me some Burns dog food to try.I have never looked back and now the shelties have stronger tummies than my collies that don't have Burns.