*Whew*
I am glad to see dharmadoodle posting about this!, and that your here Gmacleod!
I am at such a loss, for someone that has fed raw for 3 yrs, with NO PROBLEMS, then after losing TaTanka, and adopting Rooster, who is having some rough times healthwise.
(Not sure what it is yet, he came with what I thought was a "sensative tummy".. Switched him to raw, and he seemed to do "ok" but still had horrible gas, loose stools, and went down HARD on Nov. 23rd with what a vet that I don't usually use, said was colitis, and since then, others have informed me that many vets diagnose colitis when they really don't know what is wrong!)
I think that Rooster is allergic to chicken. As I was feeding raw venison and elk at first. Then started to add chicken, and noticed he didn't digest bone well. Sequoia has never had an issue with bone) So I removed the bone from it, but I didn't even consider the fact that he might be allergic to the chicken in general! Talk about feeling stupid..
He started vomiting, horrid diahrea, hunching his back, shaking and didn't know what to do with himself, even was trying to dig holes in back yard at 2 a.m. which he never digs, he was just horribly distressed and terrified me!
He was raced to the local rescue groups vet that diagnosed him with colitis, stated that NO DOG SHOULD EVER eat raw! Well.. you can imagine how I felt about this statement.... I totally disagree. YET, I went ahead and got high quality kibble, Chicken and Rice .. Roo was still not doing well.. I got him into a new vet, and she said it was ok to give him venison and sweet potatos, (I cooked it though) Roo is on carafate 1/2 hr before a meal, 3x's a day.
I just fed Sequoia the same thing, (should never have taken her off RAW!) and she started showing up with little sores on her head, chest, etc.. She has had venison before, so I suspected the sweet potatos.. Sure enough, the sores went away! I kept Rooster on sweet potatos and venison. A week later, I realize that Rooster is chewing his toes and feet.. then saw a rash on his tummy too!
So took him off sweet potatos too, and he seems to be doing better too.. I was kind of shocked, I didn't realize sweet potatos could be an allergy? Soooo I'm just LOST.. I kind of think that the potatos were good because then the meat wouldn't be so rich in his tummy...
SOooooooooooooo I don't know what to give him!!!!!!! I am terrified to waiver from deer, because I gave him elk instead one day, and thought they would be so similar, but.. nope, he had two bad days after that. I put him back on venison, and he was ok.
Roo has had xrays, but they were done by this rescue vet, and he said he saw no blockage. I guess they weren't "Digital" xrays though, so the new vet wants to xray him too. I have had extensive bloodwork done on him, ( I suspected pancreatitis) and ALL bloodwork has came up good! The vet says the next step is xrays and then an ultra sound.. I've spent almost $2,000 on him in the past two months, just trying to find out what is wrong with him. *sigh*
So PLEASE Gmacleod??? If you have any suggestions as to what else to give him with his venison? And if I run out of venison, what would you suggest? I soooo want to go back to raw for him, but some vets have said he may be a dog that doesn't tolerate raw, and while I realize that this is true, If Roo's tests have all come up ok, then why would that be?
I took the sweet potato away, and felt I had to give him something else, so gave him white potatos. And he and Sequoia both seemed like they were not doing good with the white potatos!
I AM SOOOO CONFUSED!!!! WHAT should I give him in vegetables? Since this rescue vet said that he was "Full of Gas" when he xray'd him, I figure I need to be careful of gassy veggies.. But this part is all sooo new to me! TaTanka and Sequoia were just so NATURAL with raw feeding.. *big sigh*
I would appreciate ANY INFORMATION or suggestions you can give me. I have scoured BW looking for answers, but with Mom being diagnosed as terminal, I am just so busy with our lives, and Rooster's seeming to be distressed and wanting to eat EVERY 3 hrs, I'm a wreck! And am no doubt making it harder than it seems to find answers..
So please.. if you can help me, I'd be soooo very grateful!
Karen<~~pulling hair out!
Rooster 2yrs fawn male rescue and such a love
Sequoia, 3 1/2 yr white female and screwy as ever..
TaTanka, Tuff E. Nuff, and Sly at the bridge.. and terribly missed..