Recently adopted boxer having LOTS of health issues

Kayteakay · #1 3rd July 2012, 11:02 PM

I recently adopted a 2 yr old white male boxer who is HW positive (he is being treated) and have been having lots of health issues, just wanted to see if anyone has had any simillar issues. He gets these bouts of "tummy gurgles" so loud you can hear them even if he is in another room! When he gets the tummy gurgles it is always accompanied by bloody stool with a real urgency to go, and he refuses food and water, the second they stop (usually lasts anywhere from 8-24 hours) he eats completely normal and drinks lots of water. I have been writing down the dates of everytime he gets then and they usually come every 8 days or so. They come as fast as they go and he seems fine after that! He also doesnt seem to be in any pain when he has them (vet already ruled out pancratitus). The second thing that has been happening is he will get random bouts of the "gulps" where he starts compulsivly swallowing and licking almost like it is involuntary, he will try and eat ANYTHING when he has these. It gets to the point where he is gulping so much it looks like he is having a hard time even catching a breath! They seem to always happen at night right before bed and then I am up all night with him. Neither of us can get a wink of sleep when he is gulping. We have been to the emergency vet in the middle of the night multiple times for both of these symptoms but have not gotten a firm diagnosis. If anyone has expierenced anything like this please share!

Lisa H · #2 4th July 2012, 07:34 AM

Sorry no help, Justice is 11 years old and started both of the things that you listed above at age 8. We have tried everything. Changing food, extra treats at night, meds, different docors, xrays, barium tests, ultrasounds, documenting every episode, etc. The only thing that we did not do is a stomach scope/biopsies due to her age. The vet thinks that it may be IBD but there is no cure except changing meds and food until you find one that works and that is what we have tried. The squeeking and throwing up foam does not bother me as much as the gulping. Justice has only had 3 of the gulping episodes in 2.5 years, thank god and the last one was not severe. I did give her gasex when the last gulping episode started and it seemed to help. I hope you get some answers.

Cami · #3 4th July 2012, 07:42 AM

Quote:

compulsivly swallowing and licking

Sounds like classic nausea symptoms however I don't know what could be causing it. Have you tried a regiment of Pepcid or similar for any length of time to see if it was helpful?
The bloody stool sounds like colitis. Here is a link with further info. Near the bottom it is specifically related to Boxers.
Colitis

rockysarge · #4 4th July 2012, 09:30 AM

Rocky has the same issue with the swallowing and the gulping. I agree with what Cami said in that sounds like nausea. When Rock got into that we gave him the medicine for upset stomachs and for blocking the acids in his stomach. Boxers always seem to be touchy with the stomach issue.

They put Rocky on a pill that is used to treat ulcers. It puts a coating on them and keep the acid from making trouble and it seemed to work well with Rocky. Once we started him on that those symptoms disappeared.

Hope your boy gets to feeling better

Draymia · #5 4th July 2012, 11:38 AM

You might also try giving him 4-5 small meals per day, so his stomach never gets empty. I had a guy years ago, with the loud tummy problems. If I spotted it soon enough and could get a few biscuits in his tummy, he would not have any further problems. If he didn't want to eat, I would give him a Pepto Bismal tab to settle things down. Once I figured out the many small meals, his problem went away. Both the gurgling and gulping may be related.