Hi,
I have a 4 1/2 year old black miniature schnauzer that has not been himself the past few months. His annual check ups have been fine. He weights 20 lbs. which has been consistent. He's usually very animated, always walking around when we're in the house and wanting to play. Lately he's been sleeping more and sometimes not even greeting us when we come home. We were feeding him Pedigree dog food which he seemed to eat if no one gave him anything else. We just switched to Science Diet brand which he likes better. Family member sometimes give him people food which he loves but have been advised not to give him very often unless it was fresh vegetables or fruit. One time he broke out in hives and the vet had to give hime a shot. Today he did not eat his morning food and threw up yellowish mucous by late morning. He has been laying down ever since with no other symptoms. I would appreciate any suggestion to help him out.

Best regards,
Sue K

what food specifically gave the dog hives -did he have problems breathing as well? or was is just a reaction of the skin?

Hi,
It was last year and I think he was given a goldfish cracker that triggered the reaction. He didn't have respiratory symptoms but his skin had raised circles about the size of a nickel all over his body.

Thanks

That sounds strange considering you are feeding dry kibble which will have more extreme preservatives etc contained in it than a little cracker. It also contains grains like the food he is already eating.

Did the problems arise after this incident or after the "shot" was given? Or after something else (eg yearly vaccines, time of season, food change). I assume the shot was a steriod. I'm not sure why we rush to this type of therapy for a temporary case of hives. Its one thing if there are breathing difficulties, but hives are in a way controlling the response, possibly so that breathing difficulties do not occur. Its a theory. I used to get hives from allergens all the time as a child; eventually my body learned to adapt to the irritants, steriod shots tell the body to shut down all response, which might be required if respiration is involved, but generally I feel its best to let the body get on with it and contain the problem.

Contrary to popular thought; food is food not people food. Feeding a home diet of meaty bones, dairies and vegetables is the way a dog should be feed. They do not graze in corn fields and they certainly don't need to indulge in toxic preservatives currently found in so called "dogfood". The grains in dogfood generally are turned into sugars -this might have something to do with the decrease in energy level.

Its difficult to say what the problem is, homeopathy treats the whole, based on individual symptoms. If the dogs behavior is due to a chronic situation, you need to look at all aspects of his care, including food, vaccine schedule, exercise etc. Much more info will be required for a homeopathic prescription. If on the other hand his problems stem from an accute situation, particulars of the accute are required.

Is the dog still throwing up? Any improvement? Is the appetite still there?

Hi,
He doesn't throw up chronically. If his system is out of balance due to annual shots is there a remedy to clear those side effects and possibly get him back in balance?

Thanks.

Hi,
It's been awhile but the same issues still exist. I had changed my dog's food to Science Diet for sensitive stomachs & he seemed to do better. It's tick season now, got him a flea & tick collar but he still gets ticks. I did not use front line this year. He will not feel good a couple of times a week. If he vomits and doesn't feel good, he will go outside and eat grass. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sue K

have dasies in it?.

No it doesn't.

Get the book by Richard Pitcairn DVM : Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.

There are things you can do to counteract medicines given, but first I'd get that flea and tick collar off and stop all toxic chemical use around your home.

If you can't manage to do a natural foods diet, there are some pretty good store bought ones like Canidae, Newman's Own Organics, and Evo (which has no grains).