Thank you Sue, that sounds like my dog (when he doesn’t feel well). A few days ago he was laying on my bed in an odd position (he’s normally stretched out on his side or back, or curled up in a ball, but he was flat on his stomach). I picked him up and set him down and he immediately started throwing up. His face “looks” sick when he’s unwell.
The ONLY thing I can think of that might have set him off is if he got into the puppys food, which contains oatmeal. Since Tag was a puppy he’s never wanted anything to do with any kind of grain. The only past digestive issue he’s ever had was in 2012 when he had a bout of very angry bloody diarrhea, and he looked very sickly in the face. Flagyl and chicken broth cleared him up. I decided one day to give him a bath in a new oatmeal shampoo and once he was dried, he had broken out in a rash. A quick re-bath cleared it up but I kept an eye on it, and always assumed maybe he didn’t eat grains because he somehow “knew” he couldn’t tolerate them, and the oatmeal shampoo all over his skin (the largest organ that absorbs into his entire body) was further proof. If he did indeed get a bite of the puppy food, that might explain the vomiting and the rash. I know when he’s sick, I stress horribly. His stressed system on top of MY stress on top of a new puppy is hopefully what made the problem as bad as it was. If it is indeed IBS, I won’t stress as much because I know it could be worse, and aside from this incident and the puppy (who is slowly learning that manners are not optional in this house), he leads a very happy and mostly stress free life. He loves obedience, loves agility, and there’s a great balancing act between us; I know when I can put (good) pressure on him to perform and when I cannot.
An interesting side note. I’ve read dogs with IBS or IBD will sometimes find certain positions uncomfortable, and will sometimes turn to “look” at their side, where the discomfort/pain is. Back in the spring, we were competing at an obedience trial. We got past the difficult part (for us) and were well on our way to a qualifying score. We got to the signals exercise (which he mastered as a puppy because he’s brilliant). I had him stand, walked across the ring, and gave him the signal for down, which he NEVER misses or refuses. He stared at my signal, stared at me, then turned to “sniff his armpit” (look at his side). The judge, myself, and crowd were roaring because it looked like he was sniffing his armpit as if to say “ew, forgot deodorant today”. We shrugged it off and ran the next trial, and he did the SAME thing. It was funny then but remembering the way he stared at me, then turned to look at his side makes me wonder if he was saying “I can’t”. Will keep this in mind, it’s a lot to digest. No pun intended 😛
