Help solve the puzzle. I need ideas.

[billbgh]

I was just reading this, and though I don't know if this is helpful, I'll proceed. Gauge and I have similar problems. I have a diagnosis of IBS/colitis. I know in dogs that it is similar, but he has really similar problems to what I have. I too get sickly in the morning but once I am moving I can eat. I too can't eat a whole lot of carbs(causes cramping and bloating not to mention gas). I'll apologize now if any of this grosses you out. I have had two c-sections so my abs are lacking, which is similar to his stomach tacking(to a degree). I too have to move around quite a bit before a bm. Now, I don't know if you feed him yogurt, but this helps me greatly, and I too have issues with turkey. I find that chicken, fish, lean pork and some lean red meat are helpful. Veggies are a plus(especially carrots and green peppers) and peanut butter is good for protein but in small doses otherwise I get heartburn. He may also have a higher acidic level in his stomach(as I do) and when something upsets him, the acidity goes up causing these health issues and pain. Maybe he does well when you feed him from pocket because you are walking him(not only stimulation of bowels, but because it is soothing to him). I am not accusing in this next sentence, just pointing out my triggers. When people around me argue, it brings on an acute attack, if I am around alot of negativity, it also affects me. I agree with gmacleod(freaking genius you are sir) that you really just need to find the things that agree with Gauge's stomach and try to keep him from being stressed out. Massaging him(if he's agreeable) would also be great(helps with circulation and aids digestion). If he likes to have belly rubs that would help digestion as well. I would rub soothingly and not vigorously. Good luck and keep us posted

Erin
Apollo & Rocky's mom

 

[liamsmom]

once in a while Liam will stop eating in the middle of a meal and start to walk around like he is in pain. he's never laid down but still he looks uncomfortable. once we walk him around a little he gets back to normal and then finishes his meal. the only thing we can attribute it to is a possible gas pocket. he has a tendency to eat fast so we do slow him down by spreading his food out in a huge bowl. but you're already using the special bowl.
i think you might be onto something with going grainless. less gas! all three of our Boxers are on grainless food and they are doing great on it. even Zuki is doing good on it. she has severe acid reflux and is on pepcid and gas-x daily. since we switched her food to grainless she is doing tremendously well.
we took our chances with going grainless with our youngest Boxer. we was just about a year old when he went totally grainless. but he doesn't seem any worse for wear.
i think gmacleod has a great point....homecooking or raw...nothing dehydrated...to reduce gas. I never would have thought of that. but when i read that......it made absolute perfect sense. that statement alone has me thinking about starting to homecook and/or start feeding raw. it would certainly be a lot less expensive than Orijen for 3 Boxers!

 

[silly24boxer]

Wow billbgh

I read your post and you hit the nail on the head. Funny Gauge does do a boxer burn and alot of running around before having a BM. He seems to have to work it up or something. Funny thing is he was doing it today and we were trying to remember if any of our other boxers did this. I have been feeding him yogurt too and it does help with the gas. Also you mentioned rubbing his stomach and funny, sometimes he is a little off when he gets up and he will leave the bed rooom and lay on the upstairs landing. He will not come down stairs to go out. I go find him and rub his stomach and he will get up and get moving.When the vets did the stomach tack surgery and opened him up they both said he had no stomach muscles left and they had a hard time doing the tack. They compared it too having a baby and were hoping the muscle would come back. I am going to look into IBS/Colitis. I believe you may have helped solve a piece of the puzzle!

Thanks Darlene and Gauge

 

[cocoboxers]

I know that if a dog is extremely hungry in the morning (after not eating all night), he may eat a little faster and swallow air while gulping down his food. The build up of gas in his tummy could lead to some discomfort. During the day, this may not be the case as the dog is not as famished and will not swallow as much air. However, by feeding him a little bit at a time, you can help pace his eating and, hopefully, prevent the gas from accumulating. Feeding during the walks also provides some distraction from the meal and allows you to ration out the food in small amounts.

I'm not sure if this is helpful, but I read somewhere that it is best to wait at least 30 minutes before and after exercise before feeding to reduce the chance of bloat. Not sure if it works, but it's definitely worth a try.

Get better soon, Gauge!

 

[billbgh]

I read your post and you hit the nail on the head. Funny Gauge does do a boxer burn and alot of running around before having a BM. He seems to have to work it up or something. Funny thing is he was doing it today and we were trying to remember if any of our other boxers did this. I have been feeding him yogurt too and it does help with the gas. Also you mentioned rubbing his stomach and funny, sometimes he is a little off when he gets up and he will leave the bed rooom and lay on the upstairs landing. He will not come down stairs to go out. I go find him and rub his stomach and he will get up and get moving.When the vets did the stomach tack surgery and opened him up they both said he had no stomach muscles left and they had a hard time doing the tack. They compared it too having a baby and were hoping the muscle would come back. I am going to look into IBS/Colitis. I believe you may have helped solve a piece of the puzzle!

Thanks Darlene and Gauge

No problem, I just want to help any way that I can. Another thing too, when my stomach hasn't been bothering me for a while, I can eat a tad of something that may have bothered me before(small taste of turkey for instance) but seeing how Gauge can't talk, I would still stick with what doesn't cause discomfort. I would personally rather eat the same things day in and day out that don't cause me problems, as opposed to variety. If he is open to it, you can even try warming a rice filled sock in the microwave(a few seconds-where it is warm to the touch) and when his tummy's upset, try to put this on his stomach too. This will also pull blood into the abdomen, so just put it on for a little while and rub a little while you are there. My thoughts are with you

Erin
Apollo & Rocky's mom

 

[silly24boxer]

New Idea to solve the puzzle

New ideas to this puzzle. Do boxers swallow air at night while sleeping? As I am walking Gauge and feeding him in the morning I have been noticing that he will burp up his breakfast. Could it be that he has empty stomach in the morning with air in it and when you add food on top of the air it causes a gas pain. Therefore when I walk him the air escapes as I feed him therefore no painful gas bubbles???