My dog has IBD. Why is he vomiting bile after switching foods?

Generally more frequently feeding solves bilious vomiting. If he won't eat more than twice a day, it's fine to mix in something to entice him and pumpkin puree is a fine choice. A little rice or oatmeal could also do the trick. Just watch for worsening of the IBD when you add in another food and don't use any food he's had before. My other advice would be that if he's vomiting and it's not after a long stretch of not eating, it's probably related to his IBD or something else entirely rather than BVS, so let your vet know so they can continue testing/looking/thinking. Wishing you and Jack the best of luck!

I think that sounds fine! There is always a fair bit of trial and error in managing inflammatory bowel disease. Every dog is a little different, and we always strive to get the symptoms under control with what ever combination of meds that work. Omeprazole works to reduce stomach acid, and Metoclopramide works to improve GI motility. Keep talking to your vet, and let them know how the new meds are working. And, if there is any concern about the new food bag, you could always purchase a new bag, in case there is a bad batch. Best of luck!

Suddenly switching foods can cause digestive upset which can lead to vomiting. Not eating often enough can also lead to vomiting for the opposite reason -- not enough food in the stomach can cause a buildup of bile and acid which leads to digestive upset and vomiting. If you switched Finn's food too quickly, returning to his old food and gradually switching over a period of 7-9 days can help ease the transition. If he's not eating enough, offering several smaller meals throughout the day can help keep him eating (without it being too large of an amount at once) without his stomach emptying completely. If he continues to vomit even with the above adjustments, or other signs and symptoms appear, a full workup at your vet is best.

Poor Baron! I'm sorry to hear that he's having so much trouble. It is indeed surprising that things are getting worse and he is vomiting so frequently on his current combination of medications, which makes me concerned that something more serious may be going on. I'm not sure how his IBD was originally diagnosed, but if he has not had an exploratory surgery with biopsies of his stomach and intestines, I would strongly recommend that at this point - he may actually have something more serious, such as GI lymphoma or some other type of stomach or intestinal cancer. An endoscopy with biopsies would also be an option, if this is available in your area.

A sudden diet change can cause digestive upset, especially if the switch was sudden. In most cases, a gradual switch is needed to help the body adjust to the new food. It would be best to pick up any food for a few hours, and then offer a bland meal of boiled chicken and rice to help settle Jack's stomach, then return to his old food. Once his tummy has settled down, you can then start transitioning to the new food over a period of 7-9 days (I would recommend only adding in one new food at a time, instead of both a new wet and dry food, to minimize upset). You can add in 25% new food to the mix every 2-3 days as long as he seems to handle eating the mix. If he continues vomiting, worsens, or switching back to the old diet doesn't improve his symptoms, then it is best to seek veterinary care to rule out any other underlying issues or illnesses that may be the cause of his vomiting.

Honestly we rarely have to put these dogs on a special diet but if I had to pick a diet I would say high fiber which may help with GI motility. A prescription diet from your vet like Hill's w/d would be best. I would use the canned version. I am a bit worried that the diagnosis is not correct. There are many other reasons why a dog could be vomiting bile (parasites, partial GI obstruction, GI motility disorder, cancer, endocrine disorder, food intolerance/allergy, etc). Did he have any blood testing done? X-rays? I think you have already done what should be tried for simple bilious vomiting syndrome. Since he hans't improved and is actually worse, I strongly recommend you consult with your vet about more testing. I am also concerned as this is a diagnosis usually seen in older dogs; Earl is young to have this issue. In the meantime you can try giving him some over the counter antacid (famotidine) 10mg once a day but only give this until you can get him back to your vet. ( https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-Maximum-Strength-Acid-Reducer-Famotidine-Tablets-20mg-200-Ct/24360533 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I would recommend talking to your vet about different kibble options or additives since they are more familiar with Jack's medical history. Often, using human foods to "flavor" dog food to encourage eating just allows the dog to start choosing what they want to eat. Jack is training you that if he doesn't eat his food, he can have something even more tasty. There are lots of different prescription diets that can be tried if Jack truly doesn't want to eat the KO anymore.