Why do some dogs get sick from raw food and others don't?

Thats hard to say. Pets can have upset stomachs for many reasons. This can range from bacterial over growth, to parasites, to inflammatory bowel disease to kidney disease to even cancer. Without a physical exam and likely some basic diagnostics, its impossible to know the cause. Home made diets are not good long term unless they are formulated by a veterinary nutritionist. Otherwise the diets are often unbalanced which can result in problems if they are fed long term. At home you can try feeding her a bland diet of 25% boiled white meat chicken and 75% plain boiled what rice. Feed this for 1 week. Giving her probiotics during this time may also help. If she is not back to normal after 1 week, if she gets worse or if it returns, she needs to see her veterinarian. This diet is not balanced but it is fine to feed for this length of time. Gradually transition her back to her normal diet over 3-5 days. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello. Raw foods are not always the safest diets to feed because of bacterial contamination, but if Boris is otherwise feeling well, then I would not panic. Normally, I recommend keeping a vomiting dog that acts well & drinking & holding down water, off food for 12-24 hours, & restart with a bland diet of 25% boiled chicken, 75% cooked white rice or a little low fat cottage cheese. But for now, just keep him off his regular food & give him just a very small amount in 12 hours. If he continues to vomit during this fasting period, or he becomes lethargic or develops diarrhea, then it is time to see the veterinarian. I hope he is feeling better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is possible it is the raw food diet diet causing Charley's bloody diarrhea. That's because raw meat carries bacteria that can make your dog sick. It could also be due to intestinal parasites, so make sure she is up to date on her deworming treatments. Withhold food for 12 to 24 hours then feed her a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in a commercial dry dog food for her. I would recommend feeding the commercial day dog food diet to her because there is no risk of poisoning from bacteria, either to her or you. If Charley isn't fully vaccinated, there is a chance she could have parvovirus, but given that she is happy and energetic, it's more likely related to her diet. If she does become very lethargic or the bland diet doesn't help the diarrhea, I would take her into the vet.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Azrael! Yes, it very likely is the food. A lot of dogs tolerate raw diets but there is a higher risk of food borne pathogens like Salmonella. But regardless of raw vs commercial dog food if he has a food allergy to the protein source (chicken, etc) he will vomit, have diarrhea, lose weight. He may also have inflammatory bowel disease which is usually treated with a special diet as well as steroids. Another possibility is pancreatic conditions like Exocrine Pancreatic insufficiency. EPI is common in German Shepherds and it is when the pancreas doesn't produce the appropriate digestive enzyme and it needs to be supplemented. I would deworm him, do general blood work, do a B12/folate/TLI/PLI test, change his to a prescription hydrolyzed diet like Royal Canin HP or Ultimino or Hill's Z/d or Purina HA. Give him 2 months on that diet to see if his issues resolve. I hope this helps!

While an allergy is possible, bacteria in the raw diet could also cause the GI symptoms. The ear issues could be an allergy but if she was on a chicken based diet prior to the raw diet and did fine on it, then that seems less likely. If Treia is doing well on her beef based food, I recommend to stick with it. if she gets sick again, have her examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps.

Monitor for lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite or abdominal pain. Consider withholding food for the next 24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. If Dexter develops stomach upset without any other symptoms, you can fast him then offer a bland diet in small, frequent amounts until symptoms resolve. If he becomes lethargic, stops eating or develops abdominal pain then he should be examined by your veterinarian.

Hi there! There are a couple of risks associated with eating a pound of raw beef. Aside from general GI distress, dogs, like humans, can contract foodborne illnesses, such as E.coli. Pancreatitis is also a consideration, as that much meat could potentially be a lot for the gut to handle, especially if it's not lean. I would keep a close eye on Brooke for signs of stomach upset, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. I also strongly recommend calling your veterinarian in the morning for further advice. If any symptoms develop, you should bring her to the vet right away for treatment. I do not recommend giving her anything over the counter at home without a vet's advice. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach, and I sure hope that Brooke does not get sick!