We took in a red merle Australian Shepherd a week ago, who more or less had a tramatic life. He's a great dog, very laid back (until he gets wound up with our Border Collie.) Right now, he's on Iams Smart Puppy for large breed (what we're giving our 9 month old Border Collie. Payday is later this week and we'll get him or Adult dog food.) The people we got him from had him on either Puppy Chow or Dog Chow (don't remember.) They guessed he was about 2 years old. I'm guessing 3-4, since he has all of his adult teeth and he is filled out. Vet didn't guess outside of what I thought. The vet gave him a clean bill of health.
He has thrown up several times since we're had him. The first couple of times were after our 2 year old fed him some birthday cake and a cookie. Another was after he took a snack cake our 2 year old sat down and left. I'm blaming that on the sweets, and we've changed our child's eating habbits with the dogs in the area. The last time looked just like dog food. The time before looked like he puked up some kind of soft mesh plastic. I didn't recognize it as anything of ours and don't know where it came from. He seems to be eating fine, though since puking this morning he hasn't ate much (though he cleared out alot of the food bowl tonight.) How much of this could be related to the diet change (dog food change, not the birthday cake. That's not part of his normal diet.) I always thought they'd usually get diarhea rather than puking with a food change. Also, this isn't an everyday event when he throws up. I've also not noticed him poop, but I've smelled new droppings int he yard when the border collie isn't around.
At what point should I become concerned (more so than now) and go to the vet? We've had him exactly a week. Granted, he's not fully settled in but seems to be adjusting rather well. He's not lethargic or withdrawn. Other than the puking and questionable going to the bathroom, he seems fine. Doesn't drink excessive amounts of water and pees normally.
He has thrown up several times since we're had him. The first couple of times were after our 2 year old fed him some birthday cake and a cookie. Another was after he took a snack cake our 2 year old sat down and left. I'm blaming that on the sweets, and we've changed our child's eating habbits with the dogs in the area. The last time looked just like dog food. The time before looked like he puked up some kind of soft mesh plastic. I didn't recognize it as anything of ours and don't know where it came from. He seems to be eating fine, though since puking this morning he hasn't ate much (though he cleared out alot of the food bowl tonight.) How much of this could be related to the diet change (dog food change, not the birthday cake. That's not part of his normal diet.) I always thought they'd usually get diarhea rather than puking with a food change. Also, this isn't an everyday event when he throws up. I've also not noticed him poop, but I've smelled new droppings int he yard when the border collie isn't around.
At what point should I become concerned (more so than now) and go to the vet? We've had him exactly a week. Granted, he's not fully settled in but seems to be adjusting rather well. He's not lethargic or withdrawn. Other than the puking and questionable going to the bathroom, he seems fine. Doesn't drink excessive amounts of water and pees normally.