Bowie has always had stomach problems. At first, I thought it was because she ate everything she could and honestly, I'm sure that didn't help. Then, back when I lived with my old roommate, Jenna and her doggie, George, Bowie started to throw up with each meal. I went online and did my research just like I always have with every single Bowie issue I've ever had. I read about how when dogs eat with other dogs, they scarf down their food as fast as possible to avoid it getting stolen by the other dogs. So, Jenna and I started feeding Bowie and George at separate times, separate rooms. It still didn't help.
I called my vet. She said that maybe Bowie is still eating too fast despite George not being in the room. So, for two weeks straight, I hand fed Bowie one little piece at a time with minutes in between each bite. It would take us a half hour or so for her to eat. And it still didn't help.
My vet suggested she get tested for worms. I took her in and she checked out fine. Finally, my vet said to just wait it out and see what happens. After about a month, she finally stopped puking with every meal. But that still didn't stop her from throwing up in the middle of the night at least twice a week. Bowie always makes this dry heaving, ralphing noise for about a good thirty seconds before anything finally comes up. I've gotten so good at waking up instantly upon hearing that noise even if it's three o'clock in the morning and I'm dead asleep. I pop up, grab a plastic bag and hope to make it under Bowie's snout before she finally throws up. You'd be surprised how amazing I am at this.
And now here I am, a year living in my studio apartment, and up until about a month ago, Bowie was still vomiting regularly. I just realized how weird this subject is and how grossed out you all must be at this point. My vet and I were both perplexed. I was already using nice food and doing everything we could both think of. Finally, Mrs. Vet decided to try and narrow it down further to the bare specifics. She said, "You can either first try to change up Bowie's food to a brand I can recommend to you, or you can try and see if her rope has caused it by taking that away from her for a while." The thought of taking away Bowie's favorite toy in the whole wide world made me and Bowie cringe. No way was that happening! So, even though it was the more expensive option, I went with switching up the food. That is, switching up the food to a $22 small (very small) bag of it. Ouch. Just typing it makes my muscles tense.
But it's been a month and I think you'll all be happy to know that it's working. I can't even remember the last time she vomited. Plus, she gets to keep her rope! Now that her stomach is feeling all better and normal, she is more apt to beg while I, or anyone else, eats. When she looks at me with her cute, yet sad face, eyebrows raised, lips pierced, hoping for any escapee morsel, I say to her, "You see that bowl of gold over there next to your water dish? That's yours to eat. This is mine." And all the while I'm thinking about how the meal I'm eating is cheaper than what her bowl contains.
