raw green beans or cooked?
Submitted by mrhig2004 on February 15, 2014 - 5:19pmI have been feeding Mr. Higgins 3 meals a day for a few years now. It did help his early morning vomiting, but not anymore. My vet has suggested 4 meals a day. He wants the bedtime meal to be the largest. At 2 cups a day that would be 1/4 cup per meal. It seems so small. I want to add green beans to his food especially the bedtime meal to bulk up the food. Do the green beans have to be cooked? He was given a raw carrot once and choked on it as he swallows everything without chewing first.
Also, he has been on Atopica for a few years for closed ear canals. We now see hypertrophy of his gums most likely caused by the Atopica. My vet suggests weaning him off the drug. My vet stated it also could be oral cancer as there are bulges of tissue in his mouth and weaning him off the drug will prove that one way or another. Mr. Higgins is 9 now and seems to be quite healthy after many surgical issues earlier in his life. Anyone have experience with gingival hypertrophy caused by drugs? Thanks.
We always cook the green beans...
my guys can't eat raw veggies either. Sorry, I don't know anything about the atopica. Ollie is 9 also, turning 10 this month, I don't know where the time went!
Beans and Gums
I highly recommend steaming the grean beans and then putting them in a blender or food processor so he can better digest. My boy is not on atopica but also has growths on his gums. They are really nothing to worry about and are usually benign. If they grow bigger where it hinders his ability to eat or drink, then perhaps you can consider stopping the drug. My boys ear canals closed also, but I found that it was a food allergy that caused this. Lots of steroids later and discontinuing feeding him the culprit food solved the ear problem. Have you had an allergy test performed on him?
He is being weaned off the atopica
I have agreed with my vet to trial this. If the gums recede, then he will stay off of it. His ears are not end stage so it is a matter of which is the worse evil, the gums or the ears. My vet wants to see if when he is off the drug, and gums do not recede, then cancer will be considered. He has never had allergy testing. He has been on Natural Balance reduced calorie for a few years. He doesn`t need to lose weight (small boy at 44 lb)but does require a low protein to keep his kidneys happy. I stopped buying the prescription vet food years ago.
Thanks for the idea to cook and blend the beans. I wonder what amount of green beans I should give him?
a cup of green beans should be fine
They are super low calorie, so you can give a generous amount. Hugs to your boy!
I use
frozen green beans, I heat them up with a little bit of chicken broth (low sodium) in the microwave for 44 sec. and pour over Ethel's food!! the first few times, she ate all the food and left the green beans, now she LOVES them!!!
he vomited
I gave him about 1/2 cup of cooked frozen chopped green beans into his evening meal. He vomited the whole meal in the middle of the night. He never vomits his food, just early morning gastric juices with foam. I think I will try one or 2 green beans as a treat today and not mixed with his food.
Did your vet have any ideas why he vomits...
every morning? I know green beans dont agree with everyone.
How about broccoli and sweet potato?
You can steam and mash the broccoli and add either mashed sweet potato or a spoonful of canned pumkin.
I am trialing something
Because he vomited the green beans, I have now thought of something else that may work. I started putting his breakfast in a covered dish beside my bed the night before. In the morning as soon as I open my eyes and before my feet hit the floor, I just reach for the dish of food and place it beside my bed. So far he eats it immediately and no vomiting. He is seeing the vet tomorrow, also he is being weaned off the atopica. His gums are covering some of his teeth (gingival hyperplasia, caused by atopica). Hopefully his partially closed ear canals do not worsen.
As far as why he vomits, vet just thinks it is reflux (or it could be the atopica). I feel that bulldogs can be vomiters (correct me if I am wrong here) Obviously reflux is a symptom not really a diagnosis. We shall see what the vet says in the morning.
Well, he vomited again
I suppose my new idea is not working. Does anyone else have a bully who vomits in the early am? I took him to the vet this week. Vet says there is a chance it is the atopica, although he is down to 2 capsules a week and is being weaned off. I will know after he is off of it. I hate the vomiting as I feel there is always a risk of aspiration with this breed.
A couple of thoughts
He may have some kind of bacterial infection in his gut which a round of antibiotic Flagyl will knock out. Have you tried making home cooked meals instead of kibble? I have been cooking for my boy 4 years now and he LOVES it! I will be happy to share recipes if you are interested.