Leaving my pets for vacation for the first time.

He poops less but eats like normal? That sounds like it could cause some major bellyache for that poor baby! Yowch. I imagine it's plenty of mess or trips outside once you get back and his system tries to regulate!
We do have family members to pet sit. It was my boyfriend's sister who lived with us for a few months when our oldest dog was a puppy and is at our home several times a week that came to our house this weekend to care for our pets. Rosie will normally play with her and her husband and son but isn't as fond of her as she is of her husband and son. She told us that even when her husband and son were over, Rosie wouldn't play with them either. They tried everything, all her favorite toys and games, treats and even getting in the floor with her. Nothing would prevail, she just laid around and cried and pouted. It broke my heart the pictures they sent of her sad little face!
I am really hoping that now that we have gone and come back from vacation this first time she will know when we go for our next trip, that we will be back and it won't be quite as hard on her. We have an opportunity to go to the beach quite often that is four hours away and stay free with friends so it will only cost us the gas and it's hard to pass that up! I wish we could just take her with us but four people in a compact sedan plus a huge dog would not work out very well and there are already pets at the house we will be staying at and I don't want to stir any trouble up there!