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MerlinsMum

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Posts posted by MerlinsMum

    Merlin Had A Relapse

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Nadir too gets worse if he is fasted, which is because of the build up of stomach acid. One thing that has really helped him as far as stimulating him to eat when he is off his food is just a 1/2 tsp of Manuka honey before his meal. I'm not sure how you would feel about using it in these instances though considering you are vegan. I would be happy to send you some though to try for the Wizard if you would.

     

    Judy, I've been meaning to read more about this after I saw a thread about it here. I haven't had much time to read up about the studies conducted on it. As for being vegan - as his guardian my responsibility is to keep him well and healthy, and I will do whatever it takes. I would be interested in trying anything that might help him if it has been tested and is proven to work... do you buy it online...?

    Merlin Had A Relapse

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    The biggest issue with IBD is maintaining a very steady routine about everything - food, meds, behavior. Their body needs that iron-clad schedule to keep on track. If it was me, I wouldn't change anything. You know this bout was probably because of th vet visit. That stress is over, so he needs to be back on his routine.

     

    Interesting that you bring this up, Chris, because I did worry that feeding him his breakfast so late on Saturday morning (11am) was going to cause an upset. I had to feed him late because I had an appointment to have his Lipase levels checked at the vet at 9.30am, and they said that fasting him that morning would be helpful, so I did. It was almost 11am by the time we got home, and I thought I'd better feed him, so I gave him a cup. I wish now that I'd just had him skip a meal. But who knows if that precipitated the latest flare-up. Certainly the stress of the vet visit contributed to this, I am sure of that.

     

    Thanks for the suggestion about splitting the Pepcid dose, Lindsay - I'll suggest it to my vet tomorrow.

     

    Kerry, I'm just seeing this. I'm so glad he did well last night. Poor boy (and you, too). Is this something that will ever be "cured" and go away? Do they know what causes this? I hope your sweet Wizard's over the worst of it.

     

    Thanks. Unfortunately there is no cure for IBD. You can only manage it :( But the more I read about other people's experiences, the more I realize that flare-ups out of the blue can and do happen even when the dog is on meds.

     

    Merlin has been okay today, but he had bloody diarrhea this afternoon - which we were expecting. I gave him Sucralfate this morning and fasted him, hoping that tonight he would eat his meal (so that I can give him his Metronidazole, which needs to be given with food). Unfortunately his tummy is gurgling again and he isn't the faintest bit interested in eating. So I guess I can't give him his meds, which worries me. I did, however, give him some more Sucralfate about an hour and a half ago, and then a Pepcid a short while ago. At least he seems calmer than he was last night... he is sleeping against DH and he even grunted a little, which he NEVER does when he is in pain or distress. So I guess that's a good sign at least...

     

    He was doing so well :cry1:( Sigh. I hate this.

    Merlin Had A Relapse

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Thanks! I was hoping you'd comment here, given your experience with Kelly. Merlin seems okay now - he didn't have any bloody diarrhea this morning, thank goodness. And last night was nowhere like the last few times. We slept downstairs in case Merlin needed to go out in the night, but he didn't ask to. He didn't try to eat grass or anything.

     

    I don't know whether to continue with the Sucralfate until I can talk to the vet. And what about meds? Should I keep him on his usual dose until I've spoken to my vet?

    Merlin Had A Relapse

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by MerlinsMum

    Thanks everyone... Our night was less eventful than I feared, which is good... He did get some sleep. His stomach is still gurgling, although not as loudly as last night, when it was really alarmingly loud; and he is no longer pacing.

     

    I will be feeding breakfast around 7am and will be giving him another dose of Carafate shortly, to give the meds time to coat his stomach before receiving food. However, I am in two minds as to whether I should also give him Pepcid. Currently he is taking Pepcid in the evening (20mg) ahead of his dinner, then 500 mg Metronidazole (Flagyl) after his meal. DH thinks I should leave the meds situation as it is and NOT increase the dosage until I have spoken to the vet. I am not so sure - the current low dosage he is on is to keep things on an even keel, but it's not high enough to manage a flare-up. I don't want to rush and increase his meds willy nilly, but I also don't want to extend the length of a flare-up for longer than I need to...

     

    Any advice?

    Merlin Had A Relapse

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Thank you so much. That's what I thought too.

     

    Carafate really is just a tummy coater-- it works for the upper gi. If you have any flagyl (metronidazole) left I would start him on that too. High lipase values usually indicate a pancreatic issue. How high was the amylase? Did your vet ever run a spec cpl test?

    Edited to add- carafate should be given one hour prior to other meds as it will stop proper absorbtion of the other medications.

     

    Yes, that's the other reason I was asking... I am expecting to see bloody stools at this point (soon - he just pooped and it was fine, but clearly digested before his tummy issues started again), but if I give him Carafate now, hopefully it will help calm him stomach and the bloody stools won't last as long.

     

    He is already on 500mg Metronidazole and has been on and off (give or take three weeks) since he had his first flare-up at the end of March. He is also on I/D.

     

    I know that high lipase levels are consistent with pancreatitis... I actually don't think Merlin has IBD as such, I think he gets stomach ulcers and that's what causes this, but I am not a vet or even a vet tech, so I have no proof. Just a suspicion, I guess. Or it could be pancreatitis, and my vet did consider it for a while but thought IBD was more likely.

     

    Thanks so much for this advice.

    Merlin Had A Relapse

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by MerlinsMum

    Merlin went back to the vet today to have his Lipase levels checked. Some of you may remember that he had haemorrhagic gastro-enteritis back in March and was pooping vast quantities of blood. We're still trying to figure out what's causing it, even though my vet is pretty sure it's IBD.

     

    His lipase levels are still very high, by the way. But he's been ok on I/D and Flagyl.

     

    About 45 minutes ago his stomach started to make loud noises and it's still bad. We are bracing for a relapse. My question is this: I have some emergency Sucralfate (Carafate) at home, which the vet let me have in the event of a flare-up (Sucralfate is what made him get better the last two times). When should I give it to him? Should I wait until I see for sure that he is pooping blood again, or can I just give it to him to calm his stomach a bit if he is exceedingly gassy, arching his back and pacing, etc? Also, I know it's supposed to be taken about an hour before a meal, but could I give him some hours away from a meal to see if it helps?

     

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated... thanks.

     

    :(

    Hello From Maine

    in Introductions & Biography

    Posted · Edited by MerlinsMum

    Thanks for the kind welcomes. I am the kennel manager and veterinary technician for Maine Greyhound Placement Service in Augusta. Did any of you Mainers adopt from MGPS, just out of curiosity? I am computer challenged so just as soon as I can get someone to show me how to properly post pictures I will certainly do so.

     

    Again, it's good to be here.

     

    I organize the Portland Greyhound Playgroup and many of our members adopted from MGPS. Others adopted from the Westbrook-based Animal Refuge League. But most members adopted from MGPS :)

     

    I knew nothing about greys back in 2006 when I met my Merlin during one of my volunteer shifts as a dog-walker at the Animal Refuge League. I fell in love with him, adopted him, became greyhound-obsessed and the rest is history :blush The second time around we decided to go with an adoption group. We adopted Sagan from Amazing Greyz in Massachusetts.

    Archie, Architard, My Boogerbear

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    Amber :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

     

    Your memories will stay with you forever. No one can ever take them away from you. I hope that one day soon you will wake up and think about Archie and at the forefront of your mind won't be the memory of his last day but rather the memory all the adventures you had together, all the smiles, the times he made you laugh, the times you drew strength from each other, and the times you spent quietly together.... And that you will smile and remember him with love and not with sadness.

     

    I hope that day comes soon. Hugs.

    Jack - 8/12/04 - 6/12/10

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    Oh, Robin :cry1:weep:brokenheart:cry1:grouphugsadhugsmiley.gifsadhugsmiley.gif:brokenheart

     

    I'm so, so sorry. Ever since you told me the story of how you lost your Jack I get tears in my eyes whenever I think about it, and about how much you must miss him, and how hard it must have been to lose him like that.

     

    But one thing is certain - Jack knew the extent of your immense love for him. He knew that you were his mum, and that he was your Jack.

     

    Thinking of you. :grouphug

    Fat Or Just Meaty Loins?

    in Food and dietary discussion

    Posted

    I totally agree with what Sheila has stated.

    Being a certain weight is all dependent on her fit level. At the tracks they are at peak physical performance weight.

    I'm always leery to judge what a dogs weight should be when each trainer keeps their hounds at different levels. I always preferred a heavier hound while others preferred a more thinner hound.

     

    A pound here or there in pet life isn't a huge deal. If she raced in the mid to higher 50's then being in the mid to lower 60's should be a fine weight.

    To me she looks fine in the photos and really no concern as far as "she's to fat"

    Of course it all depends on angle of photo, stance of the dog and things like that. One photo she looks a bit thick in the loin but others she looks fine.

     

    Honestly I wouldn't worry yourself too much over it. If she floats between low to mid 60's your doing just fine :)

     

    What Heather said :nod

     

    Merlin raced at 72. By the time I met him he was in a shelter and weighed 68lbs, and he was WAY too skinny. I have lived with him for 4 years now, and he's been up and down, but I find that his optimum weight is around 75lbs. 76lbs is okay too, but he has been as heavy as 79 and he is simply not made to carry around 79lbs. At 75lbs he is lean, I can see his last three ribs and his hip bones stick out slightly, and he just looks... right. :) So that's the weight I try to keep him at. I hardly ever give him less food, though (with the exception of treats, which have been cut drastically when he gains a little too much), I simply increase the amount of exercise/zoomies. Usually he puts on a couple of pounds in the winter because that's when he doesn't get to run around as much, and last winter was very bad around here, so his walks were often shorter (although I generally make an effort to keep his walks the same length and he NEVER goes without two walks a day, even if there's an ice-storm out.)

     

    In any event, if you're concerned, I'd increase his exercise regimen rather than feed him less.

    Phene, Aka Phoenix

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    I am so terribly sorry, Robin. Life is so damn unfair.

     

    Run with the wind, sweet Phene... take our thoughts and kisses with you, and share some with your sister Loca. :heart

     

    Robin :grouphug :grouphug sadhugsmiley.gif

    Tom S Calypso

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    :cry1 :cry1 :cry1 :cry1

     

    I am so terribly sorry. How absolutely devastating. To lose a beloved hound is painful enough... to lose her so tragically and suddenly must have left them reeling from the sheer shock of such a sudden loss. My heart goes out to them. :grouphug :grouphug

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