Guest BooMooandDoo Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 THis is for those who've asked how's the old man. Background. . . the old man is losing weight at an astronomical pace. He looks like a skeleton. He's eating like a pig. Is not vomiting, and has perfect stools. What we've done. We've decreased his thyroid meds to 0.3mg's twice a day, and had him retested. . thyroid levels are normal. We've done two blood tests, and the abnormal values from the first were gone in the second. Talked with the vet about tuck. . . .The vet doesn't know what's going on . . but here's our course of action. We're going to deworm him, and put him on an antibiotic just in case he has a secondary infection in his pancreas or intestines that is causing him not to absorb the nutrients from the foods. If this doesn't work . . .where do we go from here. . . Have a specialized pancreatic enzyme test done. Theory: Maybe the pancreas isn't putting out sufficient enzymes to breakdown the foods. .. so all the foods he's eating he's not getting the nutrients from it. or Assume that his IBD is acting up and he's developing an interolance to his current foods and change the protein source. He's raw fed, and currently off of all poultry. This would leave him on rabbit for a month, and see if he gains weight. So. . .if the current deworming and antibiotic doesn't work, we're going to go on a novel protein diet for a month. If that doesn't work, we'll do the pancreatic testing. If that doesn't work, then we're back to square one. . . and the vet suggests we do the expensive testing the specialist wanted to do a year ago. . . .endoscopy and colonoscopy. . . . . So cross your fingers that the current treatment works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Sending prayers! Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tenderhearts Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Give the handsome old fellow a hug from me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LolasMom Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KyGrey Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Oh my!! Sending lots of prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LindsaySF Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 I would have a fecal exam and culture done, so they can see exactly what is there, if anything. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BooMooandDoo Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Forgot to add. . . they've done 3 fecals and nothing He had an ultrasound done earlier this year where they determined low motility. . .hense why they suspect IBD> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FordRacingRon Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Prayers for Tuck.....how bizzare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houndtime Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Prayers for your boy. Quote Irene Ullmann w/Flying Odin and Mama Mia in Lower Delaware Angels Brandy, John E, American Idol, Paul, Fuzzy and Shine Handcrafted Greyhound and Custom Clocks http://www.houndtime.com Zoom Doggies-Racing Coats for Racing Greyhounds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 I hope you can find an answer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mandm Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 My greyhound is young (4 YO) but had some pretty serious health issues. He is also raw fed and was eating enormous quantities (+5% body weight per day). Thing is that his poop was often soft and Tuck's is perfect. Anyway, I had a gajillion fecals done and they were all clear. But I recently wormed him anyway, with Panacur. 3-5 day doses spaced for Whipworm. And it seems to have made a difference. He is now eating "only" 4% of body weight per day. And poop was always picture perfect for some weeks after treatment. The pancreatic test is probably a good idea anyway. It's not invasive and way cheaper than endoscopy. And it will show if he has SIBO (Small intestinal Bacterial Overrowth), which is treated with A/Bs and sometimes Vit B12 supplements or the more serious EPI. My dog has SIBO and I have found that it is not so much the type of meat as the amount of fat (low) & bone (high) in the diet that makes a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WarmheartedPups Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 I am so sorry you guys are going through this. Sending prayers and special good thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greybookends Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 :hope :hope :hope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patricia Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Sending my many prayers and gentle hugs. Quote Patti-Mommy of Lady Sophia 7-28-92 - 8-3-04... LaceyLaine 8-2-94-12-5-07... Flash Gordon 7-14-99 - 8-29-09... BrookLynne...Pavé Maria... and 18 Bridge Kids. WATCHING OVER US~SOPHIA~QUEENIE~LACEY LAINE~ CODY ANGELO~FLASH GORDON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LindsaySF Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 My greyhound is young (4 YO) but had some pretty serious health issues. He is also raw fed and was eating enormous quantities (+5% body weight per day). Thing is that his poop was often soft and Tuck's is perfect. Anyway, I had a gajillion fecals done and they were all clear. But I recently wormed him anyway, with Panacur. 3-5 day doses spaced for Whipworm. And it seems to have made a difference. Whipworms often do not show up in fecal exams because there are few eggs in the stool of affected dogs. Whipworm females lay significantly less eggs than hookworms and roundworms do, and they lay them in cycles. If you have a fecal sample from an "off" day, you won't see any eggs. So it is possible that he was infected and it never showed up, either because of that, because of a procedural issue, etc. Glad he's better now. ~Lindsay~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gottaluvgreysindy Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Sending my prayers for Tuck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytlady94 Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Sending prayers for Tuck. Quote Greyhound angels at the bridge- Casey, Charlie, Maggie, Molly, Renie, Lucy & Teddy. Beagle angels Peanut and Charlie. And to all the 4 legged Bridge souls who have touched my heart, thank you. When a greyhound looks into you eyes it seems they touch your very soul. "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more then he loves himself". Josh Billings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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