Desperate For An Answer

[Guest ezdc66]

I have been involved with gh rescue for 10 years and have never come across this problem in any of my own or rescue dogs.

My 9 yr, old female has been having a very difficult time pooping for over 6 months now. She screams every time she tries to go and just continues to squeeze and strain for over 10 minutes EVERY TIME she goes out.

On her walks she stops constantly as if she feels she has to go and when she squats she strains and squeezes and very little if anything comes out after the initial poop. It's almost as if she feels like she always has to go and can't.

She has had X-rays, ultrasound both negative. She has had 2 rectal exams and been on 3 different medications as well as sensitive stomach food. We have tried everything to promote good colon health and nothing has worked.

The vet said her colon is enlarged and she had excessive gas but nothing we tried has worked. I am really getting tired of seeing her in this condition because she has begun going in the house at any time. Sometimes she will wake us up in the middle of the night screaming in pain and she is pooping on the floor. We just don't know what to do for her but we have to find a solution.

I was wondering if anyone has ever experienced anything like this or has any new ideas for us.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

Sean

 

[RobinM]

I'm sorry I don't have any advice, just good thoughts and prayer for your girl. Have you done a search her on greytalk to see if there is a similar thread?

 

Hope someone can shed some light on this for you.

[macoduck]

There was a thread on here recently but I can't find it.

 

Have you considered acupuncture? I wonder if it is a nerve issue rather than a colon issue?

[Guest EmilyAnne]

When you say colon s enlarged, do you mean like intestine is all stretched out and lost it's ability to condtrict and push bm's out? We had a chihuahua with this condition. (for her it came with old age) I'll wait to see if that's what you mean before I tell you what we did for our chihuahua who had this condition.

[ahicks51]

What are you feeding? What is the consistency and size of the stool?

 

Have you asked your vet if either more fiber, or a stool softener, could be tried?

Edited November 9, 2008 by ahicks51

[Guest Winterwish]

I was going to ask the same type things ahicks.

 

Are her poops hard? Is she prone to constipation? Did the vet use the word megacolon?

 

You mentioned 3 meds she's tried. Was one of them Zantac? (zantac can be helpful in megacolon)

 

[ozgirl2]

Cody had a sensitive stomach & colitis/gastritis often during her life... have you tried any digestive enzymes on her food? I had to put it on all Cody's food - it sort of pre-digests it so it goes through easier... might help in your case, might not. I used Prozyme - if you order it online, it's MUCH cheaper than at the vet's!

 

Also, acupuncture might help.

[Guest BiancasMom]

I have been involved with gh rescue for 10 years and have never come across this problem in any of my own or rescue dogs.

My 9 yr, old female has been having a very difficult time pooping for over 6 months now. She screams every time she tries to go and just continues to squeeze and strain for over 10 minutes EVERY TIME she goes out.

On her walks she stops constantly as if she feels she has to go and when she squats she strains and squeezes and very little if anything comes out after the initial poop. It's almost as if she feels like she always has to go and can't.

She has had X-rays, ultrasound both negative. She has had 2 rectal exams and been on 3 different medications as well as sensitive stomach food. We have tried everything to promote good colon health and nothing has worked.

The vet said her colon is enlarged and she had excessive gas but nothing we tried has worked. I am really getting tired of seeing her in this condition because she has begun going in the house at any time. Sometimes she will wake us up in the middle of the night screaming in pain and she is pooping on the floor. We just don't know what to do for her but we have to find a solution.

I was wondering if anyone has ever experienced anything like this or has any new ideas for us.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

Sean

 

 

Have you considered a referret to a veterinary Neurologist? I'm wondering if she could be having referred nerve or disc pain. Sometimes a specialist may see something a general practice vet may not.

 

Good Luck and I wish your Grey well!

Bianca's Mom

 

I have been involved with gh rescue for 10 years and have never come across this problem in any of my own or rescue dogs.

My 9 yr, old female has been having a very difficult time pooping for over 6 months now. She screams every time she tries to go and just continues to squeeze and strain for over 10 minutes EVERY TIME she goes out.

On her walks she stops constantly as if she feels she has to go and when she squats she strains and squeezes and very little if anything comes out after the initial poop. It's almost as if she feels like she always has to go and can't.

She has had X-rays, ultrasound both negative. She has had 2 rectal exams and been on 3 different medications as well as sensitive stomach food. We have tried everything to promote good colon health and nothing has worked.

The vet said her colon is enlarged and she had excessive gas but nothing we tried has worked. I am really getting tired of seeing her in this condition because she has begun going in the house at any time. Sometimes she will wake us up in the middle of the night screaming in pain and she is pooping on the floor. We just don't know what to do for her but we have to find a solution.

I was wondering if anyone has ever experienced anything like this or has any new ideas for us.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

Sean

 

Excuse all my typos, I am new to this. I meant have you considered a referral to a Veterinary Neurologist. Also, in my experience Megacolon is not that painful, although the severe constipation caused from it can cause abdominal discomfort. I do know that neuro pain of any kind is severe. Just a suggestion though!

[Guest joedogs_mom]

i just wanted to say that i am thinking of you -- my childhood pet, an australian shepherd, had this same issue and it was just awful to witness. nothing was ever figured out but the dog lived to be 17 years old. hugs and well wishes and i hope you can find some answers.

[silverfish]

Have you considered a referret to a veterinary Neurologist? I'm wondering if she could be having referred nerve or disc pain. Sometimes a specialist may see something a general practice vet may not.

 

 

 

Excuse all my typos, I am new to this. I meant have you considered a referral to a Veterinary Neurologist. Also, in my experience Megacolon is not that painful, although the severe constipation caused from it can cause abdominal discomfort. I do know that neuro pain of any kind is severe. Just a suggestion though!

 

 

Exactly what I was going to say. I'm wondering if it is a disc/nerve/pain problem and since it's been going on so long without the vet getting any further forward, I'd be asking for a referral.

 

It could be that her colon is enlarged because she is now habitually holding onto her poop - because the poor sweetheart knows how much it hurts to go.

[Jiffer]

A GT member's pup on here was having painful BMs and it ended up that he had a neck problem (the position they take when they poo was painful for him).

[Guest SusanP]

Could there be an internal fissure the xrays wouldn't have picked up on? They can be horrendously painful and are sometimes a little too far in for the vet to see easily during exam. There are suppositories that can help heal and soften the tissues. I know because I once had this problem , and it took a couple of exams before the doctor believed me that anything was wrong. I don't know if the human suppository (hydrocortixone/lidocaine) is ok for dogs, but it works.

 

I hate to hear about her suffering like this.

Edited November 10, 2008 by SusanP

[Burpdog]

Where are you located?

[crazygang]

Sending well wishes for her......hate to read about any greyhounds suffering - poor love.

 

I was going to mention too about if there was a spine or neck injury as they do squat precariously when they go on toilet it could exagerate it if there is an existing problem, worth checking out with your vet.

[Guest longdogs]

There are a few possibilities mentioned above. I suggest you work with your vet to eliminate each candidate. If your dog has no other obvious symptoms a nervous problem, perhaps in her lower back, might be the best place to start.

[Guest argolola]

Poor little sweetie. She will be in my prayers.

 

KoolaidandConner on this board had a similar problem. Perhaps she will check this thread or you could PM her.

[Guest ezdc66]

Could there be an internal fissure the xrays wouldn't have picked up on? They can be horrendously painful and are sometimes a little too far in for the vet to see easily during exam. There are suppositories that can help heal and soften the tissues. I know because I once had this problem , and it took a couple of exams before the doctor believed me that anything was wrong. I don't know if the human suppository (hydrocortixone/lidocaine) is ok for dogs, but it works.

 

I hate to hear about her suffering like this.

 

 

 

I am located in Lancaster, Pa.

 

Thanks

 

I was going to ask the same type things ahicks.

 

Are her poops hard? Is she prone to constipation? Did the vet use the word megacolon?

 

You mentioned 3 meds she's tried. Was one of them Zantac? (zantac can be helpful in megacolon)

The vet did not mention megacolon just that she could not feel any ridges or segments on the colon

meaning that it was enlarged or swollen.

We have not tried zantac but she is currently on tylosin and an enzyme as well as beano for gas.

 

Thanks for your reply,

 

Sean

 

When you say colon s enlarged, do you mean like intestine is all stretched out and lost it's ability to condtrict and push bm's out? We had a chihuahua with this condition. (for her it came with old age) I'll wait to see if that's what you mean before I tell you what we did for our chihuahua who had this condition.

 

 

Not stretched out just enlarged is girth so the vet could not feel any ridges or segments in the anal exam.

 

Sean

[Guest Winterwish]

How often does she go to the bathroom per day? and are they formed,hard,is she straining each time forthe most part?

Is she often,or does she seem to be often constipated?

I'll mention something like metamucil here,as a bulk forming daily digestive to add to her food,but best to check with the vet.

In any case,metamucil works by basically adding water,or rather,pulling water into the colon matter,which is very good for regularity.

 

Very good that you had the x-rays and sonogram done in case of a blockage. Maybe you could ask the vet about introducing metamucil?

 

I hope she can be helped soon,maybe thru diet?

 

Just curious what does she eat? And is she a good water drinker?

Edited November 12, 2008 by Winterwish

[Guest turbospeed]

Here are a couple of questions and suggestions--have you asked your vet if it is possible that you hound has colic? My friend's dog just got this recently, very acutely and the pain you described sounds exactly the same. The vet prescribed Tagamet and he is doing much better. While I don't recommend just purchasing something OTC, I'd check again with your vet. Another thought, is that perhaps your dog's anal glands may be inflammed. In this case, your vet will need to do a procedure in the office to make your dog more comfortable and relieve the pressure. I'd call the vet back and take your dog back in if you don't see the improvement you are expecting.

 

Turbospeed

[Guest Winterwish]

Just wondering how Lexie is doing and hoping for improvements for her belly.