RobinM Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 We sent all Beaus’ info to 2 vets. One of them is in a specialist’s office and the other one we use for Beau’s acupuncture only. He kinda knows what we have been going through as we also see him once a week. Both these vets say exactly the same as my vet which is, if after this next group of blood tests comes back negative, it’s time to biopsy. As that is the only way to know which way to proceed and stop just throwing drugs down his throat. This is not good for anyone. Beau’s eating has become worse. He hasn’t eaten today, did poorly yesterday and he even had the B12 sub Q today. So we will wait to see those results - which will take 7-10 days. I have a feeling I know what the next step is going to be & I am sick beyond words. I am trying to be hopeful but I also have to be realistic. Quote ROBIN ~ Mom to: Beau Think It Aint, Chloe JC Allthewayhome, Teddy ICU Drunk Sailor, Elsie N Fracine , Ollie RG's Travertine, Ponch A's Jupiter~ Yoshi, Zoobie & Belle, the kitties. Waiting at the bridge Angel Polli Bohemian Ocean , Rocky, Blue,Sasha & Zoobie & Bobbi Greyhound Angels Adoption (GAA) The Lexus Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiffer Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Quote Jennifer and Beamish (an unnamed Irish-born Racer) DOB: October 30, 2011 Forever and always missing my "Vowels", Icarus, Atlas, Orion, Uber, and Miss Echo, and Mojito. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickiesmom Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Robin, I am so sorry you and Beau are going through this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dsszarzi Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 WOW...7 days is a long time. I'm sure it will seem like forever to you! I'm really sorry you are going through this. Good thoughts for Beau. I'm sure the results will show something. Then they can treat for the condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TBSFlame Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Spencers_Greyt Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I'm so sorry you have to wait so long. My prayers are with you and Beau. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinM Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 (edited) Actually waiting is good for me. I can work on finding a food to turn this around a little bit. It buys more time, but you have to realize that this has been going on since before Thanksgiving and it started months before that, just not consistant. Beau has been umcomfortable long enough. Edited January 12, 2009 by RobinM Quote ROBIN ~ Mom to: Beau Think It Aint, Chloe JC Allthewayhome, Teddy ICU Drunk Sailor, Elsie N Fracine , Ollie RG's Travertine, Ponch A's Jupiter~ Yoshi, Zoobie & Belle, the kitties. Waiting at the bridge Angel Polli Bohemian Ocean , Rocky, Blue,Sasha & Zoobie & Bobbi Greyhound Angels Adoption (GAA) The Lexus Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trudy Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 If bloodwork is negative, what are they going to biopsy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinM Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 If bloodwork is negative, what are they going to biopsy? They will biopsy the intestine for a definite diagnosis of IBD or GOD FORBID cancer. IF they treat with pred prior to the bx, and then later they have to bx anway, if it is cancer, the pred will decrease the effectiveness of the chemo. Since this cancer is very treatable lessening the odds doesn't make sense. None of this makes sense to me. Prob is that once bx and not cancer, we are where we are now, still trying to figure out what will work BUT we can safely use the pred or is necessary the budesonide. Quote ROBIN ~ Mom to: Beau Think It Aint, Chloe JC Allthewayhome, Teddy ICU Drunk Sailor, Elsie N Fracine , Ollie RG's Travertine, Ponch A's Jupiter~ Yoshi, Zoobie & Belle, the kitties. Waiting at the bridge Angel Polli Bohemian Ocean , Rocky, Blue,Sasha & Zoobie & Bobbi Greyhound Angels Adoption (GAA) The Lexus Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patricia Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I am so sorry. It must be very frustrating to you and your sweet baby boy. Sending more prayers. 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...
Scooby172 Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 So Sorry you are having this trouble with Beau. Just curious, what type of cancer would they be looking for with the biopsy? I had a similar issue with my greyhound Flash after extensive testing, dx. was IBD or GI Lymphoma. Long story short, Flash did not respond to treatment for IBD. Default diagnosis was GI Lymphoma, I chose not to do a biopsy but did use medication to keep him comfortable and manage his diarrhea. Flash lived a very good 7 months post diagnosis, he was 11 years old. Did have a very dramatic weight loss, he was a big boy and looked quite thin during his illness but ate very well, and enjoyed his life. I let Flash go Easter morning when the vet thinks he threw a clot which led him to not be able to use his back legs. He had enough. Good luck with your boy. I will keep you both in my thoughts. Linda, Valor, Keeva and Bella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygang Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 You're all in our thoughts and our prayers....... Quote Run free our beloved Sir Snowy, Pip, Queenie, Sadie, Tess & Rosie until we meet again......I would rather feel the thorn than to never see the rose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfish Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Gosh, you're really going through it with Beau, aren't you? Poor Beau, and poor you. I hope you get some answers. meanwhile, I'll mention what I always mention in these cases in the small hope that it might just help. Our first greyhound went through something very similar. Bouts of horrible diarrhoea, which didn't respond to treatment, which would turn bloody, green, and mucousy by turns, and he'd sometimes lose his appetite ... then mysteriously would be better for a while. The vets had no clue. Turned out the answer was very simple - he was lactose intolerant. Once we cut out all trace of milk products from his diet he returned to normal within a few days, and stayed good unless he stole something, like a crust of bread which had been spread with margarine. It would be wonderful if that's all it was ... though I realise it's unlikely. If you want to check it out (if you haven't already done so), don't forget to read ALL labels, and don't give him anything with even 'various sugars' in - sometimes it will include lactose. Also check any pills he's getting - most use lactose as a filler. Jim had a lot of trouble with his gut at the end of his life when he was put on heart meds. Good luck with getting a diagnosis and getting Beau well again. Quote The plural of anecdote is not dataBrambleberry Greyhounds My Etsy Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SoulsMom Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 If bloodwork is negative, what are they going to biopsy? They will biopsy the intestine for a definite diagnosis of IBD or GOD FORBID cancer. IF they treat with pred prior to the bx, and then later they have to bx anway, if it is cancer, the pred will decrease the effectiveness of the chemo. Since this cancer is very treatable lessening the odds doesn't make sense. None of this makes sense to me. Prob is that once bx and not cancer, we are where we are now, still trying to figure out what will work BUT we can safely use the pred or is necessary the budesonide. Ok, now I'm really confused. That was the whole reason both vets working on Soul's case wanted to do the ultrasound, to look for GI Lymphoma. Since they saw nothing on the ultrasound they could biopsy (those exact words), they decided to wait on the scope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vahoundlover Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I am so sorry you guys are going through this. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Beau Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Robin, I am so sorry Beau is still not eating. I hope you can finally get some answers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MandysMom Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Oh, poor Beau, sending lots of prayers. Hopefully this series of tests will help the vet figure out how to help him. I'm sorry he's not eating--I know that is so stressful. Quote Beverly. Missing my happy toy-flinging boy Sammy (Where's Mandrill), (8/12/2009-9/30-2021) Desperately missing my angel Mandy (BB's Luv) [7/1/2000 - 9/18/2012]. Always missing Meg the Dalmatian and Ralph Malph the Pekeapoo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschultz Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 sending prayers for both beau and soul Quote Lexie is gone but not forgotten.💜 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LynnM Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 It is wise to biopsy if his bloodwork returns inconclusive. Hopefully, his labs will return a pretty straightforward case of IBD that can be helped with meds. Where I'm confused with your dog is his feeding. Are you switching up foods because he's picky, because it goes straight through him, or some combination of the two? I am fortunate in that Joplin will eat absolutely anything that I put in front of him, I just have to be on the lookout a few hours later if it doesn't agree with him. One thing I will warn you of... a return to full flesh takes a while. Even though with meds I was able to give him a normal, non-urgent stool in days, it took 2 months before his ribs were covered, and that was while feeding an enormous amount of calories. Seriously... we went through 30 pounds of dog food, feeding a minimum of 6 cups per day (up to 8 if he wanted to keep eating), and it got us 3 pounds. All this on an elderly dog that's doing NO work. It's really slow going, because even though the most visible symptom (loose, voluminous stool) is gone, it takes a while for the intestine to get the most out of the food. His first round with this several years ago wasn't nearly as bad, and I could get weight on him much more quickly then once his symptoms were controlled (with flagyl, then). Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerlinsMum Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Oh Robin :grouphug When is this going to end. You must be so utterly exhausted by all this, worrying for your sweet Beau. Sending lots of good thoughts your way... Quote Kerry with Lupin in beautiful coastal Maine. Missing Pippin, my best friend and sweet little heart-healer 2013-2023 Also missing the best wizard in the world, Merlin, and my sweet 80lb limpet, Sagan, every single day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan41 Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I have no words..........sending voluminous prayers and comfort. Quote Linda, Mom to Fuzz, Barkley, and the felines Miss Kitty, Simon and Joseph.Waiting at The Bridge: Alex, Josh, Harley, Nikki, Beemer, Anna, Frank, Rachel, my heart & soul, Suze and the best boy ever, Dalton.<p> ....for all those hounds that are sick, hurt, lost or waiting for their forever homes. SENIORS ROCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinM Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 It is wise to biopsy if his bloodwork returns inconclusive. Hopefully, his labs will return a pretty straightforward case of IBD that can be helped with meds. Where I'm confused with your dog is his feeding. Are you switching up foods because he's picky, because it goes straight through him, or some combination of the two? I am fortunate in that Joplin will eat absolutely anything that I put in front of him, Lynn We are hoping something "benign" shows up, just enough to treat, but I am not overly optimistic. As far as his eating goes, I am a bit confused too at this point. We were orginally told to stop the Pro Plan Senstive stomach when this started becasue of a possible food allergy. At this point Beau was not wanting to eat. We did the beef and rice mix. That lasted 4-5 days and he turned his nose up at it. We added beef tripe and that worked for another 3- 5days and then he stopped. In the meantime, he never resumed near to normal poops and he was still running from breakfast in the morning which meant the first tme he could be fed was 3-4PM. he never made up at dinner for the amount not eaten earlier. At this point, the vet felt that since nothing changed, it wasn't the kibble or chicken so we added in ID. Then chicken. Yesterday was the day he really didn't do well so we offered him ANYTHING for him to eat. He ate chicken and today he has not had a thing except 1 lick of veneson- walked away- 1/4 cup of tripe -walked away 1/2 cup of lamb. So we don't know which one of these things to make his "protein" as there is no rhyme or reason. If the reason he is not eating because he feels yucky, things that he would have done cartwheels for, could be right in front of his face and he is not responding at all. He feels yucky. We had offered different options in the hope that one thing he would feel really good eating. To see him like this, is heartbreaking. He was always picky, but there was always something I could get him very interested in without having to go to any sort of extremes. Believe me, I know what that is like with his mom. The biggest problem is that after the bx, other than being able to medicate him and know what we are treating, we are still going to be looking for something for him to eat that he likes and that likes him. Quote ROBIN ~ Mom to: Beau Think It Aint, Chloe JC Allthewayhome, Teddy ICU Drunk Sailor, Elsie N Fracine , Ollie RG's Travertine, Ponch A's Jupiter~ Yoshi, Zoobie & Belle, the kitties. Waiting at the bridge Angel Polli Bohemian Ocean , Rocky, Blue,Sasha & Zoobie & Bobbi Greyhound Angels Adoption (GAA) The Lexus Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjw Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Quote CAMP GREYHOUND Tempo (Keep the Tempo), Nora (Road Noise) & Gabe the babe (Gable Habenero), Cooper (Uncle Bud's Coop), Topper (Red Top), & Galgos Lisette & Manolito. Missing our beloved angels Cody (Kiowa My Dodie), Lou (Cantankerous Lou), Romi (FingerRoll), Connie (Devie's Concord), Millie (Djays Overhaul), Bailey (Hallo Forty nine), Andy (Iza Handy Boy, and Rocco (Ripley Rocco), Gracie (VS Megan), Eragon the Longdog, Joey (WJS Flashfire), Roy (Folly and Glory) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beautybabe Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 No ideas. Just Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Once he gets the correct medication he'll start eating again. My boy lost almost 20lbs when he was sick, now, I must admit, he's kinda fat!! Do the scope--don't put it off---the longer you wait the longer he'll feel crappy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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