Protein Losing Enteropathy

[Guest gardenger]

Do you have any updates how you pup is doing? Did you get a diagnosis?

Thanks.

Edited February 5, 2010 by gardenger

[Burpdog]

Did you do a TBD panel?

[greyhead]

Just adding our prayers and good thoughts. We have a dog with IBD, lymphangectasia and inability to absorb Vit. D through the gut (so he gets B12 injections under the skin -- easy to give at home). He also had a very bad bacterial infection of the small intestines. It was quite a haul to diagnose and correct everything. He lost 20 lbs and lots of muscle. But he regained 14 lbs over the last 6 months after switching to venison, some of it raw, and taking metronidazole, budesonide and tylosin daily. It doesn't sound like our pups have all that much in common diagnostically, but many of us on GT have been through this type of problem. My dog is only alive thanks to the help we got on GT and an open-minded vet. We're all here for you so keep us posted, okay?

 

Mary

[Guest savvytwh]

An update on my greyhound, through the summer & early fall, eating Iams KO prescription diet, he went from 40 lbs to 70 lbs. Needless to say I was thrilled. The diet was taken from the market, went back to Eukanuba Maintenance seemed to do well, then all of the sudden starting dropping weight again & vomiting. No diarrhea. In a week-week and half lost 15 lbs. Local vet suggested trying Iams Premium Protection which was OK. Did have a few episodes of vomiting & refusing to eat. Went back to specialist (Internal Medicine). Had an Endoscope with biopsies done. The Dr stated the stomach and duodenum looked normal. The biopsies showed Inflammation. The Dr prescribed prednisone, reglan and pepcid ac, until we see him again in December. At present he is still eating the Iams Premium Protection and of course the prednisone increases his appitite so he's eating with great gusto! At present the DX is Inflammatory Bowel Disease. So now I'm looking for a differnt protein source kibble for him to eat.. Any suggestions?

Thanks Carol & Matlock

[tbhounds]

IVD (script) has a bunch of novel protein diets- duck, venison & rabbit. Hills has Z/D. There are also OTC foods you can try with your IM vets ok. Wellness has Simple Solutions and Natural Balance has duck, venision and fish.

You need to make sure the carb source is novel too--like potato. I had an ibd dog--it's no fun.

[Guest IrskasMom]

I have No Advice just Hugs and Prayers for your Grey and you

Edited November 14, 2010 by IrskasMom

[Guest Stripeyfan]

We have an IBD dog too so I sympathise - sending hugs and good thoughts! We think Kelly's IBD was caused by parasite damage and he can't tolerate any kibble whatsoever, so I have no food suggestions, but have you tried slippery elm? Kelly has this 2 - 3 times daily to help soothe and protect his stomach/GI tract as he's also on pred and an AB. I either give him the capsules wrapped in a piece of chicken (he can only eat chicken/rice at the moment) or, if he's having a flare-up, I make a thin paste out of the powder and warm water and shred a couple of pieces of chicken into it to get him to lap it up.

[Guest Myredsterling]

I have a grey who has been diagnosed with PLE. Does anyone understand this

aliment? If so can you tell me alittle more about it. My dog has massive muscle

loss and went from 75 to 45 pounds. Right now he is eating Kangaroo & oat kibble

from Iams. Barely surviving, I take him Monday for more testing. He has had x-rays

and a barium swallow, of course blood and stool testing.

Any information or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Carol & Matlock

[Guest Myredsterling]

I have lurked for many years but your post gave me the push I needed to register. I am going through this right now with my 8 year old, Mike. I had Mike at OSU in August for surgery (unfortunately unsuccessful) on an AV fistula. This is such a scary condition to me that I was concentrating on it and not really noticing anything else. Then in October - the night before we went to Dewey, I took Mike to the vet and he weighed in at 92 pounds which is normal for him. Two days later, I was standing over him and he looked really thin and I noticed his abdomen was so swollen he looked pregnant. I rushed him to the vet suspecting bloat and she advised me to take him to the Univ of PA vet school. After numerous tests, including an ultrasound, they suspected PLE and wanted to confirm with an endoscopy. The endoscopy showed his GI tract was incredibly inflamed and was full of ulcers. They recommended putting him on a low fat diet and prednisone and metronidazol. Within a week, he was down to 74 pounds and I was scared to death I would lose him from this. The vet at Univ of PA has been unresponsive to me and to my vet so we've moved on without her. My vet has been incredible. He has been eating on Royal Canin Lowfat Gastrointestinal food (8 cups/day)and is taking pred, metronidazol, imuran, pepcid, glutamine (supplement), and rutin (supplement). We have just supplemented the Royal Canin by adding Purina EN to his food to help him gain weight. I think he has finally turned the corner and is up to 78 pounds with increased protein levels. We have cut the pred from 40 mg a day to 20 and will cut again in 2 weeks if he continues to improve. His skin is so dry and flaky but the vet said he can't have any kind of oil supplement because of the difficulty with processing fat. This is really scary stuff and I am so glad to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Mike has had a tough time the past few months with two significant health problems and I was afraid I'd lose him.

 

I hope this is of some help to you because your weight loss is even more significant. My thoughts and prayers are with you in the hopes that you can get this under control.

[mangos_mom]

No advice - just good thoughts for Matlock, and for Myredsterling and Mike, too.

 

 

[Guest savvytwh]

Thanks to all for your food and supplement suggestions. The thoughts of wellbeing and feeling better are greatly appreciated.

Everyone with sick hounds my thoughts of improving health are coming from me and my greys.

I did find this website www.Dogfoodadvisor.com I found it interesting & provocative.

 

I will update after the next vet appointment on November 30.

 

Carol & Matlock

[Guest savvytwh]

UPDATE:

Mat has been on prednisone since the endoscopy at the early part of Nov. He was started on 20 mg 2x day along with 20 mg Famotidine AC 1x day. We did this about 2 weeks then lowered the dose of Pred to 20 mg 1x day still with the Famotidine, again for about 2 weeks. 

All this time he was eating Solid Gold-Barking at the Moon kibble- Ocean Fish Meal, Beef, Potatoes, Potato Protein, Canola Oil. Of course the Pred stimulated his appetite, which is great!

Nov 30, went back to Specialist, had blood drawn, as reported to me, was great, the protein level normal. The Vet felt he was gaining weight, on their scales 2 1/2#. YEA!

The Specialist did suggest a different food-something without any beef or chicken. So I'm transitioning him to Taste of the Wild-Sierra Mountain Canine Formula-Lamb, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peas.

The Pred dose has been lowered to 15 mg 1x day still with the Famotidine 

20 mg, for 2 weeks then down to 10 mg 1x day along with the 20 mg Famotidine. Then another appointment on Dec 28th.

I take Mat to the local Vet weekly for weight checks:

11/19/2010 Weigh 56.2

12/3/2010 Weigh  61.7.

fir a consistent scale.

I will update the end of the year.

Thanks everyone fir the good wishes of health for Mat.

I continue the same wishes for all the owners and hounds who have been following our story for the past year.

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE and your 4 legged  family members

[greyhead]

Hm, so Matlock did turn out to be an IBD dog too. FWIW, Spencer lost a lot of weight on prednisone, which he was only on briefly. He was put on budesonide instead, which targets the gut and thus avoids the broader spectrum of pred side effects. The only SE to budesonide is fur loss, and that did occur. But Spencer is doing wonderfully two years later, so we just use sunscreen in the summer and a coat when he's cold. I'll be happy to tell you more if you want or answer any questions. (He also takes Tylosin and, until recently, metronidazole. He only eats venison, and one-third of that per day is raw.)

 

Thanks for the update, and Happy Holidays to you too!

[Guest savvytwh]

12/28/10 UPDATE:

 

Recheck including bloodwork. The bloodwork couldn't have been any better. Weight 66.7, the most he's weight during this process was 67.9. He started between 70-75 pounds, so he's getting there. The specialist's comment: who's that hound he looks wonderful, no longer a shadow of hisself, so different from the first time I saw him (40 lbs).

Instructions included dropping prednisone down to 5 mg, still with the Pepcid 20 mg daily. Call back in 2 weeks & let the specialist know how he's doing. He's hoping to wean Matlock off the prednisone completely and only have him on a unique single protein source food.

Matlock has been eating TOTW Sierra Mountain, 4-6 cups daily, since the last visit. The specialist did mention the lamb might not be the best choice of food, since some of the "regular" dog foods now have that option. So I'm thinking about the TOTW Pacific Stream. Any other suggestions are welcome.

 

Hope everyone including family, friends and 4 legged family all have a Healthy, Safe and successful New Year! 

[TheFullHouse]

Such good news to start the new year off with! Congratulations!

[Guest savvytwh]

Such good news to start the new year off with! Congratulations!

Thanks,

Carol & Matlock

[Guest savvytwh]

Mat's been doing well on the 5mg of Prednisone. Spoke with the Internist yesterday and he told me the start Monday, 5 mg Prednisone every other day. He is now eating TOTW Pacific Stream. I believe I can see light at the end of the tunnel. 

[TheFullHouse]

Awesome!

[Guest savvytwh]

Since I lasted posted Matlock, has been on a dose of 5 mg of prednisone every other day. He has been gaining weight & doing wonderfully.I took him to the Specialist on 2/22 he weighted 68.2#, the vet & the vet tech were pleased with how he looks & his attitude. He had a CBC & chem panel drown. The vet called me the next day with results & was very pleased with the perfect blood work. Cut back the prednisone to 2 1/2mg every other day for 2 weeks then call him with a report. Been feeding Taste of the Wild Smoked Salmon, just wish I could find it for less the $48/30# bag.

 

Carol & Matlock

[heartdogs]

Carol check with your small local feed store. I can get TOTW in Bridgeport for $39 a bag at the feed store & they always have it. Glad to see Mattie is doing so well.

Felicity

[Charlies_Dad]

Since I lasted posted Matlock, has been on a dose of 5 mg of prednisone every other day. He has been gaining weight & doing wonderfully.I took him to the Specialist on 2/22 he weighted 68.2#, the vet & the vet tech were pleased with how he looks & his attitude. He had a CBC & chem panel drown. The vet called me the next day with results & was very pleased with the perfect blood work. Cut back the prednisone to 2 1/2mg every other day for 2 weeks then call him with a report. Been feeding Taste of the Wild Smoked Salmon, just wish I could find it for less the $48/30# bag.

 

Carol & Matlock

 

Fantastic news! I am so very happy Carol for you and Matlock.

[Guest Stripeyfan]

Greyt update! Will keep everything crossed that Matlock continues to improve.

[Guest savvytwh]

Well things took a bad turn for Matt. he quit eatting & the weight just melted off of him from 68.2 down to 59 lbs, after changing to the 2.5 mg prednisone every other day. Called the specialist, upped the doseage of pred to 5 mg every day & made an appointment to be seen. He is eating know, I added some canned food to the dry-trickery!

We just went to the specialist & he would like to get Matt off the pred & onto budesonide 3 mg tabs. Called 6 local pharmacies, was told 1) we don't carry it 2) its very expensive 30 tabs of 3 mg are $500 or 3) we only carry it in an aerosal.

Needless to say I'm not thrilled with the $500 price for meds he may need to stay on the rest of his life.

 

Does anyone know where to get budesonide less expensive?

 

Thanks,

 

Carol & Matt

[MP_the4pack]

Well things took a bad turn for Matt. he quit eatting & the weight just melted off of him from 68.2 down to 59 lbs, after changing to the 2.5 mg prednisone every other day. Called the specialist, upped the doseage of pred to 5 mg every day & made an appointment to be seen. He is eating know, I added some canned food to the dry-trickery!

We just went to the specialist & he would like to get Matt off the pred & onto budesonide 3 mg tabs. Called 6 local pharmacies, was told 1) we don't carry it 2) its very expensive 30 tabs of 3 mg are $500 or 3) we only carry it in an aerosal.

Needless to say I'm not thrilled with the $500 price for meds he may need to stay on the rest of his life.

 

Does anyone know where to get budesonide less expensive?

 

Thanks,

 

Carol & Matt

 

Try Costco or Walmart. If they carry it, it should be cheaper.

 

I'm sorry to hear Matt's not doing well.

[Guest greytchloe]

CVS gave me a significant discount for having AAA (auto club). It worked out to almost half off the script, which was for my grey. I don't know if you have AAA or if they carry the med you need, but it might be worth checking out.

Good luck!