Guest Stripeyfan Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Just seeing this! I hope Merlin is feeling better again now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shesgeorge Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 Hoping Merlin is on the road to recovery!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerlinsMum Posted April 23, 2011 Author Share Posted April 23, 2011 Thank you!! He is doing okay, will be on the Flagyl for another 3.5 weeks. He completed his 3-day course of Fenbendazole (Panacur) last night. Once he's off the anitbiotics again, we'll know more. If he has a relapse after that, we will have to do a scope. I hope it doesn't come to that 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...
45MPHK9 Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 Poor Merlin. Still thinking good thoughts for your boy, Kerry. Quote Tricia with Kyle, our senior mutt dog Always missing Murray Maldives, Bee Wiseman, River, Hopper, Kaia, and Holly Oaks Holly“You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.“ -Bob Dylan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houndtime Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 Good thoughts for your Merlin. 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...
DesiRayMom Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 and for the Wizard. Hoping you have a peaceful weekend. Quote Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenEveBaz Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 Sending good thoughts to all. Quote Ellen, with brindle Milo and the blonde ballerina, Gelsey remembering Eve, Baz, Scout, Romie, Nutmeg, and Jeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RileysLegacy Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 Glad to hear Merlin is doing ok right now. As you know, we are going through something similar (though not as bad) with Legs, and it is not fun! Keeping all fingers and paws crossed that your beautiful wizard will not have any more relapses :goodluck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerlinsMum Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Thanks, Lucy, I just posted in your thread about Legs, pls keep us posted! The latest is that Merlin has gone off the I/D and he's had diarrhea (no blood) since yesterday afternoon, even though he is still on antibiotics. I am at my wits' end! I just want to know what's wrong with him!! I guess I'll be calling my vet again tomorrow. And most likely the specialist too. 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...
luvhounds2 Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Oh, Kerry, I'm so sorry to hear Merlin still has the big D. Gosh darn it! I'll keep saying special prayers for him & send him lots of good healing thoughts. to you Merlin Sending strength to you, Kerry, to see you thru this. Barb Quote Barb, Mom to Grey's Tickertape & Grey's McCarthy.Always missing: Wizzie and Desi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stripeyfan Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Sorry to hear Merlin has the big D still! This is exactly what we went through with Kelly last year and it was not fun. Have you/are you able to fast Merlin for 24 hrs? This is the only thing that will stop Kelly's D in its tracks if he's having an IBD flare. Also, can you try a home-cooked bland diet for a while? We tried all sorts of special foods for Kelly last year, including one from our vet, and he couldn't tolerate any of them. In the end we gave up trying to find one and he's on the home-cooked diet permanently. We and the vet don't think it's the protein he's sensitive to but the other by-products that go into dog food (sometimes called 'by-product', sometimes called 'digest'). This is also found in doggy toothpaste which has the same effect on Kelly - big D within 24 hrs, even if we use just a dab. All dog food seems to have it including the I/D (we were considering this food at one time) so I can't help wondering if this might be what's causing Merlin's continuing diarrhea. Another thing to try would be slippery elm bark powder, which helps coat and soothe the GI tract. Hugs to you and Merlin, I hope your sweet boy feels better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerlinsMum Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 That's interesting. It doesn't surprise me, considering that animal digest is a nice word for "whatever crap is swept up off the slaughterhouse floor". I am going to try feeding him the bland diet. I spoke to the specialist just now and she is going to put him on a different kind of anitbiotic - a powder I'm going to pick up this afternoon. Sigh. I have my doubts. He won't eat the I/D and he needs to take the meds, so the specialist said to go ahead and give him Sagan's food if that's what he wants. I don't know. She says the next step is an endoscopy. I don't have $1200 for something that may not even yield any definitive answers. I literally don't know what to do anymore. :headwall 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...
Guest SoulsMom Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 That's what would happen to Soul too every single time he went off the I/D and/or I'd try to transition him to 'regular' kibble. Totally understand your mixed feelings about the scope. Dr S recommended against it unless absolutely necessary because it's so invasive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3greys2cats Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Poor Merlin and you, wish they could find answers w/out doing the endoscopy, sending prayers and healing thoughts your way Quote Roberta & Michael with Furkids- Flower (Shasta Flowers 6/7/06) & Rascal the kitty - Missing our sweet angels - Max(M's Mad Max) 10/12/02 - 12/3/15, Sara (Sara Raves 6/30/01 - 4/13/12) Queenie & Pandora the kitties - gone but never forgotten Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenbo Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Poor Merlin and poor you Quote Camp Broodie with tuxedo Summer 12 and tuxedo Dio 6 Missing KC Kitty 2000-2016, Myka and part of my heart 2006-2020, and Saint YellBoy 2014-2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryJane Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 So sorry to hear that this has not resolved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerlinsMum Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 (edited) That's what would happen to Soul too every single time he went off the I/D and/or I'd try to transition him to 'regular' kibble. Totally understand your mixed feelings about the scope. Dr S recommended against it unless absolutely necessary because it's so invasive. I'm glad to hear this, because I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing this afternoon when the specialist mentioned that an endoscopy should be the next step. I am just really not convinced that I want to put Merlin through that, he's becoming more upset every time we even go to the vet. Never mind the expense. The insurance company told me they want a "definite diagnosis" before they consider a claim. What the heck does that mean? That if I spend $5000 but they're still not sure what it is, I'm screwed? Whatever. The expense is secondary. I would go to the ends of the world for Merlin, but right now things are so desperately tight financially that expense has to be a consideration, unfortunately. At the very least I'd like to think that if we somehow find $1200 for a scope, that it's going to yield SOME answers. Amber - the problem here is that I haven't taken Merlin off the I/D - he just doesn't like it anymore. I have had to hand-feed him the last two meals (he will eat it if I hand-feed it to him, but not all of it.) So now I guess it's hamburger and rice. The specialist said that at this point I can try to give him Sagan's food, if that's what he wants I don't know. She switched me from Metronidazole (Flagyl) to Tylen, a powdered antibiotic I spread on his food. I bought some and will start him on this tonight, but to be honest I'm not really convinced that the Flagyl is the problem. He's been on it many times before and he's not had any issues with it. Dunno. Just dunno. *throwing hands in the air* Edited April 26, 2011 by MerlinsMum 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...
Remolacha Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 I haven't used tylan, but I have heard it tastes nasty, you may want to try and disguise it somehow? FWIW, Fletcher doesn't have any protein sensitivity either, but processed dog food, even if it only contains things I know he is ok with, causes an IBD flare for him. There is just something in the "processing" part that irritates his digestive tract. So, you might try home cooked, and the slippery elm will help soothe his system (I use it myownself ) The figuring-out part of all this is so tough! I never had Fletcher scoped either, we were able to figure out what worked for him without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieProf Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 So sorry he's still having trouble. What a pain. I was so hoping/thinking I/D and Flagyl would fix him up as they did Soul and, in a different way, Beth. And oy about the scope. BTW chicken by-products (as defined by Hill's and used in I/D; I've read every word on their site) and animal digest are not at all the same thing. http://www.hillspet.com/faq-ingredients-and-myths.html Quote With Cocoa (DC Chocolatedrop), missing B for Beth (2006-2015)And kitties C.J., Klara, Bernadette, John-Boy, & Sinbad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 MerlinsMum, if he's been getting on well with the I/D, you might see if any of the vets in your area carry a different manufacturer's version -- for example, if you're using Hills, might try Purina EN instead. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovinggreysslp Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Tylan powder does have a strong nasty taste. When my hound with IBD and PLE needed it, I purchased vegetarian pill capsules online and filled them myself. They worked very well. I am sorry you and Merlin are going through this. I know how stressful it is. Quote Cosmo (Fuzz Face Cosmos), Holmes (He's a Dream), Boomer (USS Baby Boomer), Ella and missing our angels Clay (Red Clay), Train (Nite Train), Trip (Bock's Teddy Bear),Larry (Bohemian Frigid) and Jimmy (Bohemian Raw) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytbookert Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Oh man, I'm sorry that Merlin is still under the weather! yup, Tylan powder and the liquid have strong nasty taste. Booker did better with the liquid, not sure why. The vet was surprised by that but he was "unique" After the Tylan not working, we did a home cooked diet of one protien and oats. The oats were cooked very well, actually over cooked and mushy. We used ground turkey for the protein, seared. The first couple of days, it was a higher ratio of the oats to turkey, then gradually increasing the turkey. The reason for the really cooked oats and cooked lean meat was to give the entire digestive tract a rest. We were origninally advised to use a novel protein such as goat but we couldn't find ground goat and I didn't want to buy a goat The turkey worked for us. We then slowly added in Slippery Elm bark powder and then bovine colostrum. After a little while on this diet, I think it was about a week, Book was back to normal. Prior to this diet, I had a log of all the in's and out's for about 2 months and was very surprised when he cleared up so easily. I hope that you can find something for Merlin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatterseaBrindl Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Oh dear...sorry to hear our Wizard is not feeling well again. Sorry... I have no ideas for you...just good thoughts. Nancy Quote Nancy...Mom to Sid (Peteles Tiger), Kibo (112 Carlota Galgos) and Joshi. Missing Casey, Gomer, Mona, Penelope, BillieJean, Bandit, Nixon (Starz Sammie), Ruby (Watch Me Dash) Nigel (Nigel), and especially little Mario, waiting at the Bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggiespet Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Healthy thoughts and prayers for sweet Merlin. Quote http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g240/mtbucket/siggies/Everyday-2.jpgJane - forever servant to the whims and wishes of Maggie (L's Magnolia of JCKC) and Sam the mutt pup.[/b] She's classy, sassy and a bit smart assy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IHeartDogs Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 (edited) I'm sorry Merlin is still not feeling better and there is no diagnosis yet. This is my personal experience with my Weimaraner, Lucy. Lucy started having all of Merlin's symptoms at a very young age. I am thankful my vet at the time had IBD experience and tried to diagnose Lucy through process of elimination(food, blood tests & x-ray) She felt very positive it was IBD and thought that an endoscope is not necessary for a confirmed diagnosis. Long story short: Metronidazole (the magic antibiotic for diarrhea), did not work for Lucy Tylan powder, did not work limited ingredients diet, did not work. Lucy was put on Hill's Z/D Ultra, prednisone, and pepto bismol, and it has controlled her IBD really well the past 6 years. She is on a really low dose of pred (5mg), and the only side effect is needing to urinate more frequently. I know the food has horrible ingredients and is expensive, but you are paying for the science to break the food down. Most dogs love the taste of Z/D so maybe he'll eat it up unlike the I/D. Also, sucralfate helped Lucy as well during flare-ups (and yes, flare-ups will happen with IBD) Supplements I've tried that might work for Merlin once his symptoms are under control: secure (human grade) and RX Vitamins Nutrigest powder. I know people hate pred, but you do not need to keep Merlin on it, just try it to let his system control inflammation and heal. It works great and in low doses(which it will be tapered down to) it is very safe. I hope this can be of some help, I know how frustrating it is to go through months and months of trying things and nothing working. I know that all IBD/IBS cases are different so the things that worked for Lucy might not work for Merlin. Good luck and we're all sending tons of healing thoughts for Merlin. Edited April 26, 2011 by IHeartDogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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