Dorie Greyhound Has Ple

[greysmom]

August 22 Dorie woke me in the middle of the night with horrible diarrhea. Since then we've tried a bland diet (home cooked and I/D), had a negative fecal float for parasites, a round of Panacur, and an extended course of metronidazole with and without antibiotics. Up until this week, I and the vet were just assuming ( ) that she had a sensitive stomach and something was bothering her. She ended up losing nearly 10 lbs, but still continued to have diarrhea on and off (mostly on). She would get better and betterand I would think she was on the mend, and then - more diarrhea.

 

Last Wednesday I noticed her abdomen was filling out. I thought she was beginning to put back on some of the weight she'd lost. Then, Saturday, her belly became really distended and I was beginning to get worried. Sunday night her back leg began to swell, and this morning the other leg and the lymph nodes under her jaws were swollen. Off to the e-vet this afternoon.

 

I feel really horrible, since if I had gone ahead and taken her in to our regular vet three weeks ago, she might not have gotten so bad. But I didn't. Because they don't take appointments, just walk ins, and you might have to wait forever. And you don't know what vet you're going to pull in the rotation. And they would have had to refer me to the hospital/specialty clinic where she ended up for diagnosis and treatment anyway because they don't have the facilities to handle specialized tests. Rant rant rant. I should have taken her in.

 

I just posted this in elsewhere:

Dorie doesn't (probably) have cancer. She most likely has PLE (Protein Losing Enteropathy), which is a form of IBD (Intestinal Bowel Disease). Basically, she is unable to retain the long-chain proteins in her cells, making the cell walls permeable and the excess fluids are getting dumped into her abdomen and lymphatic system, which quickly becomes overloaded and unable to remove the excess fluid. Her intestinal track cannot absorb nutrients properly and she loses weight and has diarrhea. The e-vet said all her labs were extremely low so they are keeping her overnight to begin therapy. They will perform an endoscopic biopsy of her intestines and bowels to definitively diagnose what's going on and rule out any form of cancer (which is still technically on the table, but the vet didn't think so).

 

Therapy includes a special high protein, low fat diet, imunosuppressve drugs, and/or prednisone, and/or cyclosporin, plus B-12 shots, and some other things I didn't retain. Her case is pretty advanced, and the e-vet was not overly optimistic about her prognosis.

 

I'll search for the other threads here in H&M about PLE, but wanted to update her status and see if people have any futher help/comments/experience. I haven't seen the actual lab test results, the vet only told me over the phone that they were pretty bad.

[PrairieProf]

Oh dear! I don't have any experience but I'm sure others do. I'm glad you have a diagnosis and can begin moving forward with treatment. Sending gentle hugs to Dorie.

 

(Boy, I sure hope there's a good point or two about your regular vet, because that is sure not an arrangement that would work for me!)

Edited September 27, 2011 by PrairieProf

[brindlehound]

I have no experience but am sending hugs to you, Dorie, and the rest of your crew.

[4My2Greys]

Oh no, Chris, I hope you can get things under control now that you know what your dealing with. I will be sending lots of healing thoughts and white light for her.

[MerlinsMum]

I've been worried about Dorie all evening, glad to read an update.... I'm sorry it's not very good news. Poor Dorie and poor you

 

The endoscopy will give you some answers... All our fingers are crossed.

 

You're in my thoughts, Chris.

 

(Boy, I sure hope there's a good point or two about your regular vet, because that is sure not an arrangement that would work for me!)

 

Same here.

[4greyhounds]

I am sorry I have no experience but wanted to let you know we are sending lots of good thoughts and prayers.... :hope Please keep us posted...

[45MPHK9]

Sending your sweet Dorie a hug from all of us.

[tbhounds]

Did they run a bile acids test to check liver function??? Also, many times they get asites due to the albumin being so low-- is she on an iv drip recieving hetastarch?

If it's reccomended that she starts a corticosteriod I would ask them about trying budesonide over pred.

It's usually suggested to start a novel protein diet--not a high protein diet--a novel protein, novel carb would be something like venison and sweet potato.

if I can help further please feel free to pm me- sorry Dorie is ill.

[greyhead]

Did they run a bile acids test to check liver function??? Also, many times they get asites due to the albumin being so low-- is she on an iv drip recieving hetastarch?

If it's reccomended that she starts a corticosteriod I would ask them about trying budesonide over pred.

It's usually suggested to start a novel protein diet--not a high protein diet--a novel protein, novel carb would be something like venison and sweet potato.

if I can help further please feel free to pm me- sorry Dorie is ill.

What she said. And hugs from here.

[Houndtime]

Good thoughts for you and your girl, Dorie. I am sorry that she is not feeling well.

[queenwinniesmom]

Oh, Chris, that sounds horrible. I wish I had some advice as well, but can only offer lots of good thoughts and white light for Dorie, and hugs for you both. Please keep us updated.

[greysmom]

Did they run a bile acids test to check liver function??? Also, many times they get asites due to the albumin being so low-- is she on an iv drip recieving hetastarch?

If it's reccomended that she starts a corticosteriod I would ask them about trying budesonide over pred.

It's usually suggested to start a novel protein diet--not a high protein diet--a novel protein, novel carb would be something like venison and sweet potato.

if I can help further please feel free to pm me- sorry Dorie is ill.

What she said. And hugs from here.

 

This all sounds like what the e-vet said. I was kind of listening-but-not at the time. She is receiving some sort of IV tonight that will hopefully stabilize her enough for the anesthesia and endoscopy tomorrow morning. I will also be talking with her (new) internist before the procedure. E-vet said corticosteroid is usually at the discretion of the vet, but all the vets I've had contact with at thi clinic have had the most up to date info, and are quite willing to listen to my suggestions. I will definitely keep the budesonide in mind.

 

Yes - unusual proten and single carb diet. (Dude gets high protein and high fat). I already know rice is not good for Dorie - it just goes straight through without getting digested at all - so either potato, sweet potato or pasta will be on the menu for her.

 

Thanks everyone!

[Charlies_Dad]

Chris, sorry to read about Dorie. I hope the endoscopy goes 'well' tomorrow.

[BatterseaBrindl]

Thinking good thoughts for Dorie

 

 

And for Chris

[Guest patgam]

We are thinking good thoughts for Dorie! Please keep us posted.

 

 

Pat G, Bell Walker & Bugsy

[greyhead]

You and Dorie are in our thoughts and prayers today! The hydration she was getting should make the anesthesia experience easier. Will be waiting for a greyt update!

[mom2four]

We are thinking of Dorie today.

 

Our osteo boy Jamey had PLE, diagnosed after his amputation. He was on Z/D Ultra and metronidazole daily until he passed away last week. He was also on blood pressure pills- lotensin(benazepril) for this. His poops were never great, but much better than the water that was coming out when he was diagnosed.

 

I'll be looking for hopefully positive updates on Dorie.

[MP_the4pack]

My Topaz had PLE caused by liver disease, not intestinal disease. Her liver was pretty much non-functioning.

 

I'm sorry to hear about Dorie. It's not a good diagnosis.

 

I remember celebrating that Topaz didn't have cancer. But, turned out just as bad. I lost her 4 weeks after diagnosis. She was only 5.

Edited September 27, 2011 by MP_the4pack

[Patsy]

No useful advice to offer but white light coming Dorie's way for her procedure today. You're on the nightly ND candle, sweetie.

[LBass]

Oh Chris, this diagnosis sounds frightening and I am sending warm healing thoughts to you and Dorie. I hope the vets will be able to get her stabilized. Having a diagnosis after a long spell of mystery can be such good news but this PLE sounds quite serious.

 

--Lucy

[greysmom]

Spoke with Dorie's Internist this morning. Dorie spent a comfortable night on IV fluids (with hestastarch added) and some pain meds. Her legs and belly are still pretty swollen, but fluids are still being dumped there. Dr Brown said all her other vitals looked good. So they're going to do a chest xray this morning to rule out cancer and any metastisization (sp?), and then do the endoscopic exam and biopsy this afternoon.

 

Some form of cancer could still be the cause of her problems, and also a disease where the vessels in the intestines just stop working. But Dr Brown *expects* to find some level of IBD/IBS on visual exam, and will start her on pred and some other drugs. If she can find the source of the disease, the fluids should stop dumping and be reabsorbed. She'll be in the hospital another night at least.

 

The prognosis, even with the most positive outcome, is not great. Dorie will still be on borrowed time of only months, but she should be more comfortable and able to spend that time happy and here at home.

[Guest mountain4greys]

Please tell Dorie we are praying for a positive outcome.

[4My2Greys]

I've had you all in my thoughts all day

[greysmom]

Just got the call from Dr Brown. Dorie is resting comfortably and charming the staff!

 

Chest xrays are unremarkable except for a small bit of pleural effusion around her lungs. There's not enough to impact the anesthesia, and they can't do anything about it anyway until they figure out what the problem actually is by doing the endoscopy. So she's going ahead with the procedure, which should start within the hour. Dr Brown will call us with the visual results when it's over. Actual lab biopsy results will take a day or two.

 

I'm hoping to get in to see her later tonight.

[Guest patgam]

Prayers and hugs for Dorie and all of you.

 

 

Pat G, Bell Walker and Bugsy