Aladdin Has Spirometra! Also Low Thyroid. Update Post 56

[4greyhounds]

He had complete blood work on January the 12th and it all came back normal......... No problems. He is eating and eating and you bet my boy is getting anything and everything he wants right now..... I can't get "NO" weight on him.....

 

Thanks so much for the good thoughts Desert Crew!!!!!!!

[MaryJane]

Find out what type of lizard they think he ingested - some are toxic.

 

You didn't mention whether a urinalysis was done - if not, you should get one done.

 

You might also want to repeat the blood work - especially the liver ones as they might be increased in the case of a toxic reaction.

 

As someone suggested, ultrasound.

 

I would probably not increase his intake of fat because that could cause other problems but, have you given him more food in general since he's started to loose weight?

 

How are his stools now - does he have diarrhea? Is he drinking water?

[JJNg]

Ditto MaryJane's questions about whether he is still having diarrhea, and whether you've increased his feeding. How much food is he eating now? And what was he on before?

 

I would definitely second the recommendation to test for EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency).

[silverfish]

 

I would probably not increase his intake of fat because that could cause other problems but, have you given him more food in general since he's started to loose weight?

 

How are his stools now - does he have diarrhea? Is he drinking water?

 

Yes, please don't increase his fat intake till you know what you have, especially if pancreatitis is on the cards.

 

Also wondering if he still has diarrhoea? If he has, then pancreatic insufficiency is a possibility, but you seldom see it without greasy, smelly stools.

 

Vets here nearly always anaesthetise for an x-ray unless the dog is very docile and it's going to be quick. What you quoted is about what we'd pay here, and personally, I'd go ahead. If we'd done that with Susan, we'd have picked up her kidney cancer in time to treat it - she was wasting away in front of our eyes too ...

 

But don't get too freaked out by the stories here. There are just SO many things which will cause a dog to lose weight, and some of them are very simple. Fingers crossed for Aladdin!

[Guest mirinaaronsmom]

I sincerely hope and pray it's nothing serious. I found Mojo had hookworms soon after I adopted him and it took several months to get rid of them. He lost weight for about the first 10 months I had him. Then when we finally got back on track he was diagnosed with lymphoma. Also he always had very loose poops (diarrhea) on and off throughout. They were just getting normal when we got the lymphoma news and from then on it's been anything from pudding to pure liquid. I tried to put weight on him also, but when I found out about the cancer, that changed his diet completely - no more carbs. But since being on chemo, he has pretty steadily gained weight and is back to only 4 lbs. under his racing weight. Are Aladdin's lymph nodes swollen? I would think you would have noticed that if they are. Can your vet aspirate them to find out for sure? Mojo's xrays showed that the cancer had spread to his lungs (sorry - I never got an itemized bill, so I don't know how much they cost). And his CBC showed that kidneys and liver were good. I'll be watching and hoping for good news for Aladdin. Oh, and his appetite has always been crazy good - he will eat anything.

[Guest greyhound1]

Sending prayers!

[4greyhounds]

We are staying naway from Greasy foods, I have been cooking hamburger meat for him but draining all the grease off..... Also I give him rice as treats, I make the liver treats, but he has also had Blue Diamond his dog food mixed in with Kirkland. I have added eggs. I have added and giving him treats from Trader Joes the Peanut Butter ones. But I try to stay away from a lot of grease even though I now these things have some grease content...... His dad even shares his turkey sandwich with him, etc.

 

The Vet says she can't do the X-ray until Monday and this is driving me Crazy, I want to know now......... I am going to call them and see what exactly that covers....

 

Thanks so much for all the good thoughts, and please anything you can think of I may need to do tell me.....

[Charlies_Dad]

Goot thoughts for handsome Aladdin! Unfortunately the weight loss could be caused by many things and I can't add to what others have already suggested. Good luck and let us know how the x-rays turn out.

[Guest patgam]

Sending good thoughts and prayers to you and Aladdin.

 

:grouphug

[greytpups]

No advice just and hoping it's something easily curable.

[4greyhounds]

Again Thanks so Much for the good thoughts! They mean a lot!

 

I just called the vets and the price is just for the x-rays and to read them! Aladdin is being very sluggish today no energy, I wish I could get him in there before Monday. Usually he is the hyper one always wanting to go outside everytime I open the door for anything and he is just laying around.... I am not sure if I should look for another vet and get him there before Monday, or if this is just something that is going to be the way it is and nothing will change until Monday. I am just overly worried.

[Remolacha]

I think I would be looking for another vet. I know my vet will work me in same day, even stay late, if I have a sick dog. I don't know if that is high for just an x-ray in your area, but it would be very high here. Even the ultrasound at the specialty vet didn't cost that much!

 

[carronstar]

Sending good thoughts and prayers for Alladin.

[tbhounds]

While I do t think it's an emergency personally I would look for another vet-- it's unacceptable that they won't see you until Monday. At the very least they should be able to squeeze your hound in for an exam.

[DaisyDoodle]

Please don't wait until Monday. How much would the x-ray be at an e-vet? Or, a different vet, or at UF?

[Guest sirsmom]

I would just call and tell the receptionist you must be seen now otherwise, go stright to the E-vet or another vet.

With our old guy years ago I let a stupid vet talk me into a teeth cleaning for a 16 year old terrier. I brought him home and he couldn't even stand up so I went right to a different vet in the area (we've been with him ever since) he said the teeth cleaning shouldn't have been done and he was already in kidney failure. Not all vets are created equal.

[lovinggreysslp]

Sending positive thoughts for Alladin. Having gone through serious weight loss with our senior hound very recently, I know how alarming it is to see your hound continue to get thinner.

[HeidisMum]

I don't really have much useful info to add, but wanted to send extra hugs to both of you . I know having a sick pup can make you physically ill with worry.

 

We're going through some odd, unexplained medical stuff with Heidi right now (loose stools, dropping blood proteins, swelling in only one foot and small amounts of fluid in abdomen, but healthy appetite, no weight loss, and normal activity level). A round of doxycycline (just in case of hidden TBD), metronidazole, and predinsone seems to be getting things back to normal, but it's been a VERY stressful 7 weeks and we still are not positive what exactly is going on or what will happen when we try taking her off the meds.

 

The cost of xrays doesn't seem too far out of the ordinary, especially if they have to use a sedative. We did 5 xrays of Heidi's shoulder/front leg (limping/ suspected arthritis) and 2 of her back foot (random swelling). Those cost about $350 without sedative. The specialist vet here did an ultrasound of her abdomen to see if her kidneys/liver/stomach/intestines/etc looked at all unusual. That cost $350 (no anesthesia), $225 for a complete tick panel, and $180 for a bile acids test. I don't know what your vet will suggest, but that might give you an idea of how much some tests cost if they suggest any.

 

I wouldn't rule out worms completely without a fecal recheck (unless you did one and I missed that post). Betty came to us with hooks. She was on Panacur when we got her. Didn't work. Did a round of Dontral (3 doses = $77), didn't work. Did a second round of Panacur ($31) and a dose of Strongid ($12). Still had hooks. My vet talked to the scientists at IDEXX (where the testing is done). They said to do 5 doses of Strongid 3 times with 3 weeks between each set of 5 ($70). That finally got rid of the hooks. Worms can be very difficult to get rid of even using the best meds. We had a hard time getting any weight on her while she had the hooks.

 

I'm sending lots of good thoughts your way.

[SIGreyLady]

Darlene, Just seeing this now. Poor Aladdin! Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Waiting till Monday is ridiculous! If they can't get you in sooner, I'd see another vet.

 

Please give Aladdin some gentle pats and kisses from us.

[4greyhounds]

I finally got a very good vet today! He has a great reputation and he basically told me what the other vet did for Aladdin was a waste of money and time!!!!!! It really ticks me off but I am happy I have a very good Vet now that came highly recommeneded. Aladdin has Spirometra and basically what that is he ate either raw fish or a lizard (the other vet was correct on that part). The fish or lizard has Spirometra and this is only found in Aquatic life and it is not common. A lot of vets are not aware of it and do not treat it properly. The first problem he said was Aladdins thyroid was very low it is below a a 4 and it should be around a 2. In order to fight the parasites he has to build up the thyroid so the vet has put him on Soloxine 0.8 mg. he will have the thyroid re checked in 30 days. He also says that we can start the treatment for the Spirometra and Aladdin will take Pancur for 7 days the day after I have to take in a stool sample. He says the Drontal never is able to fight this and he was shocked the vet even prescribed this to me then said now X-RAYS. Ducky you had ever right to be confused..... You were right on it this vet obviously had no idea what she was talking about. We are praying that Aladdins system will heal from the treatment if not their could be a bad outcome. The vet has seen one other dog that did not react to the meds and did eventually pass. He told me not to be overly concerned when Aladdin is out but you know I will be, because he says this is not common. He has been a vet here in Florida and has worked at the track and only seen this a few times over the past 26 years. He is going to contact the other pratice and educate them, and you bet I have a new vet now........ Thanks so much for all the prayers and good thoughts. Aladdin will be in treatment and watched over the next few months are critical.

[Yamaha_gurl]

That is good news then right? Darn those lizards! Come to Canada...we don't have any here

[4greyhounds]

That is one of the down sides of living on the water... I let them play and you never know what they can pick up, but the vets says this is very uncommon.

[fsugrad]

I am so glad you finally have a correct diagnosis and a treatment plan for Aladdin, Darlene!

I have never heard of spirometra and I've lived in FL my whole life, and yes, lizards are everywhere. Thanks for the info.

Hoping that handsome boy has a fantastic and speedy recovery. Please give him a for me.

[PrairieProf]

I'm new to this thread but I can't help noticing .... does the new vet know that normal thyroid for greyhounds is lower than for other breeds? Does he know that greyhounds shouldn't be treated for low thyroid without doing a full thyroid panel, not just a T4? (The numbers you are using don't make sense -- do you mean Aladdin's T4 was 0.4? There are LOTS of greyhounds who have that reading who are NOT hypothyroid [like mine]).

[TheFullHouse]

Glad to see you have a diagnosis and a good vet.