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Update 9/12 Fuzzy's Medical Issues


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My dog, Fuzzy is nine years old. He has had diarrhea for a month now. He has almost no urgency. It is a matter of quality. He is mostly going water and sometimes we achieve pudding. He has been on flagly, tylan and now prednisone. He has been on WD, ID and now EN. He has lost 6 lbs. He has been blood tested for pancreatic diseases and was negative. We wormed him with panacur even though his fecals were negative. I have spent almost $1,000 in the past three weeks and my dog is not getting better. I am starting to feel like I am losing him. My vet is really trying everything and is frustrated as well. Is there anything you can think of? Hills ZD has been suggested.

 

All prayers are appreciated. Thanks.

 

Fuzzy wears his heart on the outside.

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Edited by Houndtime

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
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I'm sorry Fuzzy doesn't feel well. :( The diarrhea made me think of a recent thread on here about a new dog virus in Ohio. I know you're not in Ohio but I expect this virus will spread. Diarrhea is one of the symptoms.

 

http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/virus-linked-to-illness-that-has-sickened-several-ohio-dogs-1.426633

 

ETA: Here's the thread: http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/301241-new-dog-virus-in-ohio/?hl=ohio

Edited by OwnedBySummer

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Lisa B.

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Sending healing prayers for Fuzzy :heart

 

What food does he currently get? Is it the same food he has gotten for a while?

 

He is currently on EN kibble and canned maybe for over a week.

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

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Guest grey_dreams

 

He is currently on EN kibble and canned maybe for over a week.

 

Don't know if it could help or not, but I'm a proponent of raw-feeding or at least home-cooking, especially for dogs who seem to have digestive or allergic problems. Maybe you might think about trying something like this, if the vets continue to come up without a positive diagnosis? If you decide to give home-cooking a try, just want to mention that white rice can cause diarrhea, cooked oatmeal is better. And if possible, use only organic meat. I don't know if it could help Fuzzy or not, but maybe it could be worth a try if you run out of options. Sending a lot of healing wishes for Fuzzy.

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Sending lots of healing thoughts for your sweet boy. :hope

Cynthia, & Cristiano, galgo
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"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." -- Unknown

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How long was he on each of the medications and each food? Timeline?

 

Have an x-ray and ultrasound been done?

 

ZD might be worth a try. Low cal so you have to feed a lot. I'd skip the dry and just feed the canned (goes for EN too).

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 Illinois
We 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.

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No to the x-ray. We added the dry as it seemed like he wasn't getting enough to it. He is very hungry. He was on the WD before I brought him to the vet, as he occasionally would have an issue, for example, when getting heart worm meds. Then the pork based ID and the EN now for about two weeks. He has had a slew of blood and fecal tests.

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

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Just going to throw this out there regarding the Z/D--I find the ultra calorie/per cup pretty average but, it's pretty high in fat (something like 13%) which is just the opposite what you want with a dog with diarrhea.

Just going to throw this out there regarding the Z/D--I find the ultra calorie/per cup pretty average but, it's pretty high in fat (something like 13%) which is just the opposite what you want with a dog with diarrhea.

Btw-I'm referring to the dry version ;-)

No to the x-ray. We added the dry as it seemed like he wasn't getting enough to it. He is very hungry. He was on the WD before I brought him to the vet, as he occasionally would have an issue, for example, when getting heart worm meds. Then the pork based ID and the EN now for about two weeks. He has had a slew of blood and fecal tests.

All the more reason for a second opinion. It sounds like your vet exhausted their means.

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Just going to throw this out there regarding the Z/D--I find the ultra calorie/per cup pretty average but, it's pretty high in fat (something like 13%) which is just the opposite what you want with a dog with diarrhea.

 

Btw-I'm referring to the dry version ;-)

 

All the more reason for a second opinion. It sounds like your vet exhausted their means.

 

Are you thinking of a different food? The Z/D Ultra dry is only @ 327 kcal/cup and only 13.3% fat -- both lower than most commercial foods. Canned has @ 350 kcal/can, which again is on the low side.

ETA: I would encourage some imaging (x-ray with time and equipment scheduled to follow that right up with an ultrasound if warranted) and probably that 2nd opinion. You really want to know if there's a partial blockage or abnormality contributing to this before you proceed with other diagnostics.

 

You probably already know this, but just in case: It can help to feed several small meals a day, especially when feeding the lower cal prescription foods. You do have to watch out for extra potty trips -- some dogs will need to go out after each meal, especially if innards are irritated :( .

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 Illinois
We 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.

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Irene, if you are thinking of a second opinion, what about Veterinary Specialty Center of Delaware? they have their main facility in New Castle (322-6933) and a satellite facility in Dover (387-1160).

I have not been to them but I heard they have internists, as well as other specialists on staff. Check out their website.

Thinking good thoughts for Fuzzy.

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Are you thinking of a different food? The Z/D Ultra dry is only @ 327 kcal/cup and only 13.3% fat -- both lower than most commercial foods. Canned has @ 350 kcal/can, which again is on the low side. ETA: I would encourage some imaging (x-ray with time and equipment scheduled to follow that right up with an ultrasound if warranted) and probably that 2nd opinion. You really want to know if there's a partial blockage or abnormality contributing to this before you proceed with other diagnostics.

 

You probably already know this, but just in case: It can help to feed several small meals a day, especially when feeding the lower cal prescription foods. You do have to watch out for extra potty trips -- some dogs will need to go out after each meal, especially if innards are irritated :( .

No-I'm not thinking of another food. You can find OTC foods with much lower fat. Of course you can go crazy reading labels--for example Solid Golds WolfKing is only 9% fat. I only know this as its the only food my boy does well on. It was the lower fat content that agreed with him--I also find the 350ish cals/cup pretty ave (not including the higher end grain free foods).

May want to consider Hills I/D-or did you already??

 

Edited to add--regarding Hills I/D---the lower fat variety is the Hills I/D low fat restore (perhaps that's where some of the confusion is steming from).

Edited by tbhounds
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We went through something similar with my bridge girl Gypsy.

The only thing that worked for her was Sulfasalazine and a fish based no grain kibble. Pork actually made things worse for her, anything with grains was out. She was never really firm, but it was formed just soft.

Edited by gryhndsr4us

Sue ,Sky and Dood, Bridge angels Clark, Gypsy, Dreamy and Sneakers, Oshkosh,WI Heartbound Greyhound Adoptionsept2013sigcopy_zps8ad6ed09.jpg<p>

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Did you get a fecal culture? How long was Fuzzy on the Tylan.

 

Have you tried adding bran? I know that sounds too simple but for some dog's it actually works. Of course, it would be best to know what the real problem is & address that but as you are trying to work through that the bran may work.

 

As for diet, my girl was having a bad time with colitis until I switched her to no grain food. That helped immediately. Over time I was able to find a food with less grain as opposed to no grain. She does very well on that also. The colitis was terrible & I pray it never recurs.

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He had two fecal cultures. One that was done in the office and a more extensive one which was sent out to a lab about a week later. All of these responses are reminding me of things we did in the past for these types of events. But, I never had a dog with diarrhea this long.

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

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I recommend again that you see a specialist and get an ultrasound.Healthy dogs don't have diarrhea this long that doesn't respond to meds or diet.

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I recommend again that you see a specialist and get an ultrasound.Healthy dogs don't have diarrhea this long that doesn't respond to meds or diet.

Inclined to agree. So sorry Fuzzy and, as a side effect, you are going through this. Hope very much a resolution can be found soon.

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I recommend again that you see a specialist and get an ultrasound.Healthy dogs don't have diarrhea this long that doesn't respond to meds or diet.

:nod

 

Hope you can get things figured out.

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