Allergies, Ibs, Or? Ideas Please!

[IAMs]

Hey Everyone - I'll admit that after everything we went through with Maya (rare intestinal cancer) I was hoping to have a couple of hounds with no intestinal issues. It appears this is not to be. If you wouldn't mind I will recap a synopsis of what's been going on and would love some opinions, experiences, and thoughts about what could be plaguing Ashe. It's a long read but I could really use some advice. Thanks everyone! - leigh

 

 

Synopsis:

 

Pup: Ashe 4yr (almost) male

 

Problem 1: A recurring problem with seasonal allergies (undiagnosed - assumed allergies). He will just break out along his stomach and groin and have small patches of hair missing near his feet on up to and sometimes above his ankles. He ends up on prednisone at least once a year to knock back the rash/bumps and itching. The vet tries to avoid using prednisone if she can. When he breaks out I wipe down his skin with medicated pads and hope to get it under control so he won't need prednisone.

 

Problem 2: We thought he had food allergies too but now I'm not too sure maybe Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

 

Food: For a while we were feeding Nature's Domain grain-free salmon meal and sweet potato, and then the pattern started (it's possible this started with the food he was on prior to Nature's Domain I just can't recall right now)...........

1. He starts to have aversions to his food and won't eat unless we put some soft food (I and Love and You brand) on as a topper,

2. Usually in the middle of the night the LOUD gurgly tummy starts shortly followed by loose stool leading to diarrhea occasionally with a red mucus coating,

3. He fasts for a day,

4. He gets boiled chicken, brown rice (he goes out and eats grass so since rice is also a grass seems logical to include), sweet potato, and fortiflora for meals for a few days,

5. We transition back to his food.

6. Nice firm stools once again.

 

After this happened a couple of times our vet suggested trying Science Diet Id - Ashe promptly threw up the first bowl he had and wouldn't touch it again! So we then tried Blue Basics duck and potato since duck is considered a novel protein. Everything was fine but a little after a meal he would start to open and close is mouth as if he had an itch on the top of his mouth. I thought maybe he was allergic to something in the food so we switched to the Blue Basics Lamb and potato. This however resulted in unbearable stink bombs from our other pup so back onto duck we went. Now, the pattern has started with the Blue Basics Duck and potato. We are considering trying raw but beyond that really don't have ideas on how to move forward.

 

It should be noted that Ollie (18mo pup) has not had any problems with any of the foods (except lamb) so I'm fairly confident the foods have not been tainted.

 

Vet visits:

We have gone to the vet many, many times and have yet to find anything.

 

Fecal: Multiple fecal samples have come back negative for parasites, nothing abnormal was detected in a sample of the bloody mucus I took in.

 

Blood work: A full and complete blood panel has been run with EVERYTHING coming back normal. I don't recall what was all tested for right now but it was extensively comprehensive. I can find out if someone feels it would be helpful to know exactly.

 

Ultrasound: This is the vet's next recommended step at the tune of $350 for a specialist. I haven't done this yet as all it will tell me is if part of his digestive tract is inflammed and I can guarantee something will be, he has sporadic diarrhea! It also won't tell me if he has cancer, my understanding at least.

 

I am wondering a) what could be going on and could the allergies and tummy issues be related and linked to his immune system?

 

Thanks again for your help!

Edited February 27, 2015 by IAMs

[GreytTerp]

I hope it's nothing more serious than broad food allergies, but the bumps, patches, fur coming out, and skin issues sound very much like what my parents go through with their pug. After a couple of years of trying different foods and endless trips to the vet to go on and off the prednisone. Their resolution has not been 100% perfect, as the little pugger still has skin flare ups and vomiting from time to time, but they have settled on the following:

 

1. Food change to one with no preservatives and nothing from the poultry family (no chicken, turkey, and definitely no duck): Natural Balance Venison

2. Added the dynovite supplement mixed with canned pumpkin each night

3. During 'grass seasons', a baby benedryl each morning with breakfast

 

Some people have also recommended the Olewo supplements We wish you and Ashe the best!

[tbhounds]

I would recommend you see a veterinary dermatologist. There are way too many factors involved here-it's best to have a Derm Vet consult. I will say however, that when food allergies are suspect they present much like this case. With just environmental allergies the GI symptoms are not present.

[cleptogrey]

as to the stomach issues it sounds possibly like giardia. we have gone thru this w/ felix, his fecal comes back clear but my vet treats the symptoms. i hope it's not IBS. but i would ask about either a regime of flagyl and Panacur and the possibility of giardia. Ashe does get out in the fields and who know what he has run into. I swear by this ratio of rice and beef for stomach/intestinal problems: 2/3 boiled white rice to 1/3 boiled chop meat(if he tolerates beef) to get him thru this upset. i would stay clear of kibbles until things settle down. i've had dogs on white rice and beef for good periods of time w/o any ill effects.( a rice cooker w/ a timer will be your best friend)

 

cedar fever is pretty bad, right? my SIL in san antonio went on steroids, he was miserable. has your vet considered an antihistamine? btw- the gut also produces histamines during allergy outbreaks, pecid ac and zantac both cut the histamine level in the gut...not that he needs either acid reducer, but it's good info to store.

 

hopefully this can be a simple less costly solutions.vets do love spending other people's money.....

[CharlieRhea]

I have seen a lot of allergies to potatoes where i used to work, in a pet food supply place. Try something without potato. There are lots of foods that are potato free, go somewhere where they have knowledge.

I feed raw because one of my dogs (GSD) had a gurgly stomach and diarreah all the time years ago. (She can't eat chicken either) Not anymore, i will tell you it is pricey but i now belong to a coop which makes it affordable. Keep us posted!