Dog Community

Canine tremors after eating

Posted : 10/6/2010 7:53:12 PM

Help! I'm going crazy trying to help my pup and don't know where to begin:

About 6 months ago I took Fidget (13 yo black mouth cur about 10# overweight) to the vet b/c she was drinking water like crazy..several gallons a day. Bloodwork revealed she was borderline Cushings. He suggested upgrading her food - which I did - to Eukanuba, and seriously decrease treats, which I also did, and then come back to see if that helped and/or the multi-level, and very expensive bloodwork test was in order. After several months she did lose weight (6#), but water consumption continued.

During the past 2 months, a new symptom: as soon as she ate her dinner (this is aside from Eukanuba kibble which she free feeds) 1 cup chicken rice soup, she began trembling. This would pass after about 10-15 minutes. Each/every time I fed her...tried decreasing to 1/2 cup to see if that changed anything...no, still trembled. Then, Monday morning I gave her her soup and a portion of a chicken tender. This time she began trembling violently. We went to vet, he took bloodwork and her results came back, not only normal, but w/an improvement over the initial bloodwork! I'd asked him if this was an indicator of diabetes, and he replied no, that response would only be to insulin. She was still trembling at his office - 6 hrs later and he said that maybe it could be from pain (I've also been giving her Cosequin for arthritis), and to try giving her aspirin. When I reiterated that it begins with food consumption, he then said, I did see some tartar, she might have a cavity. (Although I love and respect our vet of 15 yrs, I think this is completely wrong) When we got home, she walked as though she was in pain, urinated, and then came into the house into bed. She looked miserable/completely out of it, like you or I would w/a really bad cold or flu. She stayed in bed for 16 hrs - no food, no water, no urination. When she got up and out of bed from this stupor, it was as though nothing had happened! In fact, for the first time in months, her water consumption is normal. In a way, it seems like maybe the Monday crisis, was "re-booting" her system. But she is still trembling. I gave her an aspirin - no response. And, much earlier, when I thought it could be a reaction to the chicken soup (which she's been eating as a supplement to dry for about 3 yrs) I eliminated the soup and gave her the Eukanuba 2x a day rather than 24/7 access (just so I could watch her response) and it happens w/Eukanuba & treats as well.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read all this. Does anyone have any ideas on what's up with my Fidget?

hapnthatch

Posted : 10/6/2010 8:29:21 PM

No words of advice, but I hope you figure it out soon! Poor girl.

janet_rose

Posted : 10/6/2010 10:37:12 PM

High water consumption can be caused by many things. One is a bladder infection. The dog learns that it hurts less if he/she drinks a lot of water.

Urinating Frequently (Polyuria): http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2114&aid=1150

Kidney disease: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2114&aid=350

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/polydipsia-and-polyuria-in-dogs/page1.aspx (an extensive article)
"The term polydipsia refers to excessive thirst manifested by excessive water intake, which in turn usually leads to polyuria, which is the formation and excretion of a large volume of urine. Polydipsia and polyuria are early signs of several diseases, including:

Kidney failure

Diabetes mellitus

Uterine infection (called pyometra)

Liver disease

High blood calcium

Uncommon abnormalities of the pituitary gland

Inability of the tubules of the kidney to reabsorb water properly (i.e. "nephrogenic" diabetes insipidus)

Dogs normally take in about 20 to 40 milliliters per pound of body weight per day, or about 3 to 4 cups of water per day for a 20 pound dog. Anything more than that, under normal environmental conditions, is considered polydipsia."

"Polyuria and polydipsia are not specific for any one disease, but can be caused by several disorders including:

Endocrine (hormonal) disorders

Hyperadrenocorticism (overactivity of the adrenal glands)

Diabetes mellitus

Hypoadrenocorticism (underactivity of the adrenal glands)

Kidney disorders

Renal glucosuria (a defect of the kidney tubules leading to spillage of glucose in the urine)

Kidney failure (more commonly acute, sometimes chronic)

Pyelonephritis (infection of the kidneys)

Increased production of urine after relief of urinary tract obstruction ("post-obstructive diuresis";)

Loss of normal salts and chemicals (urea) in the kidney that facilitate water reabsorption ("renal medullary washout";)

Impaired response of the kidney tubules to anti-diuretic hormone that normally promotes water reabsorption ("nephrogenic" diabetes insipidus)

Electrolyte abnormalities

High blood calcium concentration (hypercalcemia)

Low blood potassium concentration (hypokalemia)

Miscellaneous disorders

Abnormally high red blood cell numbers leading to thickened blood ("polycythemia";)

Infection of the uterus ("pyometra";)

Liver disease

Defective release of anti-diuretic hormone from the pituitary gland ("central" or "pituitary" diabetes inspidus)

Psychogenic polydipsia (a behavioral problem that leads to compulsive water drinking)

Administration of fluids, salt, diuretics or cortisone-like drugs

The most common causes of polyuria and polydipsia in dogs are chronic kidney failure, hyperadrenocorticism and diabetes mellitus."

janet_rose

Posted : 10/6/2010 10:44:35 PM

Both polyuria and shaking coorelate with Addison's Disease.

janet_rose

Posted : 10/6/2010 10:51:26 PM

Addison's Disease:

http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedings.plx?CID=WSAVA2003&PID=6514&O=Generic
"Dogs typically present with a waxing, waning history of lethargy/depression, weight loss, intermittent gastrointestinal signs, weakness and dehydration that respond, at least initially, to symptomatic therapy. The signs typically progressively worsen and some dogs eventually present in an acute addisonian crisis. These dogs exhibit moderate to severe shock as evidenced by extreme weakness or collapse, hypovolaemia, prolonged capillary refill time, weak pulse and inappropriately low heart rate or obvious bradycardia. Other possible signs include polyuria/polydipsia, shaking, vague abdominal pain, melaena and occasionally haematemesis. The onset of acute clinical signs may be precipitated by a stressful incident."

TerryD

Posted : 11/17/2010 9:12:33 PM

Sorry I don't have any special knowledge to share - but how is Fidget coming along?? I hope things are moving favorably. Fidget is in my thoughts and prayers.