Dog Community

Any advice for my Hagrid?

Posted : 6/16/2006 12:43:28 AM

Sorry this is so long, but I just want to get all the info out there to see if someone here can help me.

Here's some background info on my little Hagrid. He's a 16 pound pomeranian mix, 3 and 1/2 years old. I got him at 5 months. Hagrid started out on Eagle Pack puppy formula, and was later switched (gradually) to Eagle Pack reduced fat, then to Eagle Pack Holistic Select Anchovy/Salmon formula when I noticed the ingredients were much higher quality. My Samantha eats this also. He did just fine on this for about a year. I went on vacation in December and had them boarded, and when I picked them up, Hagrid had bloody diarrhea on his rear end. I took them home, bathed Hagrid, and immediately took him to the vet. They said it was just from stress, and gave me an antibiotic and a probiotic and told me not to worry. He was fine for a while, then the bloody diarrhea came back. It's not exactly diarrhea, but more like bloody mucus, and is bright red. From my research, that sounds like colitis, which of course doesn't tell me a whole lot about what's really going on. So ever since January, he has had these episodes where he will refuse food, possibly vomit, have the bloody mucus diarrhea, and then be fine again for a period of a few weeks. He's been on a barrage of antibiotics and such, and I'd been giving him plain yogurt with his food to help digestion after the antibiotics. But every time, the episodes come back, and then he's fine again for a while. Finally, I got to the point where the vet wanted to do a series of Barium Xrays, but he first suggested that I try Hill's Canine ID prescription food. I know Hill's isn't that great, and I hate that they test on animals, but he said it was really easy to digest and may help if Hagrid has IBS. I switched his food slowly again, and he had an episode during the first week. Then he was fine for a while, and he had another episode just this past weekend. Now he seems fine again. Has anyone else had experience with this? I really don't want to subject him to Barium Xrays, as I think it would be very stressful to him. My vet says he thinks it is either IBS, or a condition that I can't remember the name of where part of the intestine sort of overlaps itself. But if it's that, it would seem to me that he wouldn't act so normal for so much of the time. I'm also wondering if it could be an allergy to something, since he is a paw-licker/chewer. I've been so worried about this, and any help or advice would be so much appreciated. I am really desperate to figure this out- I lost my other dog so young and it would truly break my heart if it happened again. Thanks!

dyan

Posted : 6/16/2006 8:04:15 AM

Oh, I 'm so sorry. I really don't have advise for you but I'm sure many here will if you hang around...I just wanted to wish you luck for your baby!

cakana

Posted : 6/16/2006 10:27:26 AM

I'd suggest reading a few of Monica Segals booklets. You can order them from her website [linkhttp://www.monicasegal.com]www.monicasegal.com[/link] and you can also join her forum on yahoo. There are several people on the forum that seem to have (or had) the same types of problems and they may be able to help. You have to actually join the yahoo group, but it's easy to do.

[linkhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Kitchen/join?yguid=252471306&finish=sub]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Kitchen/[/link]

Marcie Gorman

Posted : 6/16/2006 10:49:46 AM

Thank you, I already have a Yahoo ID so I got right to the page. I was wondering if anyone was going to suggest home prepared diets. As someone who is mostly vegetarian, the idea of preparing meat doesn't appeal to me, but I understand that it may have health benefits that I am not aware of, and I'm willing to do anything for Hagrid. He's the one that got me through the loss of my beloved Akita, and for many more reasons than that he is a very special boy. I appreciate the link and welcome any other comments![

]

cakana

Posted : 6/16/2006 11:54:03 AM

Well, I'm not vegetarian but I don't always enjoy cooking and the thought of doing it for my dog(s) was a little daunting for me too. I had to do a true elimination diet for 12 weeks a few months ago, and I actually found it not to be a chore really. Keep in mind that my dog weighs 75 lbs, so the biggest problem I had was being able to cook enough on the weekends to last at least a week. It wasn't even the cooking it that was bad, but I found it tough to find the room in the frig/freezer to be a challenge. If I'd have continued, I'd have invested in a stand alone freezer. You shouldn't have those problems though since your dog is much smaller. I really do think that for dogs with IBD, IBS, colitis, etc., home prepared diets are probably worth a try. If the elimination diet had shown any improvement in my dog, I was going to consult with Monica on how to prepare a balanced diet we could continue with longterm.
If you join that group, there is some really useful articles in the file sections and some ideas on diets. The booklets Monica has are also very easy to read and inexpensive.

Marcie Gorman

Posted : 6/23/2006 12:43:36 AM

Thank you. I think I will give it a try, as opposed to subjecting my dog to Barium X rays and God knows what else. If it doesn't work, I can always try the Barium X rays later. Thanks again for the link!!!

calliecritturs

Posted : 6/24/2006 3:01:44 PM

Monica will actually write a diet for you specifically for your dog if you want her to. Her fees are pretty nomimal for the support you get (and she IS wonderful -- I've known Monica for years and she's just solid gold). Monica and her husband are not quite vegetarian as well so she'll be very understanding of how you feel and she'll have good tips for how to make it do-able for you.

The other thing I would suggest would be to *add* a vet to your repetoire that does traditional Chinese veterinary medicine. If you go to the Chi-Institute website: [linkhttp://www.chi-institute.com]http://www.chi-institute.com[/link] on the left hand side they have a locator (by zip code and state). I looked quick and there is one in Louisville, and several others in the state (horse vets LOVE acupuncuture because it works!! So it tends to be more popular in states with a strong equine drive but there are vets there who do both small and large animal). Acupuncture can help a lot with colitis and you just get a whole different type of exam.

I'm not suggesting you "leave" your vet -- not at all. But both the herbs used in TCVM and the acupuncture can really help colitis a whole lot. (personal experience talking here) Good luck.

Marcie Gorman

Posted : 6/24/2006 10:55:59 PM

Yes, I noticed that Monica will write a diet for me. I like the idea of a personalized diet, but unfortunately with the move and everything I just cannot afford it right now. I'm going to stick it out on the Canine ID until I have some more cash, and then I would like to consult with Monica to see what she recommends. I am totally willing to cook for Hagrid if it will make things better for him. I also appreciate the recommendation for the Chi Institute. I am going to have to leave my vet anyway because of the move, but in addition to to a new vet I am interested in consulting with a holistic vet as well. My parents have a chihuahua/yorkie mix with back problems that has benefited so tremendously from an acupuncturist. I had never thought about acupuncture in response to colitis, but after Peanut's experience and your recommendation I am inclined to believe it could help. Thanks again- I've read a lot of your posts and you are awesome!

calliecritturs

Posted : 6/25/2006 4:13:13 PM

Hey the only "special" thing about me is the wonderful dogs I've had. And learning to take care of a dog with special needs is a big deal ... been there done it. You'll get it together -- truly you will. Good luck!!

willowchow

Posted : 6/25/2006 5:01:38 PM

Willow has IBS, so if you need to PM me.

PeepersandEm

Posted : 7/17/2006 5:12:02 AM

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