Heart problems in seniors, any help is appreciated.

The chinese medicine heart tonic is ok to stop for awhile till the stools turn hard, will start with half the dose though.

A week ago Alphie started limping. Her front right leg was sore and she had a bad wrist. The vet did an X-ray and found one of her neck bone with no gap. I don't know what it's condition is called, just that it is cervical something. She was given a steroid jab, as well as gingko and Neuroforte as additional supplements. She has been limping on and off for this week. Today during their bath, I found her back hunched with what seemed like a swell or a lump almost half a basketball size. It isn't causing any pain it seems. I am curious if a steroid jab can cause a reaction like this or could it be something with her spine. She is eating and trotting fine.

 I don't have an answer Debbie, but I'm sorry that you have another thing to worry about. You've had a lot of health issues to deal with concerning your fur babies. Fingers crossed that it's not something serious.

I asked the vet about the huge lump. And reminded her about the shot, she said it is possible, she can't be sure but at the moment, take it as it is due to the shot. And then I found a huge pile of bile/foam, no idea who the culprit is. And it didnt help that the storm is in, Ashton is banging into walls and hiding in whatever box, laundry basket, orifice he can find, and then get stuck there because he forgets he's not a tiny pup anymore. So he hit his face and has been pawing at his face. Thursday is our acupuncture appointment, I hope I get some answers then.

Good luck, Debbie

Took them for acupuncture today, all was fine. The vet took a look at the lump and commented that it is soft tissue and wouldn't really worry about it. What was really worrying me is when we came back, they pooped and then moved around abit before being separated for their meals. Alphie had soft stools and refused to eat. Now she's just laying there looking upset. I've never had an acupuncture session that after it she wouldn't eat. It's quite worrying. I called the vet and she's in surgery so I'm now getting all concerned...

 Is the lump still the same size? I have a book about doing acupressure for dogs ( it helps with Jessie's arthritis) and it says not to feed them within an hour of doing acupressure. I hope Alphie's okay.

The lump seems to be the same size, not bigger. But it's so hard to tell, I feel it all the time. I thought about the acupuncture and not feeding right away. So I tried again last night. She didnt finish her supper. This morning, before breakfast, she pooed blood; Not black or tarry but literally blood, 2 puddles. I rushed her in, thank God dr S was there. She said with her loose stools going on, this was likely to happen. I don't know what that meant, but her tummy sounded noisy, so we're given a Chinese medicine to stop bleeding, some anti diarrhea pills and I'm gonna fast her today. She still looks bright and up for hugs though a little lethargic. Doctor suggested a bio resonance allergy test to see what she's exactly allergic to, and modify her diet. I'm beating myself up here because we're into her new diet by Mordanna for 3 months now, and I might need to change it again. I know how diet can cause loose stools but bloody diarrhea? I have never heard of that? Vet said I could also give slippery elm, I'm still reading on the preparation. This is making me so nervous knowing I should be expecting more bloody poop

Lee debbie

I'm beating myself up here because we're into her new diet by Mordanna for 3 months now, and I might need to change it again. I know how diet can cause loose stools but bloody diarrhea? I have never heard of that? Vet said I could also give slippery elm, I'm still reading on the preparation. This is making me so nervous knowing I should be expecting more bloody poop

But she's not sick to her stomach?  I'm thinking this could sound like pancreatitis.  At the very least bloodwork showing the amylase and lipase would show if that was possible.  There IS a test specifically for pancreatitis but I don't know if you'd have it in Singapore.

calliecritturs

But she's not sick to her stomach?  I'm thinking this could sound like pancreatitis. 

 

 Jessie has never thrown up from her pancreatitis, but it is one of the symptoms, and many dogs on the pancreatitis forum I belong to vomit when they have an attack. But, it certainly wouldn't hurt to have her amylase and lipase tested. The test specifically for pancreatitis is called Spec cPL;

Spec cPL Test 

 Debbie; IMO, the bloody stool would not be caused by her diet unless she has IBD. Could she have a parasite, or perhaps have salmonella from something she ate that was contaminated with it? I'm not sure what a bio resonance allergy test is, but blood testing for food allergies is unreliable. One thing owners of dogs with pancreatitis do when their dogs are sick, and I have done for Jessie, is make a rice congee (basically a rice porridge). That may be the best thing to feed her until her system is more stable. When she's able to have solid food, you may want to cook her a low fat bland diet, like boiled chicken and rice, for awhile.  I'll be keeping her in my thoughts; ((( hugs )))

I brought her stool sample in and they did a fecal floatations test, no parasites. The vet didnt order a blood test, just listened to her tummy and said it sounded really messy and loud, so she just mentioned I didn't need to worry about major stuff going on in the organs but more like a localized problem. She threw up once, had massive bloody diarrhea once so far. This morning her stools are very wet but no blood. I'm giving her rice porridge and boiled egg with some slippery elm. The vet didnt mention pancreatitis, but some possible colitis. I don't really know what that is.

Lee debbie

The vet didnt mention pancreatitis, but some possible colitis. I don't really know what that is.

Bloodwork would be sensible. Blood in stool is never something to ignore -- you're right to pursue it.

I'll watch her today. I came home to puddles of wet poop with blood, and one blob of black poop. She doesn't seem to be in any pain other than loud burps after drinking or eating. But she isn't drinking too much. I've boiled slippery elm with water and added to whatever I give her whether its water with a little porridge or plain porridge and egg. She's gobbled all that up. With pancreatitis there is severe pain and mucousy poop? My folks have gone out of town and there's just me and my son and the 2 pups, it's hard to go to the vet right now but this is worrying.

Lee debbie

I came home to puddles of wet poop with blood, and one blob of black poop.

 

  The black poop may also have blood. Stool with bright red blood is from bleeding in the lower intestines ( the colon ), and black, tarry stool is from bleeding in the stomach or upper intestines;

   Hematochezia (Blood in Stool) in Dogs - Page 1

 

Lee debbie

With pancreatitis there is severe pain and mucousy poop?

  Jessie had severe pain with her attacks, and didn't want to go for a walk or move around,  just wanted to rest. She also wouldn't eat, which is typical of dogs having a pancreatitis attack. Sometimes the pain can make them restless, and they'll pace and pant. Mucous in the stool is more indicative of colitis (she's had that too). When she had colitis, my vet put her on a probiotic plus metrodinazole ( I probably misspelled that). You have to allow a few hours between giving the antibiotic and the probiotic. Since she's not drinking much water, watch for dehydration. If you pull the loose skin on her shoulders up and it doesn't go back in place quickly, that's a sign that she's dehydrated.

  Here's some information on colitis;     Colitis in Dogs | Information on Colitis in Dogs

  

Thanks for the info Janice, I'm so afraid it would be something serious or worse, the C. I hope things get better tomorrow, and if needed, I'm gonna have to get my brother to babysit while i take her to the vet again.

When I took her in yesterday with the stool sample, it was red blood. So the vet was thinking colitis, coupled with the fact she's had soft stools for a few weeks following the chinese herb (even after I've stopped it). Today, I see a bit of black poop and the rest of the poop puddles were reddish/brown till i hosed them and saw red blood below. I'm wondering if that black blob could be due to it being there for awhile, I was away for about 4 hrs and no idea when she might have pooped. I wasn't really thinking pancreatitis only because Alphie still pretty much acts normal, still eating; EXCEPT for 2 days ago when she refused food and seemed lethargic for about 2 hrs after the acupuncture, then refused food again at night (this was the day before the bloody poop). I'm trying to get her to drink by giving her very little porridge with water and slippery elm every few hours. 

I'm tracing back if there was anything at all that might be causing a food intolerance, and the only thing that popped up is the pill pocket by Greenies. Mordanna's diet worked well for her and had no problems, till the chinese heart tonic and then she had soft stools, till now, bloody stools. I'm stopping everything anyway and waiting to see if  it resolves with what I"m giving now. Just that I'm not too sure how many days is 'a few days of bland diet' that I should get her back in again if the blood persists?