Heart problems in seniors, any help is appreciated.

Lee debbie

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?

 

  I think this is something you should ask your vet; does she answer questions over the phone?  It seems that if Alphie's going to respond to the medication that the vet prescribed, you would see some improvement within a few days after starting it.

Lee debbie

. 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?

Typically I think of "a few days" as no more than 3. 

Along with what Janice has said (and she's the one who knows about pancreatitis!) -- in my experience they feel pretty "off" all the way to MAJORLY DREADFUL when they have pancreatitis.  It's a problem that can run the gamut from not hugely bad (particularly if you find it quick) to a dog who is unbelievably sick (and they can die from it)  In really bad cases you can see both bloody diarrhea and bloody vomit. 

The concerning thing is to get it diagnosed (or know it is *not* pancreatitis) because they have to be on some pretty huge antibiotics (not just metranydazole) for pancreatitis. 

 

calliecritturs

  they have to be on some pretty huge antibiotics (not just metranydazole) for pancreatitis

   Jessie wasn't given antibiotics for either of her pancreatitis attacks. She was given IV fluids with  electrolytes and pain medication. Antibiotics aren't used as much for pancreatitis as they were several years ago. The metradinazole was for the colitis.

  edited to add; How's Alphie doing?

jessies_mom

 

calliecritturs

  they have to be on some pretty huge antibiotics (not just metranydazole) for pancreatitis

   Jessie wasn't given antibiotics for either of her pancreatitis attacks. She was given IV fluids with  electrolytes and pain medication. Antibiotics aren't used as much for pancreatitis as they were several years ago. The metradinazole was for the colitis.

  edited to add; How's Alphie doing?

Glad to know Janice -- it probably depends, too, on what kind of pancreatitis (if they know) -- when Billy had his, they were sure it was bacterial (because he was so immune suppressed, but I'm really glad to know this!

I've set an appointment for review but the earliest is Friday unless I go in to ER. I've been giving her tiny meals with slippery elm and prokolin 4 times a day and so far no more poop after yesterday's blobs and I'm keeping my fingers crossed hoping the next poop will look better. She's peeing and eating but I hope (with irony) it's not constipation next. Her 'lump' seems to have smoothened out a little but sort of shifted down more to the rear. She's not really more lethargic or upset and will still come when called. I hope these are positive signs. Thanks so much for the advice and input. I will update as and when. It's really quite different when speaking to the vet who really just treats it as a job versus people who love their pups. *praying for healing* Vet gave trimebutine maleate and lorpa (for runny stools) and told me to buy yunnan Bai Yao (a human drug for dispersing blood stasis and hemostasis, detoxification and treating traumatic injury). I wasn't told if the trimebutine is an antibiotic, and vet just said if Alphie is squirting *only* blood then rush her in. I was looking at the pill pocket ingredients and every single thing in there could be a cause if it really is food intolerance or allergy. The bioresonance allergy test is based on some magnetic tests in the body versus the food. I've never heard of it except that its related to t-touch. The elimination diet would take forever and she could severely lack in nutrients that she needs, so I'll go for it and hope it gives me answers. I'd hate for her to be hospitalized for IV due to dehydration, but if its just water she turns her nose at it. I have hydralyte but I'm not too sure if it is ok to give because it contains citric acid, sodium chloride, potassium citrate and is basically black current flavoring. So essentially I can't fast her really, she'll only gobble water and porridge and egg. Update:no Poop still but she's still wagging her tail.

Latest update. Alphie pooped right after supper. It's formed poop initially (very small portion though) and a large puddle of wet loose poop. Not exactly a squirt though but no blood, thank God! I'm hoping for some form in the next 2-3 days. She's very greedy as usual but I'm giving her small portions because after each meal she burps like she's having issues downing it all. Thanks ladies! It helps to know I've got support.

Lee debbie

It's formed poop initially (very small portion though) and a large puddle of wet loose poop. Not exactly a squirt though but no blood, thank God!

 

  Any progress is good news; I hope her stool keeps improving. The lump almost sounds like it's from a fluid buildup; I used to give one of our cats subq fluids for kidney disease. I put the needle in a pocket of loose skin between his shoulders. The fluid would cause a hump on his back, and then it would move to his armpit before his body absorbed it. Could the steroid jab have caused bleeding?

  

Lee debbie

Thanks ladies! It helps to know I've got support.

  Callie and I have both asked for prayers when our dogs were sick and we know what you're going through. If you posted in the spiritual circle, many members would respond with prayers and support.

Lee debbie

I was looking at the pill pocket ingredients and every single thing in there could be a cause if it really is food intolerance or allergy

Debbie -- you can't rule out allergens that way -- that way lies insanity!  Seriously -- I can tell you with ME, I seem to increase in things I"m allergic to all the time -- but sometimes it's good, sometimes it's purely chemical.  (heck I broke out in massive hives about 6 weeks ago from an antibiotic that I've taken MAY times in the past.

 All I'm saying is -- you can't avoid giving her everything because it *might* cause an allergy.  Because there's no rhyme nor reason to allergies -- sometimes it's something you have never had before and sometimes it's something that used to be well-tolerated.  You just have to watch as it goes and isolate it when you can.

Hydrolyte I'm assuming must be something like Pedialyte?  A hydrator they use for children??  If she's drinking ok then you don't need it -- you just want to make sure when theyhave diarrhea that they don't get dehydrated. (pinch some skin behind the neck and pull up and let go.  It should slide right back into place and not stick together and stay tented up -- that's the test to see if they are dehydrated.

The vet mentioned the lump felt like soft tissue, and I haven't told her about it shifted lower, I can't really feel if it's fluid buildup or fats. Honestly, I was thinking it might have been the steroid jab she wasn't tolerant to, but at this point it could also be anything at all, like Callie mentioned, even something which was well tolerated to in the past. That's why the vet wants me to do the elimination or go for the allergy test. The pill pocket is not too necessary; now I'm stuffing her meds in banana and she gobbles it, so the pill pockets are out the window. It could also be fish, or pork or beef, or maybe even the vegetables; nobody knows. Alphie is also coughing, with no fluid in the lungs, no signs of brochitis, vet again says allergy... But last thing I wanna do is go on the hypoallergenic science diet; they made me do that for Axl once and the poor boy lost too much weight he looked abused! I'll just give her porridge and egg till I see firm beautiful stools before slowly adding in the other stuff. Callie, I touch her gums (which is still sorta pink) and its sticky, meaning she's not drinking too much, her excess loose skin makes it deceiving lol! I'm also wondering now if its ok to add in milk thistle in her food; I don't know how strong her meds are right now, and don't wanna lead on to some other health problems from those meds. I was only afraid the flavoring might not go well with her in the hydralyte, it's for kids, so I reckon there's some fruit flavoring and it doesn't say if there's any artificial sweeteners or forbidden added ingredients. I think I'll just boil some carrots and give her the broth. I've been praying and teaching my son to pray for the pups, even got my mom to pray too. prayers from friends, it's really such good support!

Lee debbie

and I haven't told her about it shifted lower,

Eve a fatty lipoma won't shift -- it does sound like it's some sort of fluid or swelling.

Lee debbie

I'm also wondering now if its ok to add in milk thistle in her food; I don't know how strong her meds are right now, and don't wanna lead on to some other health problems from those meds. I was only afraid the

Should be -- and even 1/4 teas. (which is about a capsule's worth) is fine.  She's not on any big huge nasty drugs -- so a bit will help.

Lee debbie

I think I'll just boil some carrots and give her the broth.

Most any broth is fine.

Ok I'll definitely make a mention when we see her on Friday. Fingers crossed all will be good by then. She's still taking Sam-e in the morning, so I'll just drop some liquid milk thistle in her porridge. I'm giving her a larger serving of porridge this morning, she gobbled it all up! :)

Lee debbie

I was thinking it might have been the steroid jab she wasn't tolerant to, but at this point it could also be anything at all, like Callie mentioned, even something which was well tolerated to in the past.

 

  The lump is not from food allergies. Jessie has many food allergies and has seen a veterinary dermatologist. The main symptoms of food allergies are ear infections, chewing or licking the feet ( Jessie chewed her feet until they bled), rubbing the face, and scooting on the carpet or chewing the anal area. Jessie used to really irritate the area around her rectum from licking and chewing. This swelling is something else, and honestly sounds like fluid, because it has moved.

  

Lee debbie

Alphie is also coughing, with no fluid in the lungs, no signs of brochitis, vet again says allergy...

  Did the vet do a CBC or x-ray? Jessie has laryngeal paralysis, and dogs with it can have aspiration pneumonia. Two years ago, Jessie had six coughing spells in one night, so I took her to my vet. He didn't hear anything unusual when he listened to her lungs. He did a CBC and the white blood cell count was elevated, so he did an x-ray and the x-ray showed that she had early aspiration pneumonia. A vet can't always tell if there's fluid or an infection in the lungs just by listening. If it is caused by allergy, you could try Benedryl to see if it helps.

Alphie has been chewing on her rear end that I occasionally smell something fishy, we have expressed the glands and found nothing. She also doesn't have an ear infection. We're scheduled for an ultrasound in her upper respiratory this Friday and will check if She has LP or something else. I'm hoping its an irritation that is mild. My direct neighbor burns incense just at their window and I'm wondering if that could be a cause. We will also check out the lump. It doesn't feel like it's there but when she stands, it looks kind of lopsided. Her poop isn't bloody so far, still mushy but not in super wet puddles, I believe the slippery elm and the bland diet is working, which makes me nervous about slowly adding in her regular diet.

Lee debbie

Alphie has been chewing on her rear end that I occasionally smell something fishy, we have expressed the glands and found nothing.

 

  The fishy smell is anal sac fluid; Jessie's smells like that too. Most likely, Alphie was expressing them by chewing on them. The anal sacs may need emptying because of her soft stool; dogs need firm stool to empty the anal sacs when they poo.

 

Lee debbie

We're scheduled for an ultrasound in her upper respiratory this Friday and will check if She has LP or something else.

  I didn't mean that Alphie may have LP. I was trying to say that dogs can have congestion in their lungs that the vet can't hear with a stethoscope. I hope her cough gets better soon. It's good that her stool is getting better. The vet will know when it's okay to start her on her regular diet again. You're doing a great job of taking care of her.

The vet did mention awhile ago that she wanted to order a check on Alphie if she has LP because of her heavy panting and slight wheezing when excited so she has asked the radiologist to check on her, she seemed more like an LP dog than Ashton, then again both of them are half siblings, so it is still possible they have LP. And somehow I see her trying to eat flies when there are none, abit of licking of nothing and sudden abrupt head turning, I'll mentioned all of that on Friday. Her latest poop after not pooping yesterday, mushy and mustardy. No blood, I take that as good news.