Let's See Your Dogs!!

So Dex has had this issue where a few times now (in the 1.5 years since we adopted him) he will start to get really loose stools and eventually bloody ones, until we take him to the vet and they put him on priobiotics/antibiotics. Then it goes away for a few or several months, then it's back again. This last week was the worst, he started getting constipated and whenever he did get something out it was basically piles of bloody mucus (I'll spare you all the photos I showed the vet). He gets pretty lethargic and uncomfortable when it happens

So this time, on top of the usual meds the vet ordered a comprehensive blood test exam that has to be analyzed by another outfit out of state..we should get the results soon. Hopefully be able to nip this for good, once and for all. He had a general blood test done last time that showed nothing wrong, but I think this one is aimed to look at possible metabolic or hormonal issues.

 

and thank goodness for pet insurance, I was skeptical of it prior to getting Dex but after the MASSIVE bills related to the terminal cancer our last pup had we decided to do it this time around.
They've covered 95% of the bills related to this and a couple other issues so far. We have Embrace through USAA

 

So sorry

 

Parasites, infections, IBD, and a couple other things can cause this. Sometimes, dogs who scavenge trash cans eat stuff that causes upset stomachs. Questions I'd ask include are you on any kind of worm/flea, tick prevention? Do you know if your pup has a sensitive stomach or can eat things in the yard?

Regardless, good luck and hope you're able to figure things out!

 

Thanks, yeah he is a Husky after all and chases everything that moves lol. He's caught a few possums and I've found their entrails in the yard before. I made sure the vet knew, he's on a prescription flea/tick medicine as well.

The first time it happened they said it was likely pancreatitis because he was eating avocados from our neighbors tree that the squirrels would drop in our backyard, apparently avocados are really bad for dogs because of the high fat content that they can't process appropriately. But this time that's not the case, but hopefully if it's parasite/infection related it will show up on the blood panel they're doing

 

Has your dog been in the water at the Colorado River-Blyth area? Or in or around other bodies of water? There is an outbreak of "flatworm" I believe in some bodies of water that has been making dogs sick.

 

Pancreatitis? Our dog had some pretty gross stools with flare ups like you describe until his vet put him on low fat food.

ETA: I see you covered that above.

 

Avocados aren't the best food but as long as they don't get the pits, one or two now and then shouldn't be a big deal (I have an avocado tree. Riley used to eat them now and then vet said not to worry as long as it wasn't every day ).

Good luck!

 

Wow coincidentally Mal. just split a nail to the quik and it was showing last Monday . FF to Tuesday and she was limping all over because we could see the exposed quik. Off to vet. gave her a shot to sedate her and then they dremeled it and shaped it and gave us some Galliprent a NSAID. Wed. she started having loose stool. Thursday vomiting and diarrhea, but eating normal. Friday eating normal but same side effects of the medication except for vomiting got violent and the diarreha got bad up all night both of us, with both in and out to kennel yard. Saturday morning around 10am thats when the blood showed up. Took her to the Vet. they gave her a shot to help the nausea and Metronidazole something to calm the stomach. They wanted to send her home with a hills science diet for GI tract. I told em to remember she is allergic to chicken. They for got to check the dry food? Good thing I did checked it #1 ingredient chicken. Sunday much better and able to hold food. Monday even better almost normal. Today normal meals and energy levels and stool back to normal. Thank goodness. We think the trama and sedation started things going in the wrong direction and just got worse
Hope Dex gets better soon

 

A little windy today and this flower stem fell from the neighbors tree. She was so happy to carry it around for a bit.

 

Happy 2nd day of Spring! Beautiful clear warm day here in San Diego. Going to celebrate by going to Costco this morning and buying stuff I probably don't need! Except for the Whiskey of course!

 

No like

 

Sorry

 

We looked into pet insurance and it was around $100 a month
I have to do more research.

 

Pumpkin is $700.00 a year and $500.00 deductable. With a active and athletic working breed we figured it might pay off. And it covers normal yearly visits.

 

When you’re looking at pet insurance, be sure you check where it’s provided. For example, VCA sells insurance but surprise! Only good at your vet.

 

We noticed that when we were looking.

 

So our vet called yesterday and said that so far, the blood test panel they did is indicating that Dex has an uncommon condition called Addison's Disease...but we will need to bring him back in so they can do a specific test to confirm.

Basically it's an issue with the adrenal gland causing a big hormonal imbalance, if left untreated it can eventually lead to organ failure. But if treated and managed, it should have no adverse effect on his quality of life and lifespan. So that part is good news, we'll find out more soon

 

Good news for your pet.

 

Yeah the prognosis is good. I was hoping it would be something that could be treated once and for all, but this is much better than something terminal or untreatable, for sure. I had never heard of it before so it was a relief to know he will be okay as long as it's managed. It does make me wonder if this is how he ended up dumped at the shelter (where we adopted him), shame on his previous owners if so. The shelter had no info on why he was left there.

It sounds like the treatment is a daily steroid medication and a once monthly injection at the vet. Hopefully our insurance continues to be good to us, either way the treatment sounds pretty straightforward