Thanks for all the well wishes everyone - they are appreciated more than you know!!!
Okay - we just got back from the vet and here...
Doc thinks Ellie's liver issues could be caused by too much copper in her diet - an issue common to dobies...
so she recommended a low-copper diet and suggested the following foods: Purina, Nutro, Precise or Pedigree.
Now, I am wondering if anyone knows of higher quality brands of low copper food? Possible ones lower in protein, to also assist her ailing liver? In the past 2 years Ellie has eaten (that I can remember: Nature's Variety (Instinct and regular) and I just started her on Innova (though she has been throwing up)....when she was younger, she had been on Wellness.
I am going to research foods today - but wonder if anyone has any insight?
The doc also said the only way to really tell if copper is the issue, is a liver biopsy... and while I am more than willing to do it and pay the *gulp* $1200, I want to try a new diet first, as it is an invasive procedure.
Also - the doc took blood to check her enzyme levels and should have the results by tomorrow.
I am off to Target to get Ellie some Zantac to help her acid tummy... and she was also prescribed an anti-nausea for several days... I hoping that works in addition to the rice/chicken I will be feeding until I get her a new food.
Also - the vet recommended the supplement: zinc gluconate, but at the moment, as my head is spinning, I cant remember why. I will have to research that too.
On an up note... a new vet is taking over the practice in mid-sept. She practices both traditional medicine and holistic - I am excited about that!
Thanks again BPO'ers - I love you guys!
p.s. - a special thanks to Patrick for inquiring about Ellie's diet... in all this craziness I probably would not have thought to ask!