Author Topic: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet *UPDATE - PART 2*  (Read 13543 times)

EllieAndBlu

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My poor Ellie is going back to the vet *UPDATE - PART 2*
« on: August 28, 2008, 02:09:10 am »
Hi Everyone.... I sure do miss y'all!

Hopefully this will make sense....

I have to get Ellie back to the vet... she will go on Friday unless they can see her today... in the meantime, I am wondering if anyone has any insight on her current symptoms...

Middle-to-end of last week... Ellie threw up and was not interested in eating at all.  I could coax her into a little bit of food here and there. When I mixed her kibble with some wet -she would eat most of it and later throw up....usually a day later.

I decided to try her on some new food, wondering if that would entice her. I changed from Nature's Variety to Innova, which I started on Sunday evening. I was thrilled as Ellie was excited about Innova and eat it with no trouble. Well, last night she threw-up. FYI.. her vomit consisted of undigested food

Also - I noticed on Sat or Sun - her normal stools changed to yellow... and today's poop was normal color on the outside and yellowish on the inside.

On a side note - my girl was diagnosed with liver disease... and I am going to get her blood tested at the vet to see how her enzymes leves are.

So I am freaking out, sad, stressed and worn out... to say the least.

Any ideas on what could be going on with my girl?

Thanks!
« Last Edit: September 01, 2008, 11:45:14 pm by EllieAndBlu »

Offline patrick

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2008, 04:40:50 am »
The nausea, vomiting and yellow stools can all be signs of her liver problems.  Is she not on a special diet?

EllieAndBlu

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet
« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2008, 04:54:00 am »
I took her off of the grain-free, high protein food she had been on... and the vet prescribed Actigal (sp?)- to help move the bile along. According to the vet, her bile was "sludgy."

Her symptoms improved dramatically, until just recently.

The vet and the specialist where she had the ultrasound... never mentioned diet... and now that I think about it - I cant remember if I asked... and if I did, the vet didn't speak of a special diet. Crap, why did I not think to research diet?! I am whacked out over this. 
 
« Last Edit: August 28, 2008, 05:07:42 am by EllieAndBlu »

Offline patrick

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2008, 05:14:07 am »
Usually as the liver disease progresses the diet is very low protein- at least for humans so ask and see what is recommended.  Hopefully her lab tests won't be too far off.

Offline Scootergirl

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2008, 07:40:39 am »
OH, poor Ellie. I'm sending her big hugs hoping she'll feel better. I'm sorry I don't have any advice.
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principle difference between dog and man." -- Mark Twain

Icerotti

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2008, 12:30:16 pm »
Oh poor sweet Ellie. Sending positive thoughts her way and yours too.  :-* :-* :-* :-*

Offline aggghgmom

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet
« Reply #6 on: August 29, 2008, 08:01:08 am »
We will be thinking of Ellie today as she goes to the vet.  Keeping all fingers, toes and paws crossed that a change of diet is the answer!!!

Please let us know how Ellie (and of course,you) make out today.

Randy and Harley

AudgePadge

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet
« Reply #7 on: August 29, 2008, 09:00:56 am »
***HEALING VIBES*** Buzzin your way!!!

Keep us posted! <3

EllieAndBlu

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet
« Reply #8 on: August 29, 2008, 10:27:33 am »
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!  :-*
« Last Edit: August 29, 2008, 10:28:37 am by EllieAndBlu »

EllieAndBlu

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet *UPDATE*
« Reply #9 on: August 29, 2008, 12:13:17 pm »
Liz - you are a saint! :-*  :-*  :-*  Thanks soooo much for the info - it is super helpful! I am going to search too, as soon as I am done with my chores.  :)

I would love to keep Ellie on Innova if I can and will cook for her before I feed her Purina, etc..

I am kind of an obsessive freak about food. 

lins_saving_grace

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet *UPDATE*
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2008, 05:53:20 am »
That is good news.  A lot of vets try to attack issues without harsh surgory.  I like my vet for that too.  Yes, I am starting to like the Dog Nazi. 
Why is there copper in dog food?

lins_saving_grace

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet *UPDATE*
« Reply #11 on: August 31, 2008, 04:08:33 pm »
I wonder if distilling water would help too.  Remember how we had to boil water before there was such thing as bottled water?

Offline kathryn

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet *UPDATE*
« Reply #12 on: August 31, 2008, 05:36:45 pm »
Sending healing vibes for Ellie that she feels better soon.  Big hugs from us in Houston
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lins_saving_grace

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet *UPDATE*
« Reply #13 on: September 01, 2008, 06:40:22 pm »
how's your girl today?  I hope she's doing well.

EllieAndBlu

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Re: My poor Ellie is going back to the vet *UPDATE - PART 2*
« Reply #14 on: September 01, 2008, 11:44:20 pm »
Thanks again y'all!!!  I am struggling with this and really appreciate all the support!

Well Ellie was good for a couple of days... then I came home this morning (after working overnight) to 2 big piles of runny, loose poops and a pee spot.

Ellie wasn't interested in eating her breakfast and was back to drinking bunches of water. She didn't want her rice, pumpkin, innova mixture for dinner - but when I gave her a small handful of Innova alone, she gladly ate it.

She hasn't thrown up since Saturday, but I can see in her eyes that she doesn't feel well and it just kills me. (I am welling up as I write this and am one second away from a full blown boo-hoo fest).

As for her food - I am going to start mixing Innova regular and senior foods starting this morning... the senior is lower in copper and protein.... I am hoping this will be a good mix for my girl. I am also on the hunt for Milk Thistle and will be getting distilled water too.

I should have her blood work results tomorrow... will keep y'all posted.
« Last Edit: September 02, 2008, 05:52:31 am by EllieAndBlu »