Chronically Sick Dog - No help yet :(

[ASHLEYBRUNETT]

Hi there,

My 4 yr old has had terribly bad diarrhea for months now, he has been drinking water excessively and peeing all of the time. His nose is really dry and while he still has a ton of energy, I know that something just isn't working in his insides. We have taken him to 3 different vets in the neighborhood and no one has been able to help. I've spent hundreds on blood tests/stool sample tests each month but still no answers. We've tried several high-end / Rx foods and recently I have been cooking chicken and rice for him but it's not helping.

Does any of this sound familiar? If you think you can help please let me know.

Thanks,

Ashley

[suzi-q]

The only thing I could think of is the kidneys...but if those blood tests were fine, could it be a chronic colitis?  I hope that you get some answers soon.  So sorry to hear about this.

[arachnaphob]

Hi,  I know it's rare but my dog had diarrhea, excessive thirst, lethargy etc.  It turned out to be Addisons disease.  My vet checked her cortisol levels in her blood and the result was definitive.  Also, has the vet done a thyroid level.  Maybe he has thyrotoxicosis, this can cause diarrhea as well.

Best of luck to you

Chirley

[therese83]

I wish you well.  I can only tell you my experience and I hope that this helps you.  My Dog kept getting diareah, I tried every natural remedie.  Alternative diets, fresh food, dry, chicken and rice, just rice eveything!

My dog has had this for one year.  He responds well to antibiotics and recovers but it has never gone away, it comes backk a few days after finishing the course.

He has been to the Vetinary Hospital (very expensive)  colonoscopy, with many probes taken from throughout the intestine.

HE is on the Steroid Prednisolon now with Metronidizal (anti biotic) and also ant acid (Ranitidin)

He has been on this anti biotic and steroid before.  But I think it is going to be a long term thing though the vet expects a cure.  I have to go back after one month of this treatment.

With him it is a bacterial infection, and somehow he just cant recover.  I hope that your dog does better than mine!

[Shyrottilovr]

http://www.anactivelife.com/user/productdetail.php?pid=35&gclid=CIPsgIPCspcCFQNfFQod6wudhg -- try this cream for the dogs dry cracked nose, it wirks wonders!!!!


Shyrottilovr

[Shyrottilovr]

I think that you might be feeding your dog the wrong food for its system.
Check out these places for planning personalized foods for your beloved pooch.
http://home.att.net/~wdcusick/06.html -- 2 free books online written by the amazing William D. Cusick, The Animal Advocate

http://home.att.net/~wdcusick/Rottweiler.html -- has a link at the bottom of the page where you can input your dogs specific information and pay a fee, and he will make a feeding plan for you. It is a hundred dollars. A bit pricey, but if it saves you thousands of dollars in vet visits where they just tell you "Your dog is healthy", then it is definately worth it.

You can also try Kasco dog food, found at most large/farm animal feed shops. It is wonderful. My rotti had a problem with eating her feces and having diarrhea (disgusting, I know), but when we quit feeding her the **** like Iams, etc. and gave her Kasco she stopped completely.

Another trick is to add a little metamucil, or other fiber to your pups water (preferably unflavored or the dog may not drink it). Add by the teaspoonful. If the poo doesnt become more solid after two days add another teaspoonful until it does. Another way is to look for foods in the stores with higher fiber contents.

Hope this helps,
Shyrottilovr

[PawsitivePet]

I agree to have him tested for malabsorption and maldigestion.  If they haven't already, have them look for Endocrine Pancreas Insufficiency as well.  

[ASHLEYBRUNETT]

he's a black lab - today we went back to the vet and his heart rate is down 1/2 of what it was last week. they are doing a million more tests ... no clue what's going on :(

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

Its my pleasure...ask your veterinarian about testing for malabsorbtion and maldigestion.   Those are the tests that are run at the GI Lab at Texas A&M.

What kind of dog is he?

Tomcat

[ASHLEYBRUNETT]

Thanks so much for your concern - we sent a stool sample in last month but honestly I don't know exactly what they tested for. I will definitely ask them to test for 'protozoan parasites' if they haven't already. thanks for the tip!

As far as food goes we've tried several during his life with us - he was on avoderm for years, science diet nature's best for a few months and we've also tried duck mixes and other non-chicken meat foods. He does have allergies and a sensitive stomach but it's never been as bad as it has for the last few months. Recently we had him on RX ID food that is diarrhea specific, but it hasn't helped. The best thing is chicken and rice which (sorry to be gross) just makes his watery poo look a little more like rice.

It seems like we just need to have more testing done, but i don't know what else to request.

Thanks again,

Ashley

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

Hi...sorry to hear that you are having a rough time finding out the cause of your pet's diarrhea...

I hate to sound simplistic, and I realize that they may have done so in their clinics, but you might ask if anyone has sent a stool sample to a laboratory for testing.   There are several protozoan parasites and some types of bacteria that can cause diarrhea in otherwise healthy animals.  Due to their uncommon nature, these parasites could be overlooked by a busy veterinary staff.

You mention using several high end and RX diets...could you elaborate on that?  For example, what brands have been tried and for how long?

Many different possibilities come to mind, including food allergies (possibly to chicken) or even deficiencies in certain enzymes that help digest food.   There is a great GI lab in Texas that your veterinarian can send blood samples to in order to potentially diagnose this type of problem.

I would love to hear more...please keep us posted as to what other tests are being done.

[ginger899]

I wonder if this could be a kidney weakness of some kind? If fluid is not being dealt with properly by the kidneys, it comes out the other way. This does need another opinion.