Maltese 6 1/2 yrs. old tummy and pain issues intermittent

[Jaylyn]

Our 6 1/2 year-old neutered male Maltese (on the thin side, never been overweight, eating high grade, intestinal friendly food since puppy and rarely given anything other than reg. dog food) has been having intermittent tummy and obscure pain issues for a month and and half and after 10 trips to vet's office and three blood profiles (one comprehensive one), other than initial dx of pancreatitis, vet is stumped as to what might be wrong.  Initially (first week of August), our Maltese did vomit and wouldn't eat (and he always eats voraciously).  Taken to vet around first week in August.  Xrays showed nothing. Blood workup showed mild pancreatis and stool sample did show some minor blood in it.  He was started on mild Rx diet and sent home.  We were told to give him 5 mg. Pepcid 1/2 before each feeding and to try small feedings.  We did this.  He seemed to get better but then would have bouts of what appeared to be severe pain (where he would cry out and tremble uncontrollably), but we couldn't tell where pain was coming from.   Sometimes he acted like he couldn't walk, holding his left foot up, other times he would try to walk but seemed he couldn't.  It is awful to watch this.  Back to the vet's.  Vet thought dog might be dealing with a couple of issues, like maybe intermittent pancreatitis and another maybe cervical issue or pinched nerve or something.   Vet started him on Medcam (?) for pain, small amount every AM, then changed to every other day, etc.  Sometimes he has cried out like in a lot of pain, but this can be done on days when he is eating fine.  And then a few times, he doesn't seem interested at all in food (and he has ALWAYS been interested in food).  He is generally not himself though, even on days without pain episodes and no obvious tummy issue.  Just not himself.   Maybe only one time with very loose stool, and another time with kind of loose stool (but nothing signficant there).  Another stool was checked a couple of weeks ago--no blood in it and negative for parasites.  Blood workup done then completely normal.  Two days ago he mostly dry heaved in the early AM hours (3 AM to 6 AM) about every 10 minutes.  He was at the vet's at 7 AM and observed there all day.  No more dry heaves.  Vet could find nothing wrong with him.  This AM, won't eat, but no dry heaving or other symptoms.   He has been in and out of vet's and hospital about 6 times in last 45 days.  We are worn out.  All blood work shows normal now and they have done very comprehensive blood work profiles.  Vet is stumped.   By time we got him home from last vet appt. 6 PM, he had stopped the dry heaving, and after giving him Pepcid 5 mg., he ate and held it down fine.  We gave him no more pain meds, just Pepcid 5 mg. half hour before each meal.  Now today, Sept. 24th, absolutely won't eat, but no vomiting or dry heaving.  He has been on special Iams Intestinal Low-Residue canned food diet from vet's office since first week of August.  If anyone has a clue, please give me your thoughts.  Most recent blood work shows no signs of pancreatitis, but something has to be going on. Vet now (today) says perhaps we are dealing with a food allergy and wants us to come back in for another blood draw after 12 hours fasting.  Says this blood will be sent for very specific workup to rule out gastro/intestinal issues.  But if anyone has some info that could be helpful, I would sure like to hear it.

[Jaylyn]

I very much admire your dedication in helping dogs that wouldn't otherwise have help. You must be a very special person.

You probably noticed I have now uploaded a photo of little Baxter.  There are a few more photos on my profile page.

Baxter seems to be doing better.  He actually played a little (ran in hide and seek with my husband) this AM.  He is very lethargic now...may have overdone it, but it is the first time he has shown any interest in playing which seems like a very good sign.  We will see.  His symptoms are so cyclical....it is very odd.   He generally is not the same little guy he was a couple of months ago though.  If he did get into something that was toxic, maybe it will take a while to work its way out of system entirely...who knows.  

Thanks for the clarification on the food issue.  I am going to start adding in a little boiled chicken first to his diet.  If he tolerates that well, in a couple of weeks, I may give him a little cottage cheese here and there.  I will keep you posted.

And, again, thanks for all your help and support!

[Misfits4Me]

Hi Jaylyn, Oops.....Your right. I did my research on the dry. They sure read different to be used for the same thing, don't they? My post last night was a 3;30 AM and I was just too tired to go any farther. Let's see where it begin...My resource for the pet food poisonings is No longer available. I know Iams was part of it. I can't be sure of your specific food, though. The Melamine was in the glutens of certain foods. (Corn, wheat, rice).
I didn't mean for you to start cooking forever; my examples of foods to offer him were what I thought his stomach could tolerate (right now) till you found a better food. Or I would have mentioned a multivitamin, also. No, I feed dry grainfree, canned (usually grainfree) and fresh. I rotate......
I went to look at my can (Different brand) of prescript. food for intestional problems. I keep a few cans on hand and use it for 3days if I have a dog with any issues. Yours read much better than mine. Mine reads 6.5% Protein and the list is Water for processing, beef, & brewers rice. :(  Now, I'm confused. I would never give beef for tummy trouble. So, back to square one....Damn!
My passion is not the nutrition part.  My passion is to save my new friend!  I only adopt dogs that No One else wants. They always have various medical issues, some that are life threatening, along with psychological issues from abuse, abandonment, and neglect. I take the ones that don't have a Chance-in-He!! of finding a home due to age, blindness, teeth falling out of their heads, illness too overwhelming, whatever..Thus began my quest for proper nutrition to get these guys well.. That's after extensive Vet care of course. Anyway, that's my passion.....Is Baxter better, today? I wondered about him yesterday. I went to watch my Alma Mater play football. My son came home from college to take care of the creatures for me. He wonders why we have NO normal dogs..I tell him that normal dogs have a better chance of finding a home!   I shop for Christmas trees this way, too.   Drives my family Nuts!!!!  :)   Let me know how your doing.....Karla

[Jaylyn]

I skrewed up again.....Baxter has only been on Iams Vet Formula soft food (mentioned above) since AUGUST 08, not March 08.

[Jaylyn]

I think kidney function was examiend via blood workups, but I will check to make sure.

As for the Iams, remember that the Iams he was put on (March of 08) is CANNED, soft Veterinary Formula (NOT sold in stores) Intestinal Low-Residue.  It does not show any melamine in it, and its contents (as I mentioned in earlier post) were somewhat different that the Iams you reported on in your earlier email (so I am thinking, Misfits4Me probably was looking at DRY Iams product sold in stores rather than the specific canned food my dog is on (right?).

I appreciate, Jaybay, the recommendation about Missing Link (multivitamin).  I personally take probably 35 supplements every day which costs a fortune.  Not thrilled about adding to that expense plus making all my dog's food, but if it is the best thing for him, I think I have to do it.  My husband and I are animal lovers and we do want to do the best by them.  We already have well over a thoursand into Baxter's treatment already -- and we may end up spending triple that before we are done, or more--who knows.  (No, we didn't get pet insurance when he was younger.....darn!)

Anyway, thanks so much for all the advice.  It is more appreciated than you know!

  

[Misfits4Me]

Jaybay is right!  I think Iams was part of the problem...Not sure they ever got caught!  But, I remember many accounts of dogs getting sick on Iams. I will try to find my old records of the "Pet Food Poisonings". I will dig to see if this food was on the list...I actually stood in the stores and warned people about their food. As much bloodwork as Baxter has had, surely the Vet would have picked up on any Kidney problems. Don't you think? Anyway...Let's see..That was March 07.......I'll see what I can find...Karla

[Jaybay]

Misfits gave you some really good nutritional guidelines to look for on dog food labels.  It's true that corn is used in the majority of commercial foods because it's cheap.  Well, it used to be until the government said we had to use it for car fuel, but that's another forum's topic.  LOL!  Corn can cause some very real medical issues in dogs, but usually along the line of allergies. It doesn't have much nutritional value for the dog either.  Next time you're in the pet store or grocery store, do a little label reading (bring your reading glasses - lots of tiny print!) and notice that the cheaper foods are composed mainly of grains.  Anything that says "by product" is off my dog's menu.  Meat by products come from animals that are already dead or diseased and unfit for human consumption.

I don't remember if the foods you listed were ever on the recall list from the Chinese scandal over a year ago.  Many "good" dog foods used protein from China, and the Chinese added a chemical called melamine (same thing as those plastic dinnerware sets sold at discount stores that get most of their stuff from China).  When the melamine-laced protein powder is analyzed, it causes a false result showing a higher protein content; thus allowing China to charge higher prices for the product.  Melamine caused kidney damage and death in our pets, and I just don't trust many of the pet food manufacturers any more.  Melamine was even found in bird seed, and my 20 year old cockatiel got a bag of it before I learned about the recall.  He was sick for several months but actually pulled through.  

Did your vet do blood and urine testing for kidney function?  Sometimes it doesn't show up early on.  Kidney failure can certainly cause the symptoms you describe.  

Making your own dog food is a great idea, but we usually can't ensure all the dog's nutritional needs are being met.  You can easily compensate for this lack with a daily multivitamin.  Dr. Cheng on the Ask a Vet board here at Med Help recommends Missing Link.  It's fairly expensive, so do some more label reading and comparing if the cost is a problem.

I understand how terribly frustrating this illness must be for you, and hope your dog continues moving in the right direction.  Definitely get a second opinion.  It's no insult to a vet working on a difficult case to refer a client to another doctor.  At least, it shouldn't be an insult.  If it is, then you have your answer - you need a different vet.  :-)