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HELP! We have no answers!
For the past two weeks we have brought our 10 year old lab to about 8 different doctors and have had no solid results and his condition just seems to be worsening. The best place to start is at the beginning so here goes.....
A few days before Christmas, we noticed that our Aragon would not eat. For a dog that would eat anything, this was extremely concerning. Christmas Eve he downed some roast and we were thrilled that he ate anything at all. He was still not himself. Once we got home, again he wouldn't eat and had diarrhea. With obvious concern, we brought him to the hospital and he was diagnosed with pancreatitis. A common diagnosis. He was put on a bland diet, some meds, and sent on his way. Still no eating. He was brought back to the hospital with a fever and dehydration. He was put on IV fluids which made him feel 90% better so he started eating a little bit. His fever went down so he was sent home again. Once home, he refused to eat or drink. He was administered pedialyte through a syringe which made him seem like he was getting a little better. A day later, on a brief walk, he fell to his side with labored breathing. Another rush to the hospital where IV fluids were administered. For a couple of days he stayed in the hospital. the pancreatitis was healing but now he was diagnosed with pneumonia. More meds. And he was sent home. Now still with a fever, leaking diarrhea, and not eating. Again, he passed out and was rushed to the hospital. This time, they are saying its a brain tumor. It's just all so odd. This was a once healthy dog who ate better than us. He had a great diet, awesome energy, and thought he was a puppy. One episode of pancreatitis leads to this?! I would just like to hear anyone's opinions, personal stories, suggestions, anything. Thanks in advance.
A few days before Christmas, we noticed that our Aragon would not eat. For a dog that would eat anything, this was extremely concerning. Christmas Eve he downed some roast and we were thrilled that he ate anything at all. He was still not himself. Once we got home, again he wouldn't eat and had diarrhea. With obvious concern, we brought him to the hospital and he was diagnosed with pancreatitis. A common diagnosis. He was put on a bland diet, some meds, and sent on his way. Still no eating. He was brought back to the hospital with a fever and dehydration. He was put on IV fluids which made him feel 90% better so he started eating a little bit. His fever went down so he was sent home again. Once home, he refused to eat or drink. He was administered pedialyte through a syringe which made him seem like he was getting a little better. A day later, on a brief walk, he fell to his side with labored breathing. Another rush to the hospital where IV fluids were administered. For a couple of days he stayed in the hospital. the pancreatitis was healing but now he was diagnosed with pneumonia. More meds. And he was sent home. Now still with a fever, leaking diarrhea, and not eating. Again, he passed out and was rushed to the hospital. This time, they are saying its a brain tumor. It's just all so odd. This was a once healthy dog who ate better than us. He had a great diet, awesome energy, and thought he was a puppy. One episode of pancreatitis leads to this?! I would just like to hear anyone's opinions, personal stories, suggestions, anything. Thanks in advance.
Please have your dog checked for bacteria. And if he is on medication, look up the side effects.Also, my cousin had a similar issue with her cat and she changed the food and now he's fine. I wish you luck. Please keep me posted.
So sorry for your loss. We are experiencing a similar situation with our Boxer. Perfectly healthy, then suddenly he is having bad seizures and fighting for his life. So frustrating to have no answers. Again, sorry to hear of Aragons passing. God Bless you all.
Tony about said it all. I am very sad to read about your loss. You certainly did all you could for your beloved Aragon. Sometimes, even our best efforts don't have the desired outcome and, unfortunately, it is usually likely we will outlive our beloved companions. Having him for 10 years was a blessing. I know he is waiting for you and is out of pain.
If you haven't seen it, do look up The Rainbow Bridge poem as it can be a comfort.
We understand your sorrow.
If you haven't seen it, do look up The Rainbow Bridge poem as it can be a comfort.
We understand your sorrow.
I am so very sorry to read your post. It's almost 1am in the UK and I just wanted to catch up on how you were doing before I went off to my bed. My heart sank when I read about Aragon. This is so upsetting. The only (truly, the only) good thing to be reassured by is that Aragon isn't suffering anymore. And remember, he had 10 fantastic years, albeit far too short a life (no dog lives long enough for any of us). Try to remember the amazing time you have shared with him over the years, the experiences you have shared, the love given and returned, and all those adventures. You did all you could possibly have done, but sadly, things don't always work out the way we would like. Run free Aragon. Tony xx
Again, I want to thank you guys for your replies. Today we had to say goodbye to sweet Aragon. After all this run around, and lack of proper treatment his body completely shut down. His intestinal tract was deteriorating and leaking fluid into his abdomen. He completely shut down and couldn't walk anymore. The vet is saying this is secondary to the pacreatitis which he was being treated for almost 3 weeks ago. Something went wrong somewhere and we lost our baby today. I'm still very confused.
Good idea on trying the tripe, Tony. Most will eat that. The canned doesn't smell too bad. I can't handle the fresh stuff. :-).
She could add some calf livers or chicken livers too, not too much at one time.
She could add some calf livers or chicken livers too, not too much at one time.
My heart really goes out to you. This must be both so worrying and enormously frustrating. Getting him to eat is now a priority, as without food he won't have the energy to recover if recovery is an option. I would try him on obvious things like cooked chicken and boiled white rice, but if he refuses hat try getting some GREEN tripe (tinned or frozen, usually available at good pet stores) and mix with a little boiled white rice. The rice is easy to digest, and I have yet to meet a dog that won't eat cooked green tripe. It stinks to high heaven, but dogs love it, and it's full of minerals and nutrients. Good luck and do keep us informed of how things develop. Tony
I want to thank everyone for your replies. We're at a loss and it is so frustrating. I'm tired just thinking about it. He's only been off the flagy for two days and we just stopped the baytril today. I am hoping beyond hope that this will solve the issues.
I have no answers but have following this thread and feel so bad fir you.
Every medication has it's purpose. I have had to use Flagyl years ago and am not a fan of the drug. A friend of mine almost list one of her Champion show dogs and two puppies as the Vet had prescribed too high a dose.
Best of luck.
Every medication has it's purpose. I have had to use Flagyl years ago and am not a fan of the drug. A friend of mine almost list one of her Champion show dogs and two puppies as the Vet had prescribed too high a dose.
Best of luck.
Update: We did a lot of research and found that a lot of his symptoms are side effects of this metronidazole (flagyl) ad baytril which are two medicines that he was taking on top of many others. We stopped the flagyl and saw minor improvement and have now stopped the baytril and are waiting. He still won't eat anything at all. We called to schedule an MRI and were told that he can not be put under anesthesia until he is 100% better so that test is not an option. He has never shown any signs before being treated for "pancreatitis". Since then his health has declined when he was once an extremely healthy dog. I am convinced he is being misdiagnosed and now just being given up on by the vets.
my lab had the same problem with the brain tumor thought. they told us it would be 3000 dollars and if theres a tumor they cant operate . they put her on phenobarbital and all the seizers stoped within a week. more then a year has past and we are having some issues now with what i think are peite seizers but a full year with no issues on the meds.
Hi. The MRI will certainly confirm the tumor, if that's what it is. It is also true that medication can create some startling side effects, and most should disappear if the medication is stopped. Like all dogs, your best friend may have had this condition a long time, but dogs being dogs, he may only have started displaying obvious signs of it as the condition became severe. Dogs commonly hide aspects of being injured or ill until it becomes almost unbearable or uncontrollable, because that is what they would do in the wild (instinctive behavior). An injured or ill dog is invariably killed or shunned when in a pack, which is why they try to conceal their symptoms. In humans, brain tumors are relatively easy to diagnose because of direct communication, but it is far more difficult in dogs - until an MRI is undertaken. Therefore, the sooner the MRI is done the better, because then at least you will have some valued information and can consider options for management and treatment. Tony
They took blood, chest xrays, everything. All is normal. Now they're saying it may be neurological. After some of my own research, I found that ALL of his symptoms are linked to a reaction to the medication he was given for the pacreatitis. He is currently at the hospital again and had another "seizure" after being walked outside. They're set on it being a brain tumor or the like. It just seems to be so sudden when he was completely fine until he was treated for the pancreatitis. The treatment is what started all of this. We now have to schedule an MRI.
Hi. First of all, I'm sorry you and your best friend are going through this dreadful time ... half the battle would be an exact and definitive diagnosis, and all the conditions you have mentioned have a clear route to diagnosis, so it may be you need a second opinion from a different vet. I also (just wondering) whether bloods have been taken, as this would help diagnose at least one of these conditions and also help confirm or eliminate the possibility of kidney disease, which some of the symptoms would point towards. I would keep him on foods that are easy to digest, such as cooked chicken and boiled white rice or pasta, if he will eat it, and certainly until a precise diagnosis has been made. It is clear that exercise is causing problems, so while a short walk may lift his spirits, don't over do it - and keep him warm and dry by using a doggy coat if the weather is chilly. If you take him back to his vet (or indeed to an alternative vet), try to collect some of the diarrhea in a jar and take it with you, so they can examine and test it. Let us know how you get on. Tony
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