Prednisonol Steroid

Hello

After one year of almost continual treatment my dog was diagnosed with IBD (Dog chrones type illness)

I am trying to reduce the steroid from 5mg X 2.  He has gained 1.5 kg in two months.  He has has all the antibiotics available.  The last dose of metronisodal six weeks.  He still takes a quarter of a tab of rantindin with each meal.

I reduced to 2.5 prednisonol X 2 for last week + the diareah started again last night.

How can he live like this, he is 18 months old.  He is squeezing through his little door to the garden, I cant watch it.  I mean I am getting a bigger door but what will the long term health/weight problems be?

[therese83]

I got a slot on the vets board so I have put this there.  If anyone knows anything alternative please let me know.  

I mean an alternative for IBD, I have tried everything.

[Ghilly]

The vet board is going to be your best bet for this, because steroid use in dogs is a touchy thing.  Cats tolerate steroids MUCH better than dogs do, dogs are prone to developing diabetes, liver problems and other things from constant use of steroids.  While cats can and will develop these problems as well, it usually takes a much longer time for it to happen in cats than in dogs.  I admittedly have NO experience with IBD in dogs, so I apologize, but I cannot give you any advice other than the above.  Please, though, let us know what you are able to find out through the vet boards, not just for our own education, but also because we care about you and your dog.

Ghilly

[therese83]

Thanks

I got a great response on the Vet board and I am going to try the hypoallergenic food, which has to be ordered through the vet.  Also the woman vet there has recommended Chinese Herbal remedies which I am also going to try out.  Unfortunately I have upped the steroid again as a temporary fix with advice from the Veterinary Hospital here.

Now I have tried everything, home cooking alternative proteins and even the raw diet which my dog wouldnt eat.  So lets try the hypoallergenic.
I hope the herbs help, the steroids are very disturbing.

I know people have to take them too , it must be very difficult.

[Jaybay]

IBD causes havoc in animals and humans.  It's so sad to watch our dogs go through these kinds of disease processes, but they endure them far better than humans.  I know that in human cases of IBD/ crohns disease, a bowel resection can be helpful if the disease is limited to only a small portion of the intestine.  Obviously you'll need to try non-surgical treatments first, and any major surgery will be expensive, but it's something you might discuss with your vet if the diet change and herbals aren't effective.  

I really admire Dr. Cheng on the vet board here.  She always has something extra to offer through her vast knowledge of herbal and homeopathic treatments.  I'll pop over and read her response.  Please let us know what happens with the new food so the rest of us can be educated too.  :-)

[Ghilly]

I'm glad you were so pleased with your response from Dr. Cheng!  Hopefully what she suggested will help you get a handle on this thing and get it under control in a manner that is efficacious but also safe for your dog.  

Most of us are so conditioned to turn to prescriptions and surgeries to fix medical problems, we forget that there is a whole 'nuther world out there in the form of herbal medicines and homeopathic treatments, many of which are wildly successful where traditional medicine falls flat.  I wish you the best and hope that you will keep us posted on the progress your dog makes.

Ghilly