Shi tzu IBD & Allergies

[BanjoBonJovi]

My 4-1/2 yr old Shi tzu started prednisone. Isn't prednisone just to mask symptoms to prolong life? I would prefer to figure out the puzzle of symptoms and root cause.  Any advice would be appreciated.

IBD symptoms: (Only Since Sept 1st, 2008)
Red blood-heavy mucus in stool for 5-7 days (amoxicillin w-no reoccurrences, then the following symptoms started:
"Daily" smacking of the lips for hours
"Every night" 4am-7am smacking of lips leads to stomach spasms, on occasion during spasm vomits yellow/brown consistency of gooey salvia,  average of 5 vomits a month
Burping
Curls up tight in ball lethargic most of day
Shivers
Lost 2-1/2lbs. yet has a "voracious" appetite, gulps food, and plays w/himself after dinner, I can’t seem to stop this behaviour
Recent Endoscopy shows IBD for some time

Allergy Symptoms most of life “now daily”:
Down entire back has hot spots and uncomfortable if you touch and will arch it
Very sensitive on chin skin has new black spots, scratches his chin face on carpet
Shakes head puts foot in ear then licks foot
Chews under tail
Drags butt
Licks between toes thick yellow crust black skin

TESTS he’s had:
Blood test and pancreas test GOOD
Stool Test GOOD
Allergy Test, HIGHLY allergic to Dust
Ears GOOD
Dental Exam/Cleaning, GOOD now however, major gum disease and infection in 2007 had 8 teeth removed.
Recent Endoscopy – Shows IBD for some time

Medicines he’s tried:
NO DIFFERENCE: Pepcid, Methylprednisoine, Cisapride, Benedryl, Drontal De-wormer
1 Week Relief: Tagamet, Acidolophius Probiotics
Venison & Potatoe Diet, Pumpkin for Fiber definitely bulks stool
Changed to FrontLine Plus protects against mites Advantage did not
Prednisone – Just started today 12/8/08 5 mg twice a day for 3 days, then 5mg for 3 weeks weighs 13lbs, used to be 15.8lbs regularly before September of this year.

Personality:  Devoted to me goes everywhere, knows many tricks, and full sentences!

He is the best dog ever, but now his life is miserable more hours than not:(

[Circe123]

If your dog was 17 when he died, that is very old for a dog. The fact that he was on prednisone would not have been a factor in his death.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

i had a shih that was on preds to , its a bad meds he had lots allergeys to but the pred made him very over weight, he did live to be 17 years old but the preds is what took him out . i wish you lots luck try get off the preds if you can.

[BanjoBonJovi]

Yes, I would like a recipe to make treats/biscuits out of his normal diet. Since birth, I've noticed he has had unusual problems with his digestive system and extreme allergy-type reactions.  There has always been 'espisodes' enough for me to mention that 'something is severely wrong with my dog and I should take him to the vet-emergency!'  He would throughout his short life, get up from rest as if something was intolerable and then pace!  Once he would not open his eyes and just lay no matter if we screamed at him to open his eyes - that ended up being diagnosed as dry eye and has been on optimune since.  He has always had periods of not moving for hours in a tight ball, however it is now constant with the stomach spasms nightly that lead to bile-type vomit.  He likes food in his stomach and feels  best after eating.  Something inside is draining him.  He has been on no grain diet for months because I have always known that something inside him bothered him severely.  The IVD Venison and Potatoes only on for 3 wks has not helped yet.  Should I change to one without a carb?  Can a dog be allergic to most/all protein or carbs?   Your answer was the most thought out comprehensive answer and I thank you.  Could there be a possibility that my dog was born with an auto-immune disease?  and what might I test for?

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Your poor allergic dog!

The skin and Gastrointestinal problems are all allergy related, unfortunately.
If the venison and potato diet seems to help than he should probably remain on it indefinitely, but absolutely no cheating!  A bit of extra sweet, white potato, or pumpkin should be the only treats.  You can make dog biscuits out of the canned venison and potato.  Post again if you would like the recipe.  

A leaky gut may be the cause of the food allergies, and thus the IBD.  It would be best to increase the integrity of the gut by using the probiotics, and adding digestive enzymes, such as Prozyme or Wobenzyme.  Glutathione and other GI protectant amino acids and supplement combinations should also help.  These are available over the counter in health food stores as GI protectants, stomach aids, or will actually say that they are for leaky gut syndrome or IBD since humans get these also.  These are human products, so use 1/4 of the human product for your dog.

It may take years to correct the leaky gut/IBD.  Prednisone is a good drug for this since it decreases the inflammation in the gut.  Inflammation in the gut causes the gut to lose proper function and causes the array of symptoms you have described.

Prednisone is also helpful for your dog's skin allergies, and will help counter the dust allergy.  However, prednisone should not be used at high doses for long periods of time.

Ask your vet about using Atopica.  Atopica can replace the prednisone and can be used long term.  Atopica  and prednisone can be used together for the first month of Atopica use since Atopica takes approximately one month to begin to become effective.  Atopica is often used with anti-fungal medication.  The two drugs work synergistically.  The anti-fungal would also help your dog's skin infections.

Revolution is better than Frontline or Advantage if you are concerned about mites.

Consider desensitization for the dust and other environmental allergies.

Lastly,  there are many holistic formulas that may help your dog, but you would need to consult a holistic vet for these.