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Maltese 6 1/2 yrs. old tummy and pain issues intermittent
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.
THANKS. I will check in frequently.
Jaylyn, I believe I've got your answer...It will lenghty.....I will be back as soon as I have more time.......Karla
Yes, you are correct that he did fine on Natures Recipe Lamb and Rice for 6 years, and the vet switched him due to digestive issues via the blood panel that showed he had a mild case of pancreatitis (this was Aug. 6, 2008. The blood panel of Sept. 9th showed no signs of pancreatitis; however, that blood panel wasn't done specifically due to him not eating or vomiting---at that time it was done due to the bizarre episodes of pain he was having where he would cry out and other times scream out and favor left leg and not be able to walk for a few minutes. So, doctor did what is called a Pro Comprehensive Blood panel to try and rule out other things. This blood panel didn't show any pancreatitis at that time, but I guess bouts of pancreatitis can come and go.
The doctor indicated that in dogs that are prone to pancreatitis that even very small amounts of high fat items could bring about a mild case of pancreatitis---even a potato chip or two (Baxter is only 6 lbs.). I doubt too it was the popcorn. Could have been something he found on the ground or something in the yard -- who knows -- could be none of those things. Still we don't know if what we are seeing now is more pancreatitis or what and we have no idea what the pain bouts are from (he hasn't cried out in pain though for over a week I think). Again, thanks much for your comments.
The doctor indicated that in dogs that are prone to pancreatitis that even very small amounts of high fat items could bring about a mild case of pancreatitis---even a potato chip or two (Baxter is only 6 lbs.). I doubt too it was the popcorn. Could have been something he found on the ground or something in the yard -- who knows -- could be none of those things. Still we don't know if what we are seeing now is more pancreatitis or what and we have no idea what the pain bouts are from (he hasn't cried out in pain though for over a week I think). Again, thanks much for your comments.
Sorry, I'm still trying to help you....Another question? This all started while he was on the Natures recipe? Then the Vet switched to Iams because of the digestive issues? Correct? But, he did well for 6yrs. on the natures recipe? Right?
P.S. The pop corn didn't hurt him....I promise!
P.S. The pop corn didn't hurt him....I promise!
Sorry, I had a typo....last sentence of first paragraph meant to say "Prior to August 2008" not August 2007....
Hmmm....that is VERY hard to say because since the first episode first week of August, I have had him on the canned Iams stuff the vet said I should use. When he was doing a bit better mid-month, I started adding in a few pieces of the hard Natures Recipe diet---to the Iams and rice mix, and was doing that for probably a week before the recent episode of the wretching (only phlegm coming out--no food in stomach) and dry heaving that he did Sept. 22 for 3 hours. Since then, I have just had him on the Iams soft with a little white rice. Prior to August 2007, for 6 years he was on the Natures Recipe with no problem. I really am mystified.
The episodes of pain also don't seem to correlate at all to the episodes of tummy upset---this also has me totally baffled, unless I am dealing with two completely different things that just happen to crop up around the same time.
Geeez.....it just seems like it should be so darn hard to nail this down.
The episodes of pain also don't seem to correlate at all to the episodes of tummy upset---this also has me totally baffled, unless I am dealing with two completely different things that just happen to crop up around the same time.
Geeez.....it just seems like it should be so darn hard to nail this down.
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