pipersmum Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 I am posting today through tears in hopes that someone can help our family. We have a beautiful and loving seven year old border collie. Piper was a very healthy boy with a healthy obsession for his tennis ball, long walks and love of our two small children. In February of this year he stopped eating and drinking. He began losing weight rapidly and had explosive diarrhea and vomiting. We went to the vet and he had lost 8 pounds since October than lost another 4 pounds. He is on prednisone 2 x twice a day, cisapride 3 x once a day, metronidazole 1 every 12 hours and sucralfate one every 12 hours. He has had x rays and they found a great deal of gas but nothing else. Ultrasound with no results, blood work ruled out cancer and other such diseases, stool sample, urine and we are waiting on the results of an infectious diarrhea test. As a result of the meds he began urinating blood ( bladder infect ) and that was quickly cleared up with meds. He is on a gastro dry and wet food as per the vet. He was on Eukanuba ( sp? ) Our vet, in Aurora Ontario ( LeGallis Veterinary Hospital ) has been super supportive. We thought we were out of the woods when Piper began eating one night at 4 am. We had a hard time stopping him in fact up to 5 cups a day from nothing. Now I am afraid we are back to square one..he is not eating at all and drinking very little. His diarrhea is back and vomiting as well. He was eating Nutripet as well but now refuses it as well. Through all of this he still wants to eat. I am unable to contact the breeder as we purchased him from a family who simply bred b/c's for work on their farm near Lindsay Ontario. We are so very sad and just don't know what to do for our boy. He has given us so much love and we want to help him but fear we are running out of time. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chesney's Girl Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 For nothing to show up on his tests it sure sounds like he is on a lot of medication, I wouldn't be surprised if that much medication was not helping the situation. What happened in February? Anything stressful? It might be possible that he needs to start very bland and very slow with reintroduction to food? Possibly a home cooked diet might help. 5 cups a day being given to him after not eating anything is a big shock on the digestive system. Others might be able to help more but from what you wrote that's what I can think of. However, I have limited experience with sick dogs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipersmum Posted March 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 For nothing to show up on his tests it sure sounds like he is on a lot of medication, I wouldn't be surprised if that much medication was not helping the situation. What happened in February? Anything stressful? It might be possible that he needs to start very bland and very slow with reintroduction to food? Possibly a home cooked diet might help. 5 cups a day being given to him after not eating anything is a big shock on the digestive system. Others might be able to help more but from what you wrote that's what I can think of. However, I have limited experience with sick dogs... Thanks much for your post. Nothing at all has changed. My parents have been minding him as I have had two babies in the last two years. He has always gone there for long periods of time, and been very happy there. I am having issues with managing the meds and the food ( my 11 month old son likes to eat kibble... ) All the meds are for is gas, diarrhea and vomit control. I will talk to the vet tomorrow about your ideas! Thank you again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisK Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Get him to the University of Guelph veterinary school asap. http://www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/ They are the best in Ontario and not that far from where you live. I have no idea what might be wrong with him, but Guelph is your best hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chesney's Girl Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Best of luck with him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shatchp Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Sounds terrible...get other opinions! Maybe even talk with a holistic/naturopathic vet for a different perspective. It must be heart wrenching for you...I hope things get better quickly.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borderfreak Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 No matter how, you should make sure that he drinks enough so that he don't dehydrates, 'cause vomiting and diarrhea causes fluid depletion... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Devils Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Not sure what it could be but I know how frustrating it is... 1. It could be the food (kibble). He may have some allergic reaction to it. I would try feeding boiled chicken and rice and see if that helps unless of course he has problems with rice. You may need someone to help come up with alternative ideas. 2. While visiting your parents or even at home he may be getting into (eating) something that he shouldn't. I would ask about pancreatitis, gastroenteritis and if the stool turns bloody - hemorraghic gastroenteritis. 3. Has he had vaccinations recently (I would say within 3 months of getting sick). He could be having a reaction to that. It took almost 5 weeks before my toy poodle reacted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieDog Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 The food allergy angle is the first I thought of as my parents' cat had similar issues due to an allergy to grains and poultry. Once he was put on a rabbit and green pea diet he improved rapidly. The other issue that comes to mind is irritable bowel syndrome - has you vet discussed this possibility with you? Above all else I second a visit to a university vet hospital - they have specialists who may have the insight your regular vet doesn't, not to mention often more advanced diagnostics and other equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Sheepdog Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 I find canned dog meat to make a dog scour. Beware of meat in a can. Also Some dry bagged dog nuts can expand inside dog when eaten , so its best let them soak in mild warm water for a while before feeding to let them expand. Hope he gets better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary M Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 I too would look at food allergies. We had a similar problem with Chloe in that we fed her the same food as the others and most of the times she was fine with it. But when she was not fine, she had the bloddy runny stools, vomiting and would not eat. We switched her (on our vet's advice) to Natural Balance Duck and Potatoe. She still gets rare bouts (every 6-8 months for a day or so), but that is down considerably from the every other week or so frequency it used to be. I would also be a bit concerned that with not finding anything conclusive, he seems to be on a lot of meds unless there is a reason apart from the food issue that he needs them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.DaisyDuke Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Has he been tested for kidney failure? Or anything else that could be related to any one of the multiple dog food recals in the last year? There have been tons of contaminated dog food/treats from salmonella(sp) to melamine and Iams has been involved in a few of them I think. Aside from that...allergies... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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