Erny Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 Thanks for being interested, DBS. All his poops are like (as someone else has described in a different thread) cow paddies. At least there is some bulk there. When he was on boiled chicken, there was very little of it and it was even more runny, albeit thickish. So I re-introduced EP and he really enjoyed it. That went well for 24 hours (two feeds) but now he's going off it again. In between I've given him goats milk; egg; cottage cheese and yogurt. I wasn't going to do all of this (he's only getting very small proportions) but as nothing else is working and I'm battling to get him eating to keep weight on, I thought "what the heck". If anyone came over to visit, they'd not spot a thing wrong with him (other than him being too thin). But of course, it is usually the owners who spot that nuance in demeanor when all is normal and calm in the household, isn't it. He is quieter and his 'mad' moments don't last as long. I took him to the Vet's today (other Vet - pentosan injection # 3) and he wanted to engage play with some Cavvies who were also there (the other two maltese or whatever crosses were little snots). He was soooooooo well behaved and easily managed though ............... and I find that a bit worrying . I should know the fecal test results sometime on Monday. I hope they show up something simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 8pm update. Having had a dinner of dollop of yogurt + dollop of cottage cheese and then about 20 minutes later a cup of EP (which he ate ALL up) - that was about an hour ago ...... we have one SOLID stool!! . He's just finished doing zoomies around the yard with 'flea'. And he thinks he's all growned up???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jigsaw Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Fingers crossed for you that he continues to be a "solid" boy for you! When they're already lean the weight strips off them so fast when they're sick but it takes so much longer for it to go back on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 You're spot on there, Jigsaw. Getting weight on the (now not so 'little') man has been an issue from day one (ie 8 wo). Finally I'd gotten him to a weight I was happy with, and this has stripped a fair amount off him. Provided he doesn't relapse, I can work on getting the weight back up. Only hoping his appetite continues to climb back to normal (which is generally 'ravenous'). You should have seen the stool sample I took to the Vet. I'd fed him boiled chicken, rice and also some steamed pumpkin the night before. Stool was orange, sloppy with lots of rice evident. It would easily have been mistaken for indian curry. Except for the smell . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anniek Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 It would easily have been mistaken for indian curry. Except for the smell ;) :rolleyes:. sorry shouldn't laugh - hope he continues to improve Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APBT Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 after reading about goats milk here, i went and brought some tonight, its cost me $5 for 1 liter. is there anything cheaper avalible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 (edited) It would easily have been mistaken for indian curry. Except for the smell ;) :rolleyes:. sorry shouldn't laugh - hope he continues to improve Erny If we can't laugh at ourselves for the intense interest we take over our dog's poo, then we have a bigger problem than we already think, Anniek. So go ahead and laugh ..... I do :wink:. Thanks for the well wishes. If he continues to improve (and I'm really hopeful now that he will) then I can only put it down to the tummy bug that seems to have afflicted quite a number of our dogs. Mind you, my boy's digestive issues have gone on for a couple of months. The first 'bout' was short lived and I thought he was ok after that, but then he seemingly relapsed. So I'm not sure. Edited March 18, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 after reading about goats milk here, i went and brought some tonight, its cost me $5 for 1 liter. is there anything cheaper avalible? APBT .... Andisa kindly provided me with some. If you PM her she might be able to provide you the name of her supplier. It was considerably cheaper than the shop bought stuff that you purchased. Are you in Victoria though? I see from what you've said in the other "goats milk" thread that you drink it yourself? Know that this stuff would not be pasturised. Probably better for that fact, but something you should know and drink at own 'risk'. OT .... many years ago we lived next door to some people who owned a milking cow. As they took more milk than they knew what to do with, they gave us some of it each day. Now THAT was REAL milk. When the cow developed mastitis and they ceased using her for milk, we had to go back to pasturised milk. Absolutely no taste by comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andisa Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 (edited) Hey Erny - did you add it to your coffee :rolleyes: - I haven't yet but should give it a go. The lady told me that it is good to drink - not just for the dogs, it's the only milk they use. But use it within 3 days of it being out of the freezer. Hope your boy continues to eat and his poop stays firm. ;) APBT: I replied to you in the other thread, send me a pm if you like. Edited March 18, 2009 by Andisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 Hey Erny - did you add it to your coffee ;) - I haven't yet but should give it a go. The lady told me that it is good to drink - not just for the dogs, it's the only milk they use. But use it within 3 days of it being out of the freezer. Hope your boy continues to eat and his poop stays firm. Heck! That's a lot of goat's milk to use!! I've had it down from the freezer but in the fridge for a full 24 hours. It hasn't fully defrosted, but should be by tomorrow. So, I have to use it all up over tomorrow and the next day? I've only used about a quarter of the bottle so far. I have to build up the courage to taste it myself. I'm a whimp when it comes to that. I was the same when we first started getting the real cow's milk from next door's. Mum had to pour it into normal milk bottles and pretend it was shop bought. After that I was fine. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andisa Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 (edited) Hey Erny - did you add it to your coffee ;) - I haven't yet but should give it a go. The lady told me that it is good to drink - not just for the dogs, it's the only milk they use. But use it within 3 days of it being out of the freezer. Hope your boy continues to eat and his poop stays firm. Heck! That's a lot of goat's milk to use!! I've had it down from the freezer but in the fridge for a full 24 hours. It hasn't fully defrosted, but should be by tomorrow. So, I have to use it all up over tomorrow and the next day? I've only used about a quarter of the bottle so far. I have to build up the courage to taste it myself. I'm a whimp when it comes to that. I was the same when we first started getting the real cow's milk from next door's. Mum had to pour it into normal milk bottles and pretend it was shop bought. After that I was fine. :rolleyes: It will stay icy in the fridge so will be fine longer than the 3 days. Add some strawberry and chocolate flavouring to it - chocberry goats milk. Yuummm. Then tell yourself it came from a cow. Edited March 18, 2009 by Andisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anniek Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 It would easily have been mistaken for indian curry. Except for the smell :D :rolleyes:. :p sorry shouldn't laugh - hope he continues to improve Erny If we can't laugh at ourselves for the intense interest we take over our dog's poo, then we have a bigger problem than we already think, Anniek. So go ahead and laugh ..... I do ;) :wink:. I guess you just had to "be here" last night as we'd just had a lovely beef vindaloo for dinner I couldn't mention it at the time or I would have myself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 re the digestive issues... he has been checked for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency hasnt he? h Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 I'm not sure, DBS. Nothing stands out in his blood test results to suggest that EPI has been tested for, but I have trouble reading those things properly so I will check. Ditto with the stool samples recently delivered and for which we now await results. His stools are now reasonably solid and he is eating EP again. Sometimes though he leaves it but will eat more a bit later. If it wasn't for the fact that I want him to gain weight I would have him wait until the next meal time. I'm still giving him the goats milk, yogart and cottage cheese - twice a day. I've added an egg a couple of times as well. Because he's on EP I'm a bit conscientious (concerned) about overdoing the protein balance though ..... I hope I'm doing the right thing. He was so full of beans last night and today! Took him to the beach and he had a wonderful time in the water (beautiful day for it, too). Came home and he's all plonked out, but that's to be expected. Coat is looking reasonably good with a decent sheen to it. He's on his mat nearby, having a dream. Two weeks ago he was 34.5 kgs. Today he is 35.4 kgs. He has put back on some weight that he lost over the last week or so and I'm pleased to see there is a gain. He's looking better at the moment. Going by visual, I feel he could do with another half to 1 kilo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 erny..it is so frustrating when we dont know "why"!!!!!! at least the young fella is heading in the right direction at the moment H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 22, 2009 Author Share Posted March 22, 2009 (edited) It is that, DBS . His stools since I last posted have been pretty good, although this morning's I noted part was a bit looser than I'd prefer. Didn't eat his breakfast either, first thing. But did go back to eat about an hour later. I have noticed he'll do this sometimes (ie return to his bowl later and eat - either all or part). I'd been doing the "remove the bowl after 20 minutes" for the previous week or so, but that didn't seem to help matters. My main concern is that he eats. Knowing that it could turn to become a habit (ie leaving and returning later) is something I will deal with later, once I know that no underlying health issue is the cause for this seeming fastidiousness. He is still enjoying the goats' milk, yogurt and cottage cheese and if he hasn't eaten the EP I tend to add an egg for the protein and calcium source. Not saying this is all the diet he needs, but waiting for stool results (hopefully tomorrow) before I go tinkering further. He still looks better now than he did from before and when I made the opening post here though. ETA: One thing that seemed to change dramatically 'over-night' that I noticed when all of this 'eating' thing first began, was that he went from hoovering food (most noticeable with the kibble and which was predominantly why I continued to soak it first) to eating it almost one by one and giving each piece a chew. Sometimes he would hold his head almost to the vertical, so he tends to have some kibble fall from his mouth. Back then (about a month ago) I had a Vet give a glance at his teeth to see that all was in order - and it seemed it was. Think I'll get another check done just to be certain. It isn't a total answer though and I don't strongly believe teeth to be the issue, as he turned his nose up to the soft/soaked kibble as well. Edited March 22, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 25, 2009 Author Share Posted March 25, 2009 (edited) Update : Results of faecal tests show negative (I was driving at the time of speaking so was unable to make a list) to all except for the presence of blood. Vet suggested referral to specialist for an endoscopy to be done. I suggested a 2nd faecal test (only for presence of blood) as his stools were runny>very loose when I had them tested and have since firmed up to anywhere between being very good > not too bad (if poo qualifies as having a rating LOL). My point being that perhaps there was blood present because of the runny stools (eg irritated bowel). If 2nd faecal test shows presence of blood then I guess we'll go for the endoscopy. Mind you, although he is better than he was, he is still not right and specialist will probably be the track we'll go down anyway. However, I am seriously contemplating a full blood panel test for thyroid/auto immune disease, which I would have tested and analysed via Dr. Jean Dodds. I said to Vet today that this is like Kal (avatar girl - bless her cotton socks) as though she's been reincarnated. Edited March 25, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 damnation!!!!! Erny this is frustrating for you isnt it! maybe go the thyroid path earlier rather than later.. at least then it is ruled out. Mind you I am seldom surprised at the symptoms that disappear once a thyroid problem is identified and treated. Good luck H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 25, 2009 Author Share Posted March 25, 2009 Thanks DBS. I was trying not to sound frustrated .... there are many who are presently in a far worse position than I. But appreciate that you understand and yes, it is frustrating. Will keep you informed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisart Dobes Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Hi Erny, Have just read through this thread and found it fascinating (sorry ). Fascinating because we had two young boys from our last litter who had the same pad indications - like a fungal infection with deep indentations across the pad - these boys were about 9 mths at the time and lived at different places. We treated them with natropathic treatments - to fight the fungal thing, to increase calcium absorption and to improve their ability to absorb nutrition from their diets. (The treatment worked and they haven't progressed to any further stages - I know of alot of other dogs that have though who haven't had natropathic support). Lexi our 3 yr old bitch was baited at a show last year and while very lucky to pull through ended up with stomach ulcers and inability to process food and therefore absorb nutrients from her food - she suffered similar symptoms to what you have described and vets could find nothing (kept telling me it was auto-immune disease :rolleyes: - this natropath has fixed her also - she now looks stunning and is totally full of herself and can eat everything again with no issues. You know me well enough to know that I don't stuff around when it comes to my dogs - please get in touch and if you are interested I will give you the details for this lady - she is in Narre Warren so not far from you. Bernadette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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