9 Month Old GSD with Weak Hindlegs - Page 12

Hello Gautam: I am so glad to hear you took Mervin back to the vet. I have a question though.

What does that mean ...there is no TLI facility?? Does that mean his TLI is normal after testing or does that mean there is no facility to send the blood to be tested?

If it means that the TLI number was normal, then there would be no reason to keep the creon going on the food.  I am so confused.

This reminds me so much of Maya's journey.  Trips back and forth to the vet each time a different medication and each time a different diagnosis.

If only I had kept the pictures I took of Maya's poop.  So similar, except for one thing. Once Maya was taking the enzymes they became normal again within a day. If these are the poops with Mervin taking the Creon with every meal, then the creon is not working.  It is either too strong a dose, or EPI is not the issue.

So sorry for this picture, but this is what an EPI poop looks like before enzymes.

Hi
Giving him creon 25 three times a day with one cup for each meal. Finished 30 tablets already. 
Also the vet gave a nasty remark that I am not taking care of my pup.

And why are you giving him Creon 25?  Seems to me he only has a bacterial infection and a fever.  Also, perhaps the vet wanted you to try Eukanuba (another good dog food) for a reason.  Maybe he has had good results from it in his experience in dogs with similar symptoms.  Maybe he just wants you to change the dogs food to see if the dog is simply allergic to specific ingredients in Royal Canine (sorry, don’t speak French) and might do better on Eukanuba.

I must say Guatum, you’re not listening to your vet exactly to the ‘T’.  It’s people like you that seems to always have problems with their dog’s health because of this.  Don’t expect your dog to get any better if you keep self medicating beyond the Vets recommendation.  You need to stop this nonsense and just trust the advice of the professionals you have paid to heal your dog.  THAT’S THEIR JOB!

I have refrained from commenting because everyone sounded so sure that it could be EPI and I have no experience with EPI...but I must say that the condition of the dog, as well as the pictured stools, look and sound exactly like Jack's did 2 years ago, from the inconsistency you describe to the intermittent blood. Is the blood black like tar or is it bright red? Bright red could be from irritation due to continuous diarrhea. Edit: I see from looking at the stool again that the blood appears to be red.

Jack cannot digest kibble for whatever reason. He would be fine for a little while, and then would have stools like that, regardless of the brand of kibble. However, he can easily digest any homecooked meal as well as raw food. If you can, try as Sitasmom suggested and feed him boiled chicken (no bones) with a little yogurt. Or, if you are desperate like I was, fast for one day and feed a raw chicken leg quarter.

This is what Jack looked like 3 years ago:



A year and a half later of raw or homecooked:

Is there any way a stool and blood sample can be taken and sent to a facility here in the states?  There are enough experienced people on this forum that have good vets they can talk to for advice on getting samples here.  If the samples can be controlled shipped, you have full rights to ask a near by vet to take the blood sample and give it to you.  Make sure you have full information on how to take care of the sample to get it somewhere safely before you have it done.

There has got to be something for you and your pup.  The big city vet sounds like he is full of crap too.  I have similar issues where I live, all of the near by vets (and yes, I have gone through them all) are so full of it.

I am not expert, but in looking at the pup's stool sample and Eldee's example, I am seeing a significant difference.  Look at the water around the stool from Eldee's sample.  From what I have learned, that sign there can make a difference in the diagnosis.  Do not get me wrong, there is something definitely wrong with the puppy.  There should never be blood in stools.  This goes far beyond hocks and conformity issues.

I know it can be very expensive to keep traveling.  Is there another vet in the city you can go to for a 2nd opinion? 

I agree with the post on getting the digestive track to settle down with boiled chicken and rice.  You might even go so far to just do rice and chicken broth for 24 hours, then slowly introduce the boiled chicken.  

We are all so pulling for the puppy.  Like it has been pointed out though, all we can do is give suggestions based on personal experience, but none of us has actually seen the dog, so everything we suggest needs to be taken with a grain of salt.  This puppy needs to see a professional that is worth a darn.

  Nice post  Mollyandjack what a difference in your dog! I wish you would have not held back and posted sooner as I believe you have just given evidence of what many of the posters were trying say. Unfortunately there are some people who would see no problem with the dog in the first picture. I believe there are some dogs who just can not process kibble. I am not a vet or vet tech but the dogs that I have seen that are fed raw enjoy superior health than dogs fed kibble. I have been feeding raw to my dogs for 6 years now and have no issues with doing so. There is a big difference in the stools of a dog fed raw, stools are much firmer and far less smelly with raw than with dogs that are fed kibble. A dog is  able to digest raw far easier than kibble and with some dogs this makes all the difference in the world. Even Maywood with all the stupid statements may have a point, I consider it voodoo medicine to treat a dog for a problem without testing for it first. What a shame that there is no facility to handle the testing, but there does seem to be a big difference in the vets, the big city vet seems far more competent. 

Markobytes - just as some dogs cannot digest kibble, some cannot digest raw. EVERY dog is different and as owners, we must do our best to find what works for each.

The dog I mentioned earlier did VERY poorly on a raw diet. Lets say he shot it out both ends and worse than when on kibble!


I would start with cooked chicken and boiled rice (blood in his poop), becasue the cooking process sterilizes the food and prevents any further infection. This is a "safe" way to get him on a bland, non-kibble based diet. If he stabilizes (3 weeks of solid poop) and his gut heals, other diets can be experimented with - including a BALLANCED raw diet.


I forgot - take the skin off the chicken before boiling, too much fat will upset his stomach at this point....

@ Markobytes
Stupid statements?  Please point out one stupid statement I have made throughout this entire thread?   Granted you may have misunderstood what I was trying to say but everything I have said to date is grounded in good old fashion animal husbandry.  Furthermore, I think it’s hardly a brilliant idea to recommend feeding raw to the average pet owner who has no clue in how to administer it.  I mean, after all, feeding raw does take a deeper understanding in canine nutrition then most people care to investigate.  I have always fed kibble and rarely have I had any problems with my dog’s health.  Feeding raw, if not done correctly can actually be the worst thing an uneducated pet owner can do for their animals.

  Sitasmom, I agree with you and at this point I would give boiled chicken and rice also. This issue has gone so far I would heed the vet's advice to the t. Maywood where to begin? maybe with your not seeing a problem in the first place? or the advice to not see a vet?