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by Abby Normal on 17 September 2012 - 12:09
I would very much like to hear more from Gautam in terms of some of the questions asked. Both Hexe and I asked why the vet stated he was not treating his puppy right, as this might provide some useful insight. Also whether the vet knew he was on Creon and if he agreed/disagreed with this course of action.
BTW Gautam, if you are still using the Creon, please make sure you change to adding it with food (and not before). How are things now that he has been on a bland diet a couple of days?
by Spooks on 17 September 2012 - 14:09
Last year I adopted a 10 week old thin Border Collie puppy and 2 days after having him he started to have terrible diarrhea and he puked up masses of round worms.
I rushed him to the vet and that's where he stayed for 5 days on a drip.... he continued to have veterinary treatment for the next 6+ weeks as he repeatedly got bouts of colitis and reverted to the mucous bloody stools and wouldn't gain weight, he in fact lost it.
To cut a long story short, after results of blood tests came through, 18 days later, he was diagnosed with Isospora (a genus of internal parasites classified under Coccidia) and an overload of worms.
I still have a detailed breakdown of the treatment and meds given to him by my vet [a huge thanks to her for giving him the right treatment] and I can scan it in & make it available by private message if anyone is interested. It took more than a good few months of trying different food for his gut to settle but when we found the right diet, he has never looked back and has cast iron guts now. Started off that he gained weight with being fed NatureDiet and Hills I/D then progressed to JWB Ocean White Fish & Rice Kibble.
I rushed him to the vet and that's where he stayed for 5 days on a drip.... he continued to have veterinary treatment for the next 6+ weeks as he repeatedly got bouts of colitis and reverted to the mucous bloody stools and wouldn't gain weight, he in fact lost it.
To cut a long story short, after results of blood tests came through, 18 days later, he was diagnosed with Isospora (a genus of internal parasites classified under Coccidia) and an overload of worms.
I still have a detailed breakdown of the treatment and meds given to him by my vet [a huge thanks to her for giving him the right treatment] and I can scan it in & make it available by private message if anyone is interested. It took more than a good few months of trying different food for his gut to settle but when we found the right diet, he has never looked back and has cast iron guts now. Started off that he gained weight with being fed NatureDiet and Hills I/D then progressed to JWB Ocean White Fish & Rice Kibble.
by mollyandjack on 17 September 2012 - 15:09
There are many conditions that can cause symptoms nearly identical to what gautam has described. I hope he comes back and gives us an update on how Mervin is doing with the bland diet. That is the starting point to figuring out what is wrong.
Just as an aside to show how complicated it can be to find the underlying cause in cases like this and further explain what I stated previously: My dog had nearly the same symptoms that gautam describes...stool inconsistency going from firm to loose, sometimes mucosal and sometimes with blood. Inability to gain weight. Anemia, dehydration. The only difference I think, was that Jack never showed a lack of energy. This could be due to a difference in temperament. Various antibiotics, Albon, and Panacur were all tried, as well as different versions of limited ingredient kibbles. Eventually, we discovered that Jack is unable to digest anything processed into kibble, though he can digest the same ingredients as raw or homecooked (any meat, any vegetable, even grains).
The diagnosis was complicated by the fact that Jack had secondary SIBO to the underlying cause and would seem to get better for a time after a round of antibiotics, worming, etc. Another complication was that his digestive system was seriously stressed and sometimes it seemed that nothing would help but a fast, which was a little terrifying as he was already very underweight. The only way we were able to stop the issue for good was to use a bland diet and try a slow process of elimination to find the root cause.
Just as an aside to show how complicated it can be to find the underlying cause in cases like this and further explain what I stated previously: My dog had nearly the same symptoms that gautam describes...stool inconsistency going from firm to loose, sometimes mucosal and sometimes with blood. Inability to gain weight. Anemia, dehydration. The only difference I think, was that Jack never showed a lack of energy. This could be due to a difference in temperament. Various antibiotics, Albon, and Panacur were all tried, as well as different versions of limited ingredient kibbles. Eventually, we discovered that Jack is unable to digest anything processed into kibble, though he can digest the same ingredients as raw or homecooked (any meat, any vegetable, even grains).
The diagnosis was complicated by the fact that Jack had secondary SIBO to the underlying cause and would seem to get better for a time after a round of antibiotics, worming, etc. Another complication was that his digestive system was seriously stressed and sometimes it seemed that nothing would help but a fast, which was a little terrifying as he was already very underweight. The only way we were able to stop the issue for good was to use a bland diet and try a slow process of elimination to find the root cause.
by hexe on 19 September 2012 - 02:09
Hmmm....where has Gautam gone? Many people hoping to hear an update on his condition, etc. The silence is disconcerting....
by Abby Normal on 19 September 2012 - 10:09
I too am concerned. With Mervin's health status so finely balanced right now it would be good to hear how he is on almost a daily basis, so that he can get advice and take action before a situation becomes too advanced.
Gautam, remember that Hexe is a veterinary professional, and is offering her help, and is also offering to help get you a TLI test. Please give an update, you are not alone with your worries over Mervin.
by hexe on 20 September 2012 - 02:09
<bump>
Gautam, where are you?? What is going on with Mervin?
Was this all an elaborate ruse designed to elicit--what? Sympathy? Money? (If it was the latter, then epic fail--since there was never any mention of it!)
I'm hoping the lack of communication is due to Gautam and Mervin being in the big city, and Gautam will update when they get home again.
Gautam, where are you?? What is going on with Mervin?
Was this all an elaborate ruse designed to elicit--what? Sympathy? Money? (If it was the latter, then epic fail--since there was never any mention of it!)
I'm hoping the lack of communication is due to Gautam and Mervin being in the big city, and Gautam will update when they get home again.
by Abby Normal on 20 September 2012 - 12:09
Hexe, I don't get the feeling that Gautam was trying to get anything other than help. Maybe I am wrong - I hope not. Perhaps he doesn't have access to a computer as freely as we do. Maybe *some* posters attitudes put him off?
One thing is for sure, Mervin is a dog in trouble and Gautam seemed most sincere in wanting to get him well. I am worried by his silence too, I don't feel he can afford to 'go it alone' for too long, maybe down a slippery path if you know what I mean.
Gautam??????
by Eldee on 20 September 2012 - 18:09
Maybe Gautam had to put Mervin down and he is too afraid to come back and tell us.
Gautum if that is the case, please know, we do not judge you. You do what you have to in life and if Mervin is no longer with us, we all know you did everything you could within your power to help him.
Please know that there were many of us that cared about you and your dog from far across the ocean.
Gautum if that is the case, please know, we do not judge you. You do what you have to in life and if Mervin is no longer with us, we all know you did everything you could within your power to help him.
Please know that there were many of us that cared about you and your dog from far across the ocean.
by Eldee on 20 September 2012 - 19:09
Even if we never hear from Gautam again and we are all left wondering what ever happened to little Mervin, there were over 7000 views of our conversations. Which means that a whole heck of a lot of people are now more familiar with EPI and digestive disorders in german shepherds than there were before we started.
And for me, that is a very good thing.
And for me, that is a very good thing.
by Abby Normal on 21 September 2012 - 10:09
I hope that Gautam would not just leave us wondering.
Gautam, where are you, and what has happened with Mervin please?
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