Please I need some help - my dog is not well . - Page 1

Ok I really need some help here .  I have a male gsd. 9 yrs. old all of a sudden stopped eating . He is neutered !!   Which I knew there was something up .  He then became very floppy in his backend , not really sure where his back legs were. almost like he was drunk .  Took to vet ---vet said it was his back and gave me some pain meds.   I knew it was not his back being he did not eat.  I demanded some blood work .  His calcuim , bun , phos . were very high and kidney levels were low.    They then thought he had lymphoma or a para thyroid problem .  He has not eaten anything in over 1 week , and occ. will eat some chicken but will vomit it up shortly after .  Drinks and drinks water over excessive .  He has been to the vet EVERY DAY FOR iv FLUIDS .  sTILL waiting for the parathyroind test to come back.  Does anyone have any suggestions ???  I love him .  He was a rescue that I shipped to PA from TX .  The vet still cant really saw what is wrong yet with him .  But I feel I'm watching him die .
I have to pick him up again today after fluids .   I dont want to switch vets due to the fact I already have quite a bit of money invested at this one already . 
Please help any advise is greatly appreciate.
Thank you ,
Patty

I'd take him to another Vet. clinic for a second opinion. 

I'd take him to another vet along with your records. Sound like diabetes maybe with drinking a lot of water.

  If there is an Animal Urgent Care Facility within a 2 Hr.Drive,I would try Them.They utilize Different Diagnostic Methods,and Fast Track Lab Work.
    Also,Has He gotten into any Poisons,Rat poison,possibly set long ago,and Forgotten,or Toxic Weeds.They are really out there this Year.
   I hope something can be done for Him...

It very much sounds like parathyroid syndrom secondary due to renal failure. Its a cascade that can lead to a metabolic disaster. Failing kidneys are unable to excreed Phosphorus and disturbing the fine balance between phosphorus and calcium in the blood. The build up in phosphorus in the blood will trick the parathyroid glands into a hormonal cascade that triggers a rapid metabolization of calcium from any source, mostly the bones, to even out the unbalance. Both minerals combine into crystals (calcium phosphate) and can deposit in soft tissue causing inflammation and damage. This also affects nerve tissue and maybe thats why his hinds appear weak; it affects the velocity of the electrical impulse.

It is a great concern that he is not eating and I hope its not too late. A diet low in Phosphorus is necessary (renal diet), as well as attempting to bind the exceeding phosphorus (in humans simply with taking Tums and Vit D/D3). Your vet is doing right by giving fluids to get the kidneys back to working; and your dog is trying to help himself already by drinking alot. Is he peeing? Talk to your vet about it; he needs calcium badly. Maybe your vet can show you how to administer fluids yourself to save on cost. It can go directly under the skin, overall he needs alot of it.

Check your dogs gums, when he appears drunk, if hes bleeding internally then his gums will be very pale.  There's a cancer called hemangiosarcoma, its called the silent killer for a reason.... its usually only diagnosed when a dog has a bleed froma  lesion.  The dog appears drunk and will collapse, but within minutes may start to perk up again.  Other symptoms are subtle over several months, lose of appetite, snuffly breathing, excessive drinking, the dog just not 'being right'. 

I don't even know how the vet would check for it, I only know how it's diagnosed, but get them to.  those symptoms just slapped me upside the head because i've seen them before.

I just hope I'm wrong.

Ambii,  his blood work would have shown any anemia. The high Ca, Ph and BUN pointing more to parathyroid due to renal failure. With the low kidney levels stated I assume was meant the Glomular Filtration Rate, which will dropp when there is a renal issue. However, what caused the renal failure is the next question.

Combined new thread into existing thread. Sorry, to read this as watching one slip away and not knowing is so hard. I hope you find out what is happening and he makes a recovery.

All the best.

GSD

RE: Please I need some help dog not well . by pattyb on 25 May 2012 - 00:05

Well again he was at the vets for more IV fluids day 5 . Still the same not eating and the little he tries he vomits it right back up . His parathyroid test in negative that came back today . . They assumed he had lymphoma to start with this is my second vet already . Now with the same diagnosis CA . This is all in about a 2 1/2 week period . No he didnt eat any posion or anything like that . Drinking drinking drinking all the time. We flew him here from TX cause the prior owner was unable to handle him and he was " too aggressive . I have him 7 years now and all he needed was a job . He is one of the best dogs we ever had. He protected his family and property . I just dont know if I can let him go just yet. We started him on predinsone to give him one last final chance . All I want is for him to eat anything and be able to keep in down . He is a huge gsd . We have a farm and he has had a great life for sure . His only downfall was he would steal a chicken now and then and hide it in his dog house till night then eat it !!! Yep not only is he beatiful but very smart. I'm very sad .........I never worried about my kids when they were younger I would always look for the dog first then I would find the kids close by him . He never left there side . If the day comes when I have to put him to sleep -- I will again go rescue another one somewhere but will only get gsd. Its very hard loosing a friend , companion , protector just my best buddy . I just cant let him go .... I dont want him to suffer he deserves the best for being the dog he is . .Thanks for all the help and information . Sorry I just cant type no more its just soooo sad got to take a break . Thanks for listening only dog people understand the sadness here .

There is a medication reglan that canhe be givenand for nauseathe vomiting andi it works really well with dogs. A friends weim went through the same symptoms he deteriorated rapidly over a week and was diagnosed with lymphoma or lymphoblastic leukemia. After being treated with prednisone reglan and chemo and he has perked up and is making a come back. I would definitely see about the reglan so to help him get some food to stay down and keep up with the prednisone and if lymphoma is positive start on chemo and see how he does. You will know rather quickly if it is having a result or whether it is time to let him go. I hope he recovers and you get a little more time with him.

Age and symptoms all point to age related renal failure. 

If you have the finances for the procedure, if you have the finances for the follow up medications, if the dog is a good candidate you can look at this:

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1349&S=1