[Anna V]

I was wondering if, what I consider, an “overload of meds” could possibly contribute my Yorkie being diagnosed with pancreatitis. He was put on Apoquel (one half of a 5.4mg dose once a day) back in February. He has been taking it for his itching. As of 4/4 he was seen by his vet because he started chewing on his front left foot, to the point of almost bloodying it. The vet insisted that we start him on a regime of Temaril-P and cefpodoxime, having me take him off the Apoquel for the duration of this treatment. No more than a day later, he refused to eat his food (I homecook for him and my other Yorkie) and begged to go outside to eat grass. He threw up all his food from the night before, and had ingested more grass than I thought he ate. I thought it would pass, but after going all that day and night without eating or drinking, I took him to the vet the following day. After xrays and a blood test, the vet came back with the diagnosis of “probably pancreatitis”. He wound up staying at the vet’s all weekend with IV hydration and antibiotics. On Monday afternoon, he was released, and I was given strict orders not to feed him ANYTHING but the Hills I/D prescription food, and Orbax liquid antibiotic. By Wednesday 4/13 late, he was refusing to eat again. Took him back to the vet and they did another blood panel, this time showing his amylase levels to be around 400, compared to the 1200+ when he was admitted. This vet clinic does not test for lipase levals (said they don’t have the computer program(!) for it). The good news was he wasn’t in need of admitting this time, gave him a shot of Baytril and a shot of Cerenia. He actually ate a small meal when offered when we got home, but had to syringe water to get him to drink. I asked whether I should add probiotics since Neo had so much antibiotics in him, and you’d have thought I asked if I should give them poison! These guys (vets) have NO faith in probiotics or digestive enzymes, or ANYTHING that smacks of “holistic” anything, and think I’m a completely brainwashed flake for even suggesting it, and politely implied it! They have me fearing for my dog’s life if I deviate whatsoever from their instructions for diet!