[Anonymous]

Have you tried a little boiled white rice and boiled hamburger for a few days, maybe stay away from the kibble (it may be too rich for her right now) or just mix a spoonful in. How often are you feeding her?
See General Guidelines for tips
http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

Is the diarrhea and watery stools constant or just here and there, is she having normal formed stools too? Is she drinking enough water?

Maybe she would do better on 2 or 3 small bland meals per day. The white rice and hamburger…or I might even try boiled chicken. See if her stools firm up in a few days, it will take at least 3 days to see a difference imo.

Baby food from the supermarket? Beef flavored mixed with a little rice?
How long have you had this dog? Can you give the foster mom a call? She may have some advice.

PS: The emergency place where I go has 24 hour rule that you can bring them back for another evaluation if they haven’t improved, no charge.
See if that is an option, or call the vet that examined her and ask him what to do next, if you don’t see improvement in 72 hours? They won’t charge you for a follow up call.
You might have to leave your number and wait till he is free to call you back though.

[Anonymous]

My neighbor has a picky eater, but she will eat Fromm with a little cooked chicken.
I’d stick to homemade….or a combo with a quality kibble.

[Anonymous]

You are welcome, PT. Get it seen right away! I hope it’s an easy fix. Give us an update, if you feel like it 🙂

[Anonymous]

Is she drinking water? Have you tried a little chicken broth on the food?
A bite of broiled chicken liver?

Make sure she has fresh water, but if she still has no appetite for 72 hours in a row, I would see the vet.
If you decide to go back to homemade, you may find some tips here http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

Good luck.

PS: Could she be sick from a bad batch of dog food?

[Anonymous]

Allergies? If the current treatment is not effective and the dog is seriously uncomfortable, you may want to consider seeing a specialist/dermatologist, this has been going on for 4 months….seasonal?
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283
Or consult a homeopath http://theavh.org/

Dr Falconer’s latest blog http://vitalanimal.com/natural-dog-food-work/

/forums/topic/atopic-dermatitisyeast-issues-smartest-food-choice/

[Anonymous]

/forums/topic/calcium-oxalate-crystals-help/

/forums/topic/struvite-crystals/

Two threads you may find helpful.

[Anonymous]

He may have more than one thing going on, may be something simple like anal glands needing to be expressed?
If it was my dog, I would have the local vet take a quick look and go from there.

[Anonymous]

Tumor is a diagnosis. Next, biopsy or tests after removal to determine whether the tumor is malignant or benign….which you may be able to decline.

They may want to do x-rays or ultrasounds to determine if the thing has spread, talk to the vet, if your focus is to just keep the dog comfortable, tell him so, maybe you can keep the testing and invasive procedures to a minimum.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, InkedMarie.

[Anonymous]

Regarding the expense, I am on a fixed income. I gave up cable.
Problem solved!

[Anonymous]

That is your opinion.
I had a positive experience from taking my dog to a specialist/dermatologist and finally got some results.
I did not get positive results the year I went back and forth to the regular vet, and tried many different dog foods, I felt I wasted time and money.

Seeing a specialist is an option, just as seeing a homeopath is another option. It is up to each individual pet owner to decide what avenues to explore.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know. I am not a veterinarian. All I know is that when my dogs allergy issues were not resolved by a few visits to the regular vet, I decided to take my dog to a specialist.
The initial testing was a few bucks (much less than what you quoted), cost differs depending on location.
I was pleased with the results. We only see the specialist once a year. I have found it to be cost effective. Maintenance costs are reasonable.

There are a variety of tests, the specialist can determine what would be recommended for an individual dog after examining him and learning his history, and then prescribe treatment based on the results.

[Anonymous]

Nutrisca salmon and chickpea http://www.chewy.com/dog/dogswell-nutrisca-grain-free-salmon/dp/35031

Wysong has some nice selections too. Chewy carries them.

Consider homemade or a combination, check General Guidelines for feeding tips
http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

Or, consider a homeopathic approach http://vitalanimal.com/feed-for-vitality/

[Anonymous]

“It’s been almost a year now and its making me worry so please if anyone can help me”

If it was my dog I would have him looked at again by the vet that saw him last year. He would be the best person to identify changes in the dog’s condition and advise you.
If cost is a concern, tell him…..you don’t have to have every lump and bump analyzed, but if it is causing him discomfort, maybe they can remove it. It may be a simple procedure.
Ask him what the treatment options are?

No one on the internet, no matter how well meaning they are, can tell you what is going on with your dog, he needs to be seen and examined by a veterinarian.
Best of luck

[Anonymous]

She had a 2 for tyrophagus putrescentiae.
http://purelypetcare.blogspot.com/2012/02/what-are-storage-mites.html
Commonly referred to as the mold mite, tyrophagus putrescentiae is a grain storage mite. Increased moisture and humidity are the perfect environment for storage mites to develop. Colonization of the storage mite generally goes unnoticed until your dog or cat develops symptoms. Such mites are often found in dry kibble dog and cat foods as well as boxed pet treats.

[Anonymous]

My dog’s skin test showed allergies to a variety of grasses/weeds/trees, wool, Cockroach, American (specialist explained this doesn’t mean you have roaches) this stuff is dander, waste of all living things, it is everywhere, in the air, dirt, she scored a 3 for this one, plus the wool and one of the trees.
Three 3s. The other 13 were 2’s
The scratching, skin irritations, stomach upset, 2 ear infections, red rashes, 2 prednisone trials went on for a year before I took her for testing. I never had the blood test that identifies food allergies done. A lot of the allergens are airborne….impossible to avoid.
I tried an air purifier, dehumidifier….useless and noisy.

The link I provided (previous post) to Dog Allergy Central explains immunotherapy in detail.

I noticed a little improvement right away, it will be 2 years now, she’s sees the specialist once a year. She is much improved. She still scratches occasionally, but not that crazy, intense stuff.
The specialist I went to doesn’t even recommend the skin test unless the symptoms have been going on for 1 year/4 seasons without any periods of significant relief.

Helpful article below:
By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

‘Doc, it itches when I do this!’

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

Dog is prepared for Intra Dermal Testing

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[Anonymous]

http://store-kneew2.mybigcommerce.com/natural-flea-tick-mosquito-control-for-dogs-evolv/
Wondercide

Seems to help, so that I can use less pesticides/poisons.

PS: Regarding flea/tick killing products. They are not medications.

[Anonymous]

It could be a bad batch of food…….I’d call the company and tell them your dog became ill after eating this food, and return the opened bag to Petsmart. I wouldn’t continue to use it…. Maybe Petsmart will give you a refund.

[Anonymous]

My dog with a sensitive stomach vomits when she has a little bit of baked or boiled potato. She does best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea, no grain, no potato……so, it depends on the dog. imo http://www.chewy.com/dog/dogswell-nutrisca-grain-free-salmon/dp/35031

[Anonymous]

Reevaluation, not revaluation. Forgive my spelling errors 🙂

[Anonymous]

If it is an abscess, blocked anal glands. I would get it taken care of right away.
If it is some type of tumor and it is causing him discomfort? Ask the vet that examined him for more information.

I understand your concerns, in order to treat the dog, the veterinarian has to diagnose the condition first, in order to diagnose they usually have to do lab work, ultrasounds or x-rays…..

But, if it was my dog I would see the vet again, or get another opinion. See what he advises and go from there.

[Anonymous]

What is the diagnosis? What breed is the dog?
If it is bothering him and causing him pain and discomfort……maybe you should consider the surgery?
You can ask for a referral to a specialist, it is not unusual to operate on a geriatric dog nowadays.
Ask your veterinarian for more information, take the dog in for a revaluation. Let us know what happens.

[Anonymous]

http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

Check: General Guidelines

[Anonymous]

Nutrisca salmon and chickpea, no grains, no potato is bland and works well for my dog that has a sensitive stomach.
Wysong has some nice selections too.
I just use the kibble as a base and add something/homemade.

Occasional loose/soft stools are one thing, but watery, runny diarrhea (more than 72 hours) can lead to dehydration. Look at some of the feeding tips in that homemade diet link I provided, maybe something he says will be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Nutrisca salmon and chickpea dry works best for my dog that has allergies and a sensitive stomach. It is grain and potato free. See the reviews at chewy.com

[Anonymous]

Could be the lamb bones? I know when I give my dogs a frozen beef marrow bone, they often have loose stools….or maybe the new food doesn’t agree with him.

Be careful with those bones, my poodle mix had trouble digesting the ground up bone, she had abdominal pain, shivering. X-ray showed calcified material in her stomach and colon, luckily it passed on it’s own. So, I don’t give them bones very often anymore and I take them away before they start grinding down the bone material and eating it.

[Anonymous]

And, the allergies may be seasonal. The specialist I saw said he didn’t recommend skin testing unless the symptoms had been going on for 4 seasons without any significant periods of relief. Despite diet changes, etc.
Bathing once or twice a week with Malaseb helps my dog, daily fish oil supplements are good for dry itchy skin too.

[Anonymous]

I like Wysong, however my allergy girl does the best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea as a base combined with homemade http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

She’s sees a specialist once a year (had the skin testing) and receives immunotherapy.
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

If you decide to go the homeopathic route, http://www.vitalanimal.com

Home

BTW: I tried all the diet changes and nothing worked till she saw the specialist. Dogs can have both environmental allergies and food sensitivities, it is often difficult to figure out which is causing what.

[Anonymous]

If he has struvite crystals in his urine, even though they have not formed stones, they are as sharp as glass and can irritate and inflame the bladder. Struvite is usually caused by infection, hence the antibiotic treatment.
Read through the posts in this thread and see what applies to your situation.

If you are not happy with the way things are going with the traditional veterinarians, consider consulting a homeopath…. http://theavh.org/

Distance is not an issue, many of them do phone consults.

PS: I would not stop any antibiotic treatment that has been started without talking to the prescribing veterinarian first.
Maybe he can explain the different opinions, and his rationale for treatment. Ask him for a diagnosis. Struvite or calcium oxalate? Ask him if there is a genetic component.
Another option, if you want to stay with the traditional veterinarians, ask for a referral to a specialist…

[Anonymous]

More info, from homeopathic veterinarians:
http://www.homeovet.net/content/lifestyle/section2.html
http://vitalanimal.com/just-rabies-vaccine-3/
http://www.thedogplace.org/VACCINES/Rabies-exemption-form-states-2012.asp

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the links, ask your vet if a homemade diet would help http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

[Anonymous]

I am a nurse (RN) and I am not familiar with the condition you describe. It does sound like TLE (temporal lobe epilepsy) the animal or human spaces out for a few seconds/minutes. It can be mild to severe. Go into remission and then suddenly reappear.
It would be best to consult a specialist/neurologist imo. Especially if the episodes are happening more than once a month.
There could be a low cost medication that could keep this animal stable. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

I like Petco, however, they do not carry my preferred brands: Wysong, Nutrisca, Evangers.
So, I have had to stray, Chewy.com is looking good to me, these days.

[Anonymous]

I like Wysong or Nutrisca (fish) for my allergy girl, both of these brands have limited ingredients options. She also likes the Wellness whitefish & sweet potato, canned.
I have heard good things about Fromm, too.
Check at Chewy .com
Or, consider homemade or a combination, see some of my other posts for a link to a natural homemade diet.

[Anonymous]

I forgot to mention, make sure her anal glands are not becoming blocked? Sometimes they work on an area near there, in an attempt to relieve the discomfort.

[Anonymous]

Some dogs shed a lot, you could try a daily fish oil supplement…in case the shedding is related to dry skin.

She may have environmental allergies, if so, and it is causing her discomfort for 4 seasons, I would consider getting her tested. http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

Have you considered a home made diet? You could still use kibble as a base
http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

Is she getting enough exercise? A 20 minute brisk walk 2 or 3 times a day will aid with weight loss.

[Anonymous]

I had a dog like that (herding breed), had soft stools till the age of 9 months. Then it just stopped and she went about twice a day, an hour or two after eating.
A 3 to 5 mile brisk walk (1-2 hours) every day helped too.

I would take a look at the diet, as your vet suggested, also, you may find some helpful tips here http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

[Anonymous]

Allergies (food or environmental)? Obsessive compulsive behavior? Stress related? Maybe she doesn’t like being in the crate?
Talk to your vet, she may do well on an antidepressant, if it is anxiety. They often don’t have to stay on these meds forever….

[Anonymous]

Homeopathic veterinarians tend to be supportive of raw feeding, examples: http://vitalanimal.com/feed-for-vitality/

http://www.homeovet.net/content/lifestyle/section1.html

Here is the diet he recommends: http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

PS: Just my opinion, but, I don’t think that all traditional veterinarians are bad…just as I don’t believe all homeopathic veterinarians are good.

Sometimes, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

[Anonymous]

This was years ago but my dog had (idiopathic) seizures that started at the age of 9 months, he did well on a low dose of phenobarb and lived to be 14.

He was never drowsy or had any side effects, the vets may have other medications they use now.
I would consider asking your vet about treatment options, or have him refer you to a neurologist.

Otherwise the dog suffers, it’s like a fire storm in the brain when they are experiencing a seizure. Uncontrolled seizures can cause more neurological damage…..

[Anonymous]

Wysong has a vegan food, Evanger’s has a vegetarian canned food.

Has your dog had the skin testing to identify environmental allergies? In my experience environmental allergies are much more common that food allergies.
People often refer to food sensitivities as allergies.

If your dog was allergic, for example, to microscopic dust mites (common allergen) she would be scratching and uncomfortable no matter what you fed her.

I would consider taking her to a specialist/dermatologist, if you haven’t already.
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

My dog is doing well, she receives immunotherapy, she now eats a variety of foods with Nutrisca (fish) as a base.

[Anonymous]

http://vitalanimal.com/kibble-dogs-only/

http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

You may find these links helpful.

[Anonymous]

I bet the crystals were struvite ( the vet told me, often when the uti is cleared up, and an increase of water is added to the diet this goes away) I would keep up the increase in H20, just in case… and continue frequent bathroom breaks. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Ditto. I don’t eat meat, but I am not a strict vegetarian either.
That being said, dogs are carnivores, so I feed them meat/chicken/fish, with good results.

[Anonymous]

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_canine_struvite_bladder_stones.html

“Struvite stones form in urine with a high pH (alkaline urine), diets should help to maintain a low pH (acidic urine). Diets with animal-based protein sources are most important in maintaining an acidic pH, while
vegetarian or cereal-based diets are more likely to cause and alkaline urine”.

“With Calcium Oxalate stones, a high protein diet can cause stones by increasing calcium in the urine. It lowers urinary pH and can increase uric acid. High quantities of animal protein can contribute to stone formation by increasing urinary calcium and oxalic acid excreting and by decreasing urinary citric acid excretion”.

“You should increase your dog’s water consumption to help dilute the urine. You can do this by adding water to your dog’s food, it should look like wet mush. Avoid table scraps when caring for an oxalate stone-forming dog”.

“Depending on the kind of stone, you either want more, or less protein, and lower in fat (3 -8%). Be sure to check with your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet”.

[Anonymous]

Did you see this thread? /forums/topic/struvite-crystals/page/6/#post-69601

My dog had both type of stones, actually the calcium oxalate type are more concerning.
I saw the show and bought the t-shirt, so to speak, lol

PS: Does your dog have struvite or calcium oxalate? Or both? It makes a difference, regarding your diet choices for him.

[Anonymous]

You got lucky. However, these alternative treatments, if they are to be considered, should be done under the guidance of a homeopathic veterinarian.

“First do no harm.”

[Anonymous]

That Fromm whitefish looks good. If I decide to try something different, I may give it a try. My friend’s dog is a picky eater and does well on Fromm products.
The dog’s owner is a nurse and she is very particular about what she feeds her dog.

[Anonymous]

I told you, the ph levels will fluctuate. They may never be perfect.
I agree with what you said in previous posts, water, water, and more water. And, don’t forget the potassium citrate supplements I mentioned, I think they help, big time.
I don’t bother with testing, I have other things that need my attention more, right now.

It’s sometimes a genetic thing, the diet will only do so much.
Just my opinion….if your vet tells you something different, ignore me, lol

[Anonymous]

I don’t do raw feeding, but I thought that you folks that do, might be interested in this:
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/raw-roundup/?mc_cid=fe3be7b7d0&mc_eid=cb2524c2fa
Brought to you by Dogs Naturally Magazine, this conference will be led by some of the world’s best veterinarians and canine nutrition experts – live from your computer, anywhere in the world!

“This LIVE, ONLINE and INTERACTIVE event will deliver more health boosting diet plans and ideas for your dog than you can shake a stick at! An amazing opportunity for learning and networking”.

[Author]

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