Diablo

[admin]

Hi Tara

I would personally ask for some more Cerenia – getting Diablo to eat is so important & we know Cernia is OK with IMHA, so no harm in carrying on with it. How do his eye movements look now? Are they any slower? Sprockett only started to perk up when these movements slowed right down – I would feel sick too if my eyes were doing that! Is his balance any better? I remember Sprockett was given a heart medication to improve blood flow, but it was a long time ago & I can’t remember what it was. Claire’s mentioning vivitonin reminded me. There is also a drug called adrafinil, but you need to discuss these two options with your regular vet & specialist. I would personally be reluctant to use either of them (they thin the blood) without asking a specialist & being 100% sure they are safe for Diablo because of the IMHA.

You know I am crossing everything for an improvement soon – I am over the moon to hear he has eaten some chicken – that is an improvement in itself, Tara.

Loads of love to you & a cuddle for Diablo from Sheena & the boys

[Tara]

Just wanted to give a quick update on Diablo. Unfortunately, still no improvement but he is not worse either so trying to see the positives. He still won’t eat his own food but will eat chicken and I have been syringing some dog food into him as I did in the early IMHA days. He was on Cerenia for 5 days and than they told me he had to take a break for two days and he could start back up. He did not vomit in those two days without it but I woke up last night hearing him heaving and although he did not end up throwing up I have put him back on the Cerenia this a.m. for another 4 days. We will go back to the bet on Monday. Do you think this is a bad sign that there is no improvement at all?

[Brigitte]

Tara,

you must be so disappointed, frustrated and sad. When you say his own food or syringing dog food, do you mean kibble. Sorry but kibble I have a beef with (pun intended:)) Just don’t like it and will never feed it again. I hate the smell, it makes me gag. maybe Diablo feels the same as me:) If he eats chicken, by all means feed him chicken! Feed him real food, chicken, turkey, beef (lean) mix it with pumpkin, yams, kale, parsley or any good veggies (no onion though) Scrambled egg is great too. Some times I make a sloppy soup with meat and veggies when I am worried my dogs could get dehydrated. I have learned (from Patrice:)) that sometimes dogs associate a certain food that they have been feed when they were ill with feeling sick. So maybe that could be it? I am assuming Diablo is still on antibiotics? I think he would benefit from a pro biotic or at least some yoghurt or even kefir. My dogs love the kefir it has more strains of probiotics than some pills! I know that the not eating can be very stressful. Try and don’t make a big fuss about the feeding, keep it happy and relaxed.

Good on you for staying positive! No improvement is better than getting worse. Say hi to Diablo from Brigitte and the poodle boys! Thinking of you and best wishes!

[Tara]

Hi Brigitte, Thanks for the message. I am feeling very frustrated and worried. Unfortunately it is dog food that I am syringing…it is a critical care wet food….almost like a pate……I am giving him chicken, low fat beef and I do mix with pumpkin. He has breen pretty picky but chicken and ground beef have been a hit. I have to be careful because when he was first diagnosed with IMHA his numbers were borderline high for pancreas so I don’t want him getting pancreatitis on top of all this :( Probiotics are a great idea had not thought of that) – thank you!! How are your poodle boys doing?

[Vally]

Tara, wow you poor thing you must be exhausted from worrying.  Chicken breasts are very low fat so that wouldn’t be a problem with his pancreas.  I’d make a batch of it, with lots of broth and freeze it up in batches, so you’re not having to cook each day.

I’ve just read that Ideopathic vestibular syndrome cannot be treated. However, the course of disease is such that it presents acutely, then gradually resolves on its own over 7 – 30 days. There is no way to speed this recovery process, but during this time the patient needs to tbe supported by antinausea and dizziness medication, and fluids (if the patient is so bad the it cannot eat). In majority of cases, the vestibular signs completely resolve.

So Diablo is still well within the times mentioned above and the fact that he’s not worse, is, I think, always a very good sign.

My very best, Vally & Bingo

[admin]

Hi  dear Tara

I’m really sorry to hear he’s not much better. You must be feeling rotten. It’s only 10 days since this happened I think? If so, it’s early days yet – I looked at a few blogs & some dogs take AT LEAST a couple of weeks to improve, especially the much older ones. Can you tell me about his eye movements now? Have they slowed? That is important.

I have to confess it’s a long time ago that this happened to my old dog – I don’t remember exactly how long it was before Sprockett started to get better, but I do remember distinctly thinking the same as you after a week or so – he’s not getting any better & I can’t stand seeing him like this – & took him back to the vets. All of a sudden he did perk up, but it was certainly not in a few days, more like a couple of weeks at least. I know there is nothing certain in this world, but if this is CVD he should start to improve soon. If this continues much longer, I would think about scans to check it’s not something else – have you spoken to the vet again? From what I’ve read, most vets adopt a “wait & see” policy with these symptoms and then go for further examinations if necessary.

I have been wishing him better with all my heart – I know exactly what you are going through & it’s not easy to watch. Could you have a word with your vet (is your regular one back?) & see what they think? – maybe ask how long these things take to get better in older dogs in their experience?

Brigitte’s food advice is wonderful – I am so glad he is able to eat his chicken – good news indeed.

Please know I am sending all our best wishes to you & Diablo

Sheena, Worzel & Ollie

[admin]

I should also have said no worse is good news too.

Love Sheena

[Patrice]

Tara,

I am so sorry this is continuing to be so severe.You must be just frantic with worry.

Please remember it has been exactly 10 days since this started. It appears that some dogs can have these symptoms for over 2-3 weeks before recovering sufficiently to be comfortable.

Did you stop using the antibiotic Baytril? Will he take some plain yogurt from you? That would help his digestive tract.

my best, patrice