Split: Split: For Hope and Steve

[Hope]

I gave milk thistle like early early yesterday am during a night snack (he eats normally like 5x a day right now) and then the Denamarin at 6:30 in the afternoon. No more since then though.

Going to try the syringe idea tho!

[Patrice]

Sorry, I have been at work and missed this for several hours.

I think this is the Sam-e in the Denamarin. Some dogs (and humans) have difficulty with this supplement. It should clear the body in about 12 hours after dosing.

It’s a natural substance made in our body (amino acid) so it’s not dangerous. It plays an important role in many of our body functions. It’s role in liver health is one of increasing the levels of Sam-e that we already produce to protect the liver. It’s widely used not only for canines (for instance when there is emergency liver toxicity from a med like acetaminophen) but for humans with liver toxicity caused by many medical conditions and medications.

However, some dogs become hyper-excitable or may even appear to be having a psychotic episode. In these dogs it is contraindicated.

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/same/568
“Side effects of SAMe are rare, and limited to mild nausea and gastrointestinal irritation. SAMe should also be used with caution in hyperexcitable animals, since it may heighten their mood further.”

I would discontinue this and address this clearly unusual behavior with your vet. I am sorry this happened. This is not a common side effect and I don’t think anyone, including your vet, expected this.
my best, patrice

[Hope]

Hi Patrice!

Thank you so much for your advice — and for taking the time to look into this for me right after work!
I will absolutely discontinue the Denamarin .. I didn’t give him today’s dose as I was worried it might make him worse (it was due at 6:30pm). Small victory maybe but he ate a single Cheerio.. I put it in front of him to see if hed eat it bc he refused one earlier. He’s still not drinking so I’m going to try Vallys syringe idea just to keep him hydrated.
Do you think it’s okay that we didn’t give him another aspirin after he vomited today (he took it only 1/2 hr before he threw up)? They said to continue meds as usual but not to give him a replacement one for that.

Thanks so much!
Hope

[Tamara]

Oh Hope, what a rough day! It really sounds like poor Steve is having a reaction to the samE, thank goodness for Patrice. I hope it clears his system quickly and he gets back to normal. I’m sure you’re checking him for dehydration, and I’m really happy to hear that he ate a cheerio! Another thing you can do is put a tiny bit of wet food on your finger and put the food on his tongue or in the pocket of his cheek and see if he’ll swallow it, he’ll get some moisture that way too. Thinking of you and Steve and sending you love and hugs and lots of good vibes.
tamara and ashki xoxoxox

[Vally]

If they said skip the aspirin, I probably would. How many hours before the next one is due? I’m so glad he ate the cheerio. Any more vomiting?

Vally

[Hope]

Thanks guys for checking in! He seems to be feeling a bit better — still a little lethargic but he tried to attack me on two legs when I walked in the room with Jeffrey’s bowl! Lol! He drank a little from the bowl.. He did NOT like the syringe technique though haha
No more vomiting though for a second after he jumped off the bed he looked like he wanted to throw up.. He kind of got in position but nothing came out though.
Next aspirin is due at midnight my time, so about 50 minutes!
Hugs (and large grownup beverages) to all!
Xoxo hope and starving Steve

[Hope]

Here’s a quick question — for aspirin, are we supposed to use enteric coated or non-coated? The ones they gave us when Steve first came home were coated I tbink (it’s so little it’s hard to see) . I bought non-coated at first and they said it was okay but I ended up going back and getting the bayer coated one.
Hope

[Hope]

Hey all!

So Steve had a good day yesterday GI-wise. His appetite had come back Thursday night but I didn’t let him eat until yesterday morning. All good all day. When I got home today (from the vet of course – getting his lovenox injections drawn up), he jumped off the bed to go outside and wee, came inside and leapt back on the bed and proceeded to vomit everywhere on the bed. He hasn’t had Denamarin since Wednesday so it can’t be that. I know his appetite is definitely still intact bc when I was trying to clean it up, he was (nastily) trying to lick it up. And he tried to eat my food a little while later too. Any ideas why he may be throwing up? He seems a little tired in the sense that he lays down as soon as e comes in the house but he’s alert and jumps up if someone comes in the house, he sees someone walk by the house, someone goes towards the kitchen, etc. So he’s not necessarily lethargic. His gums look good and he’s not breathing hard or anything. I was going to bring him in but his internist isn’t there and the er vet would be the only one to look at him. And she doesn’t usually help much lol.. He has an appt Monday AM so I’m trying to hold off til then.
Could his meds be starting to upset him? This is his current regimen:

Midnight: 10mg aspirin
1:30am: lovenox shot
5:00am: 20mg pred + Pepcid
7:00am: 250mg MMF
9:30am: lovenox shot
Noon: 10mg aspirin
5:30pm: Lovenox shot
7:00pm: 125mg MMF

I’m wondering if maybe the aspirin is starting to upset his stomach? Last time he vomited it was around 12:30 and today it was 2:30. Are there any complications thay could be causing his stomach to stop digesting food? Bc both days it was A LOT of food. I’m worried that the food isn’t getting out of his stomach and that could affect his medication working also.
Any suggestions on changing up his regimen or anything I should do? I have Cerenia and sucralfate both left over from when his regular vet originally thought he just had upset stomach. Should I try one of those?
Thanks all!
Hope