Help - sick Yorkie not eating

[Desiree1027]

My super sensitive Dezi is having one of her episodes and she hasn't eaten since yesterday. She is soooooo sensitive that last time she wasn't feeling well, (intestinal sounds and diarrhea and what seems like reflux from the way she swallows and gags) I tried the boiled hamburger and rice, made her sicker then the babyfood and rice, made her sicker, then pepto and it made it worse. Then i realized i was making it worse and last longer by doing this. So I am not trying to feed anything but she won't eat her food. She isn't looking for anything. So I gave her about a 1/2 tsp corn syrup. i am afraid if i go to sleep she isn't going to wake up because of slipping into a hypoglycemic coma. How much corn syrup should she get to keep her blood sugar up? I am taking my other one in to be spayed tomorrow so i can talk to the vet. How much can one person take?

[Ellie May]

How often does this happen?
Is she vomiting also?

I think 1/2 tsp. is quite a bit and less would probably be better but it needs to be given often. When Ellie is having problems I give her Pedialyte and occasionally wake up in the middle of the night to give her some.

[Desiree1027]

It used to happen more often but the vet gave me Nutragest powder with active cultures and ginger and such. It has helped a lot. She is very emotional and it is usually in response to stress or diet. But I can't figure it out this time except that i jinxed her by saying yesterday that she has been fine for months since starting the powder. Not vomiting and usually doesn't but the poop is loose and she is visibly uncomfortable, wants to be held, (otherwise doesn't like too much handling) and I can hear the sounds coming from her belly, gurgling and rumbling. I think she has cramps because she walks kind of tucked in.

[ally]

My dogs eat dry food, but ever since Mochi had 25 of his teeth removed I ben crushing his food and mixing it with wet food. Since then, his sister Chiqui has been getting picky with her food and didn't want to eat. I guess she was jealous of Mochi getting special food. So what I did with her, I mix her whole dry food with a little wet food. Dogs usually love mushy wet food. I would try giving her a variety of food choices at the same time, like dry mixed with wet food, or just mushy wet food, or maybe even just dry food. find out what she likes and stick with it. If Dezi is still having problems, then I would take her to the vet and talk about what other options they may have.

[Ellie May]

If is usually happens because of stress and diet, what about the diet is different when this happens? Extra fat? Diary? Chicken?

Did the vet diagnose her? IBD or pancreatitis?

[Desiree1027]

The diet usually doesn't vary now because I know what happens. She used to be able to eat apple, pear, peach etc. She would love to bite into a piece of fruit. Maybe she'd have a couple of bites. Someone gave her chicken a couple of years ago and come to think she didn't get sick. But chicken baby food didn't agree with her when she was sick in the spring. The brand of food she was eating in the winter added a new manufacturing plant and the color changed and the texture changed because I soak her food in water and mush it up. The change made her sick. So I had to switch her food. She did okay with that because i went to another chicken and brown rice food without any unnecessary stuff. The most recent change was when she got a few pieces of Cassie's puppy food. Also adding treats she wasn't used to. I learned my lesson, I didn't want her to feel like Cassie gets stuff she can't have, so I shared. Not a good idea. Diagnosis from two vets, very very sensitive stomach. One leaned toward IBD but not conclusive.

[Ellie May]

Hmm, I really don't know but chicken baby food usually has added fat in it and puppy food can have extra fat in it.

I think I'd be on the look out for pancreatitis issues just in case.
You can give Pedialyte when this happens to keep her sugar up and boost electrolyes. That shouldn't hurt. Have you tried plain mashed potatoes to get her to eat? That is nice and carby and you may get her to eat. I wouldn't think that would irritate irrititable bowel issues either.

[Desiree1027]

Thank you. I just came from the vet (dropping off Cassie to be spayed) and I had them look at Dezi. She got up this morning and wanted to hide in a corner. She ate her soaked food, though. Just a little. The vet recommended sweet potato and chicken. I was just pondering the baby food and what would make her sick in it, so thanks. She didn't have a temp, wasn't dehydrated (her food was soaked this morning so she got some liquid) and the exam was fine. Her behavior was normal too but as I write this she's hiding under the bed. Not normal! They gave her barium. Said it has a soothing effect and also, we can track how long it takes to come out since she'll poop out snow white stuff. Her bloods for pancreatitis have always been good. I have had bloods drawn on her both times she had anesthesia and I do a routine every year. I specifically asked about it and they said it would have shown.(?) I am going to the store for chicken, I'm glad I checked this because I forgot about the pedialyte. Thank you, again. My poor Cassidy is being prepped for surgery and I can barely keep my thoughts straight.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Desiree1027

Thank you. I just came from the vet (dropping off Cassie to be spayed) and I had them look at Dezi. She got up this morning and wanted to hide in a corner. She ate her soaked food, though. Just a little. The vet recommended sweet potato and chicken. I was just pondering the baby food and what would make her sick in it, so thanks. She didn't have a temp, wasn't dehydrated (her food was soaked this morning so she got some liquid) and the exam was fine. Her behavior was normal too but as I write this she's hiding under the bed. Not normal! They gave her barium. Said it has a soothing effect and also, we can track how long it takes to come out since she'll poop out snow white stuff. Her bloods for pancreatitis have always been good. I have had bloods drawn on her both times she had anesthesia and I do a routine every year. I specifically asked about it and they said it would have shown.(?) I am going to the store for chicken, I'm glad I checked this because I forgot about the pedialyte. Thank you, again. My poor Cassidy is being prepped for surgery and I can barely keep my thoughts straight.

Aww, surgery is so stressful.
Pancreas issues don't always show up on blood work...

[Breezeaway]

I agree, sounds like pancreas issues.

[Desiree1027]

What can I request that they do to determine pancreatitis? I have been to two different offices and neither is suspicious of that because of the blood. Do you have any advice about what I can do to rule it out further? I hate being at the mercy of someone else especially since I don't know what I'm talking about. Help!

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Desiree1027

What can I request that they do to determine pancreatitis? I have been to two different offices and neither is suspicious of that because of the blood. Do you have any advice about what I can do to rule it out further? I hate being at the mercy of someone else especially since I don't know what I'm talking about. Help!

It is very likely not pancreatitis is the blood work is normal but it could be I think. Ellie threw up 8 times in one day once and then was fine. She had an ultrasound a week later for something unrelated and the specialist diagnosed pancreatitis, so ultrasound is a good method but expensive. I wouldn't do it too fast because of the expense.

[TLC]

When TJ was 13 weeks old, he started to poop issues. The gurgirling noises like a monster was inside him, he refused food and water and I knew he didn't feel well at all. When he would poop (could be 10 mins or hours later) it would be an inch of formed poop and globs of orange mucus. Once this poop was out, he felt better and was starving....

This went on and on and got worse and worse and ALL the time. I was at the Vet at least 2x a week. We did fecal samples, did a wormer (just in case), he was on flagyl 2x (didn't work) ~ then we tried a special diet (duck and potato) and nothing else but he still wasn't getting better. Finally we did blood work, all was good expect his folate levels were very, very high. He had an overgrowth of bacteria in his small intestines = IBD

The Vet suggested giving him Tylan Powder (everyday, just a tiny bit) as this does help *some* dogs with these issues. Well, this was the answer for TJ. He was on Tylan for at least 6 to 8 months, but the Vet assured me that Tylan is pretty safe for long term use. His own dog was on it for life.

I am not saying this is the answer for you, but it might be worth it to suggest to your Vet....

Also, if you want to read more about TJ "episodes" as I call them...Do a search here on YT for Tylan and all my old threads should come up (from 2005).

Keep us posted