Vet visit - blood panel results questions

[Lolli_lah]

So the end of last week Lolli had a bad spout of vomitting and everything. There was no diarrhea or blood, but I do know before she got sick vomitting she had some of that white spit looking stuff in her stool.

So we took her to the vet when the vomitting got real bad on Saturday, although at that point she was feeling better than the night before, and they gave her a penicilin shot and a vitamin k shot and a prescription of 4 days worth of Cerenia I think it was. I will have to double check that next time I go downstairs to help keep her stomach calm. And also some EnerCal (NutriCal) to put with her rice to keep supplement.

So she ate just fine after the visit and we had a bland diet of rice only then sunday evening we tried to add just a couple pieces of her kibble (Welness Simple Solution) and she did just fine with that too. We added a little chicken broth to moisten the kibbles and rice together. On Monday did this about 1 or 2 more times and she was fine then, too.

She was totally fine until yesterday afternoon (about 2ish) she got real trembley and lethargic and had her bottom in the air as if uncomfortable, kind of walking around trying to sit/lay down to get comfortable but couldn't. She was whining sort of but not loud or screaming, just like 'why am I so uncomfortable' type. This actually only lasted a lil over 2 hours (think it was all gone by about 4:30 or 5) and then bam she was back to her normal hyper self with that happy wagging tail. She did not show any other signs that this could be a seizure, though. So we ruled that out because the symptoms didn't add up (we as in the vet and I). She would not eat during this time, but had ate a bit of rice with chicken broth (no kibble) in the morning.

So we got her in to the vet this morning to see whats going on. There seemed not to be any pain on the abdomen with feeling of it and they did a blood panel to check for liver, kidney, diabetic etc problems that they check for in the panel. The results of the panel came out normal so he is saying it is most likely a gastrointestinal problem and to keep a bland diet of rice and to mix with some gerber beef type product (I haven't gone to the store to get this yet).

He wants to do this and to see if it helps her if she has any more bouts of vomitting or pain because the episode yesterday could have been drug induced as the penicilin lasts 5-6 days and also from the oral medication that he gave us that I mentioned earlier that is now out anyway.

So please can you give me any input on what you think? I, too, think that the signs very much lead to gastrointestinal but I am no way a professional to be able to make that assessment. The vet says the bout of pain yesterday could very much have been a cramp of some sort related to the gastrointestinal issue.

[Wylie's Mom]

That symptom (the posturing) definitely sounds gastro - my Marcel used to do that when he had GI issues as a pup (post-giardia x 4mths) - down on front legs, but in air.

Btw, was the soup low-salt? If no, do you think she was constipated yesterday from the extra salt? Was her poo after the posturing (whenever it arrived, that is ), harder than normal and/or was it mucous-y? If yes, it could be the salt. But like you mentioned, this could also be due to the penicillin, cerenia, and/or weird gastro adjustments can happen just when the body is trying to get back on track after *any* previous GI issue (like she just had).

I hope she feels better soon. It sounds like you're really on top of it - and it's great that you got bloodwork done, just to be sure .

[Lolli_lah]

They told me to get a low salt broth, but they were all out!! How stupid is that? So we took a can and well we don't feed it all at once. When used it as a water, we diluted it 1 part broth 3 part water. We also added it to when it was rice only, just about 1 tablespoon full to give the rice a chicken smell and flavor. It really helped.

Do you think that was bad? Thanks for the positive reply. I was hoping everything was in order, and not something missing. Because so many times I read "well why didn't your vet do this or that". The vet did say they do not have equipment for gastro-testing, whatever they have to do to test for it. All we can do now is trial and error, or I go to a really expensive vet. Although the first sounds bad, it really isn't. The vet says if I did get tests done and they were positive, the diet would be the first order of business anyway.

Oh and her poo was normal. It was darker than normal but not harder or bloody and no spit looking stuff at all. It was pretty normal moreso than usual even before she was being sick (she had had spit looking stuff for a little while now).

Ohhh and yeah he also said that her protein count was minimally low, but probably because all we been feeding her is rice mostly (there was a little kibble for a day or 2 but not much as we were slowly re-introducing it to her diet). And she could be hypoglycemic but he is more leaning to gastro- because of the sign of pain before and the other symptoms. But yorkies are prone to be hypoglycemic, yes? Is NutriCal supplement good to give every day?

[Lolli_lah]

Also just want to ask is it normal for her to act like she is very very hungry? I am assuming 1 of 2 things or both, that rice isn't filling her up and/or that the EnerCal says on the label that it "acts as an appetite stimulant". Could this be the case?

Lolli has never been a begger. Perhaps since we have made a huge turkey for easter and been making dinners with it ever since that she smells it and wants that over her rice, but she never took mind to meat/poultry being cooked before.

[Wylie's Mom]

Do you think she could have just gotten into something funky last week, btw? These kiddos can get into the weirdest things, I swear. And/or did you try a new food or treat last week or anything?

That soup was so diluted w/ the water you added, it probably was just fine .

Btw, what is the "gastro testing" the vet is mentioning? Do they mean "scoping"? If yes...personally....I'm not so sure I'd jump into that, if it were me...this soon.

The hypogly is common in yorkie puppies, but they should grow out of that. Of course, they can get low blood sugar/imbalances from vomiting/diarrhea too. I always have Nutrical on hand for sick/emergencies; it's not something I'd give every day, but it's something I'd give to a sick dog (depending on issue, that is). I think it can also be helpful for transitioning puppies, depending on the puppy too.

I hope Ellie May sees this...she may have some thoughts as well ....

[Lolli_lah]

Oh ok @ hypogly. It makes sense. I think he meant moreso diabetes then. But we don't think it is this now, mostly gastro. I am not sure what testing he meant, he just said he didn't have equipment to do that specific testing. So probably scope or whatever they'd use to detect that.

To answer the funky question, yes I sure did give her some new treats. I believe this caused this, but again I am not the professional so I have no idea if it's true.

I am just not sure what to do after a time if the rice + gerber beef diet works for her, how long do I use this diet only? For ever? If not, what should I do next? Is the Welness Simple Solution kibble ok to eventually introduce back in? I do not know if she had problems with it before, I do not believe she did but I am not for certain as the only new thing I gave her was the treats (she been on Wellness a couple months now).

If he mentioned how long to try the diet out, I am not entirely sure. Sometimes I forget a thing or two when there is so much information going into my brain. It's been since about Thursday she's been on rice only. He did mention wanting me to come back in like 10 days, but I don't remember why.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

Also just want to ask is it normal for her to act like she is very very hungry? I am assuming 1 of 2 things or both, that rice isn't filling her up and/or that the EnerCal says on the label that it "acts as an appetite stimulant". Could this be the case?

Lolli has never been a begger. Perhaps since we have made a huge turkey for easter and been making dinners with it ever since that she smells it and wants that over her rice, but she never took mind to meat/poultry being cooked before.

This is a good sign, that she is hungry . Bc loss of appetite would be really concerning, in a dog. So this is good! It could be the combo of good smells and the EnerCal that is helping her appetite.

I think a bland diet (rice, and bland meat) like the vet recommended would be good to settle her system, and see what happens. Did he say how long to do that? Probably not too long or she'll get out of balance.

[Lolli_lah]

Just giving note that I replied as you replied so there might be one you missed Oh the joys of being overly anxious for answers when you are nervous! :/

[Wylie's Mom]

If you think this string of events could be tied to those new treats, that would really be a nice answer to have for you - bc that simplifies a lot, phew! I would look at the ingredients of those treats (on the bag) and avoid those for future treats - if you think these were the cause.

A bland diet is pretty short term, for a sick dog. I've done bland diets sometimes for a couple days, sometimes maybe 5 days or so, just depending. It can go longer, but you don't want to go too long here -- esp. since she's been only on rice for a while.

Can you put a quick call in to the vet tech and ask how long she should be on the bland diet? That's what I'd probably do. And if she did really well on Wellness before...I'd go back to it, personally...to see if she settles back down. Some people will do bland for a few days, start adding kibble back in - and then switch back to the kibble.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

Just giving note that I replied as you replied so there might be one you missed Oh the joys of being overly anxious for answers when you are nervous! :/

LOL - I know how you feel, I am a freak when my boys are sick! Just a wreck.

[Lolli_lah]

What about bloating? How can you tell if there is bloating? Is bloating a sign of gastro- at all? I am not sure if she feels bloated or not, but she keeps rubbing her side and above her tail on things (like my foot when I sit cross leg on the couch) or her sides she rubs on the side of anything.

She did this before there was any problem, but it seems a bit more enhanced now. Any idea what this could be? She doesn't seem in pain. It might be uncomfortable or itchy, I can't really tell. The rubbing seems soothing to her.

The vet is closed for now (7 PM) so perhaps I will give a call tomorrow to ask about the diet.

[Ellie May]

When you say low protein, do you mean low total protein or albumin?
Hopefully it's just some digestive upset, but there are a couple concerns with lower protein in Yorkies, so something that should be monitored.

So is she still throwing up? How many times a day?
She has had mostly just rice for the last six days?

Can you post the bloodwork results?
On any meds now?

[Lolli_lah]

She has not thrown up since last Friday, except 1 time on Tuesday. On tuesday she did just a little bit, I believe was just when she ate after that little "episode" she had too much energy and running around the house and I think upset her after not eating all morning and afternoon.

The vet said protein, didn't mention any about albumin. But he didn't say it was very low, just a little on the under side and could have to do with not having much other than rice.

And not sure about results, I did not receive any paper information but then again I didn't request it. Is that something they normally do? She was not administered any meds at this time. Should I call and ask for a paperwork? It is kind of a far drive, though. He mentioned going back for a check up in about 10 days.

I think I already explained about what she's been eating since thursday when she started throwing up in a previous post. I had only been giving her rice until sunday evening and part of monday I had started to re-introduce her kibble. She did fine with this until her episode on Tuesday afternoon (she had rice that morning - no kibble that time). Since then it has been rice and now I have added today some Gerber beef to the rice as the vet said to try that.

[Ellie May]

No idea why the lethargy/trembling episode, but as long as it doesn't happen again, you probably have nothing to worry about there.

No, vets don't give copies of bloodwork unless owner requests them. I was just wondering b/c I wanted to look at a few numbers and see what exactly was included (like lipase, amylase).

Unbalanced, homecooked diets can be given for awhile without having to be oncerned. How old is she? You should be about to get away with three weeks as long as she isn't really young.

There is more non-invasive testing available, but it's probably a bit premature for it, especially since she is doing okay today.

[Lolli_lah]

She really has been okay since Saturday except for those few hours yesterday. The vet said coulda been anything, like perhaps a bit of low sugar episode but like she's not diabetic according to her results and things. Not to mention I got the results over the phone as he found nothing of concern. So we really aren't entirely sure was it related or not. Because of the short length we both sort of agreed it prolly was gas or some kind of cramp. Is bloating a possibility for gastro- dogs? I don't think she's bloated or has been but just wondering if there are any other symptoms that may arise in the future to look out for that could be related that I haven't come across yet.

She's about 7 years old, was a breeder dog from her previous owner but she was a vet tech so she was on heartworm prevention and things then and perhaps not 'well' taken care of, but taken care of.

I been so stressed I made myself horribly sick. Some things I just did not think to ask at all, like how long to keep her on this diet. If I should re-introduce her old kibble or if I should try some new type of kibble. I got Wellness Simple Solution rice & lamb right now. I don't know if this is ok or if I should maybe since already in a transition of diet, try something else? What do you suggest?

Next time I am at the vet I will request copy of the paperwork and when I get that I will send you a PM with it.