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06-08-2010, 05:53 PM | #1 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: sinking spring pa. usa
Posts: 95
| hypoparathyroid?? + PLE/LYMPHANGIECTASIA My poor Tucker had diarrhea for 2 weeks and was on flagyl, that's getting better, BUT, the vet ran labs, and his calcium level is 5.9, she said she thinks it's hypoparathyroid. She wants him to take .1 microgram of calcitrial, which only 1 pharmacy is willing to make the dose for his 7lb. size. I get it tomorrow. I gave him a 1/2 a tums last night and today till the script. is done, and he looks alittle better. Does anyone know the prognosis on this, anyone have this with their guys, is this just another nail in his coffin? I would appreciate any advice. Even alternative calcium ideas or places to purchase. I think the vet said this calcium could run $120.00 a month. I think that price is a extreme for calcium. Thanks Tracey |
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06-08-2010, 07:01 PM | #2 |
Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member | I would ask to be referred to an internal medicine specialist. low calcium level can be from other things too. how was the phosphorous level? Is he showing any neurological signs? lethargy? increased water intake or urination?
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06-08-2010, 07:51 PM | #3 |
I ♥ Armani & Chloe Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upstate NY
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| Im so sorry you are having these issues, here is some information you may find helpful: Please do not supplement without have a full thyroid panel as calcium alone will not determine thyroid issues so you really need a full 6 panel thyroid done by the vet. You can send the blood work to www.hemopet. com to jean dodds and have a second opinion done by her before doing anything. Low calcium can be a symptom of alot of things like ple, lymphangiecstasia, epi so those are a few things to be concerned about in a dog having diarrhea as well. As far as calcium sources: Tums are a source of calcium but bone meal is a better source of calcium. What else is going on with this dog any symptoms? What are you currently feeding? as that could be why calcium is low too, if its not a balanced diet.
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06-09-2010, 08:58 AM | #4 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: sinking spring pa. usa
Posts: 95
| Tuckers thyroid the vet said is only slightly low, she wasn't that worried. She is only concerned with the very low calcium. The diarrhea was checked and it had funky organisms in it, probably due to getting into compost in the garden, which is now fenced off. He's protein levels were low, vet said probably from the diarrhea. They also straight cathed him for urine, and it came up ok. His pancreatic enzymes were a little elevated. I gave him a 1/2 of a tums 2x already while waiting for this pharmacy to make his script. He is much better. Stronger, more alert, I originally thought he was acting strange from the flagyl, but it had to be from his calcium levels being so low. The pharmacy actually called me this morning to pick the flavoring Tucker would prefer, chicken,beef, or liver, and the price isn't 120.00, it's 64 ot 65.00. Much better. He goes this friday for repeat lab work, just to make sure things are improving. The food he eats is acana all day, then chicken breast and veggies in the evening, with nupro powder in it. He has been eating alot of sweet potatoes with his flagyl, thinking it would prevent stomach upset. I am now on a mission to find out all I can about hypoparathyroidism. Especially the prognosis. If anyone has any input, I would greatly appreciate it, Thanks alot, Tracey |
06-09-2010, 09:45 AM | #5 | |
BANNED! Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA
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Low calcium, low cholesterol, and low protein can be tied to lymphangiecstasia, ple or epi. A dog with these issues will have diarrhea. But if this all started after the compost incident you need to rule out a fungal infection asap. What to ask about is histoplasmosis so ask your vet if that can be a possibility. Hypothyroid dogs can be over weight, sluggish, have a stinky odor about them due to sebaceous gland excretion, skin issues and loss of hair - not diarrhea and not low calcium as my dog does not have low calcium and she is hypothyroid and on soloxine for it as well http://www.petplace.com/dogs/hypothy...ogs/page1.aspx Last edited by dwerten; 06-09-2010 at 09:48 AM. | |
06-09-2010, 09:49 AM | #6 |
BANNED! Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA
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| Histoplasmosis in Dogs pm manolosmom she knows all about this Her dogs blood work was perfect though what did they say the funky organisms were? There is a $200 fecal through antech which goes over everything including clostridium so maybe that will give you more answers Last edited by dwerten; 06-09-2010 at 09:53 AM. |
06-09-2010, 10:40 AM | #7 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Breeder Referrals | |
06-09-2010, 11:21 AM | #8 | |
BANNED! Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA
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Structure and Function of the Endocrine System in Dogs I just think with that compost thing prior I would ask more questions My bad as sometimes people post things spelled wrong so since hypothyroid runs in this breed more so than hypoparathyroid as have not heard of a yorkie having this just assumed but you know what they say about assuming lollll | |
06-09-2010, 11:41 AM | #9 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,235
| You are correct about the Parathyroid glands being located behind the thyroid. There are 4 pole to a parathyroid gland and you need at least 1 to function. If they are not functioning properly they will leech calcium from other parts of the body ie bones and can also cause kidney stones. In humans many times there is a growth on one of the 4 glands that is holding on to and leeching the calcium. I'm not sure how that would apply to a dog. Are they suspecting a growth? What do they think the underlying cause of this to be?
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06-09-2010, 11:42 AM | #10 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
Megansmama, I see we were posting at the same time!
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Breeder Referrals Last edited by Nancy1999; 06-09-2010 at 11:45 AM. | |
06-09-2010, 12:22 PM | #11 | |
BANNED! Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA
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I can check with Jean Dodds on this as well as now it has me real curious. I am more concerned though with the compost being prior to this occuring and diarhea and organisms found in fecal. I would attribute more to that and loss of protein etc to the diarrhea as not abnormal in breed to have loss of protein with intestinal issues and seems to be more common than hypoparathyroid I would think but could be wrong Last edited by dwerten; 06-09-2010 at 12:25 PM. | |
06-09-2010, 12:41 PM | #12 | |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,235
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The parathyroid is something that I have a lot of hands on experience with since this involves my career. I am not sure how it would all relate to animals but I could discuss this on a human level. Many times post op human's with dementia that is onset from a parathyroid issue will regain their mental capacities following surgery. Much science and medicine is based on animals. What did the Vet say would be the complications from the hypo-parathyroid issue?
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06-09-2010, 01:11 PM | #13 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
Oh that's interesting, especially the dementia aspect. In her original post the OP said that the vet said that "calcium level is 5.9, she said she thinks it's hypoparathyroid." Hypo usually means slow, so I guess that means a slow working parathyroid that isn't producing enough calcium in the blood. The OP wanted to about alternative calcium, as the type she was told to buy was very expensive. I do know that you have to be careful about the type, as some is not absorbed as well as others, or it must be in some type of combination, for best absorption. According to her second post the pharmacy came up with a better price now. To the OP, if this is a suppliment that will be needed for a long time, you might be able to find better prices on the web, they can contact your doctor if a prescription is needed. I wonder if the diarrhea could cause a low calcium test result?
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Breeder Referrals Last edited by Nancy1999; 06-09-2010 at 01:16 PM. | |
06-09-2010, 01:45 PM | #14 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: sinking spring pa. usa
Posts: 95
| I don't remember the name of the funky organism, the vet was looking for giarda? originally, but that was negative, she said she normally sees one or two bad things on the screen, but he had multiple ones, that's why she said instead of 10 days of flagly she wants him on for 14 days. After she was so pleased with his breathing issues and 1lb weight loss, she realized he turned 7 years old and wanted a senior lab package done, I agreed since I put everyone on a grain free diet, I was curious about any lab changes. He took his 1st pill, and that night no diarrhea, that lasted 2 days, but then he was looking ill, so I looked up flagly side effects, and he had almost all less common ones, pawing at the mouth, GI upsets, which then the diarrhea at night returned, just one loose stool at night and one during the day. He would perk up during the day, but then look ill about 2 hours after eve. meal and dose. THEN the phone call came that his labs were messed up and she was concerned about the calcium. I think it was 6.8, she said you can seizure at 6, then we repeated it, and it was 5.8, she said give some tums till I can get the pharmacy to make the correct dose. She said hypoparathyroid oftem comes from thyroid surgery and the parathyroid is accidentally removed or damaged. But Tucker doesn't fit that bill. Something's going on with this para thing, because she said she has another dog or two with it, but they are different breeds. Tucker came from a bad bad place in texas, we all know from who, he was sold as is due to a parrot jaw, and I was afraid someone would buy him and he would starve because of the jaw. He always gets into things, everytime we think the yard is stripped of anything he could put in his mouth, he shocks me by bringing in a stone or something. At the present time there is no diarrhea, and I picked his beef flavored calcium up and he had one dose. I can't wait till friday's lab work. He will need routine labs to see where he's at with the calcium. Vet said too much is harmful also. I think it's hard on the kidneys. I think, I am reading and hearing so much I'm confused. But again any input is greatly appreciated. Tracey |
06-09-2010, 01:56 PM | #15 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Breeder Referrals | |
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