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Old 04-06-2015, 10:26 PM   #1
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Default Hill I/D Gastrointestinal Health - opinions?

Sophie is still having some issues and we were back at the vet tonight.
Background info first (unless you want to bypass the novel and scroll to the bottom!):

Last night she had another blood panel done as well as a test for her pancreas - all came back normal and was given a Cerenia injection and an acid reducer and we were sent home. She came home and ate and was fine but then this morning she wouldn't eat at all, so back to the vet we went. We had an abdominal x-ray done to check for anything major and the vet's statement was, "There is nothing that is causing us great concern, but a couple of things that we need to note" She pointed out that her small intestines are not where they typically should be, but that could just be her normal or the way she was laying and a section of her large intestine is a little thickened.

She has been throwing up bile and foam for just over a week now and was on an anti-biotic for an infected anal gland and we attempted to switch foods. So the vets in the office both think it is pointing toward irritation from vomiting and tummy upset. Worst case scenario is lymphoma, but they don't feel that is something to be worried about yet but if she doesn't improve we will likely be told to have an ultrasound done. I am terrified of that but I am trying to stay positive.

She had a rectal exam done and no masses or abnormalities were found. Temperature was normal - only time it was high was March 25th when she has pus in her anal gland. Has been to the vet 4 times since then and temp has been normal. We took a stool sample in tonight and they are running the tests on it and will let us know. She is 5 years old and weighs between 4.5lbs and 4.8lbs (depends on the scale/when she ate last) - hasn't lost any weight though.

I should mention that her annual bloodwork was done on the 25th and was normal. Most of her issues started the weekend of the 30th and we had started giving her a new food that night.

She was sent home with some medication for vomiting and another anti-biotic we can give her and was told we could start her on them in the morning if she ate when we got home, if not, to give it tonight so she doesn't vomit.

Now, to the point:

She was also sent home with two cans of Hills I/D - a stew formula and a pate. She has inhaled the stew formula and *crosses fingers, knocks on wood* has kept it down as well as a small piece of a Benny Bully and a single green bean. I know it is still early to get excited, but she has eaten and that seems like a good sign. However, the vet also suggested putting her on the matching kibble and after years of reading about ingredients and all the opinions with vet food and corn and by-products, I am nervous.

I am just looking for people who have used the food or any prescribed food and found that it actually helped. She will get the kibble if it is what works for her, but I am having a hard time getting my mind around going from grain free/natural to Science Diet. They do allow returns if it doesn't work out, so that is somewhat comforting.

She used to get itchy with corn and chicken made her gassy (we think it was chicken, never had any testing done). The stew she ate tonight was chicken based so hopefully it doesn't make her worse, but she was happy to eat it and would have eaten the whole can if I had let her!

Thanks in advance and keeps fingers crossed for Ms. Sophie please! I just want my little monkey to feel better..
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Old 04-07-2015, 03:56 AM   #2
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Hi. I'm sorry your pup is having such a tough time. I haven't used the Hills, but had a dog on Royal Canin Gastro RX for a couple of years. When looking at the ingredient list of these foods, it sort of makes me cringe too because they don't really appear to be high quality foods. BUT, you have to keep in mind that these foods were specifically made to target a particular health issue, and they generally do a pretty good job. I had a yorkie with somewhat chronic pancreatitis that ate the RC food. I tried to transition him off the RX food a couple of times in the first year and his pancreas would flare up each time. So it was obviously what was needed and doing it's job. During the second year I was able to slowly transition him over to a home cooked diet.


Sending good thoughts for Miss Sophie!


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Old 04-07-2015, 05:29 AM   #3
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Default Hills

Hello.
So sorry your baby has the GI issues and is not feeling well.
My boy had a bout of pancreatitis about a year ago and I was told by the vet that I should feed Hills ID Low Fat prescription food to keep him P free.
I agree, the ingredients aren't what I would wish to feed him, but I have to say that he has done really well on the Hills. I started with the canned when he was first diagnosed and slowly converted to the kibble. ( mixed the canned and kibble until it was all kibble). After a while I added a small amount of boiled lean chicken breast to give him at least a bit of 'real' food.
So all I can say is that the food does keep him well and I would try it. The kibble is pretty boring I imagine, so you may have to pep it up a bit with some canned or chicken to make it more palatable.
Hope she is feeling better soon. Good Luck!
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Old 04-07-2015, 07:42 AM   #4
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Miss Tink recently changed from Royal Canin Gastro Food to Hills ID. For some reason, she started to refuse the Royal Canin Gastro canned food when she used to love it.
She is all about the Hills ID - and comparing the ingredients to Royal Canin, I'm much happier with Hills ID, and it's lower fat than RC. Tink has had pancreatitis in the past, so her vet switched her to prescription food to combat the issue. I hope Sophie starts feeling better!
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Old 04-07-2015, 11:12 AM   #5
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Thanks guys! She is loving the wet food, so we are going to pick up a bag of the kibble this week. She didn't throw up last night or this morning - fingers crossed it stays that way.

I made the mistake of looking up lymphoma symptoms and have been crying all day and feeling sick with worry. I am truly hoping this is just an irritation and not cancer...the vet didn't seem to find it too concerning, but did say if she didn't improve that testing should be done.

She has a bowel movement today - small and softer than usual but all she has eaten is wet food since Sunday night but it was not diarrhea. She is also drinking water on her own terms and I mix a little extra with her canned food so make sure she is getting water throughout the day.

I am so nervous, but trying to take comfort in the fact that without meds she kept everything down and is still hungry today. She usually throws up at night, so I will be watching her like a hawk tonight and hoping she does not throw up.
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Old 04-07-2015, 11:18 AM   #6
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I pray that this issue is just tummy issues (and that the new food helps) - wishes and prayers for little Sophie
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Old 04-07-2015, 11:59 AM   #7
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All I can say about Hills is that my son's dog has been on it for over 5 years, and after a year of trying other prescription foods and losing so much weight we thought he would die, it's been a godsend. I recommended it to someone based upon my son's luck with it and people here blasted it for different reasons, but my grand dog has gained all his weight back and his pancreatitis is under control.
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Old 04-07-2015, 12:18 PM   #8
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Thanks for the good news that Sophie likes the wet food and keeps it down. Cerenia is a wonderful drug and really works I found. The antacid will also help am sure. Whenever my dog gets a tummy upset, the Hills canned always eases it. Don't worry about the softish stool as she is getting a lot of liquid in the food and water. Hope the transition to the Hills kibble goes well. But I am certain that if you at first mix in some canned she will lap it up.
PLEASE do not get stressed about cancer. There is no evidence in the exams and tests so far and she probably just has a tummy upset. Not a good idea to start nasty disease searches yet!!!
If she had some serious obstruction etc she would not be holding down food and pooping normally. So far she is doing well and hopefully will be better in a day or so.
Whatever is in the Hills, it usually is well accepted by dogs and keeps them GI symptom free.
So try and be positive, and we pray that she will be feeling her old self again soon.

Last edited by dottiesyrky; 04-07-2015 at 12:20 PM.
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Old 04-08-2015, 06:25 AM   #9
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No vomiting since Sunday night, but not eating again today. I don't know if we can afford the ultrasound but I can't lose her and I am so scared she has cancer ...
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Old 04-08-2015, 06:30 AM   #10
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I am so sorry that your baby girl is not eating today. I would take her back to the vet and get the US test if that is what the vet needs for a better diagnosis.
Hope there is nothing serious and that it is just a tummy upset.
Prayers for her to get well soon.
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Old 04-08-2015, 06:31 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danniko View Post
No vomiting since Sunday night, but not eating again today. I don't know if we can afford the ultrasound but I can't lose her and I am so scared she has cancer ...
Feel so bad for you as I know you're really scared. I want to say an ultrasound is around $150-200 or so...? Are there other symptoms that are making you think cancer?
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Old 04-08-2015, 06:38 AM   #12
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I have used Hill's ID many times with great success. I also use Purina EN instead of the ID at times. They are pretty much the same food.

My Rookie recently was hospitalized for tests due to GI issues. His xrays were quite scary .. super enlarged liver and so they did an ultrasound which suggested that he could have a number of things (including cancer which scared the heck out of me). We ended up doing an endoscopy on him and he has lymphangectasia ... for now he is on Purina EN and doing well. He is not yet losing protein so they didn't want him on a super low fat diet.

Anyway......my point to all of this is that Hills ID and Purina EN are great RX foods!
I had a pup many years ago who was on the EN for the last 4 years of his life and he lived to be around 16.

Also, the vets must warn you about cancer because it is always a possibility, but yorkies are SO prone to gastro intestinal issues that I would try hard to think that it is probably one of them. Believe me, there is a greater chance of some gastro issue than cancer in a yorkie! Often we spend so much time worrying about things that don't come to pass.

Good luck and please keep us posted!

Last edited by ladyjane; 04-08-2015 at 06:39 AM.
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Old 04-08-2015, 06:38 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom View Post
Feel so bad for you as I know you're really scared. I want to say an ultrasound is around $150-200 or so...? Are there other symptoms that are making you think cancer?
Ultrasounds here are $367 That is with a radiologist reading it.
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Old 04-08-2015, 06:41 AM   #14
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The office quoted us at $460 for the ultrasound because they have to bring in a specialist to do it.

Other than the thickened instestines and her not eating, nothing else would worry me. She hasn't taken any meds since Sunday and she was loving the wet food all day yesterday. It just seems she eats for one day and then refuses food the next day with a gurgling bum. She was fine all ay yesterday and was running around and even played with her toys (she rarely does that normally!). She ate a lick of food at 6am this morning and now she wants nothing to do with us or the food.

She has gotten me through so much these last few years and I am in no way ready to say goodbye to her at 5 years old.
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Old 04-08-2015, 07:11 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danniko View Post
The office quoted us at $460 for the ultrasound because they have to bring in a specialist to do it.

Other than the thickened instestines and her not eating, nothing else would worry me. She hasn't taken any meds since Sunday and she was loving the wet food all day yesterday. It just seems she eats for one day and then refuses food the next day with a gurgling bum. She was fine all ay yesterday and was running around and even played with her toys (she rarely does that normally!). She ate a lick of food at 6am this morning and now she wants nothing to do with us or the food.

She has gotten me through so much these last few years and I am in no way ready to say goodbye to her at 5 years old.
You might want to call around to see if you could get the ultrasound for less. That is a lot of money but it could just be the rate there.

Thickening of the intestines could be many things....actually lymphangectasia is one and, even more commonly IBD. The symptoms are the same...loss of appetite is what I picked up on with my Cookie when she was diagnosed. The difference in Cookie and Rookie is that she was losing protein and he has not yet. Ask them about the possibility of this because it is common in yorkies. Here is a link about it:
Intestinal Lymphangiectasia

It may not be that, but it is certainly worth asking about!
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