[jacs0517]

I lost my 10 year old Oscar last Saturday after being diagnosed with this disease six months ago (via biopsy). I wanted to post my experience, and hope to help or save even one yorkie. Please keep in mind I am posting from Canada, so many drug names or normal ranges may not be the same as in America).

He was diagnosed with IBS about two years ago, his albumin level had dropped to 29 (the normal range is 31-42) – my vet said it could either be IBS or Cancer (I almost dropped dead), however, if the Prednizone worked then it would be IBS. He also thought it IBS because Oscar had previous issues with diarrhea – which we gave him Flagyl for (10 days), this would happen maybe twice a year since he was 4 year old. After four weeks on Prednizone (decrease the dose every week) his albumin level increased within the normal range, always in the low range – but in the range none the less. My vet suggested that we test Oscar’s protein levels every three months. So this is what we did, however, until about 10 months ago.

I went in for blood work April 2008, before getting his teeth cleaned – and I am sure that I asked the technician to check his protein levels. I called the next day, and she said everything was okay – I assumed she meant protein too, because I was sure I asked them to check that. Anyway, mistakes happen – I love my vet and I know he cared so much about Oscar, it wasn’t his fault. Then during the summer, when we were renovating our kitchen and I forgot to pick up off the floor and throw away the half a KFC big crunch sandwich – you got it, I came home a few hours later and he had diarrhea all over the place. I found him in my bed with the top of the bun licked dry; he seemed sick and stayed that way for about 24-36 hours when I finally took him to my vet for blood work. When we got the results his albumin level had dropped to 13 and had to be rushed to the emergency clinic (anything below 15 will result in fluid building up in the lungs, belly, and legs). After an ultrasound they found 100ml of fluid in his lungs and the specialist actually came in on the Sunday to insert a needle and remove the fluid. Anyways, on the Monday (after three days on IV) when the internal medicine specialist came in he did the biopsy and advised that Oscar had Lymphangiectasia – the course of treatment would be steroids.

So we went home with Prednizone and tested his albumin level almost every week. At first it went up (we were excited), then it dropped again about a month later – maybe to 19. Oscar was not himself on Prednizone, couldn’t hold him, like he was paranoid. So the doctor decided to try Budesonide which made it go up a point or two, but nothing that would keep him healthy. Then he started to vomit uncontrollably – not exaggerating when I say 30 times, just blood and mucus. This lead to rushing him to the emergency clinic and a couple day stay – more tests, etc, etc. So the doctor put him on Imuran and also gave him Ranitidone for his stomach (to help settle his stomach with all the drugs). The protein level went up again, and then two weeks later down – another bought of vomiting, rushing to the clinic, etc, etc. So we decided to try a homemade diet –the vet gave me a hills canine reducing diet, its for overweight dogs – but it had the same make up, low fat, high protein. He also allowed me to take home the anti-nausea drug (Cerina) and be able to administer it to Oscar via needle; it seemed that it would work after ten minutes. This way Oscar would not have to endure the trauma as before. The diet worked for a week and then albumin level dropped again. I thank the doctor so much for the needle, as Oscar vomited maybe seven more times until last Saturday – but it would stop ten minutes after the needle. So I tried another home made diet, from Hilary Watson, she is in Guelph, Ontario and created a recipe book and supplement (this is very new – look up Balancer) – this diet was cod fish, peas, blueberries, cod liver oil, safflower oil and balancer supplement. After one week his albumin level increased to 29 – it hadn’t been that high since being diagnosed in August, but yet again the next week it dropped to 23. My last hope was the diet, so I knew his time was coming. The doctor said Oscar wouldn’t be able to live long on such a high dose of steroids, as those drugs would cause other issues. So about 10 days ago his white blood cell count came in at 35000 (17000 is normal) with some issues in the kidney – we tested his urine but that was okay. My regular vet said we could check his stool for blood – which we did and it came back positive (on the Friday), however, that day he stopped eating and seemed in pain (up until this point he ate like crazy). I knew that day we were going to let him go; I just couldn’t bring him to the emergency clinic and leave him one more time. I was worried the specialist would tell me the end was near and I didn’t want his last days to be in a cage in the clinic. In the end we spent $11,000 to try to save him – but only a miracle would, and it didn’t come.

I know this may seem like a very sad story, however, this is my suggestion could I go back in time. Test your dog’s albumin levels often, yearly if he is not sick (I think this disease can be managed if caught early – I wish now we would have kept him on a low dose of Prednizone since 2007). If he continues to have diarrhea or poop that is not normal, take him to the vet and test his albumin. If his protein levels are low, get him on Prednizone, and possibly keep him on it (even one pill a week). Keep him away from fatty foods (if he gets into something like KFC take him to the vet at once). And finally if possible feed him a home made diet – even my vet said the gastro he was on (for about 6 years) was low fat; however, it still had fat. No fat is best, and I bet if I put Oscar on this cod fish diet right away he may have lived longer.

If you have any questions, please email me – I will try to answer as best that I can from my experience with Oscar. jacalynh@sympatico.ca