YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - IBD in my dog and ANY advise please...help!

swill · 02-08-2009, 07:55 AM

Hi there everyone,

Sorry this might been a little long- but I want to give all the info- b/c I'm REALLY[/I] scared we may have run out of options....any advise would be helpful at this point.

My 12 1/2 year old 6-6.5 lbs yorkie was diagnosed w/ IBD 3 years ago. After many "episodes" of horrendous diarrehea/ bloody gel- like stool and all the rest that goes w/ that (no need to go into further detail if you have experienced it- you know what i'm working about) At that time, each episode was able to be "stopped" after 3-4 days w/ meds- i believe metronidizole.
We tried the novel protein diets but none seemed to work.

Finally i gave in and let the vet do surgery to take biopsies she could not get through a less envasive porcedure. It showed she had Garidais (spelling) and the results were not definitive for IBD but there was a clear thickening of part of her intestinal wall. At one point she was also on atopic(good for only 6weeks) and she has tied Tylosin at different points as well as all the general meds for this.

As a last resort we went to steroids which worked for a good two years but have finally caused intestinal bleeding.
in Dec we did another ultrasound- the findings were not clinically significantly different from before- so no cancer or organized mass- still just the thickening of the intestinal wall.
So..tappered off the steriod and was on Tylosin w/ Metronidazole prn to control the "episodes" recently- which stopped working.

She is now on Atopica, tylosin and metro prn along w/ the Hill's Z/D food.
But after two weeks she got another "episode" but it was not as as bad.
****
my main questions are
1. are there long -term neurological side-effects from prolonged Metronidazole use as i have heard?

2. does anyone have any other suggestions for my poor girl- my vet i feel has a VERY comprehensive job- but should i take her to an internist/specialist? will a colonoscopy or endoscopy find anything new or simply be more expensive and invasive stressful tests for her?

3.anyone tried acupuncture and found it helpful?

ANY suggestions would be soo appreciated- she has had horrendous accidents i my house, car etc.. but i am willing to do anything i can to try to make her more comfortable and try to decrease the frequency of the "episodes"

**I live on the VT/ NH border..so if i went the specialist route- does anyone know of -had a good experience w/ anyone from In-Town locations (brought her to Wouburn, MA regarding her eyes- one good experience- one horrendous from another dr) or from Tufts?

Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this and if you have any advise/ suggestions/ similar issues your feedback would be soo appreciated...i'm feeling very helpless and alone at this point.

Chloe and her owner.

02-08-2009, 07:55 AM	#1
swill Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: usa Posts: 19	IBD in my dog and ANY advise please...help! Hi there everyone, Sorry this might been a little long- but I want to give all the info- b/c I'm REALLY[/I] scared we may have run out of options....any advise would be helpful at this point. My 12 1/2 year old 6-6.5 lbs yorkie was diagnosed w/ IBD 3 years ago. After many "episodes" of horrendous diarrehea/ bloody gel- like stool and all the rest that goes w/ that (no need to go into further detail if you have experienced it- you know what i'm working about) At that time, each episode was able to be "stopped" after 3-4 days w/ meds- i believe metronidizole. We tried the novel protein diets but none seemed to work. Finally i gave in and let the vet do surgery to take biopsies she could not get through a less envasive porcedure. It showed she had Garidais (spelling) and the results were not definitive for IBD but there was a clear thickening of part of her intestinal wall. At one point she was also on atopic(good for only 6weeks) and she has tied Tylosin at different points as well as all the general meds for this. As a last resort we went to steroids which worked for a good two years but have finally caused intestinal bleeding. in Dec we did another ultrasound- the findings were not clinically significantly different from before- so no cancer or organized mass- still just the thickening of the intestinal wall. So..tappered off the steriod and was on Tylosin w/ Metronidazole prn to control the "episodes" recently- which stopped working. She is now on Atopica, tylosin and metro prn along w/ the Hill's Z/D food. But after two weeks she got another "episode" but it was not as as bad. ** my main questions are 1. are there long -term neurological side-effects from prolonged Metronidazole use as i have heard? 2. does anyone have any other suggestions for my poor girl- my vet i feel has a VERY comprehensive job- but should i take her to an internist/specialist? will a colonoscopy or endoscopy find anything new or simply be more expensive and invasive stressful tests for her? 3.anyone tried acupuncture and found it helpful? ANY suggestions would be soo appreciated- she has had horrendous accidents i my house, car etc.. but i am willing to do anything i can to try to make her more comfortable and try to decrease the frequency of the "episodes" I live on the VT/ NH border..so if i went the specialist route- does anyone know of -had a good experience w/ anyone from In-Town locations (brought her to Wouburn, MA regarding her eyes- one good experience- one horrendous from another dr) or from Tufts? Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this and if you have any advise/ suggestions/ similar issues your feedback would be soo appreciated...i'm feeling very helpless and alone at this point. Chloe and her owner.