I need your help again!!

[LoveMyGirlz]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

Remember that Giardia can cause them to become anorexic. Sounds like this might be happening. Keep trying various foods. Gerber makes a chicken&apples that doesn't have any bad seasoning in it and because the apples make it sweet, she might like that. Even if she won't voluntarily eat it, it is not solid, so you could force some with a syringe. I hope she is better soon.

Ahhh Jodie, I wish I had your vet!
You've given such great advice lately, as have you all...I need to talk to a vet that agrees with everything you guys have said!! Not just say "no, we've never seen that happen because of giardia before!" Makes me so mad!
I haven't seen the chicken and apples! I will look today!
How soon after finishing all the meds should she be retested for giardia? Today is her last dose of that panacure (sp?)....

[Tinkerbelle1]

I did want to send along my prayers that Gemma will start eating regularly and feeling better soon.

My Vet also prescribed Pepcid when Bella has an upset tummy but only half a tab and I have to crush it up as she won't chew it up.

She is a finicky eater as well and I have to constantly change what I offer her. She will not eat rice but she does like chicken but I bake it I don't boil it, I hope that is alright as the vet never said to boil it. She loves baby carrots as well and does prefer them cooked though. She loves peanut butter, toast with a little butter and peanut butter will usually coax her to eat. If that fails then I go to the big guns, eggs with cheese and just a little bacon for the smell. That usually wakes up her taste buds and she gobbles it right up. I know bacon is not good for them but I don't think the little I put in will hurt her. I have watered down chicken broth and mixed it with her kibble as well and she has eaten that as well.

I hope Gemma feels better soon.


Jay

[LoveMyGirlz]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Fortunately, you don't need to do a serum test for Liver Shunt - in fact the Urine test is more reliable (and there is NO fasting!). I do hope it is negative, but at least you could rule it out for peace of mind. Go here: http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/bileacids.html

You could def. try syringe water - or have you tried adding pedialyte or karo to her drinking water? Or add water to canned food? Did you try something carby - what about graham crackers?

My heart goes out to you - I so hope you get to the bottom of this.

Thank you for this link. I will read up and then I guess call around till I find a vet that does this??! My vet did not offer me this method when I asked about it, so my guess is they don't know about it or choose not to do it...
Very frustrating....

And I do have pedialyte here and karo. Is Karo better in her water than honey or sugar??
She has nibbled some more, off my fingers only, so I will be syringing calories into her shortly...

[Wylie's Mom]

I think honey or sugar would achieve the same goal. You could even give her some honey right off of your finger, yum!

[Anna Banana]

Oh no! You poor thing, you've been going through so much with Gemma. I really do feel for you, and I hope you'll get a break soon!

[Yorkieluv]

I asked on the liver shunt/mvd group that I belong to regarding how they would test liver function on a hypoglycemic, tiny dog, and I was told that many times...vets will opt for post-prandial blood draw 2 hours after eating, without fasting. Maybe you could ask your vet about this...The only thing you would have to worry about regarding the urine bile acid test is that the sample is not tainted, since it is a urine sample. This is what the ladies on the liver shunt/mvd group told me.

[mizzwanned]

I would say feed her a formula that Lunasmommy made up. I gave that to London when I first got her because she wouldn't eat and I put less and less liquid in it and she began to eat again. I think it is 1/4 half and half, 1/4 karo syrup or maple syrup, 1/4 baby grits, 1/4 baby food that has meat in it like chicken, but make sure there is no garlic or onion powder in it. You mix it all up and feed it to her with a syringe. Also put some pedialyte in her water so that she doesn't dehydrate. I hope she gets better real quick!