Help For My Baby Max!!!
 

My baby Max is 1 year and 3 months old and he went for a biopsy. They diagnosed him with MVD, he also has a liver 2 times smaller than it should be and he also has scar tissue. The vet told me thats she would explain in greater detail everything tomorrow. She also told me that he has a maximum of 1 year to live. The medications he is taking are:

Nutrical (As recommended by the bottle)
Lactalouse (2-3 cc's, 3 times daily)
Metronidozol (1/4 tablet twice daily)
Mirtazapine (1/4 tablet daily if not eating)
Milk Thistle (1 capsule daily)
Vitamin E (1 liquid gel daily)
Pepcid (1/4 tablet twice daily for acid in his stomache)

His symptoms are dizziness but I think it is due to lack of sugar because his levels were only at 2. Somedays he has a small appetite. He has never had a seizure.

Is it ok to dilute his medication with water so it is easier to give it to him. I mix his pills with water and use a syringe because he spits the pill out. His food is "Metacal Low Protein". Is there anything I can do or to give him? Also the vet is putting him on other medication but I will find out tomorrow when they contact me. I will post what I am told when I find out. If anyone has any information please post.
Thank you.

I just wanted to say I am so sorry you are going though this. It has to be rough. Sending lots of prayers your way.

You should ask your vet if the pills can be diluted. Some pills probably can and some can't.

Sending prayers your way and for your pup.

Prayers coming from us for you and little Max. I can't offer any advice on the medications, but there are others here that can. I hope the meds help Max feel better. God bless.

I'm no help, but just wanted to send you and Max a big hug:girl_hug:

Sending my hugs and prayers, Hope he gets well and becomes a mirable baby...Pray and have faith

Be careful with the mirtazapine...The liver has a hard time clearing this drug and can cause problems...
Here's a little excerpt from http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...301&A=2552&S=1 :

Mirtazapine is used in the treatment of conditions where poor appetite and nausea go together such as in the treatment of intestinal/stomach disease, liver or kidney disease, or any other condition involving both nausea and appetite loss. Mirtazapine can also be used to alleviate the nausea/appetite loss that accompanies the treatment of cancer by chemotherapy.

In dogs, mirtazapine is generally given once a day, a relatively convenient dosing schedule compared to other medications. Even better, cats are given mirtazapine twice a week.

In the event of liver disease or kidney disease, the clearance of this drug from the body is reduced by approximately 30% so ideally the dose should also be reduced. In cats, it is difficult to reduce the dose as the smallest tablet manufactured cannot be accurately cut much smaller than the regular dosing schedule allows. In this situation, a compounding pharmacy could be employed to create a lower dose, or the dosing schedule can be stretched out. This is especially important for cats with liver disease.

I am so sorry. My Cali has a mild MVD. Maybe a second opinion to see if there is anything more to be done? I will keep Max in my prayers.

I know some of Max's meds can be obtained through your vet in liquid and given by syringe. Milk Thistle (non-alcohol) can be bought in liquid. Metronizadole can also be obtained in liquid from your vet. I use liquid for 1 of my dogs and 1/4 tablet 2x's a day for another. The rest I would ask your vet if liquid is available, sometimes they don't think.
I hope Max feels better and will keep him in my prayers. I know you must be so stressed. Sometimes another opinion is valuable. You just need test results faxed to another vet before an appointment. I have done this in the past with a Yorkie with a compromised liver due to Pancreatitis and had a new vet as a result with very good results for my Yorkie.
Wishing you and Max only the best.
Jessica

Thank you everyone. I have a lot of questions for the vet when I got to pick Max up. I will post as soon as I can. Thank You Everyone.

This just doesn't add up. MVD can be controlled by diet. As for the medication, I'm not sure he needs all of those. I would discontinue the Mirtazapine. If he has MVD, then the Mirtazapine is not going to help his appetite. Dogs with MVD have a poor appetite because when they eat, they flood their body with toxins and become sick. Controlling his diet and using the lactulose should help with that. I also question the metronidazole. It is known to cause liver damage as well and makes existing liver conditions worse. Why in the world would it be prescribed for a dog with liver problems?

You may need to hand feed him as well. I used the L/d at first for Lily but I had to bake it before she would eat it. Now I use the Royal Canine Hepatic LS 14 and combine it with steamed potatoes, green beans, baby carrots, and yogurt. As for the medication, I mix her lactulose with the yogurt and grind up the milk thistle and mix that with yogurt as well.

Please get some more information from your vet and get a second opinion if you don't feel comfortable. It just doesn't sound right for your vet to put a liver compromised dog on some of those medications and for her to say that he only has a year to live with MVD. Like I said, it just doesn't add up :confused:

I think you have been given some good advice. before I would accept a death sentence for my baby, I think I would get a second opinion. Some of those meds just don't seem right. You are in my prayers. Sometimes a sick puppy can recover with the right treatment or regimine. Hang in there:)

I read somewhere about the metronidazole and how it is hard on the liver. Everything is wrote down and will be asked about tomorrow. I sometimes have to feed him by hand, sometimes I even have to get him playing and then throw his food and he will run for it. What would be a good diet for my Max? Breakfast lunch supper snacks etc. (and the portions) Could Fibre 1 cerial original be given to him? Thanks

yes, keep us updated on how Max is doing and what the vet says. :hands: :hands: prayers for you and for Max

I know nothing about MVD, but wanted to tell you I'm so sorry Max has it and I will pray that he lives a long time with it. I think a second opinion would be good. Hugs to you and Max.

im leaving know to pick up my baby. I dont know why the vets did not know about all the side effects of metroidzole. ill be back to update you guys when i get hime and im gonig to get his test results

Metronidazole in low doses helps clear the toxins that build up due to the liver not functioning properly...You can ask to be switched to amoxicillin or clavamox which aren't as hard on the liver, but I wouldn't take him off of antibiotics until his symptoms clear up. Keep him on it for a couple of weeks...I'm not a vet, and this is just my opinion. This is what I do with Miko and has been recommended by my vet and others in the same position as me.

Oh my goodness, I am so sorry for this heartbreaking news. I will be praying for you and Max!

I also wanted to mention that if you get the metronidazole liquid, don't let them put beef flavoring in it...
If your dog is having issues with nausea, you would be better off using a homeopathic treatment like Nux Vomica than a prescription med...I wouldn't use Nux Vomica everyday, but only when you know he's feeling nauseous. Like drawlins said, dogs with liver disease are nauseous because of the toxin build up and the fact that food makes them feel sick, but once you get him stable, his appetite should open up a little. Is there any way you can find the ingredients to the Medical Low Protein food? I have searched everywhere online and can't find them.
Another question for you, what does the nutrical look like? You say it's in a bottle...The nutri-cal that they sell here in the US is in a tube.
What you are giving, is it a liquid? Is it like an Isocal or something like that?