My Ringo is still sick
 

Poor Ringo; he has been sick with bloody diarrhea and vomiting for two weeks. He doesn't act sick; still runs around and plays; walks, etc but I've had him to the Vet twice.

Last Monday, they have him several cans of Purina EN (which I feel like is not helping); Flagyl; and something in a tube like Mylanta I had to squirt in his mouth daily.

So we did that for a week and and soon as I transitioned him back to regular food - by Saturday he had the diarrhea tinged with blood; and vomiting up grass.

SO, back we went THIS Monday (to the tune of $$$172.) and he got a shot to 'dry him up'; more Flagyl at a stronger dose and more Purina EN.

He no longer has the blood or vomiting; and he is still acting fine; but his stools are an orange, runny, mess.

Could it be the Purina EN??? I kept telling the Vet that the Iams Low Residue helped him this summer when he got into the chicken bones. He must not sell it because we came hom again with 7 more cans of the EN.

Should I be considering beef and rice at this point? (Chicken gives him diarrhea as well).

Thanks

Sorry to hear that your baby is still sick. :( Sending prayers/good vibes your way!

Unfortunately, I don't have any advice to offer, but I'm a believer in positive energy.

Poor Ringo and you! I don't have any advice either, but I wanted to send good thoughts and well wishes.

What tests has the vet done? Pancreatitis was ruled out? What kind of treats and food does Ringo normally eat?

Sorry to hear that Ringo is still sick. Maybe you could try a little Iams and see if that helps. Then you would know whether or not it's the Purina that's the problem. Good luck. I hope he's better soon!!

I'd be taking him off of all pet food and start home cooking. You can cook red meat, such as an inexpensive roast, grind it or have the butcher grind it (cheaper this way than already ground beef, which has more fat as well) and cook up some rice, lentils and then ground up some veggies such as carrots, bok choy, swiss chard, jacima, broccoli and mix everything together. You can make big batches and freeze. I even cook pinto beans and black beans and add to this mix.

Bulletin

Definitely have him checked for Pancreatitis. Sure sounds familiar. Make sure they actually tested for it.

Ringo usually eats Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck - treats are the occasional pupparoni. Wellness canned with his dinner time kibble.

I have no idea what set this off; but I DID come home the other day to the pantry door open and powedered donuts all over the floor so they have been getting into stuff.

How do they test for pancreatitis?

I would skip the pupperoni permanently. Very high in fat and fillers. Put child safety latches on your cabinet doors or make sure all other food is out of reach.

There is a specific blood test I believe to help diagnose pancreatitis. Let me see if I can find it.

I would also consider a different food. Some dogs do great on BB, but I have read of a number of dogs with similar problems when eating this food.

Here is the test: the Spec cPL is 95%+ accurate. Crystal posted this on several threads.

Is Duck high in fat? I know Capt Noonie had to eliminate Lamb from Uni's diet when she was diagnosed with mild pancreatitis.

Hey Sorry your wee Ringo is not too well. I have my two yorkie on joes food its all organic food wet and dry check out his website Petskitchen.co.uk I live in northern ireland but order it from the mainland UK. wouldnt have my yorkies on anything else it would freak ya out if ya knew what sum of theses companys r putting in the dog foods. hopefully your wee ringo gets better soon xx

I hope Ringo gets better soon!!!!

I agree that very simple single ingredients... home cooking may be best for a while. One of my guys has had similar problems a few year back and I had to fee chicken and rice for quite a while. Of course chicken would not do for you... but beef. I have also used pumpkin for upset ..

Sorry I really don't know enough to be of much help... but sending good thoughts your way!

Wellness canned food set Barney off into pancreatitis twice so I'd never use their food again especially canned. It is very high in fat.

I havent tried this yet but Barney's nutritionist recently recommended RC Gastrointestinal lowfat for him as a back up -- similar to the low residues. Maybe they sell RC at your vet and you can ask about it.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this with Ringo :( Sounds like he is taking it like a champ. It's so hard when something is wrong and you feel like you can't help them. I hope you get to the bottom of this soon!

$172 later and you think they might as well have just thrown in the blood test. He turned up his nose at the Purina EN this evening and was begging for Lucy's food; so I just gave him some of his plain, dry food.

I'm not giving him any more of that EN stuff; it looks horrid and it not helping him like the iams low residue. The congealed rice in it just comes out undigested.

He seems to be feeling good - quite full of fire and mischief tonight! My Dad said he had a firm stool after I gave him his Flagyl this morning. But I'll try the beef and rice tomorrow if he is still having liquid diarrhea (sorry). Maybe throw in some organic pumpkin; I actually found some.

THEN - it's off to a different vet.

I am sorry to hear about Ringo. Hope the vet will be able to find the problem to treat it.

Glad to hear you are making progress and Ringo is feeling better. Hoping for nothing but firm stools for you. :):)

Sorry to hear that Ringo is sick :( I hope you figure out the problem soon.

Powdered donuts huh? :p

Yep, Powdered Donuts and, if you remember, I had to call the ER vet because Lucy had gotten into Chocolate the week before. I don't know what has gotten into these two!

I think it's because I used to work at home so they didn't have the opportunity to get into much.

Ringo is busy terrorizing Lucy today so . . fingers crossed.

Try sum sweet potato its helps there wee stomach to calm down. our yorkie get it now and again if there not feeling well so it defo helps. let us all know how ya get on. xx

Do you have him on probiotics? I swear by them for my Yorkies.... helps to keep the bad bacteria away.... Did your vet check a stool sample for bacteria or fungus?

Most times a dog with pancreatitis will turn to bite when you touch them on either side of the spine between the rib cage and the hips (gentle to medium type pressure).

When I worked at a bird store, the owner brought her rescue greyhound to work eveyday, and this day she said he was a bit under the weather.... I always petted the dog every morning, so this morning, I ran my finger and thumb down his back, and he turned to bite me. My boss was ready to correct him, and I told her no, I just did a test... had he gotten into anything recently like gravy or bacon grease? She looked at me weird, and said, well, yes, as a matter of fact my father put a little bit of leftover gravy on his food last night... I told her to take him to her vet right away and tell the vet. All turned out well, he got treated and came home the next day.

Hope he gets better soon.... what flavor Blue Buffalo are you feeding him? Some use a meat 'meal'... which are meats processed differently... maybe he's sensitive to that type of food processing?

Or maybe sensitive to grains (in the doughnut flour)?

Not trying to diagnose here.... just offering some suggestions....

Did the blood work give any insight into what's going on? Did you get a diagnosis?

The vet did a stool sample for parasites and guardia and it was negative. Ringo had no pains in his stomach when the Vet pressed all around his stomach and the Vet seemed to think that was a good sign.

I put him back on his regular BBuffalo Wilderness (Duck) yesterday because he refused the EN. He's still on the Flagyl. We went for a long walk and he had a regular poop!

I was so happy to see that.

The vet never gave me a diagnosis; he kept talking about colitis; food allergies; let's wait and see . . etc.

I am guilty of putting a bit of gravy on his food; scrambled egg; different things. PLUS he and Lucy have been getting into the pantry and eating God knows what.

So, I think Ringo is on the mend but I'll have to carefully watch what he is given to eat.

Thanks you guys for asking and your advice!

Awwwwww, Ringo.

The powdered donuts cracked me up. They probably shouldn't be getting into stuff like that. ;)

I hope he's all better now!

Quicksilver, I know. I don't know what has gotten into them - opening the pantry door and getting into stuff! They are working together to drive me insane.

They never, ever used to do stuff like that.

They are clever with raiding, huh? I'm glad Ringo is doing better!

"Raiding" makes them sound like pirates. Furry little pirates. :D

lol! Aye! They be good pirates! :D

Dropping by to see how Ringo is doing? I hope he continues to do well!

Ringo is fine; went for a long walk last evening and everything came out well. :)

HOWEVER, and I don't know which one - but I suspect Miss Lucy - has now learned to climb on the back of the couch and access the kitchen counter which kind of has a little window that extends just over top of the 'great room' couch. Long story short - my son needs new retainers.

SOMEONE had chewed them and they were horribly distorted. :eek:

$300 for a set of new ones!!!

I don't know why I'm just now seeing this thread, but I'm thrilled to hear little Ringo is feeling all better! :D Not so thrilled to hear about the retainer. :eek: