Last hope is what the internist can figure out
 

Hi everyone. I like this site a lot and it's nice to see so many people who care about their pets and helping others.

I have a serious problem: My 3 yr. old Yorkie started vomiting and having diarrhea one week ago. I took him to the vet and he was put on IV and given some antibiotics. This problem and solution has happened 4 times now in the past 2 years, so I thought Cocoa would get better and be his normal self.

Unfortunately, this time, he is refusing to eat and drink. My wife and I have been giving him doses of Nutri Cal and Pedialyte, but he still is lethargic. Rice and small pieces of chicken didn't work either.

I've taken him to 2 different vets and a vet hospital (where he got an ultrasound) and everything seems fine with him. The vet said I need to find an internist and have them figure out the diagnosis.

Is there anything else I can do? What can an internist really figure out that the bloodwork and ultrasound didn't already pick out?

Any help would be greatly appreciated because I feel like my Yorkie is slowly dying in front of my own eyes. My wife and I are distraught and we don't know what else to do.

Thanks for any info or any ideas of what else we can do.

I am so sorry you are going through this. :big_hug:

Can you tell us what tests have already been done and the results?

An internal medicine clinician is generally much more well-researched and experienced in various internal diseases, as well as which symptoms can be present and absent for different diagnosis.

There are thousands of diseases associated with dogs and cats, and many general practitioners do not see a vast majority of them, and as result, may not be able to recognize or effectively treat them. Hopefully, the internist can read the results and offer you a better path in which to go forward for treatment.

I hope your baby is ok, please keep us updated.

An internist will likely be able to help.
What blood tests have been done and what are the results?
Can you post them?

What drugs have been tried?
Has an intestinal biopsy been done?

:welcome4: Welcome to YorkieTalk. I am sorry that your little one is so ill. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.

I had the same thing happen to our 4 yr old yorkie last summer. We took him to the local vet and at first she thought is was inflamatory bowl disease...but after more extensive tests she diagnosed him with lymphangiectasia. She only had 3 patients with this problem, so I asked to be referred to Purdue University. The internest at this facility saved Junior's life. They gave him fluids (hetastarch) vitamin A,D,K a ultrasound and scoped through his intestines and confirmed the disease.
He is finally doing better....Prednisone and the LF (lowfat) Royal Canin by Waltham food. This disease is serious and will not heal but can be maintained through strict diet....for the rest of their life. No more human food, treats...etc. I have learned alot in the past year, if you have any questions or need advice please send me a email michelebennitt@comcast.net
Yorkies are one of the 4-5 breeds prone to this disease, they say it usually happens in middle age...but mine developed it at age 3-4.

Thank you for all the replies everyone.

I don't have a copy of the what was tested in the bloodwork but I do know that white blood cell count and pancreas enzymes were looked at. I need to get that info from my vet and will post on here ASAP.

As for Michele4972's post, that really scares me! I hope that is not what Cocoa has. My Yorkie miraculously feels and is acting much better today and I'm happy about that, but I'm concerned about this happening again.

Is it possible that he is depressed because he is not getting as much love and attention he was used to getting before my baby was born? Could that keep him from eating and drinking?

Thanks again for the replies. I will post more info as I get it.

Take care everyone!

I am so sorry that I scared you....that is the last thing I would want to do. Before I found this site I had absolutely nobody to talk to that had any idea what kind of experience our family was going through. After Junior was diagnosed I googled this disease and did find generic definitions, but that did not help with advice. By taking my little one to Purdue University they taught my local vet how to maintain his health during a relapse. I hope your little one is going through a phase with your new addition to the family. I wanted to make you aware of problems that could happen. I wish your family the best of luck, and again you can always email with any questions.

Thank you,
Michele

I would definitely take him to an internist. I had one for Cali's liver shunt, Maya's Cushings and liver failure and they have so much more experiencein dealing with non routine diagnosis. Once he is diagnosed they usually turn you back over to your regular vet for follow up. I hope you get some answers. Have they ruled out HGE and colitis?

Welcome! Hope your little one gets better soon! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.