Lymphangiectasia

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by manolos mom

Thanks so much for this info. Lola had dropped so much weight within 2 weeks, from 6.5 to 4.2 lbs. Now she back up to 6 lbs. I like her to weight around 6.5. Yes diet is everything. She is eating White rice with ground lean turkey and peas and I will give sweetpotato as a snack or treat. I feed her 2 times a day seperate from my others. She has not had diarrhea since this diet! I am weaning her off the prednisone. I am only giving it to her Mon, Wed, Frid. Next week it will be Mon and Friday. She is no longer taking Metro so we are on the lookout for any changes with her BM. If she starts having the diarrhea then he will biopsy and histopathology.

I would really try to avoid the biopsy and try everything before that as that has its risks too as they can puncture the intestines etc so honestly i would hold off on that as they wanted to do that to dex and i read up on it alot and said NO WAY and luckily we found a diet. Even if they do it then all they are going to say is yep that is what it is and do exactly what they are doing now steroids or atopica off label, and diet so you are not going to get any big miracle by doing the scoping so i would not do it - what is the other thing involve as have not heard of that. I personally believe in doing as little to stress the dog as possible and really focus on diet - the steroids make them hungry and reduce inflamation of bowels. Stick to what works and do not do a bunch of different things - do one thing at a time and take alot of notes and be very observant as to what works and what doesn't - if you do a bunch of stuff you will not know what does and what doesn't work

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by manolos mom

Thanks so much for this info. Lola had dropped so much weight within 2 weeks, from 6.5 to 4.2 lbs. Now she back up to 6 lbs. I like her to weight around 6.5. Yes diet is everything. She is eating White rice with ground lean turkey and peas and I will give sweetpotato as a snack or treat. I feed her 2 times a day seperate from my others. She has not had diarrhea since this diet! I am weaning her off the prednisone. I am only giving it to her Mon, Wed, Frid. Next week it will be Mon and Friday. She is no longer taking Metro so we are on the lookout for any changes with her BM. If she starts having the diarrhea then he will biopsy and histopathology.

Lisette,

I'm so glad that Lola is doing better. I'm so glad that I sent you to Dr. Hawthorne, he knows what he's doing and I'm so glad you are following his instructions to the T. He knows what steps to take and will not take them without explaining them to you in detail. He'll never perform a test unless it is absolutely necessary.

Remember what I told you about his automatically cleaning teeth when your dog is under for another procedure......I told you not to ask him and he cleaned your babies teeth....and didn't charge you. That's the doc.

[ladyjane]

I am also glad that you found Dr. Hawthorne. It sounds like he is very knowledgable and Lola is clearly benefitting from his treatment and suggestions.

You know how I felt about your previous vet.

Just listen to him and I think you will have your answers for little Lola!

[Killer]

My little Killer 4 1/2 pound 7 year old Yorkie has finally been diagnosed after a long 2 1/2 weeks of trying to keep him alive. My first time posting here, I had been reading all the heart breaking stories on this terrible diease and I can relate to everyone of them. It started when I realized after one day of noticing his bowel movements were not quite right and he was whimpering, then his breathing was scary. I told my husband something is not right this was on a Friday. I new I needed to get him to the Vet especially with the weekend coming up and him being a small Yorkie. Well that trip to the Vet we ended up in the Emergency Hospital he was put immediately on oxygen, and blood plasma transufussions. It was horrible all we knew at this time possible PLE. He spent 4 1/2 days on oxgen and in ICU he was in critical for the first 48 hours, he also had watery stools and vomiting then the IV fluids was too much for him and he developed fluid in the lungs, oh boy, I was there many times a day for hours at a time they were very nice and I stayed out of there way when they got busy I would go out front and enjoy the fresh air for a little while and make my phone calls. I kept telling Killer to fight this and told the Docs and staff not to let him die. Long story short got to bring him home and at first he was doing good his protein level was up to 3.8 from 1.7, after one week he was slipping back and I took him back to my Vet and he sent us back to the emergency hospital to see the specialist, this is when we got the underlying high probablity of Lymphangiectasia so here we go more tests the poor little guy and discused possible surgery for a biopsy. Sent me home and test results would be back in the next day doc would call me by 4:30. Well the next day came and he was getting really bad again, and when I left the day before I was going to do the surgery then deceided that night I was not going to put him through the risk especailly in his state of surgery and would opt for the ultra sound. All morning I was in tears put a call into the docs office tole them what was going on and they said they would talk to doc and get back with me. So here I am sitting all morning just watching him suffer, I knew something had to be done now or he is going to die. Now I have deceided he needs to start on some kind of treatment now or all the test won't matter cause he is going to die. Still crying emotions are everywhere I guess I was preparing myself. Finally after 3 hours waiting and not hearing back I wrapped him in his blanket and I drove down to the hospital to the speailist. I told him all the above and he said we can certainly start treatment but would like for me to consider at least the ultra sound. I told him I want to give the treatment sometime before putting him through any more test and he was fine with this and that it is a high presumption very high that this is what is causing the PLE. So they gave him a shot of predisone, B12 and antibotics. Plus I have him on antinausea and antacid as well and sent me home with Royal Canine LF canned food. And gave me the meds to give him at home. Well I saw a difference in him hours later. Now it has been 4 days since he has started treatment and he is responding etremly well, his sister Roxy is not as moppy and sad for him as much. Roxy is 5 1/2 pounds. His Liver, Kidneys, Heart and protein loss through urine is all normal and good, plus lungs are good. Thanks to everyone here you have helped me so much through these times. I know we have a ways to go before we know for sure he is going to make a full recovery things are looking very good for my little guy. Just so everyone can know about what to expect in cost I have spent so far over $3600

[Killer]

A lot has been going on since my last post. Let me first say that Killer is finally on a good recovery. He has Lymphangiectasia for his PLE. All of his organs including heart are all fine (normal) therefore we know his PLE is all in his GI tract. It has been an ongoing and expensive weekly visits for blood work and B12 injections plus he has still been on prednisone. his TP had ranged from 1.7 (when he was in the hospital) to now 5.9 (yeah) and his ALB is now at 2.7. With his TP now being 5.9 and ALB 2.7 we have now started to wein him off of the prednsione. Below is what he has been on for 2 weeks now along with our new procedures:
Metronidazole was .75ml once a day, now we are starting to only give every other day.
B12 injections was once a week, now we will give every other month.
Prednisone was 5.0mg everyday, now 2.5mg once a day
Atopica 1 tablet everyday 10mg
FortiFlora (probiotic) 1 packet per day

He eats Royal canin dry low fat food mixed with canned ID low fat and nothing else.

Killer will be checked in 2 weeks. He is doing very good I can see such a change in him plus his bowel movements are norma.. He has become quite a little chubby, he went from 4 1/2 pounds to 6 pounds1 oz. Seems like a good weight for him is 5 pounds 14 ounces which he still is a little chubby at that weight and I am sure the prednisone has to do with this a little as well. It is so funny to see him at this weight cause for 7 years he has always been 4 1/2 pounds.

Lets keep our fingers crossed that he continues to do well.

For those of you who have the same issues with your little one the approx. cost of our weekly visits had been ranging from $98 to $160 approximately depending on if I need meds and the type of blood work. I am glad to finally see the cost decreasing.

Thank you

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Killer

A lot has been going on since my last post. Let me first say that Killer is finally on a good recovery. He has Lymphangiectasia for his PLE. All of his organs including heart are all fine (normal) therefore we know his PLE is all in his GI tract. It has been an ongoing and expensive weekly visits for blood work and B12 injections plus he has still been on prednisone. his TP had ranged from 1.7 (when he was in the hospital) to now 5.9 (yeah) and his ALB is now at 2.7. With his TP now being 5.9 and ALB 2.7 we have now started to wein him off of the prednsione. Below is what he has been on for 2 weeks now along with our new procedures:
Metronidazole was .75ml once a day, now we are starting to only give every other day.
B12 injections was once a week, now we will give every other month.
Prednisone was 5.0mg everyday, now 2.5mg once a day
Atopica 1 tablet everyday 10mg
FortiFlora (probiotic) 1 packet per day

He eats Royal canin dry low fat food mixed with canned ID low fat and nothing else.

Killer will be checked in 2 weeks. He is doing very good I can see such a change in him plus his bowel movements are norma.. He has become quite a little chubby, he went from 4 1/2 pounds to 6 pounds1 oz. Seems like a good weight for him is 5 pounds 14 ounces which he still is a little chubby at that weight and I am sure the prednisone has to do with this a little as well. It is so funny to see him at this weight cause for 7 years he has always been 4 1/2 pounds.

Lets keep our fingers crossed that he continues to do well.

For those of you who have the same issues with your little one the approx. cost of our weekly visits had been ranging from $98 to $160 approximately depending on if I need meds and the type of blood work. I am glad to finally see the cost decreasing.

Thank you

Congratulations.....You're Killer is going to be in that 50% success story.

[manolos mom]

I second that!!!! Congratulations

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Killer

A lot has been going on since my last post. Let me first say that Killer is finally on a good recovery. He has Lymphangiectasia for his PLE. All of his organs including heart are all fine (normal) therefore we know his PLE is all in his GI tract. It has been an ongoing and expensive weekly visits for blood work and B12 injections plus he has still been on prednisone. his TP had ranged from 1.7 (when he was in the hospital) to now 5.9 (yeah) and his ALB is now at 2.7. With his TP now being 5.9 and ALB 2.7 we have now started to wein him off of the prednsione. Below is what he has been on for 2 weeks now along with our new procedures:
Metronidazole was .75ml once a day, now we are starting to only give every other day.
B12 injections was once a week, now we will give every other month.
Prednisone was 5.0mg everyday, now 2.5mg once a day
Atopica 1 tablet everyday 10mg
FortiFlora (probiotic) 1 packet per day

He eats Royal canin dry low fat food mixed with canned ID low fat and nothing else.

Killer will be checked in 2 weeks. He is doing very good I can see such a change in him plus his bowel movements are norma.. He has become quite a little chubby, he went from 4 1/2 pounds to 6 pounds1 oz. Seems like a good weight for him is 5 pounds 14 ounces which he still is a little chubby at that weight and I am sure the prednisone has to do with this a little as well. It is so funny to see him at this weight cause for 7 years he has always been 4 1/2 pounds.

Lets keep our fingers crossed that he continues to do well.

For those of you who have the same issues with your little one the approx. cost of our weekly visits had been ranging from $98 to $160 approximately depending on if I need meds and the type of blood work. I am glad to finally see the cost decreasing.

Thank you

thanks for sharing all this info and it sounds like this specialist is excellent. They are using atopica off label for ibd issues and found this out on ibd yahoo group. The pred is definitely causing the weight gain as my dd gained 2lbs on that and she was only on 5mg per week back 3 years ago.

I am so happy your little one is doing so well - this disease usually is low protein, low calcium and low cholesterol on blood work. Good for you for seeking out the best care for your little one too and those plasma transfusions are amazing it saved my dog with pancreatitis and saved another little girl with ple on my other yorkie group too.

I hope he has continued success - half the battle is getting the correct diagnosis which it sounds like you have now

info on b12 and looks like it works real well in malabsorption cases

http://www.petplace.com/drug-library...b12/page1.aspx