Cookie - Lymphangectasia Update
 

Just returned from the vet with Cookie....she was seen for her two week check up/labs. I am just beyond thrilled with her results! Her protein levels are all normal! For those of you who don't know the history, this is her original thread that I closed before Christmas due to her illness and I had so much on my plate at the time.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...g-protein.html

Cookie is on prednisone, metranidozole and pepcid. The meds are more for her gastritis and IBD than anything else.. ... While the prednizone can help a bit with the lymphangectasia it was primarily given for the IBD. She is going to be taken off of the metronidazole and pepcid in a couple of weeks and will see the specialist next month. He said he will probably eventually wean her off of the prednisone if she is doing well. She is on a home cooked diet now ... the latest research in this illness is pointing towards diet as being the number one key to treatment. The one thing I would advise anyone with a pup with this illness is to do a consult with a vet nutrionist. It is important that the correct amount of foods and supplements be given.

I want to thank all of you who have stayed in touch with me for your kind words and support...and most of all your prayers. I believe that those prayers have played a huge part in Cookie's good health. And, they have comforted me. I so love my pups and her diagnosis was quite stressful for me.

I received a wonderful PM from someone who never comes to YT...she actually signed up just to send me a message about her pup who was diagnosed three years ago and is doing very well! Hopefully stories like this will be encouraging for other people who come here looking for information on lymphangectasia...this disease does show up in yorkies! Here is an interesting link about it:

Goldenray Yorkie Lymphangiectasia Protein-Losing Enteropathy PLE Inflammatory Irritable Bowel Disease

Great News! I pray that she continues to do well...:D

Thank you...I suppose there will be relapses. I don't know. I guess I can hope that it will not happen. One day at a time ....

That is wonderful news about Cookie. I had heard that nutrition plays a major role in the management of this disease and that home cooked is usually best. Of course, I agree that anyone home cooking for a dog with any illness is playing with fire without consulting a veterinary nutritionist. I'm so glad Cookie is improved, and I hope she has many years ahead of her with good protein levels and enjoyable home cooking.

Great news! It must be the avatar~she looks adorable :p

Ohhhh and love that food she does! :D I have to spread her food out on a jelly roll pan to keep her from snorting it. :p I have a bowl on order for her to slow her down. She is a happy girl. :D

That is wonderful news Linda!!!! I know how stressed you must have been. YT prayers work wonders:)

Hehe...that is one of my favorite pics of her. :D She is so full of personality.

That is wonderful news!! :) I'm so happy for you and Miss Cookie.

I'm trying to remember....is Cookie the camera queen or the one who loves to smile and show her pearly whites?

Hahah...no my smilie girl is Pippi. Cookie is really good about dressing and posing for pics, though.

Indeed they do! :)

That's right, I remember now. They're both such cute little girls!

Very happy to hear the good news about Cookie. :)

Great Great News Linda!! I am so happy for you and Cookie....Keep up the good work....:coolsmile:clapsmile:coolsmile

This is wonderful news. I'm so glad little Cookie is well on her way to recovery, thanks to her excellent mommy and wonderful vet(s). =)

So glad to hear this!!! :woohoo:

Oh so glad to hear that! I messaged you about my Yorkie, Maggie, with the same disease. She's 9 & has been in remission for at least a year with labs in normal ranges. It's hard to keep weight on her (4.5pounds) since she's not allowed fat. Low-fat prescription food must not be tasty; she eats the same amount as before but since it has fewer calories that's not enough. She also takes mct oil and I make her textured vegetable protein (I make a batch for her & my vegetarian daughter to share lol). Ive just started making her eggbeaters too since they are fat free & tasty (for more calories). What kinds of food do you cook yours that adhere to lymphangectasia rules?

Oh thank god Linda...i am very happy to hear this news. I will continue to pray for Cookie and the pups that everyone continues to do well. Of course also for there great mommy!:D

It's great to hear that Cookie is doing so well.

Great to hear Cookie is doing so well. It is so hard on us when of our babies is sick.

So happy to see Cookie is doing better. That has to be a huge weight off of your shoulders. Will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

Oh, just saw this and I'm so thrilled for Cookie and you!:thumbup: It is going to be a GOOD year! :)

Yea!, such good news about Cookie and answered prayers. :)

Love the avatar and been wondering who's behind those Foster Grants. ;) :cool: ;)

Oh we do love Yorkie good news! That is wonderful and I am sure a great relief to you. You go with your badself Cookie!!

Cookie is on a diet that was custom made for her by a vet nutritionist. She made the diet with Cookie's weight and requirements in mind and I must weigh and measure her foods carefully plus add supplements and oil that was recommended for her. I know from a previous pup that a balanced diet by a vet nutrionist is best. What works for her may not work for another lymphangectasia pup. The amounts make a huge difference! I know exactly what she is getting in terms of protein, fat, carbs, calcium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium per day. It is primarily tilapia and sweet potatoes. They want her to maintain her recommended body weight...no ups and downs if possible. So far, so good. :) Her albumin went from .9 to 2.9 so she really has shown great improvement. I laughed at your comment about your daughter...,I like Cookie's diet and have commented to friends that she and I could sit at the table and eat together. :)

The nutrionist did tell me that it is a challenge to get some of these pups to eat....so far I have not had that problem with Cookie. I hope she continues to eat as well as she is.

That is great that your Maggie is doing so well! It was nice of you to share her with me. I was so terribly upset at this diagnosis. I am starting to kind of be a bit ok with it.

Thanks! Is Bodie's surgery tomorrow??? If so, I do hope all will go well. :)

I was just about to log off when I saw this post and had to check. I am thrilled to hear about Cookie's progress. Hopefully you will be able to manage it with this diet, supplements and lot's of loving! Her avatar is absolutely adorable. Best wishes for her continued improvement.

I just wanted to send a word of encouragement for your Cookie. In Feb of 2008 my little Yorkie Brodie became very ill, trouble breathing and was accumulating fluid in his lungs. It seemed like his whole body was swelling and he would just lay stretched out flat to be able to breathe. Our regular vet couldn"t figure out the problem, put him on lasix which didn"t help and told us this may just be something he would have to live with, with out really knowing what the problem was. This was not acceptable so I searched for a new vet 2 hours away. After some testing I was told he thought Brody had Lymphangectasia, and if he did the prognosis was grim, most dogs dont live past a year after being diagnosed, I was devistated. This vet was familiar with the disease and was willing to do what ever he could to help Brody. Brody went thru 2 thoracocentisis to drain the fluid from his abdomen and chest and received 2 plasma infusions to replace the lost proteins, as well as being put on prednisone, metronidazole and baytril at different times. We were sent to a specialty hospital for a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis of Lymphangectasia which was positive, at least now we knew for sure what we were dealing with. Brody was then put on a special diet which we strictly adhere to and after 4-5 monthes he was off all medication. Today 4 years later Brody is healthy and happy and we have had only 1 mild flare up. This disease can be manageable, you just have to have a vet that is willing to really monitor your dog closley. I am sending a prayer for Cookie and hope she does as well as my Brody has.

Carol

Linda I don't know how I missed this! I am so glad that Cookie is doing so much better! :) Wonderful news!! I am home cooking for Rosie now. And yes it is very important to get help from an expert. I had to buy a specific scale to get very accurate measurements. But that is ok, we do what we have too. Hugs to Cookie!