Very sick boy
 

My yorkie is an 8 year old male. He was previously about 5lbs but in the last couple of months has gone down to about 4lbs. In the last 3 weeks we have been to the vet about 8 times, 2 overnight stays and 1 late night urgent care visit. His symptoms started with
-loss of appetite. This has since come back however he is very finicky on what he will eat.
-Dehydration which he is drinking water regularly now and we give subcutaneous fluids periodically at vets suggestion
-extremely loud gurgling noises from stomach
-stomach pains and shaking during digestion
- lethargy, this comes and goes
- nausea (excessive licking of lips)
- hunched back
- horrendous breath, toxic smelling
- not fully digesting food ( this was found during endoscopy when there was still food found in stomach after 14 hours.
The vet has determined an extremely high BUN (at one point 184) but is being controlled with fluids. (Creatine is normal)
He has blood in his stool
He does not have diarrhea
Occasional vomiting, once in the last couple of weeks ( which has been the norm since he was a puppy. ( came to me with hypoglycemia and sensitive stomach as a puppy)
He had biopsy of his intestines taken yesterday which we are awaiting the results. The endoscopy showed inflamed intestines and also ulcers on his gums.
He is currently taking 3 medications, 1for nausea, 1 antacid and another for ulcers.
I have nothing conclusive and have so far spent $4000 in the last 3 weeks. If the biopsy comes back inconclusive I'm at a loss.
Gus is currently eating whatever I can get him to eat, although he is hungry he is just picky. Currently he is eating very lean ground turkey and a little cottage cheese. Pancreatitis has been ruled out but ibd and kidney disease have not yet been ruled out. Gus is my world and it is so terrible and terrifying to see him so ill for such a prolonged period of time.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be very helpful.

It sounds like gastric stasis. Unfortunately, that is a symptom of another problem, not a primary cause. See PetMD Mobile - Dog Health Article

" The signs and symptoms of stasis are usually the result of an underlying problem that causes the stomach to stop working. Such problems may include:*Stomach ulcersCancer of the stomachMedicationsStress, pain, or traumaInfection of the stomach or intestines (gastritis; enteritis)Obstructions or blockages in the stomach or intestineSurgery affecting the intestine or stomachMetabolic disorders of the body (anemia,*hypothyroidism, acidosis)Distention and flipping of stomach (gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome or*GDV)Enlarged esophagus (megaesophagus)"

As a people nurse, I know an elevated bun with normal creatinine can be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding. His lethargy could be due to anemia from blood loss. It sounds like you are doing everything right and your vet seems to be quite thorough. All I can add is maybe add a medication that promotes gastric motility such as reglan? Good luck and keep us informed!

When my big dog had many digestive issues I found she did well with plain yogurt with probiotics sprinkled on it. Really can't hurt and might be soothing to his mouth sores.

Good idea. The probiotics would aid in digestion, too.

Thank you all for the replies. I will keep you posted. I will talk to the vet about medication for the gastric motility. I have tried to give him yogurt and he will not eat it, he is just so picky. And once I find something he likes he decides he doesn't like it anymore! It's just scary and frustrating. I think I will get him some powder probiotics to sprinkle on his food to see if it helps as well. Tha k you again!

These symptoms are also symptomatic of so many other causes...its the cause that has to be explored, located and treated. If the biopsy etc., doesn't yield any information, I strongly suggest a vet school, honestly there has to be something wrong here and sometimes, just as violently as it comes on it disappears. My Miss Mini has had terrible unexplained bouts similar to this for years...she is 8 years old. I've found a course of antibiotics, steroids, bland foods, yogurt and pedialyte usually is what cures her...though she does often require IV for a couple days as well. There is still no real definitive answer...maybe I'm just not doing enough to get to the bottom of it.

Praying for Gus :(. Have they checked for obstructions?

I am so sorry... I know this is just heart breaking for you!!!

Sending a prayer for you

Tibbe had an iron gut until 2012 when he started having some of those issues. Only his amylase or is it lipase is high but not outrageous and the vet is just watching his levels. But he is a grazer outside & will gulp things B4 I can ever get to him, then have GI problems, gas, loud tummy sounds, burping, occas. spits up yellow or dark yellow fluid - a teaspoon to tablespoon, depending on how much water was in his tummy, a bit of RS sometimes though he doesn't really go into full RS anymore or hasn't in a long while & lethargy sometimes. He gets some famotidine and simethicone per the vets' instructions. If he spits up more than once or won't eat, sometimes I can give him some Cerenia for nausea and in a few hours he's fine again.

If he gets worse, we're doing more testing. I hope your little one can get to the vet school for a consult if this doesn't soon clear up. I'll be praying for your little one.