| yorkietalkjilly | 07-25-2013 05:02 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by BLADE
(Post 4280279)
Update:
Our specialist also suspected a faulty liver, but could not see if there was a shunt ussue because Kimbo's swollen angry pancreas was impossible to see around on the ultrasound. She said that it looks very fibrous like it is scarred. He's never been diagnosed with pancreatitis so we were very surprised to hear that he has probably had chronic pancreatitis off and on. I was floored. Kimbo has always had a sensitive tummy and has vomited a few times, but we rush to our vet for everything. His lab work always looks good. From what I've been reading, sometimes the lab work just doesn't jive.
Although the specialist cannot rule out a liver shunt, she decided to treat him aggressivly for pancreatitis. We seriously thought he might die on the way to the hospital in Houston. 24 hrs. later he is alert, and running around the ICU looking for food! They're restricting food right now to rest his pancreas, but I was so flipping happy to hear that he was walking and hungry. Drove there todau and got to visit him. He was wearing a cone because he was chewing on a port they have on his little arm for fluids and meds. His timmy sounds still weren't good, but they're hoping to get some movement soon with the meds. OMG he was so happy to see us today! DH and I got millions of the sweetest kisses ever. I really needed it because I've been a weeping fool for days. His Dr. will call us tonight with another update. Thank you all for your encouragement during this difficult time. More later...
| Oh, this is so encouraging! Be sure to ask your specialist vet about nuclear scintigraphy. That test will tell if there is a liver shunt/polysystemic shunt present by where the nuclear material goes after injection and won't depend on the size of other organs. That is the test that my Tibbe had when his bile acid tests were high and he was vomiting yellow bile, was lethargic & refusing food, normal blood tests but refusing food at times. Ellie May, a member here, suggested he could still have liver problems even after his blood tests were normal, given his history; and to get a BAT, which we did and the bile acids were high, showing his liver wasn't handling proteins well, so nuclear scintigraphy/abdominal sono was suggested. Including the abdominal sonogram, the scintigraphy was only $498.00 and it told us thankfully that Tibbe did not have any type liver shunt and the vets said likely he was an MVD patient, though his liver wasn't shriveled or enlarged. Metronidazole for 10 days and a hepatic diet, which is lower in protein, put him to rights almost immediately and he's been a different dog since finding out how to feed him for his condition. He never gets anything but his special diet. And not once has he spit up bile or refused his food since his special diet started.
Since too much protein in his diet was causing Tibbe problems because of his liver disease(MVD), any time he fasted he got better, got feisty and stopped vomiting, was hungry again. But as soon as he ate his regular diet, the excess proteins made him ill again and until he'd fasted, he was sick, lethargic, etc. This new diet stopped all that - eating is no longer a bad thing for Tibbe and he feels good all the time.
I hope you can find out what is causing the pancreatitis and if he's got a shunt or not and get him on a good diet and maybe some medication.
Am praying and pulling for Kimbo. :) | 