Tibbe's MVD Hepatic Diet Causing Allergy Symptoms & He's Nauseated More
 

Poor little Tibbe. He was diagnosed with probable MVD this late Spring (high BAT, but no liver shunt per his nuclear scintigraphy/abdominal sonogram) at age 5 3/4 years. He did well as far as nausea/lethargy for a while on his half hepatic, half Hill's I/D GI diet except it immediately caused itching, then this summer, little bumps on his back, rump and now he's shedding a lot, which he's never done before. This fall, he's nauseated every two - three weeks, clingy and it takes a Cerenia 8 mg. to get him past the nausea and spitting up yellow watery bile. The vet only suggested a medicated shampoo and spray with Benadryl in it, continuing the Cerenia for the bouts of nausea but I feel it's time to see a specialist. Except for when he's having the bouts of nausea, he's a good eater.

Does anyone in the Dallas area have a Yorkie with MVD who has an Internist or Dermatologist who has managed their dog with probable MVD and allergies, likely from the hepatic diet? The first meal of his Hill's I/D Hepatic canned food mixed with his Hill's I/D GI caused him to begin to scratch and he's been scratching since. Late summer he began to break out in bumps and shed which continues. He's not a big scratcher but at times does rub his head against the furniture or wall when he's itching. He's always done that since I got him - rubbing his head sporadically on things.

In September/October/November, he has had nausea, non-eating of his breakfast and just lying about about every two weeks or so and was fine within a couple of hours of taking Cerenia 8 mg. per oral for the nausea. He had a bad bout of nausea/diarrhea after scarfing up two kernels of corn in a bit of soy milk that had splashed onto the floor from the cooking pot in late August/early September that had to be treated with Metronidazole.

I took him to the vet to see if there were anything we could do for the bumps, itching, nausea and she placed him on Clavamox(as some of the bumps were crusty and she was fearing infection) and Benadryl. After a 10 day trial of the antibiotic which ended this past Monday, he got nauseated, spitting up bile Tuesday evening and limited diarrhea which began Wednesday. After Kaopectin doses, that cleared up Thursday and Friday but is back to a small degree this morning. He's lost a pound and a second vet suggested a giardia test but I'm thinking as he has no fever and it's not copious diarrhea, it's probably related to his liver disease and the antibiotic he was just on.

Those who have had experience with MVD and allergies with bumps, shedding, what would you do for him at this point? Any specialist recommendations would also be appreciated.

(Haven't been posting much lately due to a lot of back, hip problems but sure have missed you all!)

P. S. I forgot to add he's started having eye goop these last 4 weeks and Tibbe has never had that before in his life. Plus, his Frito Feet are extra smelly, even just after a bath.

dog
 

Time to pray for a good vet for Tibbe and better health for you. I have missed you and wondered why I haven't seen your posts lately.There has to be a specialist in this field. Poor Tibbe needs some expert help.

So sorry Tibbe (and you) are having problems. I hope things improve for both of you soon.

I don't have any help for Tibbe, darn. My Tiki (5 1/2) was also diagnosed with MVD at 7 months, but it must be mild and she has improved to the point I almost forget she has it. After trying various foods, I found she does best with Wellness Small Breed Healthy Weight (which I got initially for Meika to trim down). Tiki is thin and doesn't need to lose, but this food seems to have the best protein/fat content for her, and she is thriving in the last year on it. I am thrilled that she has more energy, is more perky and playful, and very seldom has vomiting or diarrhea. She needs no meds or supplements now.

I'm not suggesting that you try it, just sharing that I do hope you find the magical combo for Tibbe so he too can thrive. I know it is such a worry trying to figure it all out.

I'm so sorry, Jeanie. I know how much you love Tibbe and how you would go to the ends of the earth for him. I wish I could help you more. If you can't find a proper food, maybe a consult with a vet nutritionist could help. I home cook once each day, but many people cook weeks worth of food at a time and freeze it. I supplement Katie's food with BalanceIt, so I know she is getting a nutritionally balanced diet. It's an option if you can't find a proper prescription food.

I think of you and Tibbe so often, and I always pray that you are both healthy and happy. Be well, Jeanie, and give your precious little boy some extra kisses from me.

Skin issues go hand in hand with liver problems. Due to this late onset and diagnosis of MVD, I suspect this might be a Bile Duct problem (sludge/ thickened bile acids blocking the flow of bile from the liver to the gall bladder). Discuss a round of ursodiol with your vet. Ursodiol is a bile acid and improves the flow from the liver to the GB and restores normal functioning to the liver. Symptoms present the same as for LS.

I was going to suggest an internal medicine specialist, and also think about home cooking. You can better control the ingredients this way, and in consult with the vet nutriontist create a diet that is just right for him.

I am so sorry he is not feeling up to par. (((Hugs to you both)))

Sorry Tibbe is going through these issues...I don't have any experience w/MVD, so no advice to give there, but I do know yeast!
He can have a secondary infection from the itching & scratching OR he can be allergic to clavamox. I would do a skin scraping w/cytology to determine if it's bacterial or fungal & treat it accordingly. The cytology will also determine which antibiotic will be the most effective. If it's ok for Tibbe to have, I would ask the vet if he can have probiotics after the antibiotic treatment.

I hope you're not in too much pain!

He needs to come off of the allergy inducing food. Not uncommon for all of these symptoms to occur with.MVD.

Homecook or Purina HA with added fiber.

My Lola, who will be 6 in January, had a liver shunt and then was diagnosed with MVD. Dr. Tobias closed the shunt in 3/09 and she has done great since. She has done well on Royal Canin HP prescription food - (Hypoallergenic) along with prescription shampoo from her dermatoglogist - Chlorhexidine 4% + PS Shampoo. It is an antiseptic shampoo with penetrating agents & emollients. You must leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing. Lola is only 3.5 lbs and had terrible itching and flaking skin. I started out by bathing her 2 times a week, but now just once every 2-3 weeks and she has done super on this regime. SHe is on no other meds. I hope this helps! Just another opinion, but it sounds like we had similar problems....Good luck!

Teddy Bear's shunt was repaired in February. They did not put him on RX food at first (this was on the advice of a vet nutritionist who did not feel a liver diet necessary for him). but he had some issues and his BAT's were mildly elevated. He was having GI issues and they said it is common for the LS pups to also have some IBD, so they put him on Hill's Ultra Z/D and he is doing very well now.

You might want to do a consult with a vet nutritionist. If they don't have one up that way, you could have your vet do a tele consult with Dr. Lenox at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston http://mygcvs.com/specialties/nutrition/nutritionists

Jeanie, I am thinking of you and your precious Tibbe. Wishing you both brighter days ahead. Praying you can find the right diet for his allergies and MVD.

Hills Ultra Z/D is used for allergic pups. http://www.petfooddirect.com/product...-Free-Dry-Food
As I said, Teddy, is on it. Most pups have some form of MVD after LS surgery.

I am so sorry Tibbe is having problems. I home cook and I freeze 2 weeks worth at a time. Maybe consult a vet nutritionist to see about his food? Sending prayers for both of you.

I'm so sorry to post and disappear for days but my back got so bad Sunday and Monday, I had to see the orthopedist and get injections into the back and hip yesterday and now waiting for them to kick-in. Will respond to those who have posted just as soon as can sit up a bit. Thank you so much for responding but will respond just as soon as there's a bit of relief! :)

sending many prayers for your tibbe and you also..hoping your injections kick in soon. hugs to you both.

Praying for both you and Tibbe to feel better soon.

Hope you and Tibbe are both doing better now, and sending prayers for you.

Poor little Tibbe, and YOU as well! You have been through the wringer this year and I am praying for strength and recovery for both you and your beloved little Tibbe. I found the following information in my old address book....my brother had a dog with kidney issues....he used these people....he doesnt remember which doctor he used.....and he used a dermatologist from there also....again, cant remember the name of the doctor....he DOES remember both of these dogs were helped immensely by this group....I wish I had specific names, but at least maybe you can start with this and look the docs up.
Specialist Referrals

Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center - Orthopedic
2700 West Highway 114
Grapevine, Texas 76051
817-379-5444
Home | DVSC - (Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center)

Animal Dermatology Referral Clinic
Dr. Dennis Crow & Dr. Reid A. Garfield
4444 Trinity Mills Road, Suite 101
Dallas, Texas 75287
972-248-9005
Animal Dermatology Referral Clinic

Animal Eye Clinic
Dr. Michael Paulsen, MS
5820 West Interstate 20
Arlington, Texas 76017
817-483-8762


Animal Ophthalmology Clinic
Dr. Robert Munger
4444 Trinity Mills Road, Ste 201 Dallas, Texas 75287
972-267-4100
Eye Doctor Kingsport TN, Eye Doctor Frank Oglesby, Designer Frames, Contact Lenses, Eye Doctor

Animal Imaging
6112 Riverside Drive
Irving, Texas75039
972-869-2180
Animal Imaging - Home

Veterinary Specialists of North Texas
Dr. Richard Scroggin-Internal Medicine, Dr. Cheryl Harris-Internal Medicine/Oncology, Dr. Philip Treuil-Radiation Oncology
12101 Greenville Avenue, Suite 114
Dallas, Texas75243
972-437-9499
http://www.vsnt.com

Veterinary Neurology & Neurosurgery Center of Texas
Dr. Bowens & Dr. Early
301 North US Hwy 287
Mansfield, Texas 76063
817-473-8628
VNCT - Veterinary Neurology & Neurosurgery Center of Texas

Pet Behavior Consultants
Dr. Lecreca Taliaferro, DVM
Elite Animal Clinic
240 W. Bedford Euless Road
Hurst, Texas
817-282-3521

Veterinary Medicine Specialists of DFW-Cardiology, Internal Medicine
Dr. Melmed-Internal Medicine, Dr. Pickens-Internal Medicine, Dr. Culwell-Cardiology
2700 W State Hwy 114
Grapevine, TX 76051
682-223-9770
VMSD/FW.com


Animal Diagnostic Clinic-Cardiology, Diagnostic Imaging, Internal Medicine, Oncology
4444 Trinity Mills Rd., Suite 202
Dallas, TX 75287
972-267-8300
Veterinary Specialty Hospital & Board Certified Vet Specialists in Dallas, TX | Animal Diagnostic Clinic

Clinic Hours
Day Morning Afternoon
Monday 7:00am 6:00pm
Tuesday 7:00am 6:00pm
Wednesday 7:00am 6:00pm
Thursday 7:00am 6:00pm
Friday 7:00am 6:00pm
Saturday 8:00am 1:00pm
Sunday Closed Closed



Call Us 817-467-6688
Like Us On Facebook



Connect With Us

Animal Health Care Center maintains an active presence on many popular search and social media websites. Select your favorite website below to stay connected & review us.

Newsletter Sign Up
First Name: Email: Interests: Pet Health
Doctor's Announcements
Rodents
Reptiles
Birds
Horses
Cats
Dogs
Verify: *

Thinking of you and Tibbe and hoping you both are better soon

Sorry to take so long to respond but have been having a devil of a time with my back. Finally some better and can respond. Tibbe is better at last though he's still breaking out and having some eye drainage. I think it's just a matter of getting him on food he can tolerate that won't tick off his MVD.

I am so sorry to take so long to respond to you. It's been a rocky month! But was dying to ask some questions. Has Tiki ever had any itching, bumps on her back or eye drainage on the Welness Small Breed Healthy Weight? Does she have the occasional bout of nausea at times even on this food?

Judy, I apologize for the tardiness of my reply to you due to this awful back. I've spent much of the last month exercising or flat of my back. Period. That's about it - exercises for the back and then down as the pain has been so bad. I totally missed this whole post until today! THANK YOU for all of these great referrals. I am hoping to find someone who has used a particular vet for a dog with MVD and food-related allergies but as I haven't, if Tibbe takes another bad turn, I'm calling these numbers. I have a very good internist close by who has cared for Tibbe's pneumonia and another emergency issue that are close to me at the ER vet that I can use and who counseled his regular vet about how to treat him initially after his diagnosis but I haven't visited her yet as Tibbe started to get better with no further itching now but still having the bumps and occasional eye drainage - and I was in so much pain just kept putting it off. Thankfully, he hasn't had any nausea for about a month now. With my back, it's been so hard to do anything I've put off getting a second opinion and just been waiting. He's better to the point that he's very, very frisky and playful, eating like a little horse and normal poops - it's just the bumps are still there, he's shedding slightly still and the eyes drain some - nothing like the pus he was having back in the fall when this was pretty bad initially. Thanks again and sorry for the delay. Been a brutal few weeks. :(

Thank you, Betty. We are both better - Tibbe better than me in his progress but we're both way better!

Right now I'm hoping that I don't have to cook for him but I will if it becomes necessary. I'm not even cooking for myself lately - been existing off microwavable things and Equate, Special K meal bars - things like that. Standing and walking are just so painful. I'm hoping I can find a food he can tolerate with his liver that will not give him bumps and eye goop. Crystal recommended a food, also, as I recall and I just got a PM from her today and in my reply, asked her about it. I might start off trying it if she thinks it's okay and his vet will give me a script for it. Thank you for your always kind and loving thoughts, Lisa.

This is good to know and I think you are right and I'm certainly going to ask the vet about this if his symptoms get bad again. Right now he's not itching at all and his bumps, eye drainage much better and no nausea, spitting up those those episodes were bad this fall. But I'm writing the name of the drug down in my day book to ask the vet about if we go down that road again. Thanks, Kat. I know you speak from experience. Sorry for the extremely tardy response!

Unless I just have to, right now home cooking is out. But for future reference, I will keep the vet nutritionist suggestion close so if I just have to go that way, they can start me on the right track and keep me there. Thank you for the information and the good thoughts, Gail. So sorry to be so late in responding. If it weren't for those Icy Hot Pain Patches, I wouldn't be on YT right now but between those and the exercising, rest and the injections, I'm slowly getting better.

Sorry for the late reply - was unavoidable for the past few weeks. I could get on and read a few posts but lifting my laptop which weighs in at 5 or 6 lbs. from the table where it sits beside the couch to the couch arm so I can type was just about impossible to do with my back so if I did post, it was leaning over and typing which also hurt - just not as much. But today I lifted the laptop and it wasn't too bad.

I agree - I think he did have a secondary infection in those bumps as he was itching so much for a while - and shedding quite a bit. But I think the Clavamox helped the bumps and dried them - they got smaller while he was on it each time. Tibbe just came off another round of Clavamox for a tracheitis he got from his dental cleaning/intubation on December 10th and was coughing and rasping pretty badly, which started to get pretty bad 5 days later. Oddly, the Clavamox seems to have helped his bumps dry up and he's not been nauseated at all since he took the recent round of it. The last Clavamox round gave him diarrhea but as I recall, his bumps did dry up while he was on it in September. So I don't think he's allergic to it but to his food - which caused immediate itching an hour or so after he started on it last summer. But he didn't begin to break out, shad or have eye pus/drainage until late summer, early fall and then in the fall, he would have bouts of nausea and spit up bile and foam. But he's been quite a bit better this past month. I actually cut down on the amount of hepatic canned food he was eating and wonder if that isn't what is helping, though I'm scared it will hurt his liver to be on less of it. So right now I'm just waiting to feel better and ask his vet about changing his food to what Crystal recommended - that Purina HA for a trial. Anyway, we're in a holding pattern right now and hoping a trial of new food will be the answer. Thanks for your post!

Ah, Purina HA. If you think it's going to be okay with his MVD, I'm asking his vet for a prescription for it and we're going to try it. Sorry for the late, late reply, Crystal. Bad, bad, bad back!

Jeanie, it is wonderful to see you posting. I am sorry to hear that you are still experiencing so much pain. Sounds like you need someone to come in and cook for you.

I hope you can find the right food for Tibbe. I'm happy to hear he is doing much better.

Thanks for the referral of the nutritionist. I need someone good to use if I have to go that route! First, I think I am going to give the Purina HA a trial. Sorry for the late, late reply - been essentially bedridden!

Oh, bless you. I've missed YT and you and all of you so much. Like missing my friends! Felt so out of touch! :( It's been fun to feel like posting again but think I'm going to take a break - the pain is coming back and going to stretch out a bit for a break. Back later! :)

So sorry you have not been feeling well. Hope 2014 is a better year for you and for Tibbe. To answer your question, Tiki has not had itching or bumps on her back, but all my dogs get some eye boogies regardless of what I feed. Tiki does occasionally but rarely throw up a little, so does Kayla (who doesn't have MVD), however I can't always rule out that the cause may be because a guest has shared some people food with them.

so sorry to hear about all of your troubles right now...prayers for healing and better health. My little man was diagnosed with MVD over the summer. He is on several meds and on Hills KD food. No allergy problems or upset tummy. He still sleeps a lot and groans constantly but is much, much better than before we knew what he had. We keep treats to minimum, fruitables and break them into tiny pieces. Hope you and your little fur baby find some relief soon.

Oh Jeanie I am so sorry you have been in so much pain. It really sucks with Tibbe also being sick also. We miss you. I wish you lived closer I would come over and bring you something good to eat. Sending you lots of love and puppy Kisses.