Lump, Kidney Problems, Anemia - Cancer?
 

Hi,
My little Kiwik is 12 years old (13 in January) and just had bloodwork, xrays, and ultrasound completed. He has had diarrhea for 11 weeks now and it is pure water form now. His bloodwork showed kidney problems and anemia. The ultrasound shows a lump around his intestines. He is drinking a lot and urinating a lot. Diarrhea (pure liquid) at least 3 times a day.

We just put him on Fortiflora the past week and now on Metronidazole 50 mg. He needs a lot of cohercing to eat and is very picky what he eats - we have to try different things every day. He was on chicken and rice for weeks but it didn't help his diarrhea. We are waiting for an oncology appointment. Anyone else have these issues: diarrhea, kidney issues, anemia, lumps, tumors, cancer? I am heartbroken. He has lost 2 lbs (of 9 lbs) so 17% of his body mass and his legs are wobbly sometimes, he is all bones now. When I pet him it's just his spine, ribs, breast bone. What else can I do or try? Any other medications we should try? He is only slightly better on Fortiflora and Metonidazole but diarrhea persists.

At what point do you say enough is enough? How much money should you spend on tests, diagnosis, surgery etc if he is almost 13 and it seems it might be cancer? *crying*

In July/Aug he was perfectly fine. Walking an hour a day, playing, active, healthy weight. I don't understand how he can go downhill so fast.

Thank you for any advice and sharing of something similar you have experienced. I joined Yorkietalk 12 years ago when he was a puppy and often lurk on here throughout the years.

I’m so sorry to read what you’re going through with your precious pup. I hope you’re able to get an oncology appointment very soon.

I have one suggestion if you feel up to it. This won’t stop the diarrhea or cure its root cause, but it might keep your baby more comfortable until your oncology appointment. I’ve been a foster for many years, and one thing the vet taught me to do early on is to administer sub-q fluids to dehydrated dogs and cats. It’s not nearly as difficult as it sounds, and doing it can save the life of a pup or cat with diarrhea. You obviously can’t take him to the vet every day for fluids, but you could administer them yourself every day, or even small amounts more frequently. If you can keep him hydrated, his appetite might perk up.

Good luck and let us know how things progress.

I am so sorry. It is so hard to see our babies age and become so ill....not knowing for sure what to do. I was just there recently and relied heavily on the opinion of my vet. Thankfully, she is not one who will continue to treat without letting me know what the chances are of a full recovery.

It is a hard decision to let a pup go but I always want to be able to do that for them.. not for me because I want them to be with me forever.

I wish there was something to say to make it better. It sucks terribly to love them knowing they won't be with us as long as we would like. All I can say is, enjoy him for the time you have him...a day at a time....and listen to clues. I believe they let us know when they cannot go on.

My best to you. :love:

Goodness my heart aches for you. About the spending you will have to find your answer to that. You've done a lot. Diarrhea have you tried porridge with a little sugar, that might help with it.

Has his teeth been looked at? Teeth absceses might be a problem.

The very best to you and your pup

Thank you so much for your insights.

The ultrasound report came back and he has a mass in the mesentery of the intestine measuring 8x8x4 cm (3"x3"x1.5") and they are guessing it's liposarcoma, a rare cancer of soft fatty tissue - slow growing (a type of soft tissue sarcoma). Less likely would be infiltrative lipoma, and less likely than that is dilated lymphatics of edema (which I assume is similar to lymphangiectasia / PLE). Perhaps the PLE is what is what is causing his 12 weeks of diarrhea, which is pure liquid in the last 2 weeks.

We would need an oncologist aspiration or biopsy to find out for sure and then perhaps surgery. We don't want surgery for him given how big the mass is relative to his body size, his age (12) and his declining health/weight.

This thread has been so useful and I managed to read up some old threads, and some written by ladyjane with regards to lymphangiectasia/PLE. I might try to request prednisone to stop the diarrhea. I stopped the Fortiflora, Metronidazole because when I gave it with a painkiller Gabapentin- he vomitted twice in a day and the same day he couldn't stand on his feet for a few minutes until I steadied him with my hands. Right now he isn't on any medications or probiotics (Fortiflora) and seem better than when he was on it. Getting him to eat is quite a feat now and we have to try different things every day, mostly bland human food. Perhaps I should try Royal Canin Gastro Low Fat kibble? He is not eating his kibble.

He is so skinny, you can feel bones everywhere. His liquid diarrhea persists. He had half his teeth pulled out 2 years ago and given his age, probably has some dental issues. Sub-q fluids might be an option as well.

If anyone experience dealing with any of these issues, would really appreciate your input. I feel like 12 is too young and he has some years left. I'm heartbroken. It's so hard.

I am so very sorry....he sounds terribly ill. I would not put him through surgery either if he were mine.
I think anything you give him would be ok. Maybe cook some chicken breast with rice or sweet potatoes? I have given yogurt to my sick pups...some seem to love it.
I wish you well and wish there were something to say. It is indeed heartbreaking.

It’s so heartbreaking as the get older and health issues occur , I feel your pain as we have 2 little ones of 15 and 17 and we have some Heath challenges going on at present, we can only do what’s best for them. Wishing you well .

Lymphangiectasia with IBD and PLE
 

Thank you for the well wishes. I am praying for little guy.

I believe he has lymphangiectasia along with 3 month chronic diarrhea (perhaps it is called IBD). The ultrasound showed a large mass and inflammation throughout his abdomen, but in particular the lymph vessels. My biggest concern is to stop the chronic diarrhea so he can gain weight.

My question is what to feed him. He is losing weight rapidly and is at 5.5 lbs from a normal 9+ lbs weight and lost 1.5 lbs in the last 4 days. I took the advice from this forum and put him on Prednisone for the last 7 days. He improved for the first 4 days on Prednisone but when I gave him a few kibble of a new food, Royal Canin Gastrointestinal low fat diet, he vomited and had diarrhea in the house and hasn't recovered since. The vet also prescribed Omeprazole, this must be to prevent gastro reflux from the Prednisone but I don't see other pups on Omeprazole with Prednisone. How long does it take Prednisone to work fully and stop the diarrhea? The prednisone did decrease the sweling/inflammation because his stomach is rather small now.

We are now feeding him by syringe whatever he will eat (rice/chicken with beef broth or his old Fromm wet food with beef broth). He surprisingly ate a few green peas and corn on his own tonight.

How do I get him to eat and gain weight? He is really unsteady on his legs sometimes. I've seen him fall over twice today while he was shaking his hair. It's mostly the hind legs that are weak.

I’m not sure how old this original post is, but my Yorkie (14 years old) is basically having the same exact issues (liquid diarrhea, weak/not being able to stand up/falling over, ultrasounds the same as described, lots of fluid in the abdomen etc). We saw an internist and she prescribed him prednisone which has significantly helped with the uncontrollable diarrhea and helped to keep food/meds down for the most part.

I’m just wondering if your baby made a full recovery or if it only continued to worsen?

Any help/suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!

That is not something anyone could really predict. I think it is wonderful that the prednisone is helping. Hopefully your baby will have much more time left! All I can say is enjoy each day....

I have two siblings who will be 15 in June. Last March they both were poisoned by dog food (long story) but ended up in stage 3 renal failure and were not predicted to survive more than a few days to a month because they didn't respond to fluids, etc. They have not only survived but are doing quite well even though their numbers are still off. My vet calls it remarkable. I think you have to just treat the dogs, not the numbers....and I always think of that commercial for the cancer center that says we are not born with an exp date on our foot....Our beloved furbabies don't have one stamped on a paw.

My best wishes to you and your pup!