Vet visit - blood panel results questions

[Ellie May]

You could always try it and switch if it doesn't work.
You could also use a bland rx diet for awhile if you don't want to go back to regular dog food when you are done using homecooked.

They can bloat up and I'm sure that is uncomfy, but gastric dilatation/vovulus (real bloat) isn't common in Yorkies (actually does it ever happen at all?) and you'd know that's what it was. Ellie bloats after eating sometimes. She's miserable for a bit and then returns to normal. Lethargy, shaking, and abdominal pain would make me question her pancreas.

[Lolli_lah]

Well she seemed in pain in that area, but not crying loud or screaming. It was more a discomfort. And well like I have tried touching the area to see for pain, have picked her up can't tell you how many times (a lot) and usually have a hand on her belly for back support so she don't flail around and hurt her back so that might cause her to let me know if there was pain there. And can't remember if the dog felt on her abdomen, but she hasn't been acting in pain at all.

Only thing I can think of is like well she did this before she got all sick and stuff, but right above her tail area on her lower back area she likes to rub, like on your foot if it's dangling from sitting cross legged. Or rubs that end alongside the couch and on the wall in the hallway sometimes. It don't seem like she's in pain but it seems soothing somehow. She never seemed to have full anal glands, but then today she scooted for the first time I ever seen since we rescued her. She has been doing the rubbing thing a little bit more than normal, and making grunting noises. I don't know what this would be about.

But like I said, doesn't seen like in pain. And the discomfort she showed for that little episode yesterday, seems to subsided. She hasn't put her butt in the air or anything. But the other poster said her gastro- baby has done that before in relation to gastro-. So I'm just so confused and stressed out!

[Lolli_lah]

if the 'vet' felt on her abdomen **

[Ellie May]

Scooting with shaking/lethargy is an indicator that it's time to empty them.

[Lolli_lah]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Scooting with shaking/lethargy is an indicator that it's time to empty them.

The scooting was a separate day than when she was shaking or lethargic but perhaps still related?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

The scooting was a separate day than when she was shaking or lethargic but perhaps still related?

No way to tell, but anal glands can do some funny things.
If she's scooting, she's irritated, so I'd start there.
Full anal glands should not cause abdominal pain though.

[Lolli_lah]

Yeah if her anals are full I think the discomfort would be more related to gas or some sort of cramp if shes got a gastro- problem. The vet said it was very likely. Is he right?

If she's having all these problems, should I still try doing anal expressing myself or take to the vet to have it done?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

Yeah if her anals are full I think the discomfort would be more related to gas or some sort of cramp if shes got a gastro- problem. The vet said it was very likely. Is he right?

If she's having all these problems, should I still try doing anal expressing myself or take to the vet to have it done?

Gastro problems can cause pain (so shaking), probably lethargy, etc.

You should do what you're comfortable with. I empty anals myself, but I wouldn't tell someone they should do the same if they're unsure.

[Lolli_lah]

Well I've emptied them before when I was working at a grooming shop plenty of times. But for some reason I never was able to do Lollis. There just never seemed to be anything in there that I could feel. I usually had dogs where it was obvious with the bubbles on either side of the anus where you can feel it's full.

I haven't tried lately on her anals so perhaps I will in the morning.

Do you use any type of messaging program, or the yorkietalk chat? I'd love to be able to ask you questions live so we don't have to spam through the thread but if not that's ok too. I'm just so worried and I think you are quite comforting with your knowledge. I thank you very much for being here! I have had panic attacks all day.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

Well I've emptied them before when I was working at a grooming shop plenty of times. But for some reason I never was able to do Lollis. There just never seemed to be anything in there that I could feel. I usually had dogs where it was obvious with the bubbles on either side of the anus where you can feel it's full.

I haven't tried lately on her anals so perhaps I will in the morning.

Do you use any type of messaging program, or the yorkietalk chat? I'd love to be able to ask you questions live so we don't have to spam through the thread but if not that's ok too. I'm just so worried and I think you are quite comforting with your knowledge. I thank you very much for being here! I have had panic attacks all day.

I do spend some time in YT chat.
I'm sorry you aren't doing well.
It sounds like she will be okay.

[Lolli_lah]

I really hope so. Because I lost my job as a groomer recently (they went out of business) and so it is very hard to pay for her vet visits right now and the medicine they gave her on the weekend. I am looking hard for a new job.

I'm in chat if you feel like to join me, if not it's okay It's just another one of those nights.

[Lolli_lah]

Just wondering what tests are generally done to test for pancreatitis? Is it just xrays or?

[Ellie May]

Pancreatitis is diagnosed by Spec cPL (blood test) or ultrasound.

B/c she is doing better, it probably isn't worth it to put the money into these.

[Lolli_lah]

So if she did have like a pancreatitis she would not do better it would just always be constant discomfort and things?

[Ellie May]

No, they can get better from pancreatitis. It depends on how severe and the care that they receive and sometimes factors that we just don't understand yet. The more they get it, the more likely they are to get it again.

But, there are so many causes for vomiting. This would just be one possibility of many. There is a list of things that can cause low protein.

It sounds like she is doing just fine though.