Vet visit - blood panel results questions

[kjc]

Has she been spayed?

[Lolli_lah]

Yeah..

[kjc]

You could ask the Vet's receptionist to mail you copies of the bloodwork. Or to keep them with your file so you can pick them up the next time you go there. Just in case you have to go to an ER, you have a record of what's been done...

Do you give her any kind of hard chew type treats: rawhide, dental chews, bully sticks, pig ears, hooves.bones ...etc.?

Adding water to the food will never give her diarrhea, just helps to prevent dehydration. And, if she is not eating, it is okay to give Nutrical every couple of hours... you don't want her blood sugar to drop. Soft poops are okay for a little while, but watch for anal glands to fill if too soft. Have you noticed any bloating... or a very full look to her abdomen?

How long ago was she spayed? (don't need to be exact)

[Lolli_lah]

I thought all this was explained in this thread already but if not my mistake.

It was last weekend she was sick and went to the vet. Earlier in that week I gave her a new treat and I think that is what upset her. I do not give her anything now except for rice and gerber beef and have started slowly adding back in her kibble food (Wellness simple solution) per vet instruction. Was using nutrical until I started adding back in her kibbles, although just on safe side I give her a lick here or there. She's been doing really good.

She never had diarrhea at all this whole time. She's not bloated or anything. I just was asking about burping and some other things.. She was spayed in early december of '09.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

I thought all this was explained in this thread already but if not my mistake.

It was last weekend she was sick and went to the vet. Earlier in that week I gave her a new treat and I think that is what upset her. I do not give her anything now except for rice and gerber beef and have started slowly adding back in her kibble food (Wellness simple solution) per vet instruction. Was using nutrical until I started adding back in her kibbles, although just on safe side I give her a lick here or there. She's been doing really good.

She never had diarrhea at all this whole time. She's not bloated or anything. I just was asking about burping and some other things.. She was spayed in early december of '09.

Sorry, I was just trying to be a bit more specific about certain issues....
you still did not specify exactly what 'new treat' she was given...

But, not to worry...

She sounds to be exhibiting female behavior as her spay was only 4 months ago and they can still be having hormone adjustments within that time frame, and a bit later.(6-8 months). Some females will continue 'humping' behaviors for years after, usually with a favorite toy...

If my dogs put their front legs up on me shortly after they eat, they belch. Sometimes they belch without doing that (rearing up). I don't see it as a problem... sometimes they will seek more food after belching. (I guess it makes room) Best thing for digestion would be to put her on probiotics, especially after being on antibiotics.

You are right, her episode was probably related exclusively to the 'new treat' and has nothing to do with her butt in the air.

Glad she's doing well....

[Lolli_lah]

The vet said the butt in the air when she was showing sign of discomfort could be related to the gastro- a cramp from gas or something to that effect. Since she only had shown that for a couple hours and never before or since and was never yelping out in pain that is why he draws that conclusion is what he said, but have to monitor to see if it happen again he has to see her during symptoms. But it never did.

The treat was Ol Roy brand type of treat. Similar to Milkbone type of treat. I know, it was stupid to buy.. :/

Lolli is 7 years old and I rescued her as a breeder dog but she had only been with the previous owner a little over 1 year and the history prior to that year wherever she got Lolli from was unknown. The previous owner was a vet tech so she was kept in decent health at least.

The only concerns left now are the soft stool (maybe I should clarify what I mean by soft, the poop comes out as a whole but when I pick it up with poopie bag it just feels softer to the touch than normal by a little, it's not runny at all) and the burping. She did the burping before, similar to what you said when she puts her legs up on me or if I pick her up is mostly when it happens but on occasion she's not really doing much of anything and she just burps.

[kjc]

Okay. Thank you. Mine won't eat the high dollar, good-for-them-treats, so I resorted to Gerber's Graduates Puffs, bc they are nutritionally deplete and great for training. The main thing I have found is some companies use ethoxyquin (a preservative) which can have adverse effects on a dog, and is toxic. I used to feed that semi-soft burger-cheese stuff (occasionally), Ol' Roy's and Purina makes it. I think the Purina's contains the ethoxyquin, and the Roy's doesn't. (I may have that mixed up).

Just a suggestion: Have a camera ready to record any weird behavior for your vet, if she does happen to do it again. No video? Take a few rapid rapid succession stills for him/her to see.

Also, if she gulped any of those treats she could have a very slight, partial blockage, and you would see poop in different consistencies, but in the same movement. It may just have taken longer to get through her system than the other foods she eats.

Did your vet do an xray? No need to answer that, but I think that would be a next step before an endoscopy (or special gastro equipment).... Less invasive, less expensive, and can give quite a bit of info...

[Lolli_lah]

Not sure what you mean by "and you would see poop in different consistencies, but in the same movement." It has been well over a week and a half since she ate the treats, though. I am kind of worried that it is her food, too. The vet said to try the food again and we could always go to some sort of gastro i/d type of food. I don't know.

Because well she was always fine before, her stools were firm and never runny or soft and she never had vomitting problems or discomfort with rear in air type thing, but she did on occasion have a little mucus in the stool. Just very little and it wasn't all the time, just on occasion.

So today she poopied and it was still soft, and a little mucus this time (no blood) where there wasn't any mucus since she was sick and to now. So I am worried either she ate something off the floor she shouldn't have or it is the Wellness food. I'm going to call the vet in the morning.

I do know they don't have endoscopy equipment at the particular vet I go to. I don't know what we'd do in the instance of it being a necessary step because he said right now (and also a few posters mention that it not yet necessary) that we don't necessarily need to do that yet. If we can find a diet that helps her to be all healthy again then we will find the answer. Luckily so far she seems ok except the poop thing. I hope we can get her up to normal soon.. I'm so sick all day worrying about all of this.

[kjc]

As most Yorkies have gastro problems, including my four, I always recommend to Yorkie owners to use a probiotic. I use this with each meal. It establishes good bacteria in the gut, dosing with each meal maintains the good bacteria, and aids in digestion and the absorbtion of nutrients from the food they eat. It also prevents bad bacteria from taking over, which is a common cause of stomach problems. It also can help with their appetite. Wylie's Mom first told me about this product, she uses it too. Mine were on antibiotics every 2-3 months it seemed like. They haven't had to go on them since I started using this.

Nature's Farmacy - Store - Product Details

[Lolli_lah]

If I started using something like that are there any risks of it making her worse? Would it perhaps make it so I would not have to search through a bunch of food types to find one that doesn't hurt her insides?

[kjc]

No, it won't make her worse (unless she is allergic to cheese/dairy) All the ingredients are all natural. If she is allergic to dairy, there are other probiotics she can use.

These help because when she does get a bug, instead of waiting for the body to natually replenish the gut flora, she'll get new flora with each meal. So episodes that may last a week, may only last a day, or two.

And, yes, I believe it makes them more tolerant of food changes, and able to handle foods that maybe have disagreed with them in the past. It may help them overcome a major problem quicker, and you'll definitely see less incidences of the minor ones.

Ex: Right now, you dog's intestinal health is in question because of taking antibiotics. The AB's have killed all the bacteria in her gut, good and bad. Until that good flora is reestablished, she may have food intolerance issues, ie: the bland diet. Giving her probiotics immediately establishes an environment that is optimal for the complete digestion of food, so she gets more nutrients that her system needs to heal itself.

Whenever a dog has digestion issues, something has occurred to irritate the lining of the intestine, which may become inflamed. This gives the bad bacteria the opportunity to takeover, quickly, and can cause all kinds of problems from vomiting to diarrhea. The steady influx of probiotics stops the bad bacteria in it's tracks and prevents further irritation, so that healing may begin.

[kjc]

Also, Nature's Recipe tout's it's food as being easily digested. You may want to check it out at Petsmart. Mine have done well on it.

Steer clear of any foods that list fish meal as an ingredient, as all fish is initially preserved with ethoxyquin, and supposedly it is burned off in the food manufacturing process, but I have my doubts. All fish meal is made at Diamond food processing, where the Ethoxyquin is added, (or on ships when it is caught), and then the individual food manufacturers buy the fish meal from them. Because they do not add the ethoxyquin, they do not have to list it as an ingredient on their packages.

[Lolli_lah]

Thanks this is useful information that I will take into consideration. Is there any type of probiotic supplement I could perhaps purchase at a pet store? The only thing about ordering online is that I can't go right now to get it, I will be waiting a few days and if it's something to help her I want it right now.

As far as food right now she is on Wellness Simple Solution rice & lamb. No fish and the ingredients dont list and 'meal'. So I guess that's a plus. I still think it might be the food somehow.

Also I have just had a thought. What about parasites? Are those something commonly found? Like Giardia or something like that? Would her stool symptoms match anything along that line? I am a bit concerned why my vet never mention anything like these things. Do you think he's just trying to figure out if it's a diet issue first before proceeding more? Because he did say we should come back in about 10 days.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

Thanks this is useful information that I will take into consideration. Is there any type of probiotic supplement I could perhaps purchase at a pet store? The only thing about ordering online is that I can't go right now to get it, I will be waiting a few days and if it's something to help her I want it right now.

As far as food right now she is on Wellness Simple Solution rice & lamb. No fish and the ingredients dont list and 'meal'. So I guess that's a plus. I still think it might be the food somehow.

Also I have just had a thought. What about parasites? Are those something commonly found? Like Giardia or something like that? Would her stool symptoms match anything along that line? I am a bit concerned why my vet never mention anything like these things. Do you think he's just trying to figure out if it's a diet issue first before proceeding more? Because he did say we should come back in about 10 days.

For a probiotic, you can buy Benebac at Petsmart or Petco.

For food, I'd try a midrange protein level, considering her age and history.
Like 15-23% protein.

It wouldn't hurt to have her checked for parasites. This is gross but best: Collect 3 or 4 different BM's from her over 2-3 days, needs to be stored in the refrigerator. Then mix it together so you have a portion of each BM. Some parasites slough intermittently, so it'll be more accurate to test this way and only pay for two tests, request a flotation and a direct smear. Just tell them you are concerned bc you don't know the dog's history and you would feel better if they would check for everything.

If she presented with vomiting, it would be logical for him to investigate diet first. Usually with parasites, she may show weight issues (low weight or bloatedness), or diarrhea.

Maybe make a list of your concerns to discuss with him on the return visit.

[Lolli_lah]

Yeah. The vet is very good at what he does, he even specialize in yorkies.. but the problem is when he talks to me I don't seem to understand a full instruction, you know what I mean? Like he didn't seem to be very clear on what I should be doing for diet, then it was the weekend so a call back to be sure wasn't an option.

So I'm hoping it's nothing too serious, diet control can eventually be 'in' control just a matter of finding it. But something more serious I fear, but we ruled out kidney and liver problems from the blood panel. So that was a plus. She didn't show any sign of discomfort in the abdomen area or anything and I guess that's how they can test pancreatitis. There was no xrays or anything taken, though. He just wanted to try diets first.

I took away the kibble again to perhaps see if her stool will look any better. I don't know if this is good or not but it's the only thing I can think of to try to figure out what food is making her stools weird until I get in contact with the vet. Is it possible that even the rice could be?