Vet visit - blood panel results questions

[kjc]

Originally Posted by 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?

Sometimes I tell my vet I just have too much going on in my head, could he please have someone write down any instructions, or outline the treatment plan on paper for me bc by the time I get home I'll forget half of what he said. Or bring a friend with you to take notes. Or I'll call the front desk after I get home to verify any instructions.... Or sometimes I try to repeat back to them exactly what I'm to do, and take notes myself: this can force them to simplify things. Some vets can get very wordy...

That's great that he specializes in Yorkies....

I wouldn't go making too many changes in her diet just yet, wait to see what he says... if you didn't do what he suggested, just explain it slipped your mind bc you were so worried about her. Rice shouldn't make her stools soft. She may just need time (or probiotics) for her system to get back on track. It can take over a week for the flora to reestablish itself, without probiotics. Some Yorkies will have reactions to different foods, so you may have to experiment some to find out what she does best on, or better yet, wait and see what your vet suggests.

I would make a list, and leave room for notes, and for things he discusses that are not on your list... you can add on. Then, when you get home, you'll have all your ducks in a row. Things to include on your list would be: parasites, probiotics, burping, her stool being formed but soft, dry and/or wet food, protein/fat % of food (what is best for her age, history and body condition at this point in time), hormones and possible behaviors from recent spay, recommended treats (veges/fruits like carrots, apples, and broccoli, green beans, etc.), Mylecon for gas (to have on hand for reoccurences) and anything else you have questions about. I find a list is helpful, as I can get so off-topic very often and quickly!

Good Luck, and please update this thread after your appointment.

[Lolli_lah]

Okay so today was the big day. The one day she didn't poop and so I waited to go to the vet until I could get a poop sample to take with me. Then yesterday she was real lethargic, only thing this time is she didn't have any weird butt in the air thing going on like no discomfort or sign of pain at all. She'd follow me around stuff but just seemed real super tired and that was the only thing.

So she went to the vet today and I took the poo sample fresh in and they did whatever they do and he said he couldn't see any parasites or anything else going on with the poop. But today it was super soft moreso than it has been this whole time.

He took her temp and said it was just like a point high, I didn't ask the number because I had too much going on in my head.. But he felt on her tummy and he was able to see she was 'very' gassy and he also expressed her anals which were full, too.

He gave me a medication to give her called Metronidazole which I give 1/2 of twice a day, and a shot of Gentamicin that he said will help with her gastro issues and also the small fever. The shot med is spose to help fix up her stools and whatever else in the intestinal tract that is making the problem.

Also suppose to give her 1/4 of a pepcid AC twice a day to help with gas issues.

So right as we got home from the vet and got out the car Lolli lead me to the grass and she had a diarrhea. I am sure this isn't from the shot as she just had it not even an hour prior, and we haven't administered the pill yet. Should I be worried? It's not far off that her poop was runny now compared to this morning it was pretty close but still formed.

So her diet from now should be 3 tablespoon of rice and cottage cheese for 3 days once a day or until her poop forms back to normal and if not then we call for further instruction. If it does form back to normal then he suggests an ID diet that we can get at the vet office. I don't remember if he mentioned a brand name or not because we didn't get it yet since we have to wait til her poo forms back.

I think this sounds better. I'm glad he actually was touching on her to feel what's going on, we had a different vet in the same office today since today was a slight emergency (from her bein lethargic yesterday and everything) and our original was not in today. I personally like this one better, he seem to explain a lot more and seemed more thorough. He did the anal expressing himself and everything.

Please tell me this sounds okay. I really need a positive. I am so stressed and negative at the moment. I want everything to be okay. I'm only concerned as to why she's got diarrhea now, I just assume the med didn't kick in this fast and that she was really stressed (from goin to the vet and everything) and it all lead to it.

I got a copy of the blood results, too.

Oh and P.S. they were going to do an xray but the vet says since her poops are pretty full and at least partially formed this whole time that a blockage is probably not the case because she'd still be vomitting and not really having any poop or full ones. I guess it makes sense.

[kjc]

Wow! I'm really impressed! Sounds like the new vet did a great job explaining things and you really understood/took great notes!

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

Okay so today was the big day. The one day she didn't poop and so I waited to go to the vet until I could get a poop sample to take with me. Then yesterday she was real lethargic, only thing this time is she didn't have any weird butt in the air thing going on like no discomfort or sign of pain at all. She'd follow me around stuff but just seemed real super tired and that was the only thing.

So she went to the vet today and I took the poo sample fresh in and they did whatever they do and he said he couldn't see any parasites or anything else going on with the poop. But today it was super soft moreso than it has been this whole time.
Very good you took a sample in.

He took her temp and said it was just like a point high, I didn't ask the number because I had too much going on in my head.. But he felt on her tummy and he was able to see she was 'very' gassy and he also expressed her anals which were full, too.
Can be very uncomfortable to be gassy and have full anals. Even a slight fever can make them lethargic.

He gave me a medication to give her called Metronidazole which I give 1/2 of twice a day, and a shot of Gentamicin that he said will help with her gastro issues and also the small fever. The shot med is spose to help fix up her stools and whatever else in the intestinal tract that is making the problem.
Both are antibiotics, Metronidazole is commonly given for gastro issues and parasites (the no-see-um kind) Gentamicin is big guns and will help with infection causing the fever.

Also suppose to give her 1/4 of a pepcid AC twice a day to help with gas issues.
Great!

So right as we got home from the vet and got out the car Lolli lead me to the grass and she had a diarrhea. I am sure this isn't from the shot as she just had it not even an hour prior, and we haven't administered the pill yet. Should I be worried? It's not far off that her poop was runny now compared to this morning it was pretty close but still formed.
This bout of diarrhea was most likely from the stress of the office visit on top of her not feeling well. The Metronidazole should help clear it if it was from something else, and being back home will help her calm down, and the meds should help her to feel better soon. She should be acting much better by tomorrow morning. Just a note: If she starts acting worse, call the vet back immediately.

So her diet from now should be 3 tablespoon of rice and cottage cheese for 3 days once a day or until her poop forms back to normal and if not then we call for further instruction. If it does form back to normal then he suggests an ID diet that we can get at the vet office. I don't remember if he mentioned a brand name or not because we didn't get it yet since we have to wait til her poo forms back.
It's probably Hill's Prescription I/D. Ask him about using Probiotics when you call back.

I think this sounds better. I'm glad he actually was touching on her to feel what's going on, we had a different vet in the same office today since today was a slight emergency (from her bein lethargic yesterday and everything) and our original was not in today. I personally like this one better, he seem to explain a lot more and seemed more thorough. He did the anal expressing himself and everything.
Any Vet should always "touch to feel what's going on". If they don't, I wouldn't consider that an examination. Definitely request this Vet for future appointments.

Please tell me this sounds okay. I really need a positive. I am so stressed and negative at the moment. I want everything to be okay. I'm only concerned as to why she's got diarrhea now, I just assume the med didn't kick in this fast and that she was really stressed (from goin to the vet and everything) and it all lead to it.
This sounds excellent! I can't think of anything that would make it better. The vet sounds pretty confident and knowledgable.
Just give her a few hours to rest and let the meds begin take effect.

I got a copy of the blood results, too.
If you have time, could you post any abnormal results? (Highs/lows)

Oh and P.S. they were going to do an xray but the vet says since her poops are pretty full and at least partially formed this whole time that a blockage is probably not the case because she'd still be vomitting and not really having any poop or full ones. I guess it makes sense.
Yes, it does make sense. Good vet to save you some money.

[Lolli_lah]

Aw ty so much kjc, was nice to hear all the positive reinforcements. I felt better about this vet, too. He seemed to really make an effort to know this is a gastro issue.

I'll post the results as I see them on the page, I have no idea what anything means. The only thing he told me (the first original vet that we saw last wednesday that did the blood tests not the new vet today) was something about her protein being low, and he said it's probably from all the vomitting and everything. There are like slide scale pictures next to each test result with a black dot that is either in low, normal, or high section and only the BUN is just very barely in the 'low' area. I'm assuming that's the protein? All others are in the 'normal' area.

She seems less lethargic now than when we first got home, but had a 2nd diarrhea. As far as I could see no blood or anything. I hope it is just stress. He said not to give her any more food today (before we left the office, not in relation to diarrhea) just so the shot med could kick in and do what it needs. I didn't think to ask if I should give 1/2 of the metro stuff tonight or not (only 1/2 twice a day) and start in the morning. The office is closed now. I figured she won't eat it without food and should wait in the morning but not sure.

ALKP - 45/UL reference range 23-212
ALT - 10/UL reference range 10-100
BUN - 5 mg/dL reference range 7-27
CREA - 0.8 mg/dL reference range 0.5-1.8
GLU - 87 mg/dL reference range 74-143
TP - 7.8 g/dL reference range 5.2-8.2

[kjc]

From Yahoo Answers:
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) : This waste product from protein metabolism is formed in the liver and excreted by the kidneys. High BUN values could mean that the kidneys are not working as well as they should. Low BUN values are less frequent. They could be due to low protein intake...

I'd try to get the Metronidazole in her tonight, you could give it in chicken baby food (very bland) and only give enough to get her to take the pill(less than 1/4 tsp), or if you can pill her with no food... The diarrhea may continue till she starts eating. It sound like her intestines are having a hard time. When things go off, bacteria builds up causing inflammation of the lining, which creates a great environment for the bad bacteria to live, which causes more inflammation, and can cause gas. The Metronidazole will kill off all the bacteria in her gut, hence the bland diet.(easier to digest).
Glad she's feeling better...

And you're very welcome, I'm glad to be of some help....

[Lolli_lah]

Thanks for clarifying the BUN. It coinsides with what the vet said about it being just a teeny bit low, since she wasn't intaking much foot at the time from vomitting then the bland diet I can definitely see how it would be low from intake.

She's usually pretty good about pills but sometimes she's no fool. The only thing about giving her 1/2 pill tonight is that at the end would mean she only gets 1/2 for 1 day. I don't think it technically matters but yanno.

She hasn't had to poop since a couple hours ago so maybe it was just a stress thing. If she does again before bed time I'll give her a pill half. Think that sounds oki?

BTW I really REALLY REALLY appreciate all your help and info. It's meant so much to me, I don't know if I would have been able to ask the things I did for my vet, I would have been pretty clueless. And also thanks to Ellie May and Wylie's and others that have been such a great help, too.

I will post again in a few days to say what's up with her, unless (God forbid) something else comes up. :S

[Euro]

What are normal blood panels levels
for Yorkies

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Euro

What are normal blood panels levels
for Yorkies

This explains it better than I could:

Normal Dog and Cat Blood And Urine Chemistry Test Results