Pancreatitis

[Britster]

Originally Posted by chatwizme

Yes, Sophie used to do her biggest duties twice a day, quick and easy, no problems, like clockwork. Since this happened she's down to once in the evening and it's probably not even half the usual altho the consistency has improved. Just concerns me. She acts hungry and not at lot is coming out. I fed her maybe six or seven small meals a day with the wet stuff for the first few days then took it down to four. And for the last two days I've put her back on just the am and pm feeding. Hubby told me a little while ago that Sophie got up with him at 4 am and went to her bowl and he gave her a big dollop of the wet food. Sneaky girl! I am worried to feed her too much food but I guess she's hungry and I should give her bigger servings? Maybe feed her before bedtime? Oh man, I do not want her up at 4 am to eat and poop!

Jackson has been pooping less as well since the attack. But he's been getting back to more normal this past week.

For the first week or so, sometimes he wasn't pooping at all the entire day and it was more of a once every-other-day thing. Vet said it was totally normal, his system was just getting 'back in order' but all his stools were not runny or anything, so I wasn't too worried.

But now he's been pretty much back to his 2x a day routine. He often still doesn't go first thing in the AM though and waits until 11-noon-ish.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by lil fu fu girl

Since you are being honest, allow me the same. Your behavior, or should I say your comments, were not those of someone trying to learn. Picking apart everything that is said by someone is not learning,it is berating. Something that you and I have had discussions about previously.

The next time you would like to have information on a study,or learn something from a poster or myself, perhaps you should do what most on this forum do....just ask....... for the links and research, instead of implying that the information given is wrong or invalid, which is what you were doing.

I try to offer my knowledge from my degree's and experience without berating others who offer their advice,whether their information is right or wrong in my eyes. I am not here to substantiate THEIR posts, and negate what they say. I am simply here participating with my offerings.

Believe me, if I were going to "put you down" I think you would know it. I just feel that there are better ways to pull information out of posters than the current style.

Since you brought this up I would like to inquire as to what your areas of study would be that give you authority to speak as an expert on canine nutrition?

I work within the medical community and have seen first hand how doctors collaborate to properly diagnose and treat patients. I would not be comfortable with a jack of all trades dealing with a complex issue and feel it is their responsibility to defer to their peers. There are subspecialties in medicine just like in every other profession. I wouldn't go to a divorce attorney if I was charged with murder and insist they need to be further trained in Law School of Criminal Defense.

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I didn't pick apart what you said, I wanted to know, do MOST vets think this, or do they think that? Which is it, because I don't know? Is that picking apart? I do think sometimes in your attempts to be snide or clever or one up people, you make it more difficult to understand your point. By the way, I try to keep threads separate, and while I disagree with one other of your views, I really wanted to agree with this view of yours, but I really needed to know more. I really don't know anything about you or your degrees, you seem very smart, and I'm sure you have a lot to offer, it's just I really think it's dangerous to take some forum posters advice over your vet. What I like to do is read the advice and understand it enough so that I can discuss it with my vet. If he can't make me understand or makes me feel stupid for questioning his authority, I’d find another vet. Some of the information we find on the net, may be cutting edge facts, but most of it seems to be nonsense or at least not safe. Anyway, I feel like I can’t ever question “your authory.” I did say, I didn't see in the links you offered a time when a more normal diet could be given.I don't think you've ever answered the question of the time period with scientific evidence. As I said before the links you gave didn't discuss this. I only wanted some data on the time period in which it would be considered safe to add fiber.

Again, and why is it necessary to tell me if you wanted to put me down, I'd know it, to me there is no question that's what you want to do, but I don't know why? I don't want to put you down, I feel like I've made you feel defensive, I'm sorry for this. My question is "Is there any data that says how long it takes the digestive system to heal after the first major pancreatic attack?"

I too am confused with the links that were given. After just having a little scare with Doodlebug earlier in the week this thread was of interest to me. Thankfully after blood work the vet did rule out Pancreatitis but the issue has now caught my attention. For now I was very please with my vet's recommendations and he is doing well but I do like to have a base of knowledge to take to my vet if something were to ever arise in the future.

[IsabelleOllie]

Originally Posted by chatwizme

Yes, Sophie used to do her biggest duties twice a day, quick and easy, no problems, like clockwork. Since this happened she's down to once in the evening and it's probably not even half the usual altho the consistency has improved. Just concerns me. She acts hungry and not at lot is coming out. I fed her maybe six or seven small meals a day with the wet stuff for the first few days then took it down to four. And for the last two days I've put her back on just the am and pm feeding. Hubby told me a little while ago that Sophie got up with him at 4 am and went to her bowl and he gave her a big dollop of the wet food. Sneaky girl! I am worried to feed her too much food but I guess she's hungry and I should give her bigger servings? Maybe feed her before bedtime? Oh man, I do not want her up at 4 am to eat and poop!

My Belle was on I/D for the past 2 weeks for a tummy issue (thankfully not pancreatitis) and she acted like she was starving whenever it was time to feed her. She was fed small amounts of canned I/D several times a day. She also had much smaller and less frequent stools - I think that it's just that this food is highly digestable and there isn't much that needs to be eliminated. If she's really still hungry, maybe give her a bit of canned an hour before bed so she's not waking you up too early for breakfast.

I hope that your little one continues to improve.

[chatwizme]

Thanks for the good wishes! Sounds like my Sophie is behaving 'normal' while on this special diet. She did her duty this morning and it's about a fourth of normal and normal is the size of a baby carrot! Yesterday evening the same. I was happy she went at all this morning tho, cuz she hasn't even attempted. I fed her before bed last night and she made it all the way thru, at least to my knowledge, haven't talked to hubby yet, so maybe he got up with her, I really don't know. She is so much better. Thank heaven!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by chatwizme

Thanks for the good wishes! Sounds like my Sophie is behaving 'normal' while on this special diet. She did her duty this morning and it's about a fourth of normal and normal is the size of a baby carrot! Yesterday evening the same. I was happy she went at all this morning tho, cuz she hasn't even attempted. I fed her before bed last night and she made it all the way thru, at least to my knowledge, haven't talked to hubby yet, so maybe he got up with her, I really don't know. She is so much better. Thank heaven!

So glad Sophie is doing well. I wanted to ask you if Sophie is fearful of car trips or just the RV? Also, I wanted to know if the RV was at your home and you could take her bed and a few toys and get her use to the RV before your trip?

[chatwizme]

It's not really that she is 'fearful'. I don't really know how to describe it. I take her with me in the car a couple times a week, in her carseat. We go visit the kids/grandkids. She loves short trips. But for more than a half hour, she starts getting nervous and tries to get out of the carseat. By the time an hour has elapsed she is trying to spin in the seat and wants to be held. I think maybe she gets sleepy but refuses to give up and so she wants OUT. She doesn't bark. Doesn't whine, doesn't make any noise, ever. And she'll stay if we tell her to, she'll sit still. But she will NOT relax and enjoy the ride. So I think if I drug her and she can't help but sleep, we'll be fine. I hope. She's fine in the RV if we are not driving. She will run around, sleep and play just like it's home. But if she's too tired from driving for 10 hours and she doesn't eat, it makes her ill. It's driving in the truck that pulls the rv that she hates! And by the time we get where we're going the damage is done.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by chatwizme

It's not really that she is 'fearful'. I don't really know how to describe it. I take her with me in the car a couple times a week, in her carseat. We go visit the kids/grandkids. She loves short trips. But for more than a half hour, she starts getting nervous and tries to get out of the carseat. By the time an hour has elapsed she is trying to spin in the seat and wants to be held. I think maybe she gets sleepy but refuses to give up and so she wants OUT. She doesn't bark. Doesn't whine, doesn't make any noise, ever. And she'll stay if we tell her to, she'll sit still. But she will NOT relax and enjoy the ride. So I think if I drug her and she can't help but sleep, we'll be fine. I hope. She's fine in the RV if we are not driving. She will run around, sleep and play just like it's home. But if she's too tired from driving for 10 hours and she doesn't eat, it makes her ill. It's driving in the truck that pulls the rv that she hates! And by the time we get where we're going the damage is done.

Have you described that to the vet? What you describe sounds more like car sickness than anxiety. Sometimes if the dog can't see out or see the passing road, they will get car sick. Some suggest lifting the dog’s seat higher so she can see out. Maybe that's why longer trips affect her? I think she wants to be held because it might allow her to see out the window and for some reason this helps the brain with handle the inner ear motion. I think I’d ask the vet about Dramamine, it really helps with motion sickness, like Benadryl it will make your dog sleepy, but it will also help with that quesy feeling. I use to get car sick all the time as a child, it's a horrible feeling, sitting on my mom's lap helped because then I could see out the window. Lol, I'm not making that up either. I read the reason why it helped, years later.

[Britster]

Found this link interesting on fiber:

The Truth About Dietary Fiber and Prebiotics in Pet Food

[MaryAnn]

I am new to Yorkie Talk, not new to living with a Yorkie having pancreatitis. Our boy was diagnosed at 8 years of age with pancreatitis and lived to a wonderful age of 14. It took awhile for us to figure out what foods worked for him and what didn't. He did better eating four small meals a day spaced out - helped to keep him from getting gassy. His stomach would gurgle at times and we would give him some cheerios and that seemed to settle him down. Also when we traveled, long trips we would give him some cheerios and that kept him from getting a sick stomach on the car trips. I cooked his food twice a week - we cooked low fat boneless chicken boiled with boiled white rice (he could not tolerate beef) - some boiled carrot, some boiled potatoe, boiled egg white - once a week, we would give him cooked oatmeal for a meal. The amounts were never more than a 1/4 cup of food at any one time. We always mixed his food with warm water and never fed him anything cold. Cheerios was his treat and inbetween food - always gave him a few before he went to bed. Always watched he never ate anything off the floor or when company was around. He was happy and very active - best little buddy I ever had - this is what worked for us not sure if any of this would work for you and your pup - took alot of trial and error - and reading up on the subject - we had joined a Yahoo Group six years ago for other dog owners with the same problem Not sure if that Group is still there, but might be worth a looking into it. Wishing you good luck and many happy years with your precious buddy.

[MaryAnn]

I just reread what I just wrote and should add - all the food (chicken, rice, carrot, etc.) was put into a blender so it was easy to digest. I hope my post is not too confusing - I know what I want to say, but not so easy to type it out.

[dottiesyrky]

Hello:
I am so sorry about your poor little baby, and so young too to get sick.
I cannot give advice but only my experience with pancreatitis. My dear girl who sadly passed 3 years ago at 11.5 years had bouts of the big P for several months and I hated giving her the trash food that the Vet suggested, but it seemed to work and she loved it!!! That nasty Vet food is mainly water so perhaps that is the secret? Later she got sick again but with constipation also. Could your little one have constipation? I found that my girl ate a lot but only did little poops for some time. Perhaps some pumpkin would help her to 'go' better and hopefully not make the P worse?
As for car travel, have you tried the Snoozer booster seat? Also they say the Thunder shirt allays anxiety and helps with car travel.
My current little dog was really affected by stress when we moved house and had lots of noise and commotion, but he reacted with aggression rather than GI problems. We are working with a trainer on the aggression and he is much better now. The Thunder shirt works for him and calms him. These Yorkies are very sensitive to my mind and are affected by our emotions and their surroundings.
Sorry if I have rambled on about a few topics, but I hope some of it is of some comfort - if not help - to know you are not alone.
Good Luck with your baby with the P and travel.

[chatwizme]

Thank you so much for these posts. Really, really, good stuff! Sophie's car seat is up hi enuf for her to see outside. Maybe the ride really does make her ill. She does hang her head and look ill and goes limp, but won't give in enuf to actually sleep. Maybe she is simply motion sick! (I get sick on a swingset, I am so motion sensitive! NO roller coasters for me, and long road trips did me in as a child).
I never thot of Cherrios as a treat. She doesn't eat ANY treats ever. If we give her something she will either ignore it or go bury it under the sofa or a pillow somewhere, and then never take a single nibble out of it. I'm going to try cheerios tonight! I love the recipes/ideas for food from MaryAnn, thank you! I usually make her plain chicken and rice and chop everything up really small, never thot to use the food processor. I will make her up a batch before we travel and I'm going to call the vet and see about car sickness medicine instead of the Benedryl cuz maybe she really is just carsick. Thank you so much for these ideas!

[kionini]

My boy was diagnosed with Pancreatitis and I'm still struggling with how to manage it (long story).

But on the car sickness, I had the same problem with my little ones. Nini had sort of an attack when we were coming back from Fla. on her first car trip. She just wanted out of the car, desperately. Besides being on the road for hours (with 15 minute stop brakes every 3 hours) it had gotten dark, very dark, and I think this was the major problem. She couldn't see out and that was driving her nuts.

I don't use car seats, though I have tried several, because they hate car seats and I think I understand why (none are large enough to stretch and sleep comfortably----so I use the car seat belts to secure them). Anyway, for Nini, the problem was solved by taking longer brakes and making sure we reach our destination before nightfall, even if that makes our trip longer

With Nicky, the problem was the noise, especially, trucks and motorcycles. He sleeps fine during the trip, but a passing truck scares the lights out of him, not so much with the motorcycles anymore because I've succeeded (so far) in convincing him that 'moocycles' are soooo cool I haven't been so successful with the trucks and they still frighten him a bit.

I had tried all---Benadryl, anxiety liquids and even sleeping pills prescribed by the vet. Nothing work . Even with the sleeping pills they didn't sleep, they were stoned, but not sleeping. I hate giving them drugs and I do it only when I absolutely have to. Although, this was before Nicky's Pancrititis, so now I would have to choose what's worst between these two evils if I find myself in that situation again (now that I know stress is a common factor in Pancrititis )

Fortunately, in our case, I found what the problem was and I can help it without drugging my fur-kids. I hope you find what it is that is bothering your baby, soon, so that you all can enjoy the trip

[dottiesyrky]

So sad to hear your little boy has pancreatitis, it is a hard problem to manage.
Perhaps in the car he may sometimes feel sick from the P?
My dogs do/did not like the noise of traffic on freeways and are better if it is a quiet road. You have a point about the dark, I suppose the dog cannot see out and is more stressed.
I have 2 suggestions:
One is the Thunder Shirt that reduces stress, and gets its name from fear of thunder. It seems to calm dogs and may work - it looks cute too!
The second is the Snoozer car seat that sits high, is very comfortable (sheepskin-type liner) and I got a size that my 9 pounder can lay down fully in if he wants to sleep. My dog loves it and I tried it first at home for him to get used to it before putting it in the car.
I hope he gets used to travel and that you find a solution as car sickness is nasty for all involved.
Wishing you luck with the P and car travel. Sorry your little babe has these issues.

[nychelse]

send my best wishes for the baby