Pancreatitis

[betsygage]

I've spent a lot of time this morning on the Balance It website and the site will fax my vet to have him approve what they suggest. His office said he had not heard of the product so hopefully he will find this helpful for other per owners as well. I like who they are very specific, even saying how many days the supplement will last. And a diet specifically made for each dog is just what my babies need. I'm an RN and used to following orders, but very specific orders. Not just "give a little morphine" I need to know exactly how much, exactly how something is done. I'm like that with cooking. I have to have a recipe. I can't throw in a little of this and that. So thank you and I apologize for needing so much guidance. I am getting more and more anxious as tomorrow they get their teeth cleaned. I always dread this annual procedure but as they age I worry more. Please pray that they tolerate this well. Your helpfulness is so appreciated.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by betsygage

I've spent a lot of time this morning on the Balance It website and the site will fax my vet to have him approve what they suggest. His office said he had not heard of the product so hopefully he will find this helpful for other per owners as well. I like who they are very specific, even saying how many days the supplement will last. And a diet specifically made for each dog is just what my babies need. I'm an RN and used to following orders, but very specific orders. Not just "give a little morphine" I need to know exactly how much, exactly how something is done. I'm like that with cooking. I have to have a recipe. I can't throw in a little of this and that. So thank you and I apologize for needing so much guidance. I am getting more and more anxious as tomorrow they get their teeth cleaned. I always dread this annual procedure but as they age I worry more. Please pray that they tolerate this well. Your helpfulness is so appreciated.

I'm so glad the info was helpful! Your vet will probably appreciate knowing that the company's founder Sean Delaney DVM is also a board certified veterinary nutritionist and diplomat if the American College. I have a diet for my dog wih a history of pancreatitis from Dr Remillard at petdiets. Her consultation costs $250 and is a great service if you are like me and have a long list of preferences and peculiar dogs! Her website is also very informative if you read the "ask the nutritionist" section and other sections. Anyway two of my dogs use the "balance It Canine "k" version and that's what you might need for William (I'm not sure!). Dr Delaney at Balance It is always helpful via email too if your vet or you have questions.

Good luck - let us know how you do!
Good luck also with the dentals, hope all goes well

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by betsygage

I've spent a lot of time this morning on the Balance It website and the site will fax my vet to have him approve what they suggest. His office said he had not heard of the product so hopefully he will find this helpful for other per owners as well. I like who they are very specific, even saying how many days the supplement will last. And a diet specifically made for each dog is just what my babies need. I'm an RN and used to following orders, but very specific orders. Not just "give a little morphine" I need to know exactly how much, exactly how something is done. I'm like that with cooking. I have to have a recipe. I can't throw in a little of this and that. So thank you and I apologize for needing so much guidance. I am getting more and more anxious as tomorrow they get their teeth cleaned. I always dread this annual procedure but as they age I worry more. Please pray that they tolerate this well. Your helpfulness is so appreciated.

Originally Posted by 107barney

I'm so glad the info was helpful! Your vet will probably appreciate knowing that the company's founder Sean Delaney DVM is also a board certified veterinary nutritionist and diplomat if the American College. I have a diet for my dog wih a history of pancreatitis from Dr Remillard at petdiets. Her consultation costs $250 and is a great service if you are like me and have a long list of preferences and peculiar dogs! Her website is also very informative if you read the "ask the nutritionist" section and other sections. Anyway two of my dogs use the "balance It Canine "k" version and that's what you might need for William (I'm not sure!). Dr Delaney at Balance It is always helpful via email too if your vet or you have questions.

Good luck - let us know how you do!
Good luck also with the dentals, hope all goes well

I home cook for one of my pups who is on low fat due to lymphangectasia. She has been on this diet since she was diagnosed in Dec 2011. It calls for Balance It. She has done very well on this diet.

I previously home cooked for one of my pups with pancreatitis. He passed away last year due to a pancreatic tumor but was on home cooked and did very well. It also called for Balance It. I got both recipes from a vet nutritionist.

I highly recommend this product and these diets!

[ladyjane]

Someone just asked me about dentals in dogs with pancreatitis. I had actually meant to post about it, but got side tracked.

I am assuming they made the diagnosis based on the lipase and/or symptoms; but it sounds like the symptoms were mild. Pancreatitis is tricky to diagnose. Lipase can be unreliable as a diagnostic tool. I think you are correct to be concerned about a dental ..anesthesia can set off pancreatitis. My George had pancreatitis and a mass on his pancreas for some time before he died. He had a dental done and remained in ICU for 24 hours for close observation after ( I had his dental done by a board certified vet dentist so he was already in a 24 hour hospital). He did fine!

Your pup may indeed have pancreatitis, but I would honestly want an ultrasound done to see how the pancreas actually looks. Just relying on lipase, amylase or even cPLI is not totally diagnostic. Not sure I would cancel the dental, but you might want to call the vet and discuss this with him. I am personally very pro dental because leaving their teeth uncared for will cause terrible illness...sometimes you must take some risks. Probably in his case your vet plans on running fluids anyway.

[betsygage]

There was good news for Lucy. Her blood showed normal lipid level! She had her teeth cleaned and is doing great. Also Balance It got her form and faxed it to the vet. Somehow William's has gotten lost and we are working on that. Sadly, William has lost 8 oz! He was 4 lb 6 ½ oz.! So he did not have the procedure. He had a body X-ray and a lot of blood work. No results yet. I am just SICK about it. Feeling such anger, guilt and frustration I cannot tell you! Told my vet I felt he had let me down when I begged him to help me with the diet. He told me "nutrition isn't my strong suit". He was impressed by the Balance It credentials and is anxiously awaiting to hear from him about William. I am praying William's weight loss is due to only poor intake and not something worse. He still insisted on his usual walk last night so he's got lots of energy. My heart aches when I see his bright eyes. I want so badly to help him now!

[107barney]

Originally Posted by betsygage

There was good news for Lucy. Her blood showed normal lipid level! She had her teeth cleaned and is doing great. Also Balance It got her form and faxed it to the vet. Somehow William's has gotten lost and we are working on that. Sadly, William has lost 8 oz! He was 4 lb 6 ½ oz.! So he did not have the procedure. He had a body X-ray and a lot of blood work. No results yet. I am just SICK about it. Feeling such anger, guilt and frustration I cannot tell you! Told my vet I felt he had let me down when I begged him to help me with the diet. He told me "nutrition isn't my strong suit". He was impressed by the Balance It credentials and is anxiously awaiting to hear from him about William. I am praying William's weight loss is due to only poor intake and not something worse. He still insisted on his usual walk last night so he's got lots of energy. My heart aches when I see his bright eyes. I want so badly to help him now!

Betsy, I know you feel let down by your vet but I am very impressed by two things with your vet. First, he is willing to admit where he lacks specific specialty type of expertise such as nutrition and second, that he is open minded to learning new things!

Try not to worry too much about William's weight loss until you have more information. As dogs age they lose muscle mass just as we do and that may account for the 8 oz loss.

If William does have another issue that creeps up, then he may need a more detailed nutrition service instead of BalanceIt. In that case, petdiets and a consult with Dr. Remillard would be better because she would review all of William's medical records and fax her dietary recommendations to your vet. Her website is petdiets and the fee is $250 for the professional consult w/ the dietary recommendations.

Keep us posted on the results!

[107barney]

Originally Posted by betsygage

There was good news for Lucy. Her blood showed normal lipid level! She had her teeth cleaned and is doing great. Also Balance It got her form and faxed it to the vet. Somehow William's has gotten lost and we are working on that. Sadly, William has lost 8 oz! He was 4 lb 6 ½ oz.! So he did not have the procedure. He had a body X-ray and a lot of blood work. No results yet. I am just SICK about it. Feeling such anger, guilt and frustration I cannot tell you! Told my vet I felt he had let me down when I begged him to help me with the diet. He told me "nutrition isn't my strong suit". He was impressed by the Balance It credentials and is anxiously awaiting to hear from him about William. I am praying William's weight loss is due to only poor intake and not something worse. He still insisted on his usual walk last night so he's got lots of energy. My heart aches when I see his bright eyes. I want so badly to help him now!

Also, did you email Dr Delaney at balance It for help getting this sent? He is very helpful. Just tell him your from the yorkie forum, he's starting to know who we all are

[107barney]

Originally Posted by betsygage

Each dog gets 2 heaping teaspoons of chicken and 1 of rice. I am no longer giving them brown rice. They seem to like sweet potatoes and Lucy likes any kind of vegetable but William no longer eats peas, green beans or carrots. Help! Also, what kind o supplement do you use? My vet suggested "missing link" but it's a powder and there are no specific directions for simply supplementing for home made diet. We live in a small town and pet store is not helpful. I am trying so hard to keep them healthy. So you freeze the chicken, rice and veggie in a bag all together?

I think William may need more food to make up for the loss of calories coming from his fat restriction. This could be why he's losing weight. Does he like canned corn with no added salt?

[betsygage]

Spent 7 hours at the med center. where they did an ultrasound. They found chronic inflammation of his pancreas but they were not particularly impressed by what they saw and suggested I switch to Hills low fat diet because William is so picky and they don't want me doing the homemade thing because he is so picky and won't eat vegetables. Anyway, the ultrasound also showed abnormalities in his bladder/prostate areas so they did a biopsy. But they are quite certain that my sweet fur baby has prostate cancer although he's had no symptoms. I am stunned. I drove 2 hours there thinking the worst news I'd get was something about his pancreas and I come back with a box of used kleenex sobbing because my baby has cancer. I've just looked up life expectancy for this and I read 30 days! But that's with symptoms. They talked about chemotherapy, saying radiation is not done nor is surgery for this type of cancer. I leave April 30 for two weeks in Germany and I don't know if I can go and leave him. I guess I need to wait until they call tomorrow with the path report but I felt like writing with the day's events .....you now how we love these little guys. No one else understands how special they are. Thank you for listening to me blubber.....

[107barney]

I'm sorry Betsy, I wish the news was better.
Home cooking indies not require veggies so I disagree with them there. I would try the Hill's though...
I just went through a similar experience where an error was made in thinking Barney had a bladder tumor and I learned there are many benign things you can find. I hope it's not the worst news. A friend of mine did chemo for her 14.5 year old and it wasn't a bad experience.

[ladyjane]

Oh my....I am so sorry. Prayers for you and your William...

[Tink04]

Originally Posted by betsygage

Spent 7 hours at the med center. where they did an ultrasound. They found chronic inflammation of his pancreas but they were not particularly impressed by what they saw and suggested I switch to Hills low fat diet because William is so picky and they don't want me doing the homemade thing because he is so picky and won't eat vegetables. Anyway, the ultrasound also showed abnormalities in his bladder/prostate areas so they did a biopsy. But they are quite certain that my sweet fur baby has prostate cancer although he's had no symptoms. I am stunned. I drove 2 hours there thinking the worst news I'd get was something about his pancreas and I come back with a box of used kleenex sobbing because my baby has cancer. I've just looked up life expectancy for this and I read 30 days! But that's with symptoms. They talked about chemotherapy, saying radiation is not done nor is surgery for this type of cancer. I leave April 30 for two weeks in Germany and I don't know if I can go and leave him. I guess I need to wait until they call tomorrow with the path report but I felt like writing with the day's events .....you now how we love these little guys. No one else understands how special they are. Thank you for listening to me blubber.....

I'm so sorry to hear your baby may have cancer. I pray the test comes back negative. For what it's worth, my little girl was diagnosed with insulinoma, a form of cancer is November, and the vet was initially saying survival time was 2 months. But, she's been doing fine on medications since then. I hope you get some good news for your little one and that it's not cancer.
Also, I noticed you said your baby no longer wanted to eat the Royal Canin Lo Fat Gastro food. Miss Tink used to LOVE this food. However, with the most recent shipment, she will not even touch it. I noticed the consistency was more "mousse-like" than previous. Like you, we switched to Hill's ID Gastro, and she really likes it. The ingredients in Hills look much better.

Again, I'm praying that the tests show there is no cancer. Prayers for your little one

[107barney]

Betsy, did you get William's results?