My mum's dog

[Rebecca85]

She has had diarrhoea almost constantly for the past couple of months. She doesn't get urgency but she goes every time she is let out, and every 10-15 minutes while out walking. it varies in consistency from porridge to water. After several trips in quick succession she can have blood (bright red and on the surface of the stool) and just lately she has been yelping when going. It is not infectious, as neither my mum's other dog nor mine has had any problems. They have tried different antibiotics and it seems to improve but then as soon as the course finishes she goes downhill again. Anyway, they are now investigating her for IBD. I didn't even know animals could get it!

 

[robbo87]

poor thing I remember reading an article where they were looking for a cure in cow's for crohn's. The cows had something called yohns disease. Up until then i'd never heard of any animals being diagnosed with it but i guess it's possible!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Yeah, I recently found out that animals could get IBD - a co-worker of mine said her dog has IBD and she gives the dog prednisone every day! She said it's an older dog so they're just trying to keep him comfortable at this point. Poor thing, but at least it gets pred and doesn't have to suffer too much.

 

[Rebecca85]

Just imagined my dog on Pred- nooooo! He acts like he's on it anyway! Luckily Misty is 4 years old or thereabouts- the prime of her life really- and apart from her bowel symptoms she seems healthy enough. So I'm sure whatever it turns out to be, she'll be OK!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I did a quick google search and it looks like 4 dog years is about 32 in human years. (Although I thought that it was 7 human years for each dog year, so wouldn't that be 28?) Seems like that's a common age - 20s and 30s - that humans get diagnosed, so that makes sense that a dog would start having symptoms around the same age. I hope the dog gets a quick diagnosis (do they do dog colonoscopies?) and can get on pred or whatever other doggie treatment they can offer her.

 

[Rebecca85]

It is roughly 7 dog years per human year, but a dog matures more quickly when younger, and then it slows down a bit, making it an average of 7. For example, a puppy matures around age 2, so that's equivalent to 18 in a human. Also you have to take the breed into account as bigger breeds mature slower (can be around 3 before they're physically mature) but suffer the effects of aging earlier. Misty is an Old English Sheepdog (Dulux dog) so she's really about my age (25). Her first test was a stool sample as it's least invasive. Then blood tests, then mri. Not sure about colonoscopues, and I don't fancy trying to prep a dog!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Ha ha, I wonder if they make dogfood flavored go-lytely! Yuck!

When do you find out the stool sample results? I remember back when my cat was yowling in pain while going to the bathroom, I found out her urine sample results the same day (she had crystals in her bladder which were about to turn into stones and were giving her some pain as she was passing them, poor thing - we put her on special food and she's fine now).

 

[Rebecca85]

My mum didn't say, up to a couple of weeks I think, because it has to be sent off to a lab, but they will ring my mum when they get them, and I presume she will let me know ASAP.

And I bet dogfood flavoured prep tastes better than the regular stuff (well it can't taste worse can it?)

 

[Misty-Eyed]

My best friend's dog had IBD. I was shocked when I found out too.

I hope she gets better though!

 

[jkd1111]

I had a cat that had it...we shared my flagyl...told the vet it was cheaper for me to do this than to buy from him The cat never used enough to interrupt my refills....Thank goodness the insurance never found out!

 

[Rebecca85]

Have to admit, that did occur to me, as I have a large emergency supply of Pred in my cupboard! Unfortunately I am guessing Misty would need quite a large dose of Pentasa or aza, so I would be refilling too often.

 

[Rebecca85]

Well mum got the latest test results back (my mistake, they already did the stool test and it was clear, this was a blood test). And the vet says Misty's the healthiest dog they've ever seen!!! Every last tesult was smack bang in the middle of normal. All the vets at the practice are stumped. So they've given her some lomotil to stop the diarrhoea, and a 'sensitive stomach' diet to see if maybe she has developed an intolerance to her normal food. If that doesn't work, next step is a barium meal and Xray. Normally they would only do that for suspected blockages, but they're now just trying everything!

 

[xoxava]

i found this very interesting and sad! i had no idea that animals could have IBD. i hope they find out what is wrong and the dog doesnt have to suffer.

 

[tummygirl]

Just imagined my dog on Pred- nooooo! He acts like he's on it anyway! Luckily Misty is 4 years old or thereabouts- the prime of her life really- and apart from her bowel symptoms she seems healthy enough. So I'm sure whatever it turns out to be, she'll be OK!

Being a dog on pred wouldn't be so bad.... you probably wouldn't notice the additional facial hair and big cheeks would just make a puppy cuter :lol2:

 

[Rebecca85]

Well, the special diet and Lomotil didn't work, so they're planning a barium x-ray soon. And yes, you wouldn't notice the physical side effects from Pred, but Misty has a large appetite anyway, so I'd hate to see her with pred munchies! But then she could stand to gain a few pounds.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Aww poor Misty! I hope your mum has good pet insurance, Rebecca. lol

 

[RedReiner]

check repeatedly for coccidia and Giardia, both can be present but not shedding cells for a fecal exam, IBD is possible, pancreatitis also presents as bloody D in a dog. some breeds are more prone to IBD than others, I have a boxer that has IBD due to untreated Coccidia infection for the first year of her life. caused much scar tissue and damage to GI tract. careful diet with NO change ever, as in no people food or treats keeps her almost normal.