anyone else gone through this? Advice? I’ll take my dog to the vets tomorrow for a final xray of the barim pills ( did sucessive x-rays of the pills all day today) and we’ll decide tomorrow to go for a scope and then surgery… or straight to surgery. X-rasy do not show a foreign object. Showed the pills piling up in the stomach then moving along, then a shadow of barium left behind int he stomach, and gas pockets that appear to be moving along…
no this is not a lab…
Oh so sorry to hear about your boy!
I worked for a vet who did this surgery quite often, you’d be amazed at what turns up in a dog’s stomach! :eek: In fact in some cases he has had to do it multiple times. He didn’t have the equipment to scope so if xrays and symptoms pointed to an obstruction, he did the surgery, and he was pretty much always right in doing so.
The good news is they seem to recover really well. The bad news is that a lot of dogs are repeat offenders!
Good luck and hope your boy is feeling better soon.
I haven’t had to have surgery yet, but I know it’s in the forecast with the way my boy eats things. I can tell you that I have seen many a dog(and cat!) that have had to go through the surgery, and while it is a major surgery, most recover just fine. The ones who do not do well after surgery are cases where the intestines are compromised from the offending object trying to force it’s way through.
I wouldn’t get too worked up until you see the films tommorow, as a shadow of barium left behind for a while can be totally normal. And in some cases, the barium itself seems to be almost theraputic, in that while there is no evidence of a GI foreign body, the symptoms resolve after doing the barium series.
Hope tommorow’s x-ray shows everything moving along normally!
Katherine
Vet Tech
If it’s not a lab, it must be a corgi! In my experience, the surgery works well; however, it’s certainly not cheap. Unfortunately, one of our corgis had the surgery twice, once for a peach pit and once for a pecan in the shell. There weren’t even any breaks in or marks on the shell. He just swallowed the whole thing! It was still in perfect condition!!
Good luck, and here’s hoping the surgery isn’t needed.
I wish it were black and white…
my girl is 2.5 yo and so far this has never been an issue… ie she’s not one to eat non-food items. And I’ve had her sicne she was a puppy. Up til now she’s only ingested some tissue and ear plugs…
she has a hisory of tummy issues though, that’s where we started when this whole thing cropped up. For 2 weeks she had been vomiting every other day. if that often. So not frequently. And she was getting sick 3-4 hours after a meal. I took her to the vet and they found a high ammount of a C-somthing bacteria in her gut… Because the dog has a history of coccidia/giardia/colitis the vet prescribed an antibiotic… m-something that is often used to treat giardia… along with an anit-vomiting med C-somthing. But after the meds were prescribed she’s been vomiting almost everything… BUT some food has stayed down and resulted in normal stool… although that sample went out for testing and results come back tomorrow.
SO that why we did the barium today.
I have seen the xrays and am not convinced… BUT I suppose if the object were a sock or a fabric item then it wouldn’t show up as a definite form on the x-ray would it? I just wish it were black and white… I see an outline of say my daughters toy in the x-ray and so I know that it’s time for surgery. I’m scared that they will open her up and find nothing… and we’re back to square one treating GI issues AND a surgery to recover from…
[QUOTE=incentive;5914953]
If it’s not a lab, it must be a corgi! [/QUOTE]
Standard Schnauzer
thanks for the good wishes. we’ll know more tomorrow I guess. I want to move on this fast and not let it get any worse, but also hate to jump the gun and open her up if we dont’ need to. I guess I’ll just have to go with what the vets says and trust my gut. She will view the up to date x-rays and consult with me. The vet doesn’t have a scope, and isn’t avaliable for surgery tomorrow. For the scope I’d have to go to the loal emergi clinic. They also have 2 surgens on staff… SO I guess if I need this to heppen tomorrow I’s try to get her scoped at the emergi clinic and then go to surgery there if they find an object…After all she will be under anesthesia for the scope, I suppose they could move straight to surgery if they had to… will have to ask.
We’ve done the surgery on my dog twice (yes, he’s a lab!) and have played the ‘wait and see’ game more times than I can count.
In my dog’s case, the surgery has always gone smoothly, as has the recovery. He’s had some slight digestive problems ever since, but I’m not sure if they were the result of either surgeries or not. He had the first surgery after being home from the pound for less than a month, so I didn’t have much time to learn what was ‘normal’ for him.
I hope your dog recovers from whatever is bothering her soon. It’s so hard to worry about them!
Clostridia, metronidazole and cerenia?
Good luck! I’ve played the waiting game and have come out on the “no surgery” side every time, but I think it’s just been luck of the draw. I hope everything resolves with a minimum of fuss and complications.
I have a 13 year old treeing walker/foxhound who is about a month post surgery! My dog spent an evening hurling and I took her to the emerg vet for what was initially diagnosed as pancreatitis. They did an ultrasound and found a piece of fabric/rug. They opened my dog up for surgery, but were able to manipulate the material back into the stomach and pull it out her mouth. She’s fine now, although she’s finally decided that she could perhaps scale back her life to a part-time retirement status. She’s always taken life too seriously, so this is a good thing for everyone. I think my pocketbook has suffered the most. Good luck with your dog!
am waiting. Gaaa… have got phone message from vet. She said all bloodwork is normal, still waiting for results from fecal to come back in, x-rays from this am show that the barium has passed out of the stomach to the colon. The colon looks lumpy and the gas patterns have changed, so she thinks that there is no obstruction. But my vet is emailing all images and info to local emergi vet clinic to get a second opinion and make sure that they don’t see anything either… and I’m waiting to hear back from them.
So if no operation then what was causing the vomiting for past 2 weeks and the sudden downturn after Friday pm??? GI issues then??
local emergi clinic has 2 well regarded surgens on staff and the only endoscope… So if the dog needed a scope we’d go to them… my vet can operate (but not today) However if we put her under for the scope at the emergi clinic AND they saw somethign worth going in after I’d just as soon go ahead and have them performt he surgery since the dog is already under… no need to put her under at the e-clinic for a scope then move her to my vets and out her under a second time for the surgery…
Arrgghhh. I’ve basiclly stopped normal activity for the day so that I can be near the phone…
[QUOTE=Simkie;5915029]
Clostridia, metronidazole and cerenia?[/QUOTE]
I think, yes and yes.
Did you spay her? If so, I wouldnt be more concerned regarding surgery for an ex lap! If theres nothing there, your dog should be up and attem’ in no time. If there is something there - well, hopefully you have then fixed her!
My preferance would be ultrasound (by someone good…as its a dynamic study). You will be able to see plication, irritation, IBD/Lymphoma guts, etc. Then, if warranted, a scope for biopsies. If a FB or mass is seen through U/S, then go to surgery. I’d always start with a non-invasive ultrasound first though, that rarely even needs sedation!
Thanks SquishTheBunny
So far there has been no mention of u/s. But now I wish I had mentioned it today. I was fried. I’ll ask when I call in to touch base tomorrow…
results from today; emergi vets agree with my vet that there is no foreign object, no need to scope or surgery right now. But the colon looks odd, by that I mean it is distended in bumps looks like a bloated pearl necklace is in there. Vet says x-ray can not diagnose IBS…but that’s what she’s leaning towards… she sent me home with a bag of hypoallergenic kibble and canned food AND different anti-vomiting meds (metoclopramide) and Panacur. Schnauzer’s had a positive Eliza for Giardia ever since this summer… she had Giardia as one year old and we treated with Metronidazole… that was 1.5 yo. Yearly fecals showed a positive Eliza but vet said current theory was to not treat for a positive Eliza and no cycts in the fecal. If the dog is healthy then no need to treat. BUT since the dog is now vomiting, vets says cover your bases and treat with Panacur starting on Thursday… assuming all the food stays down and she’s better by then.
I had asked how to accurately diagnose IBS and vet had said scope/biopsy. I never thought to ask why not u/s. But vet said lets treat for IBS by diet change and see what we get and to call in every day and give the vet a progress report.
I hate this food, and hope it’s only short term. Seriously the ingrediant list is appalling and I’m not a fan of Purina and Science Diet. But I trust the vet and will try this out for at least a short while and see what it nets. And I’m crossing my fingers that I get lucky and the dog passes a funny long pearl necklace item that will explain the vomiting! and we can go back to chicken, sweet potato for training treats and TOTW food.
thanks everyone!
Good luck, and let us know how it goes.
The good news? other than no surgery, is that there are LOTS of diets that can work for IBD dogs! INcluding Nautral Balance LID, Royal Canin, TOTW, Wellness CORE, Acana, Timberwolf, etc! So if that winds up being the definitive diagnosis the good news is you’re not stuck with Science Diet forever!
Panacur also has a mild antiimflammatory affect on the gut, so it can also help calm down IBD, along with metronidazole(Flagyl) which can help too. Other things to consider are running an Texas A&M GI panel, Vitamin B-12 injections and steriods, esp Budesonide which works locally with less side effects.
Hope your pup is feeling back up to par in no time!!
Katherine
Vet Tech
[QUOTE=Horsegal984;5916822]
So if that winds up being the definitive diagnosis the good news is you’re not stuck with Science Diet forever!
WOOT. Am so not a fan of SD.
Panacur also has a mild antiimflammatory affect on the gut, so it can also help calm down IBD, along with metronidazole(Flagyl)[/QUOTE]
no longer doing the Metronidazole. Even though this dog had taken it a year ago with no ill effects… it seemed that everytime I gave her this med she vomited immediatly. So we are avoinding it and using the Panacur instead.
So far what I fed her tonite has stayed down. Which makes me super happy!! despite the fact that what I fed her resembled styrofoam more than it did kibble.
ugh, dog vomited all dinner up last night around midnight. SO about 6 hours after her meal. Sucks. might be scoping her after all. I still hate this hypoallergenit all vergitarian food. She has loads of energy and is bouncing off the walls (sicne we’ve not resumed our normal exercise routine) and she’s SUPER interested in her food… she’s always been a food hound but now it’s like she’s really hungary.
Reading your posts made me think of what I went through with one of my dogs - he was vomiting up everything - took him to vet, had bloodwork, which turned out normal. X-rays, temp were normal. At first he had his appetite and energy, but that declined. Repeated trips back to vet - each one ending in her telling me she couldn’t find anything wrong… meanwhile my dog kept losing weight, started becoming disinterested in food, very lethargic… I took him to another vet - a dog internist, who did an ultrasound - within minutes she had it - Intussusception. I cried I was so relieved that we FINALLY knew what it was. She operated immediately and took out about 2 ft. of small intestine.
Not saying this is what’s up with your dog, but it’s something else you may consider ruling out.
I hope you can get diagnosis soon - very worrisome just not knowing.
I still wouldnt rule out a foreign body - sometimes partially obstructive linear FB’s can fool us on radiographs.
Ultrasound is your next cheapest, and a decent diagnostic tool for what you are looking for. If your vet doesnt have one, please ask for a referral for one. Its the best non-invasive step you could use.
Any diarrhea, or just vomiting?
Id still be leary of a Foreign body,Lymphoma, Perforations, Pancreatitis or Intessusception (sp) if there is no diarrhea…IBD/Lymphoma is often seen with diarrhea… all something that should be seen by agood radiologist/internist through ultrasound.
Helicobactor anyone??
no Diarreha… This dog has a history of occasional loose stools but never as loose as a cow pies. Sorry if TMI but I figure horse people can appreciate a good poo. Anyway her stool pretty much normal, a couple were loose but still nothign I would call diarreha. Past few days totally good.
So she tossed up only a small fraction of what she ate last night, again at around 11pm so a good 4 hrs after her last meal. SHe’d getting fed 3 meals ( a little less thtn 1/2 cup kibble and 1/5 cup canned) a day plus a frozen kong (1/3 a meal) and a 1/4 cup kibble as training treats…
Phone consult with vet has her thinking we aren’t in an emergency situtation right now… She is leaning towards Helicobactor. but she’s hoping that I’ll take the dog to a GI specialist in Leesburg Va (I’m about 2 hrs away) She says that there are other internal medicine people closer who can scope, but their specialty is not GI issues. Helicobactor is a noramally accuring bacteri in the gut but out of wack causes gastrc ulcers. (I htink I got that right) treatment is 3 weeks of antibiotics and some antacids. Diagnosis is by scoping and biopsy. BUT HOW do they know if the Helicobactor is causing the GI issues or if it’s just normal levels in the dogs gut???
I totally forgot to ask about u/s again! I was on the phone in heavy Friday traffic. Bad idea I know but only free time i had today.
Leesburg means all day trip for me, and I’d have to pull my daughter from pre-school and take her with me… my idea of hell b/c she wont last 2 hrs in a car, 1 hr or more in a vet clinic and then be totally quiet while I have a serious conversation with the vet. More like she’ll be doing something unsafe hoping to distract me and get my attention…
I really do like the idea of seeing a GI specialist though. It would be nice to get to the bottom of this and not putz around.
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