** I need Help/Advice.. Fast **

[hstarr]

First off we adopted a beautiful AKC Seal Boxer back in Feb. of this year... She was slightly thin with small amounts of blood in her stool. We went ahead and wormed her... But she continously got worse...

We carried her to our vet and was told she was positive for coccidia, they then treated her with albon. After the treatment, It got to the point where her stool was nothing but blood.

We took her to another vet. She pooped on their floor and the vet came around the corner and immediately wanted to test for Parvo... which came back negative. They tested her again for coccidia and then for Giardia... in which she was negative for the coccida but positive for the giardia... They also said besides the Giardia she was parasite free... This was back in March and she weighed in at 34lbs at almost 9mths old... They started Metronidazole.

We got a little improvement after the treatment, went from blood to cow patty like stool, they weighed her again at her checkup and she weighed 37lbs. We thought it was getting better until the bloody stool came back...

So they treated her again with metronidazole and Panacur. No changes... We carried her to the vet last week and had a full blood panel done and re-tested for giardia. She now weighs 33lbs at over a year old. Everything came back clean except for hook-worms and she was really anemic...... So they wanted to put her on Pancur and antibiotics...

Lilly has not eaten since sunday... she looks awful. We have ruled out allergies as we have went to grain free and chicken free foods... We were feeding her Wellness Core which she loved but no improvement... She is literally starving to death... she's weak... and just walks around. She has recently started throwing up flem...

We dont know what else to do for her... after over $1500 in vet bills and no answers... Im not sure how much more our pocket book can take..or how much more her body can take... We have called 2 other vets and they want to run their own test....

I dont know how much longer i can let her suffer... there's gotta be something causing this.. but what... any ideas?

If we cant figure out something fast.... We have to do the right thing for her and have her put down... I want that to be my last resort though... we love her dearly and up until this weekend she has been a loveable happy dog that was just skinny with abnormal stools...

 

[Disneygal]

Sending best wishes

I'm so sorry you are going thru this. Unfortunately I don't have any knowledge or advice to offer you. I wanted to let you know we all care and understand what your going thru. It is awful to see our pets sick and not know what it is or how to make them better. You are doing all you can. Here's hoping your pup takes a turn for the better soon. If you do need to put your pup down it will be out of love.

Sincerely,
Terri

 

[Gatorblu]

We have ruled out allergies as we have went to grain free and chicken free foods... We were feeding her Wellness Core which she loved but no improvement...

Is there a reason you believe she is allergic to chicken? Have you tried feeding her boiled chicken and potatoes (or sweet potatoes)? Some people use rice but since your pup has been on a grain free diet I don't recomend that. Thor was having issues and this is what brought him back around. Does your pup seem to be in any pain?

I wish you luck in finding out what is wrong. We're sending healthy ((vibes)) your way!

 

[darwinsmom]

I'm not sure if this really fits the symptoms of blood in the stool but I read about a pancreatic disorder that prevents dogs from being able to digest their food, which obviously causes severe malnutrition and wasting away. It's called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. It is treatable by replacing the necessary enzymes.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (Maldigestion Disorder) in Dogs

 

[Darbysmom1]

Colitis?

It could be so many things, you are in a very bad position and I feel for you. It is always a hard choice between putting the dog down because they are in pain and suffering and not giving up on them. Only you can make that choice good luck..
It sounds familiar to Colitis but I am sure the vet would recognize this. Good luck.

 

[hstarr]

No allergies that we know of...

We changed her diet, to rule out the possibilty of an allergy.... after taking her off chicken, trying salmon., and getting rid of the grains... nothing helped... so obviously it's not the food affecting her....

We called the vet again today to talk about putting her down... and the only thing they could say was "would we be wiling to surrender her to them". Now why in the world would I surrender her, when they are the one's getting paid to get her better and they havent....

We decided to go ahead and try again... and treat with the Panacur and antibiotics... as well as put her on Hill's IR Prescription food.... However after attempting to feed her this evening I'm not sure how much longer her body can hang on... She is normally a happy dog that is jumping everywhere... typical boxer... however today she will hardly get up to greet you and food is unapealing to her so I couldnt get the Panacur granules down her... I had to get the liquid out and force it down her...

Her RBC, HGC, & HCT, platelet levels are low along with her Albumin and Chrloride Levels... Im beginning to think Inflammitory bowel Disease... But why havent they....

If she makes it through the night I'm going to have a Fit at the vet's office...

Thanks!

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

I'd recommend what the other poster said about chicken (or lean ground beef) and sweet potatoes however I'd also add in an acidophilus capsule twice a day (I'd recommend feeding 4-5 small meals a day for awhile) and trying some ProZyme in with the food as well and seeing if you can get anywhere. I'd absolutely take her off of dog food IMMEDIATELY it is extremely hard on the stomach and way too many ingredients to know if she's allergic to something. My boy has severe food allergies but is fine with chicken but there's no way he could eat Wellness Core he'd end up with horrible bloody diarrhea too. So I'd definitely go with a 2 ingredient homecooked (easy to digest) food along with the acidophilus (good bacteria in yogurt to help regulate the bacteria in the gut) capsules (you can open them and springle it on the food so she doesn't have to deal with a pill) and I'd add some psyllium as well (you can get it online at puritansale or you can check a health food store, it's Yerba Prima brand and whole husk psyllium, 1 heaping tsp 2 times a day should be sufficient).

 

[EAO76]

This is actually quite common in Boxers. It sounds like she may have HUC and the worms definitely exacerbate this condition. Before putting her down I'd try Baytril & an Rx diet (we've had very good luck with Royal Canin HP 19...the ingredients aren't great but it should just be temporarily until she gets straightened out). The Baytril is the most important part of the tretment. Also its sometimes combined with Clavomox and Metronidizole. And it needs to be given long term (some dogs need it up to 6 or 8weeks). Hopefully these two post will help you

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/do...s/148154-chronic-bloody-diarrhea-colitis.html

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/dog-health-issues-questions/150787-huc.html

 

[SherylM]

It sounds to me like HUC. My Lucy had HUC and the symptoms you describe are exactly what she had. We changed her to a raw diet, she eats Sojo's Complete dehydrated raw and she had an 8 week course of Baytril and Metronizadol (sp) and she has been great ever since. A lot of vets don't know about HUC and the treatment protocol. My vet did not and I did my own research and then brought it to her attention. She was very quick to act and prescribe the medication and thank heavens she did because we had just about given up on Lucy and thought perhaps she would have to be let go as well. Good luck with your baby.

 

[TossBranAbi]

I agree with what the others said about HUC, hopefully you can find out what is going on so that she can become a happy boxer again.

My immediate concern is that if she isn't eating or drinking, her blood sugar is low and she could be dehydrated? When their blood sugar drops, they can get very weak.

Have you talked to the vet about that? I know for s/n surgeries, we give the animals some Karo syrup to help bring their blood sugar level up and it is amazing what it can do for them. For a cat, we just put some on a q-tp and place it on their gums, under the lip.

I am hoping and praying that she will be ok and that you can find the culprit and treat it.

I am guessing the vet asked if you would surrender her because they think she can be healed and you aren't willing to spend the money to do so? I would have a talk with them and get the story straight without flipping out on them, that won't help anything.