Lack of Energy

[Kysha]

Thanks Andi and Stephanie.

We are seeing a certified cardiaologist hopefully in the next 10 days. We will know alot more after the ultrasound. I am also going to have an ecg done too. Money is no issue until we find out exactly what is going and how we are going to treat it.

The vet I go to is a conventional vet but he is VERY open minded and educated about diet and other options to treating illnesses more naturally. I really do trust him.

I did go out and buy some freeze dried liver - thanks for the suggestion. I am going out today to buy all the kinds of liver I can find to see what he will eat. I have also increase the amount of red meat he gets in his diet.

Since he won't eat his veggies at all it's going to be hard to increase and darl leafy greens :(

As for the garlic poisonig, I don't think it's that because he hasn't eaten his veggies for almost a month, and in the meantime Tegan has been eating them with no problem. Perhaps the next batch I make I will remove the garlic and see if that helps him to eat them... I have to find SOMEHOW to get the veggies into him. He obviously needs them.

I think I was quick to blame the diet and take on the guilt. I will keep the diet as status quo and do some research about what to add and avoid for an anemic dog. We are having his blodd tested in another 4 weeks so if things don't improve by then I will think about the premade barf before kibble.

Thanks for your support during this stressfull and emotional time.

 

[myrocky]

Stephanie makes meatballs so what if you used that approach? Take some of the veggie mush and mix it with some ground beef (more beef than veggies and you could try adding the liver too) and make a "meatball" out of it? Maybe he will think its a new treat. I also froze some mush in Rocks' kong when he wasn't eating it, and he ate it that way. :p

Do you add cottage cheese to the meal when you feed it? That also gets Rocks to eat, and some grated parm cheese helps too. LOL I have found that Rocky will not eat his mush if there is even a hint of bitter in it. So no endive, kale, dandilion greens, mustard greens, collards.... for him. Good luck! And I will try and keep thinking of stuff for the mush.

Andie

 

[Kysha]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have tried to 'hide' his veggies in his meat meals or lightly spread over his RMB's, but the is NO way he will eat the stuff. I usually would mix his veggie mush with his offal, yogurt, eggs, or meat. But now he's not eating he veggies or offal.

I went out today and bought some premade BARF, Home Made 4 Life (www.homemade4life.com). He ate that with enthusiasm this morning!

If he eats this pre-made stuff - I would rather feed him the premade than kibble...

We have an appointment for next week (Wednesday) with the cardiologist for the ultrasound on his heart. I will keep you all posted.

Thanks again for everyone's support. It really means alot during this difficult time.

 

[myrocky]

Oh that is good news that he will eat the premade stuff! :appicon: Let's hope he keeps that going! How is his activity level now, has he gotten a little more energy? (hugs to you both)

Andie

 

[Aimee]

Originally posted by Kysha
The vet heard a grade 3 heart murmer (on a scale of 6). They have NEVER heard this in him before today. They took some blood and urine, and this is what they found:
- Owen is anemic. He has a low red blood cell count. This is probably the reason he has no energy and it could be the underlining cause of his murmer. They have suggested we do a new cell injection, and then put him onto a good quality multi vitamin for dogs.

- The urine test came back a little low on the Specific Gravity rating. They want to run this test again with morning pee - we will do that next week.

- The creatin (sp?) enzyme level from his kidneys are slightly elevated. We are going to keep an eye on this and treat the anemia first and then retest everything in 4 weeks.

Does anyone have experience with any of the above?

Our experience with anemia and murmurs comes from a foster I had earlier this year. He was seen at the vets and diagnosed with a grade 3 valvular murmur. After running bloodwork, we found him to be anemic. Once we got his anemia under control, his murmur dissipated. We contacted a cardiologist in regards to these findings and they did not recommend seeing him "immediately". Fortunantly for Logan at his last check up, his new mommy and daddy report his ticker is still doing great so he doesn't need to visit the cardiologist! We keep paws crossed this is a similar scenario for Owen.

Our experience with elevated creatinine comes from Garrett who passed on to the bridge in 2000 due to heart failure. How was Owen's BUN on his blood work (blood urea nitrogen)? Typically when testing for kidney function, both the BUN and creatinine are done together because they provide different information. However, the creatinine is the more specific test for kidney function. If your vet did a superchem, both readings will be on the bloodwork. Is your vet concerned about decreased function of the kidneys? Chronic kidney problems can lead to anemia so I was curious what your vets take was on his level. Has Owen exhibited any signs of kidney disease? Garrett had chronic renal failure for the last year or so before his little ticker gave out and he quite often became anemic prior to us getting his condition under control. We adopted Garrett as a senior who had been severely neglected therefore his kidney disease progressed to failure rapidly. Kidney disease is much more manageable when caught in the earlier phases. We did consult a nephrologist with Garrett's condition and he stated that one of the main problems with kidney disease is that typically by the time you see results of it on bloodwork, a large portion of the kidneys have already been affected. Hopefully the results in 4 weeks will show an improvement! I don't mean to scare you, I just hope that maybe our experiences can help you to discover the roots to Owens troubles. I, like you it seems, tend to feel more comfortable when I have a better understanding of what could be.

Please keep us posted, we have paws crossed here for you!

 

[Kysha]

Originally posted by Aimee
Once we got his anemia under control, his murmur dissipated.

Glad to hear this worked out - I too am hoping that one the anemia is under control the heart murmur will be OK. How did you get the anemia under control? We still don't know the cause of the anemia at this point...

How was Owen's BUN on his blood work (blood urea nitrogen)?

I don't know. I am going in today so I will find out.

Typically when testing for kidney function, both the BUN and creatinine are done together because they provide different information. However, the creatinine is the more specific test for kidney function. If your vet did a superchem, both readings will be on the bloodwork. Is your vet concerned about decreased function of the kidneys? Chronic kidney problems can lead to anemia so I was curious what your vets take was on his level. Has Owen exhibited any signs of kidney disease? [/QUOTE]

Right now we are looking at everything and not ruling anything our. I know that the vet did a FULL blood screen and urine test. I think I will need to ask more quesitons!

His energy level still continues to drop. His breathing is more shallow today. Last night his has a small head tremor (very scary). He won't eat this morning at all :( I am taking in another urine sample and will talk with the vet again.

We are trying to get in to see the cardiologist on the 23rd (that's so far from today).

What are the signs for kidney disease?

 

[myrocky]

Originally posted by Kysha
His energy level still continues to drop. His breathing is more shallow today. Last night his has a small head tremor (very scary). He won't eat this morning at all :( I am taking in another urine sample and will talk with the vet again.

We are trying to get in to see the cardiologist on the 23rd (that's so far from today).

What are the signs for kidney disease?

Oh Kysha, please hang in there. I know this is such a scary time right now and I so wish that we could do more for you. :(

Kidney diease signs, consist of more water intake and more peeing. Owen would be drinking all the time or wanting to drink all the time, and he would be peeing a great deal. Check his gums and see if they still look pink. Touch them to see if they are still moist and if your finger leaves a mark. If his gums look pale or grey and your finger doesn't leave a mark, he could be dehydrated. You could also pull the skin up on the back of his neck and see if snaps back into place quickly. If not that is also a sign of dehydration.

If you think he is dehydrated call your vet because he might need to get some fluids. I would give your vet a ring today anyway since Owen seems to be having a really bad day. Please let us know what you find out.

 

[Kysha]

Thanks Andie.

It is so scary and upsetting when they are sick.

His gums are pale for sure, but that we think is due to the anemia.

He has been drinkning a little bit less than normal for the past few days. He still does drink. He pees less too - but that could be because he's drinking less...

There are SO many unknowns right now. I wish I knew exactly what we are dealing with. We are going back into the vet this afternoon. Is there anything that I should be asking for in particular?

 

[Aimee]

Originally posted by Kysha
What are the signs of kidney disease?

Garrett's symptoms were decreased exercise, weight loss, loss of appetite, and pale gums. He did not actually have urinary problems until he began the failure process. Garrett got anemic quickly and dehyrdated quickly. In the end, we were doing fluids every other day with him.

We got Logan's anemia under control by first treating an infestation of hookworms that he had and then by supplementing him with Vitamins that came in powdered form from the vet. We sprinkled this onto his food.

Stay strong Kysha, we're here in any way that you need us. As for the head tremors, this is not uncommon if he is extremely anemic. I know how scary this can be, the first time Garrett had it we thought he was having a seizure or a stroke. (((HUGS))) to both of you. Please keep us posted on what the vet has to say.

 

[Kysha]

Thanks Aimee. It's so nice to have the support!

Garrett's symptom's sound just like Owen :( I will be taking in some morning pee with me and that way we will be able to look at the concentrated level and make a better dertmination.

Owen just had another episode of head tremors (about half an hour ago). He doesn't seem to 'go out of it' and has some control while his head is shaking. If I touch him he will stop shaking but then start up again when I remove my hand from his head.

The vet is available this afternoon (around 2pm) so I will finish up work and then take him in. I work from home, so I am able to keep a close eye on him. He is right now resting beside me on his blanket.

I will for sure let you guys know what they say.

To make things even worse, my regular vet is on vacation this week :( The vet we are seeing works at the clinic, but I would feel much better if MY vet was looking after us.