Barron's mom
Completely Boxer Crazy
It's so frustrating not to know what is wrong. Sending healing vibes your way, as well.
Sick 8 year old Boxer
- Thread starter Kysha
- Start date
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Mama_Zookeeper
Boxer Insane
We do a quite a bit of sardines and my guys love the albacore tuna as well. I hope Tegan is felling better soon. Give her lots of kisses from me lovicon
Dora & the Zoo Crew
Dora & the Zoo Crew
Kysha
Completely Boxer Crazy
Jan said:Kysha, I sure hope you figure out what Tegan's problem is.I'm not sure what the best thing to supplement her diet with as regards to calcium. Canned sardines and salmon would certainly help. You could also try giving her ground up egg shells. Have you considered consulting a Holistic Vet. They may better be able to advise you on how to supplement her diet when you can't give her RMB's.
I'm sending positive healing vibes your way!
Thanks for the suggestions. I have increased her canned sardines and salmon. She is also getting lots of raw eggs and shell with her meals.
I have not looked into a holistic vet yet. I have had great success with my traditional vet and I am hesitant to switch to be honest. He is the "Boxer Expert" and although he is not a holistice vet, he does believe in limited vaccinations (no vaccinations in my case), and it for BARF,... I will however consider looking into a holistic vet - thanks.
Tegan is not repsonding to the the meds that we are on and will be going back in on Wednesday for a check-up and the next step!
MizBev
Boxer Insane
Kysha,
I just found this thread, and I am very sorry to hear that Tegan is not doing well. You know how I feel about those dogs of yours. I hope that they do find the cause of this and that she is able to get some much needed relief. My Five girl is going on 9 and she is having similar problems but not to Tegan's extent. Five and I will send all of our strongest healing vibes to Tegan....and strength vibes to you, Kysha.
Bev
I just found this thread, and I am very sorry to hear that Tegan is not doing well. You know how I feel about those dogs of yours. I hope that they do find the cause of this and that she is able to get some much needed relief. My Five girl is going on 9 and she is having similar problems but not to Tegan's extent. Five and I will send all of our strongest healing vibes to Tegan....and strength vibes to you, Kysha.
Bev
Jazz&Thumper
Boxer Pal
Thumper had the same thing
One of my dogs had really thin, runny bloody diahhrea (sp) they finally treated her for giardia and she cleared up in a matter of days. She also couldn't go through the night without having to be let out 3-4 times. She'd had the runs off & on since she was a puppy, she'll be 2 in October. It would get a little better but never fully go away. They finally gave her methadisone (sp) I will check the spelling and send the correct name. It was a really cheap medicine and fixed my baby right up. It's worth a try. We had tried lots of stuff and she spent 5 days at the vets and they couldn't figure it out. They were thinking IBS. she has been great for about 3 months now. Still a thin dog, but she has to feel so much better. So Thumper sends a big boxer kiss to Tegan and hopes he feels better soon. Hang in there and don't lose hope!!!
Steph
One of my dogs had really thin, runny bloody diahhrea (sp) they finally treated her for giardia and she cleared up in a matter of days. She also couldn't go through the night without having to be let out 3-4 times. She'd had the runs off & on since she was a puppy, she'll be 2 in October. It would get a little better but never fully go away. They finally gave her methadisone (sp) I will check the spelling and send the correct name. It was a really cheap medicine and fixed my baby right up. It's worth a try. We had tried lots of stuff and she spent 5 days at the vets and they couldn't figure it out. They were thinking IBS. she has been great for about 3 months now. Still a thin dog, but she has to feel so much better. So Thumper sends a big boxer kiss to Tegan and hopes he feels better soon. Hang in there and don't lose hope!!!
Steph
Jazz&Thumper
Boxer Pal
Name of medication to try
OK, so I wasn't even close on the name of the prescription they gave Thumper. It is Metronidazole 250 mg. they also gave her some prednisone for a while. Like I said she has been great since the middle of April. Hope this helps and good luck!!! NO medication since that time.
OK, so I wasn't even close on the name of the prescription they gave Thumper. It is Metronidazole 250 mg. they also gave her some prednisone for a while. Like I said she has been great since the middle of April. Hope this helps and good luck!!! NO medication since that time.
sportygirl
Banned
Just found this thread and have to share with you a couple of things. Please start putting DDS Acidophilus Bifidus in her diet. 1 Capsule per feeding to help balance her intestinal flora. Also, her system is stressed and very vulnerable to any outside bacteria so get her off the raw diet. I only say this because our vet/acupuncturist suggested the same thing for when Georgie was ill.
Calendula & Yarrow flower tea made by mixing 1/2 tsp Calendula with 1/8 tsp Yarrow into 1 cup boiling water, steeped 20 minutes and cooled. Using 1-3 tsp. daily for up to 1 week helps stop bloody diarrhea and soothe membranes.
Also, check out the thread in the recipe section with quinoa. This diet with no kibble should help both dogs. But use beef. Rice is really tough for them to digest for some reason. Pumpkin will also give them the runs.
Just came across another option: Intestinal Healing Gruel
1 C low-sodium chicken broth or water
3 Tblsp dried marshmallow root (or 2 Tbsp powder)
3 Tbsp slippery elm bark
1 Tbsp dried meadowsweet leaves or 1/2 tsp powder
Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan, cover, and simmer over low heat for 2o minutes, taking care to replace the broth or water to the original level if there is evaporation. Remove from heat, uncover and let cool and sit for about 6 hours. The tea should be slimy because it's consistency with act like an intestinal band aid. Give 1 Tbsp per 25 pounds. The tea will last for 1 week in the frig.
Good luck in getting your little girl happy and healthy again. We send healing vibes your way.
Kara
Calendula & Yarrow flower tea made by mixing 1/2 tsp Calendula with 1/8 tsp Yarrow into 1 cup boiling water, steeped 20 minutes and cooled. Using 1-3 tsp. daily for up to 1 week helps stop bloody diarrhea and soothe membranes.
Also, check out the thread in the recipe section with quinoa. This diet with no kibble should help both dogs. But use beef. Rice is really tough for them to digest for some reason. Pumpkin will also give them the runs.
Just came across another option: Intestinal Healing Gruel
1 C low-sodium chicken broth or water
3 Tblsp dried marshmallow root (or 2 Tbsp powder)
3 Tbsp slippery elm bark
1 Tbsp dried meadowsweet leaves or 1/2 tsp powder
Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan, cover, and simmer over low heat for 2o minutes, taking care to replace the broth or water to the original level if there is evaporation. Remove from heat, uncover and let cool and sit for about 6 hours. The tea should be slimy because it's consistency with act like an intestinal band aid. Give 1 Tbsp per 25 pounds. The tea will last for 1 week in the frig.
Good luck in getting your little girl happy and healthy again. We send healing vibes your way.
Kara
Kysha
Completely Boxer Crazy
Still not 100%
Thanks again everyone for their support. We still do not have an exact conclusion as to what we are dealing with. The vet thinks that it is Histiocytic Colitis - we can not be 100% sure without a biopsy (something that we don't want to do at this time due to her weakened situation and her age too). To treat this we start a course of steroids and the vet wants me to put her on kibble :( The reason for wanting her on kibble is so that she can get a high fiber diet. He wants her to go onto Purina DCO. The ingredients are:
Ground yellow corn, dried beet pulp,* poultry by-product meal, corn gluten meal, barley, beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols (source of Vitamin E), pea fiber, dicalcium phosphate, dried whey, potassium chloride, salt, fish oil, animal digest, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, vitamin supplements (E, A, B-12, D-3), zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, riboflavin supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, biotin, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, copper sulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), calcium iodate.
*15% - A source of fiber.
I will do some more research on a raw/natural high fiber diet - if there is such a thing!
Sportygirl - thanks for your suggestion about DDS Acidophilus Bifidus, I will look into this right away. I aslo like your suggestion about the tea, I am willing to try anything to help soothe her - this can not be very comfortable at all.
Thanks again everyone for their support. We still do not have an exact conclusion as to what we are dealing with. The vet thinks that it is Histiocytic Colitis - we can not be 100% sure without a biopsy (something that we don't want to do at this time due to her weakened situation and her age too). To treat this we start a course of steroids and the vet wants me to put her on kibble :( The reason for wanting her on kibble is so that she can get a high fiber diet. He wants her to go onto Purina DCO. The ingredients are:
Ground yellow corn, dried beet pulp,* poultry by-product meal, corn gluten meal, barley, beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols (source of Vitamin E), pea fiber, dicalcium phosphate, dried whey, potassium chloride, salt, fish oil, animal digest, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, vitamin supplements (E, A, B-12, D-3), zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, riboflavin supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, biotin, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, copper sulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), calcium iodate.
*15% - A source of fiber.
I will do some more research on a raw/natural high fiber diet - if there is such a thing!
Sportygirl - thanks for your suggestion about DDS Acidophilus Bifidus, I will look into this right away. I aslo like your suggestion about the tea, I am willing to try anything to help soothe her - this can not be very comfortable at all.
Albie
Completely Boxer Crazy
Lacy had an impacted anal gland last month, and the vet told me that a raw diet doesn't have enough fiber in it and that I should add Metamucil to Lacy's meals for the fiber. I haven't done it yet, but I thought it is interesting that your vet brought up the same point about fiber. Since I'm sure your biggest concern at the moment is seeing that Tegan starts to feel better, perhaps you can just do the kibble the vet suggested for a short period of time and see if there is any improvement in her condition. I've also seen some of these dog food mixes that you add raw ground meat to like Essex Cottage Farms or Sojourner. Maybe something like that would work if you didn't want to feed kibble. I hope Tegan starts to feel better soon!
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