Very sad, lil Toby's laid low. Sick for a month+ (lethargic, vomit,
backend, poor eating). Kidneystone and tummy cyst diagnosed. Got
worse - surgury last week. Kstone out but not tummy cyst, but wicked
pancreatitis. We're hopinbg. He's 11 and a fun dog.

Anyone had experience with pancreatitis? Or even how to deal with the
outgoing fortune vs love of pet?

Brad

on Sun, 31 Dec 2006 03:30:57 GMT, avalanche* wrote:

Anyone had experience with pancreatitis? Or even how to deal with the
outgoing fortune vs love of pet?

I've had experience with pancreatitis, unfortunately. It's horrible for
a dog, and for you, I know. Once your dog gets through the critical
phase and comes home, diet is everything--for the rest of his life. You
cannot stray from the very restricted diet your vet will put him on or
you risk recurrence. This will either be a prescription dog food, or you
can cook for him. We cooked plain baked or boiled (skinless!) chicken
breasts and white rice for our girl and eventually put her on
prescription dog food. We still cook for her once or twice a week, too.
Pancreatitis can recur very easily, and it tends to be worse when it
does, so you need to be hypervigilant with his diet.

If your dog is still in the hospital, but stable and getting meds by IV
and/or subcutaneous fluids, you can talk to the vet about administering
these at home yourself. Your vet can teach you how to give shots and
place subQ catheters for fluids, but it's probably not for the squeamish.
It will save you some money, but more importantly, I believe your dog
will heal more quickly in the comfort of your home. It's not fun giving
subQ fluids (injections aren't so bad), but you get used to the routine
after a while. Keep in mind you will need to be absolutely consistent
with giving this care at home, and you will also need to take him back
and forth for examinations and bloodwork, so this may not be feasible for
you. I offer it up as an option for you to consider. It made a huge
difference for us. My dog just languished in the hospital but was a lot
happier at home.

I hope Toby gets to feeling better soon.

--
Lynne

http://picasaweb.google.com/what.the.hell.is.it/

"First get your facts; then you may distort them at your leisure."
-- Mark Twain

on Sun, 31 Dec 2006 03:30:57 GMT, avalanche* wrote:

Anyone had experience with pancreatitis? Or even how to deal with the
outgoing fortune vs love of pet?

My stories follow, if you want to read them.

One of my Shelties got pancreatitis from a surgical injury to his
pancreas when he was neutered. He was poorly bred and had
Cryptorchidism. His testicles were lodged by his spine and the surgery
was complicated. He got through the first horrible bout, but only when I
finally decided to treat him at home after a lot of hospital stays,
releases, and relapses which went on for almost 2 months. He seemed to
fully recover, but unfortunately relapsed again about 6 months later. He
also developed a bacterial overgrowth at that time, which the vet didn't
catch until it was too late. His kidneys shut down and he didn't make
it. It's still hard for me to talk about him. He was my heart dog.

Ironically and horrifyingly, my second Sheltie got it after scarfing down
a can of cat food at my mother's house (she was probably predisposed to
it since it's not uncommon in Shelties). Her pancreatic and liver
enzymes were so bad that the emergency hospital didn't think she would
survive. Thankfully, she has and it's been almost 3 years since then.
Her diet is very carefully restricted and I do not take her to places
where she might get even a crumb of food from the ground. She's pretty
healthy now and almost 6 years old.

One day after a visit to the emergency hospital, when we were still in
the thick of her pancreatitis treatments, my friend and I stopped at a
cafe to get lunch. I sat outside with my dog and waited for my friend to
bring the food out. The owner of the restaurant came out smiling, with a
handful of cheese. Without asking, he tried to give it to her. He meant
well, but I body blocked him and nearly knocked him to the ground. Then
I explained, and of course he understood why I did what I did (he even
gave us complimentary desserts!). That cheese would have killed her.
You'll always have to be careful.


--
Lynne

http://picasaweb.google.com/what.the.hell.is.it/

"First get your facts; then you may distort them at your leisure."
-- Mark Twain