1. Your pet's name, age, sex: Kiki, 12, Female
2. Neutering status: Spayed
3. Breed: Chihuahua
4. Approximate weight: 6 lbs.
5. What's their BEAM (behavior, energy, appetite, mood): Appetite: 0-2, rest of BEAM OK
6. Diet: Normally freeze-dried raw; now, whatever she'll eat
7. Vaccination history / exposure to toxins, other medication: No vaccines since adoption in 2018
8. Primary problem, when it began and if there was anything else happening around that time: About a month ago, off and on; most recently, about 5 days and counting
9. Is the condition better or worse from exercise, heat, cold, time of day, certain foods, emotional upset, being touched, excitement, etc? Appetite seems better later in the day
10. Has any diagnostic work been done? Diagnosis if available (you can attach your diagnostic tests to the post if you have them.): Ultrasound of abdomen, showed total loss of kidney function in HALF of one kidney (rest of kidney seemed OK); other kidney looked totally OK. Stomach lining thickened (suspected heliobacterium). Gallbladder sludge.
11. Current and previous treatment. Pepcid AC (1/4 tab 2x daily), Maropitant 1x daily. Pepto Bismol: did not try.
12. Other health concerns. Nothing else concerning at the moment. Waiting to see vet Tuesday to get a sterile urine sample with culture to diagnose possible infection.
13. Tag a doctor: @Dr. Jeff @Dr. Christina
Happy Labor Day to all! I'm writing because my dog Kiki is not eating. At times she seems like she wants to eat; at other times she eats very little. At first, she was eating some canned food (we tried a lot of dog and people foods). Now, she only seems to want to eat Earth Animal Jerky strips, which actually seem to be pretty substantial as far as treats go: Wisdom Air-Dried Chicken Recipe Jerky. And she was taking her Pepcid AC and maropitant with organic butter. This morning she wanted neither the treats nor the butter.
The rest of her BEAM seems OK. She's still engaged, energy seems good, all things considered (see notes on #10 above). She first lost appetite about a month ago. At that time, it was thought she had some acute gastritis and the maropitant was enough to restore her appetite for a few weeks. Then about 5 days ago, she started not wanting to eat again, which caused us to further explore with the ultrasound. Of course this happened on the Friday before the long weekend, and the ER vet did not get the message from our regular vet to perform the sterile urine sample and culture, so we were advised by our regular vet that we could wait until tomorrow (Tuesday) for an urgent vet visit for a sterile urine sample and culture.
In light of all this, I have few questions for HA:
1. In addition to the Pepcid AC and maropitant (which we have been giving but are not seeming to help the appetite all that much), she was "prescribed" Pepto Bismol, which we haven't started because we read that it may not be the safest for pets. This medicine was recommended because stomach lining is thickened and Heliobacter is suspected to be causing inflammation. Kiki has not had any diarrhea since the start of this symptom cycle and I'm hesitant to use the drug. Is there any food (like manuka honey) or supplement that might help combat the suspected Heliobacter in the stomach to try instead of the Pepto Bismol?
2. Is there anything homeopathic you'd recommend to help with the appetite (nux vomica, perhaps)? Assuming that is OK to give with the Pepcid and maropitant.
3. Any foods, remedies, or supplements that might help to start combating a potential kidney infection before we get the results from the culture (and ultimately get prescribed an antibiotic)?
4. Any foods, remedies, or supplements that might help with the sludge in the gallbladder? It seems like that's not a super concern, but they (regular vet and internal medicine ER doc) are talking about a prescription for clearing it, so would rather use something natural if possible.
I should note we are giving Kiki lots of love and pets and are about to break out the snuffle mat again to see if that stimulates her appetite. Thanks in advance for your help! @Dr. Jeff @Dr. Christina
2. Neutering status: Spayed
3. Breed: Chihuahua
4. Approximate weight: 6 lbs.
5. What's their BEAM (behavior, energy, appetite, mood): Appetite: 0-2, rest of BEAM OK
6. Diet: Normally freeze-dried raw; now, whatever she'll eat
7. Vaccination history / exposure to toxins, other medication: No vaccines since adoption in 2018
8. Primary problem, when it began and if there was anything else happening around that time: About a month ago, off and on; most recently, about 5 days and counting
9. Is the condition better or worse from exercise, heat, cold, time of day, certain foods, emotional upset, being touched, excitement, etc? Appetite seems better later in the day
10. Has any diagnostic work been done? Diagnosis if available (you can attach your diagnostic tests to the post if you have them.): Ultrasound of abdomen, showed total loss of kidney function in HALF of one kidney (rest of kidney seemed OK); other kidney looked totally OK. Stomach lining thickened (suspected heliobacterium). Gallbladder sludge.
11. Current and previous treatment. Pepcid AC (1/4 tab 2x daily), Maropitant 1x daily. Pepto Bismol: did not try.
12. Other health concerns. Nothing else concerning at the moment. Waiting to see vet Tuesday to get a sterile urine sample with culture to diagnose possible infection.
13. Tag a doctor: @Dr. Jeff @Dr. Christina
Happy Labor Day to all! I'm writing because my dog Kiki is not eating. At times she seems like she wants to eat; at other times she eats very little. At first, she was eating some canned food (we tried a lot of dog and people foods). Now, she only seems to want to eat Earth Animal Jerky strips, which actually seem to be pretty substantial as far as treats go: Wisdom Air-Dried Chicken Recipe Jerky. And she was taking her Pepcid AC and maropitant with organic butter. This morning she wanted neither the treats nor the butter.
The rest of her BEAM seems OK. She's still engaged, energy seems good, all things considered (see notes on #10 above). She first lost appetite about a month ago. At that time, it was thought she had some acute gastritis and the maropitant was enough to restore her appetite for a few weeks. Then about 5 days ago, she started not wanting to eat again, which caused us to further explore with the ultrasound. Of course this happened on the Friday before the long weekend, and the ER vet did not get the message from our regular vet to perform the sterile urine sample and culture, so we were advised by our regular vet that we could wait until tomorrow (Tuesday) for an urgent vet visit for a sterile urine sample and culture.
In light of all this, I have few questions for HA:
1. In addition to the Pepcid AC and maropitant (which we have been giving but are not seeming to help the appetite all that much), she was "prescribed" Pepto Bismol, which we haven't started because we read that it may not be the safest for pets. This medicine was recommended because stomach lining is thickened and Heliobacter is suspected to be causing inflammation. Kiki has not had any diarrhea since the start of this symptom cycle and I'm hesitant to use the drug. Is there any food (like manuka honey) or supplement that might help combat the suspected Heliobacter in the stomach to try instead of the Pepto Bismol?
2. Is there anything homeopathic you'd recommend to help with the appetite (nux vomica, perhaps)? Assuming that is OK to give with the Pepcid and maropitant.
3. Any foods, remedies, or supplements that might help to start combating a potential kidney infection before we get the results from the culture (and ultimately get prescribed an antibiotic)?
4. Any foods, remedies, or supplements that might help with the sludge in the gallbladder? It seems like that's not a super concern, but they (regular vet and internal medicine ER doc) are talking about a prescription for clearing it, so would rather use something natural if possible.
I should note we are giving Kiki lots of love and pets and are about to break out the snuffle mat again to see if that stimulates her appetite. Thanks in advance for your help! @Dr. Jeff @Dr. Christina
