Elana

As you know I have no kids and no spouse and no significant other. I do, however, have 4 cats, a kitten and Atka, my 8 month old German Shepherd. I treat them as one should treat animals (they are not children) and they are my family. They bring me great pleasure and reliable companionship.

Atka has been running into some digestive issues. She is showing intolerance to dog food (and I am feeding the stuff breeders feed that is not commercially available at the pet stores or the feed stores and is made locally from local products). Even the commercial stuff is not sitting "well" with her.

This has me making dog food which she is tolerating well, but which may lack nutrients for a growing dog (I am adding a dog multi vitamin and some B12 and a coat supplement). The expense is pretty high.. she eats better than I do right now!!! Last night I made 10 dinners (she gets fed once a day) and it took me an hour and a half!

I am very concerned, considering the breed, that her intolerance may be the early stages of Pancreatic Insufficiency (Common in German Shepherds). This disorder is the result of the pancrease not making enough of its exocrine products.. mostly enzymes to digest fats. The disease is treatable if that is found to be the issue, but the cost is totally and completely out of my financial reach.

Today we go to the vet for the first level of checking (parasites). I am absolutely convinced this is just a necessary step to rule them out and that the problem lies deeper. If the problem is what I think it is, it is likely I will lose my dog(my health insurance won't cover her!).

So, while worry is absolutely counter productive, I am worried. Not much I can do really.. and I may be jumping the gun.. but I am rarely wrong when it comes to veterinary diagnosis in my own animals.

So, we will see what the vet says and where this goes.

dollydo

As you know, I have a little 7 month ShihTzu. He has been sick for the 5 months I have had him.

Coughing,gaging, foaming thru the nose and not eating. He only weighed 6 1/2 lbs, and should weigh in at 8-9 lbs.

He's had every xray a doggie can get, and still no real answers. He has been treated for edema of the lungs and on antibodics for 3 months,the vet has added other meds recently and finally he is not coughing,is eating and not foaming thru the nose, that scared the cr*p out of me. He is on ID food, taking mega vitamins and has gained a whopping 1/2 lb, woo hoo, the vet and I did a happy dance!

They suggest that I take him to a specialist when he gets a little stronger, and they will either photo image his nasal area or use a little camera to view the area under his pallet.

It has been quite an adventure, three different vets, 15 visits and a $1,500 later he seems to be getting a little better.

I know where you are coming from, it is a worry, they are part of our family, and give us so much comfort.

I think you are on the right tract, the vet may provide some answers. I can tell you that my 17 year old Shih Tzu can only eat Science Diet soft food, and nothing except Chicken or Turkey, everything other food makes him sick as a dog...pardon the pun.

Keep me posted, we'll worry together!

marle

Elana and Dolly, Sending prayers for your little furry friends. Being a dog lover, I know how attached we get to them. Elana, venison is easily tolerated when other meats are not. When my liver and white Brittany, Muffit, had problems last year which caused her joints to swell and made it painful for her to get around I was beside myself. Turned out to be rheumatoid arthritis and she is now on daily steroids and will be for the rest of her life. The medication made a huge turnaround in her. Here is hoping that you find it is not as serious as you think. Hugs, Marle

Elana

Thanks.

Just got back from the vet. He gave me the meds for worming although we both think this is something to do for now because it is cheap and if that is the problem, effective. Whips and Giardia do not show on every sample... and you would have to test daily for a couple of weeks to ascertain for sure. He is a great vet.. his Fahter was a surgeon (MD). I have had him as my vet for nearly 20 years... and he seems like a "kid" to me still!

He told me to give her a less quality dog food and see if that works. He is sensitive to the expense of the pharmaceuticals if she does, indeed, have pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. He said costs are some better as there is a generic now. He also said that if she were in full blown PEI, she would exhibit symptoms even on chicken and rice (she is symptom free on that).

So, I try the wormer and the change in food. We will see. She is symptom free on the homemade stuff but the issue is balancing minerals. I have the vitamins covered. If she deteriorates we will go to the next step, which is a blood test for PEI... and then go from there.

It always amazes me all the neglected dogs I see out chained to a freakin' dog house with minimal love and care and they seem to live their horrible existance for YEARS. I get a dog and give her the best life I can and I get complications!

Oh yeah.. proof that my HP promised me life but never said it would be FAIR!!!!

CatsPajamas

Hugs and sloppy dog kisses from Jack and Cocoa, and me too.

Cats

greeteachday

Elana, I'm sorry for the worry and I certainly understand....Pets are members of the family...not children, not humans...but certainly as significant a part of our lives.

My golden when she was alive was very sensitive to foods sometimes and I did the chicken and rice route often....sometimes mixing babyfood in as well. I know what you mean...she ate better than I did! I suspected that she started turning her nose up at dog food because the stuff I made was tastier.

Sending prayers and positive thoughts that this isn't PEI...and Dolly I've got your little guy in my prayers too. Hugs

rozied

Dear Elana & Dolly, I will pray that both of your dogs will be ok & Elana, that whatever the cost is you can swing it.

Love,
Diane

splendra

((((Elana))))((((Atka))))

thinking of you both and saying prayers that it is just parasites...

Momsrainbow

Certainly hope your Fuzzy ones get better. I would be lost without my dog and the 2 pups, one blind cat and 8 birds. Finally a thunderstorm-pups are staring out the window-of course they love the water hoses and their pool-just hate the rain. Two had parvo as pups, even though they had their shots-quite expensive-doggie ICU for a week. They are all doing perfect. Except I overslept and the pups got bored-did not need the throw pillow anyway. hehe

Ann

Hugs from Toby and me too, it's hard to try to figure out what is wrong with a pet and worse to watch them suffer.

I hope this all works for you and your baby (animals ARE TOO babies) and that he feels better soon.

Hugs and Furry Hugs from the Tobester

frankly

The only time you ever hope for parasites is a time like this. Sammie and Sonny are my unconditional loves. Prayers.

B

Elana

thanks to all my SR friends. I hesitated to even post this.. y'all go thru so much with addicts and when your children are addicts it is just the most awful thing to imagine.

I know that.. and so I thought posting about my worries over my dog were in some ways disrespectful.

I just needed to share this with someone... so I posted for me. If it has offended anyone, I apologize.

dollydo

Jeez Elana, we are family, as a family we share, whatever the issue or concern is.

Give your baby a big hug from Auntie Dolly!

ladyamalthea

I don't know why you would even be concerned that anyone would be offended by this... after all, like Dolly said, we are family! And you all have let me post about far less important things than your beloved dog... we all need to just be able to lean back and vent sometimes.

I really do hope that your dog is okay. I have a dog that I have had since she was a puppy. She stays with my parents at the moment, but I have had her for 10 years now, and I would be absolutely crushed if she was not there the next time I went to see my parents.

*hugs and prayers*

Elana

Well, tonight I will say Atka shows no sign of her issue.. we shall see if she is howling to be let out at 1:00AM.. (BTW WHY is 1:00AM the freaking witching hour for this sort of thing? Even Mares usually foal around 11:00PM or Midnight!). Maybe she just cannot take the good dog food (unless I cook it.. but the problem with that is getting the minerals right, especially the Ca/P ratio in a growing dog!). She does love that home cookin'!

So we shall see. Tomorrow we are going to watch the Northeast Border Collie Association Sheepdog trials. Atka is showing sense around livestock so this will be good socializing for her and I love working a dog and having them do something REAL. Watcing the pros ought to be a real kick!

I have friends there too, so we are going to miss church and go and watch (if you hear of thunderbolts in Cooperstown, well, it is because we missed church!).

We WERE supposed to do this today trials run friday, Saturday and Sunday), but we had vet visit and I am here working on about 8 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours (and people worry over their kids.. I didn't have any so I would not be up all night worrying over them? LOL).

Yes.. you guys ARE my family. You all really are. Atka gets brushed every day and loves it. I will say your names on those strokes tomorrow AM (we must look good before the lightning strikes us!).

Again, thanks. Love you all.. and I mean that in the most AlAnon Non Codie Way!

Momsrainbow

Goodness. How could anyone be offended about your post? Without SR and dogs-I think my heart would have quit a long time ago. So much love love from Lady, she remembers papa. The 2 pups he brought home-they do not have a clue to the word"papa". All the worry about "his Pups" - we bonded.As "sick as it sounds" I need my pets to get me though this!!!!!! Anyone understand?

ladyamalthea

Oh, absolutely... and not only would I be crushed if something were to happen to Cookie, but Matt and I were not able to bring Callie, our cat, with us to the hotel room that we are in for the moment, and being without her has really taken its toll on me. We go to see her at Matt's parents' house about twice a week, but it's not the same as having her around all the time. She has gotten me through some pretty tight spots, even if it was with nothing more than a reason to laugh. I'll be in so much better a place when I get my cat back... I totally understand what you mean Moms!

Wascally Wabbit

I have no pets right now, but plan on it when I am by my self. That day may never come at this rate!
Anyway, I have had many pets in the past. I know very well that we love them like our own flesh and blood.
It sounds like Atka is doing better and I am happy for you Elana.
Take care my friend

Ladybugg

Elana, you know there are a bunch of animal lovers here.!!!
I hope everything works out okay!!

greeteachday

No way...no way...no way...I don't know Elana...that almost deserves the skillet! What is important to you is important to us and darn it, animals ARE important. So don't even think about not posting about something that concerns you, okay? Promise?
Have fun at the trials...it sounds like so much fun. Hope the weather is as pretty there as it is here. Hugs