My friend is fading away...

[SouthernNdN]

A week or so ago I noticed my 26 month old GSD was looking a little thin. I thought, perhaps she's blowing her summer coat for the winter. But a few days later I thought she felt a bit thin as well. So I weighed her and noticed she was 10 lbs lighter than she was at a year old! I was a bit worried, so I upped her food and switched her from TOTW to Orijen, thinking perhaps a richer food would slap some weight back on.

A week or so ago I noticed she started urinating in her crate. I thought, well she evidently couldn't hold it and had to go. However that was just the beginning. She has basically been urinating in her crate at night since then. So I finally got into the Vet yesterday. I informed the Vet that she has been drinking a lot and urinating a lot! Which isn't something she's ever done, at least not as it is now. I also told him she was loosing weight even though I have been feeding her a few good foods, nothing seemed to be putting the weight on.

He said she was dehydrated even though she's been drinking like a mad man and then did a urinalysis and seen that her Ph levels were through the roof and gave a shot of antibiotics for a Urinary Tract Infection. He also gave me some pills other than the antibiotics to bring the ph levels down.

We also did a fecal test and the lab found no parasites. He kept asking if she was having diarhea, I informed him not at all. Her appetite is likes it's always been, no vomiting, no diarhea, no change except the urination, water intake and the weight loss.

We have an appointment next Thursday for a CBC, X-Rays, another bag of Fluids for dehydration and what ever else he wants to do.

I have no clue what is going on with her!!! At first I thought perhaps she is diabetic, or maybe even has EPI, and her pancreas isn't producing the enzymes needed to break down and absorb the food. When I through those out he didn't seem interested. So, at the moment I'm baffled.

I have no idea what the X-rays are for. I've read they can see different kinds of cancers that don't show up in blood work, but other than that, I've not a clue.


Has anyone gone through something like this with these same types of symptoms???

[onyx'girl]

I'm so sorry your pup is going through this....why do you have to wait a week to rehydrate? I would want the labs and x-rays run asap! Is this a vet you trust? As he didn't seem interested in your suggestions, that would make me feel uncomfortable.

Could be the UTI has caused her system to get of whack. Hope the antibiotic kicks in and she starts recovering.

[msvette2u]

Get a different vet.
Get her tested for EPI/SIBO.

[SouthernNdN]

Well, he also gave her a shot of Vitamin B12. I have no clue why, he didn't bother telling me.

While there yesterday, he gave her a bag of fluids. However didn't seem interested in talking about much.

I was told about him from a few different friends that said he was good, and since my other vets office has a total of 4-5 different vets and I see a different every time I go in, I was tired of not having someone treat her that new her.

This first visit he sent the fecal off to the lab, gave a bag of fluids, Vitamin B12 shot, Antibiotic shot, Antibiotic pills and pills to help lower the ph level. Ended up being $185.00. And this coming week he will be doing,

X-Ray - Set of 2
Antech-Superchem / CBC
Fluids

That will be $200.00.

He more than likely split it up because before he even touched her I informed him that I had a budget.

I just hope that the CBC and the X-Rays will tell us something.

I'm not a Vet/Dr. but I wouldn't think a UTI / High Ph levels would cause the weight loss.

[stealthq]

There is absolutely no way I would wait a week if I were you. Please find another vet.

[SouthernNdN]

Sibo?

[msvette2u]

Argh. The B12 shot would help if she had SIBO which can go hand-in-hand with EPI.

You need specific tests for those things, and not a vet treating her for the symptoms of it and not addressing the issue itself.

Overview - EPI * Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Read this site carefully. Tomorrow find a new vet willing to TEST for the presence of SIBO/EPI. Pray him giving her the injections won't interfered with the diagnostic tests for the EPI/sibo.

*sibo is "small intestinal bacterial overgrowth". She can have EPI or SIBO or both.

[Franksmom]

Did they test her blood sugar those are the same exact symptoms as my Mom's dog and His blood sugar was over 400, the vet started him on insulin shots twice a day and he's doing great now.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted by SouthernNdN

Well, he also gave her a shot of Vitamin B12. I have no clue why, he didn't bother telling me.

While there yesterday, he gave her a bag of fluids. However didn't seem interested in talking about much.

Then you need to ASK! You are your dog's advocate and it would be great if vets are forthcoming with information, but if they're doing tests without telling you what they're for, or they're giving treatment without explaining why, you should speak up. If there's something you suspect, like EPI or SIBO, then you can request that your dog be tested for it. If he doesn't want to or doesn't think it's necessary, fine. Have him explain why. It's possible that her symptoms aren't consistent with either, but if you ask at least you'll know that. Knowing what can be ruled out will narrow things down, and often coming up with a diagnosis is a process of elimination.

He must have some idea of what might be wrong, ask him what her symptoms are pointing towards and have him explain each of the possibilities. Personally, I'd probably already be looking for another vet. Good luck, I hope you get to the bottom of this and that it's easily treated and not serious.

[GatorBytes]

The B12 shot is harmless and good and usually relates to a malabsorption problem in the GI tract such as SIBO or problems w/enzyme secretion as in EPI, but that would normally present with poop problems.

Although with the incontinence that too could spell trouble w/the pancreas as that is responsible for regulating insulin.

Diabetes will present with weight loss, incontinence, excessive thirst.

There could be a UTI as well, and/or crystals.

I suspect the x-rays are to look for an enlarged pancreas...this could also be a sign of pancreatitis which is not the same as EPI...

High PH is related to diet and too many carbs (potatos, legumes, grains, fruits), so even if on a no grain diet, would still be high in carbs if on kibble diet.

Hopefully the pancreas is in check and this is a simple diet change...meat protien will acidify and bring the body back into balance, as well diet change will assist and can even reverse diabetes dx. if that is all that is wrong.

Dog Diabetes Symptoms, Treatments and Diet

Diabetes is a result of inadequate production of insulin by the islet cells in the pancreas. There may be a genetic predisposition for this in some dogs. Islet cell destruction also occurs in some cases of pancreatitis. Insulin enables glucose to pass into cells, where it is metabolized to produce energy for metabolism. Insulin deficiency results in hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and glycosuria (high urine sugar). Glucose in the urine causes the diabetic animal to excrete large volumes of urine. In turn, this creates dehydration and the urge to drink large amounts of water.
Initially, dogs who do not metabolize enough sugar have an increase in appetite and a desire to consume more food. Later, with the effects of malnourishment, the appetite drops.
In summary, the signs of early diabetes are frequent urination, drinking lots of water, a large appetite, and unexplained loss of weight. The laboratory findings are high glucose levels in the blood and urine.
In more advanced cases there is lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, dehydration, weakness, and coma

I would think it more prudent to seek a specialist and not waist funds on this vet, who may end up or should be (?) sending to a specialist...I think a ultrasound would be better then x-rays??? IDK...somebody else may have more knowledge were diagnostics are concerned