Advice please

[Jsumner001]

I've a 10 yr old springer spaniel hes had epi since a puppy which is controlled with enzymes and slippery elm. He has odd blips but we manage. Hes started losing weight and his appetite is not the same. Taken him to the vets and they confirmed his weight loss and did bloods. Bloods haven't thrown up anything they didnt know. They then asked for urine sample, now that was fun collecting that. That's shown some blood and protein. She now wants to do an abdominal scan. I mentioned antibiotics but she wants to wait. Has anyone has anything similar. Thanks in advance

[Barb]

Hi Julie,

I am sorry that Alfie is not feeling well. When our dogs who have EPI develop symptoms, we naturally go through our checklist of all things EPI related that could be off, out of balance etc. And sometimes we miss something not EPI related. Perhaps your vet is trying to avoid that and is suggesting a scan to see if anything else is going on. You might want to have a conversation with her and see if this is the case. It is always a bit scary to start looking for things in our older dogs .....for fear we might find something. But sometimes it helps us to eliminate worries, too because it can also be something simple, so you might want to ask her what she is thinking.

Let us know what you decide to do and the results of the scan if you decide to have it.

Barb

[Madelon]

Hi Julie! Glad to hear you've been managing the EPI so well for all these years. Do you have a copy of the blood test results that you could post here? I'm wondering about the kidneys. Not to alarm you but protein in the urine could indicate an issue with the kidneys. However blood in the urine could indicate a urinary tract infection.

[Olesia711]

HAve you asked your vet what her suspicions are with the blood and protein in the urine??

I am wondering if this is a possible kidney issue going on... and if this is what your vet is considering and why she wants to do a scan.....

With loss of appetite, protein and blood in the urine, just based on these 3 things.... a kidney issue could be a possibility....... but of course, this is just a guess, good thing you brought Alfie to the vets..... because if this is a possibility, the way to determine kidney disease, is that they run special blood tests but then sometimes ultrasounds are also done.

Personally i would go ahead and let the vet do the scan........

Please keep us posted and we will be thinking of you and Alfie..... hoping for the best.

[Jsumner001]

Thanks everyone. No i haven't got his blood results but I'll ask for them. Just waiting on a date now for scan. She said because he was older she doesn't want to presume especially when she tested the urine. I'll keep you all posted. He seems fine in himself still as mad as a hatter and loves his walks. Just worrying time

[Jsumner001]

Right he had a scan and there is a problem with one if his kidneys. She has out him on metroactin. I explained about this forum and the other antibiotic but she said they weren't licenced in the UK so she couldn't prescribe. She also said to try cobalaplex which I've just ordered (cheaper on line than vets) I'm taking him every 10days to get weighed. Are kidney problems common with epi.

I've upped his enzymes as well.

I've got copies of his bloods but it wont let me attach it.

Thanks everyone

[Olesia711]

Ahhh.... so it is a kidney issue...... *sigh*...... so sorry... but i am sure your vet will discuss diets, etc and it can be managed.

HOwever......Please, Please PLEASE have another conversation with your vet and ask her NOT to prescribe the metroactin. which is Metronidazole. This is NOT good for chronic gastrointestinal conditions. which is what dogs with EPI have (SID = small intestinal dysbiosis- -a chronic gastrointestinal condition)..... when given Metro is destroys ALL the bacteria in the gut, good and bad and some of the strains that are destroyed can never be replaced... EPI dogs have enough issues (not enough bacteria in the gut and not enough variety.)... they certainly don't need more damage done to their gut. Please share this research with her:
https://epi4dogs.com/wp-content/uploads ... ved-1.pdf

And PLEASE have a more detailed conversation with her regarding Tylan/Tylosin... because yes it IS used and available in the UK.... it is just not that easily accessed. It is also on the WSASA 2020 approval list (The World Small Animal Veterinary Association):
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.13135
Under antimicrobial drugs #8 (see attachment pic below)


Here are some places that your vet can look into ordering TYlan/Tylosin Tartrate from:
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Tylan-Antibiotic/c323/
https://www.viovet.co.uk/advanced_searc ... ords=tylan
https://www.petmeds.co.uk/Brands-A-Z/T/ ... /PMGB00464

[Jean]

welcome from me in Liverpool

where are you ?

we always used Oxytetracycline for most of the antibiotics we needed, we didnt go for Metro anything for the same reason Olesia explains

As for Tylan

it isn't licensed for companion animals in UK, but you most certainly CAN get it via your vet , they just need to get you to sign a disclaimer, so say this to the vet

if you are anywhere near Liverpool get her to contact the liverpool University Vet Hospital for advice

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/sath/vets/

The referral, and advice number is on , just scroll down, they can contact them from anywhere in the country

they prescribed Tylan for Kara in 2010, and advised my vets, so..... many from UK have got Tylan, so just make them aware

as for Cobalaplex, Chemeyes do a similar product which includes the intrinsic factor, Cobalaplex does not, I have had converstations with them on this, and they say its not necessary as their product is stronger

read this

https://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/evr_ ... py_for_epi

Kiney issues are not associated specifically with EPI , did the vet give any specifics as to what they are , I would want to know so I could research, Kara did have some issues early on, but they went

finally, what enzymes are you using ?

Jean

[Olesia711]

Hi Jean, thanks for further clarifying the use of Tylan in the UK.....good information!!!

[Jean]

no problem, its a grey area