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Re: Another Finn Update

Posted: 16 Aug 2019, 18:05
by worriedparents
Finn's urine has tested positive for e.coli. Luckily not the Corynebacterium again, but I could just scream. If history is any indicator he's going to go off this food (because of antibiotics) and we don't have anything to switch him too. I can't go buy kangaroo and cook it differently hoping he may like that. I did get another brand of Kangaroo dry, but would have to sell off my own organs to pay for it long term. Ordered another canned brand today as a backup if he goes off this food.

That's two UTI in less than a month, so giving D-Mannose daily has not helped reduce the chances of that. This poor dog never gets a break and therefore neither do we.

Re: Another Finn Update

Posted: 17 Aug 2019, 21:14
by Madelon
I am so sorry you are going through this and Finn too. Sending hugs and prayer.

Re: Another Finn Update

Posted: 18 Aug 2019, 09:40
by worriedparents
Thanks. He had cow plop poop on his walk this morning. :cry: We haven't seen that in such a long time. He wanted out at 3 am to go pee, so at least from a neurological standpoint he still knows when he has to go. It was raining so he wouldn't stay out long. At 4 am he headed to the back door and squatted right at the door desperate to get out. He couldn't hold it in. That poop was a bit smelly but still well-formed, but more of it. The poop we are into now is going to be a lot less pleasant to clean up in the house.

Yesterday we sprinkled a bit of cranberry supplement on his food, put a bit of ACV in his water and gave some plain peanut butter for him to take meds. Won't be doing that today. His canned food is not a high enough incentive for him to take his pills at times. We have an appointment with the Internist on Wednesday.

Zeniquin was at the top of the culture's sensitivity list, but I said no. That makes him vomit. He's going to start Baytril but has to be compounded so he doesn't start it till Wednesday. It should be interesting to see what that does to his GI.

To retest folate and B12, they have to be fasted for 12 hours, correct? Do they have to stop taking the Wonderlabs B12 supplement for an extended period before that too?

Re: Another Finn Update

Posted: 18 Aug 2019, 14:09
by jilbert57
I just googled dog fasting for B12 and it came back 6 to 8 hours fast. I am not sure if it is 12 hr. My dogs always vomit if they fast that long so I give a pepcid or zantac the night before. Or if appt is end of day I give it first thing in am. Works for us but run it by your vet if you do.
I wouldn't stop the B12 pill. If they test the level and it is high keep doing what you are. I am sure to be corrected if this is wrong. :D

My dogs go nuts over canned food. NULO chicken and green beans. Ingredients are chicken, broth and green beans. When home I make it in the crock for topper.

Re: Another Finn Update

Posted: 18 Aug 2019, 21:12
by Madelon
Firstly - have you tried cream cheese for the meds? In my experience even the pickiest non-eating non-pill taking dogs will take it wth cream cheese - give him a little taste with nothing in it to get him going and then put the meds in a glob of it.

As for the B12 testing - the rule of thumb is to stop supplementing for 7 days before testing - HOWEVER - I differ in my opinion on this and it is JUST MY OPINION - but if I'm going to test to see where his B12 level is with supplements why stop supplementing a week befor testing? I personally don't - I don't fast and I don't stop supplementing when testing for B12 because I want to know what his level is with the current supplement. The theory behind stopping supplements is to see how long your pup can go without having a supplement and what the level would be.

Re: Another Finn Update

Posted: 24 Aug 2019, 15:54
by worriedparents
We didn't do any testing. The Internist said it's likely inflammatory bowel disease and I think the vets are giving up on him. He's got so many things going on and chalking everything up to old age. He really liked the kangaroo food and he perked up a bit after being on that. No more allergy symptoms. His gas and poops levelled out ok. He had another laser treatment and seemed to be in less pain afterwards. He was getting himself up easier and eager to go for a walk one morning. And then we started Baytril for the UTI. It's been downhill since then. I can't imagine another 8 days on this. I thought Zeniquin was bad for upsetting his stomach and maybe it's just because he's gotten worse overall but he barely wants to eat without a lot of coaxing. Is very lethargic and weaker. He's drooling a lot too, especially when he eats. Not vomited and that seems to be the only question vets ask - has he vomited? No? Ok, let him suffer through this. We asked for anti-nausea meds yesterday and he got Cerenia. He ate a bit after that. His water intake is down too.

He can't keep getting antibiotics. His stomach/system can't handle it. The reoccurring UTI's and need for antibiotics will be the end for him. He's still is a dog who is ruled by his nose. If he smells cheese he wants to eat and tries to eat a bit but not more than a few bites. He hates the smell of slippery elm and if I add anything to his water (like camomile or nettle....or anything) he knows and refuses to drink it. What a helpless feeling.

Re: Another Finn Update

Posted: 24 Aug 2019, 17:54
by jilbert57
When you have the urine tested for a UTI is the ph always the same?

I was just reading about recurring UTI'S. There are some metabolic conditions that can cause them. Has the thyroid been tested?

Re: Another Finn Update

Posted: 24 Aug 2019, 19:18
by worriedparents
I've not been told it's out of range. I haven't seen his urine or blood work reports for quite a while. I think he had blood work in the spring and I was told everything was fine except the CardioPet. That value was high which it has been off and on since we adopted him. Not sure if thyroid was part of the panel, I imagine it was. I don't have the results to review.

After getting the Cerenia we got him up to go outside to go pee. He did and came right back in. He refused water and barely wanted to lick ice, which he usually loves. He ate almost a whole can of dog food when we held a spoon up to him.

I thought he's been hot lately because he's wanted to lay outside in the cool air vs how the warm the house has been. And he settles down once he lays his face on the air conditioning vent, but I took his temperature thinking it may be high but it's registering low. 37.9 the first time and 37.7 (99.8) after eating. We dread having to take them to the emergency vet. One vet there, who unfortunately we usually have to see, has greatly misdiagnosed him 3 times now (every time he's seen him). Not even remotely accurate. To say I have 0 confidence in his ability is an understatement. He gave him 6 months at most over 2 years ago. We called and he is working tonight.

Re: Another Finn Update

Posted: 24 Aug 2019, 21:02
by worriedparents
To add: One minute he seems like we should take him to the vet because he's in bad shape (lethargic and listless, not wanting to drink etc), the next minute he's fine. We took him out for a pee and he wanted to go for a walk. A dog went by and the race was on. Lots of strength and stamina again. He drank water on his walk. We got back and he wouldn't touch it in the house unless we dumped it into his bowl from a jug. He's done that before. He's very particular about how or when he gets water presented to him. He has never drank from a bowl that's had water sitting in it. He's too smart and neurotic for his own good.

I have a couple types of urine ph strips. I just tested it, and perhaps closer to 7.0, but not sure they would be accurate.
After the walk his temperature was 38.4 (101.1), so normal again.

Re: Another Finn Update

Posted: 24 Aug 2019, 21:30
by jilbert57
That is interesting. Wonder if he would drink out of one of those little fountains?

Jill