Losing weight again, off to the vet this afternoon...

Mambo's losing weight again, he went down from almost 21kg to 19.2kg he's exactly the same as he was when we first got him from the shelter half year ago - have no idea what happened... we can see his ribs sticking out again and although he acts as usual, no change there - still very happy and with good appetite - he looks really small we worked hard to find out what food is good for him, we increased the daily amount and that's when he gained almost 2kg and we were happy he's on the right track, and now this again.
I hope it's nothing too serious and that it's only his usual digestion problems... have an appointment with a vet at 4;30 today, so we'll see...

PS. sorry for being quiet for long, the last few weeks have been manic!

hope evrything goes ok today for you, please let us know how you get on

Hope everything goes ok at the vets. Hopefully it's just 'one of those things'.

we're back now - i can't really say much as they took blood for two types of tests... I have to call the vets back on Tuesday afternoon to see whether the results are back and then we'll see. the vet said that Mambo is underweight and the reason is probably because he doesn't digest the food well, but she couldn't tell what exactly the reason is without the blood test.

she also said that it's not normal that Mambo is hungry all the time -to be honest, I thought it's just a part of his personality

there's one more thing I'm worried about now - the bill was quite high (consultation + 2 types of blood test ) and I am now readling the Vet fee claim form from our Sainsbury's insurance - it says they require 'at least 12-month clinical history for all new claims' - he's a stray dog, I think he was found around March this year... obviously there isn't 12 month clinical history then... does it mean that I won't get my money back?

What a worry, is he still on Fish4Dogs? (if I remember rightly!). I hope the tests come back with an answer.

As for the insurance, it does sound odd about the 12 month history, I really don't think that will be the case givr them a ring tomorrow.

In the meantime, I no its hard but try not worry, you can't do anything until the results come back Xx

he's on raw meat diet. i don't think the vet approves it much (she said she doesn't think it's the best one for dogs) but I explained it was the only one his stomach would accept...

I rang Sainsbury's just now, they said there shouldn't be any problem with that,as long as I can provide the full clinical histrory since he was found and taken to the shelter. I hope there really won't be any problems it would be nice to have some of the money back....

Now we just have to wait. good that Mambo is still his usual self and doesn't even bother about having blood tests (especially now when he's eating his favourite bone )

I will definitely keep you posted... if we find out what it is and will be able to treat him maybe we will finally end up with a full-size staffy, not a size-zero model type dog ...

Fingers crossed for a result Xx

Hope everything goes ok and the results are ok

Hope everything turns out okay.

I hope it just is a coincidence and that he'll gain it right back.

spuker1 wrote:he's on raw meat diet. i don't think the vet approves it much (she said she doesn't think it's the best one for dogs) but I explained it was the only one his stomach would accept...

Hope Mambo is alright! I know many vets that don't like it, but then they turn around and recommend a crummy food like Science Diet. The more I have looked into it, the more I have come to realize that the vet schools are recipients of loads of money from some of these dog food manufacturers (at least here) and low and behold, they recommend their food. Not sure they spend as much time on dietary research as treating ailments and physical maladies. Mine does best on raw as well.

bbimson, I agree on the other hand, I know that some people may just have their own opinions - I'm not strongly pro or against either raw food or dry food diet. as long as Mambo is OK, healthy and happy, I can feed him anything

By the way, I didn't even mention what the vet is looking for, doing these tests. First is a possibility of B12 vitamin deficiency, but I doubt that - he should have diarrhoea and few other symptoms that I don't really see.
The other one is more possible: EPI Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Symptoms, according to wikipedia are: weight loss, poor hair coat, flatulence, increased appetite, coprophagia, and diarrhea. Feces are often yellow-gray in color with an oily texture. almost all of these are right in his case...


Luckily both of these illnesses should not be difficult to treat and they're not very serious if diagnosed and treated...
let's hope we will find out what's wrong soon and will be able to help our skinny boy

spuker1 wrote:let's hope we will find out what's wrong soon and will be able to help our skinny boy

really wish it was Tuesday already... i'm pretty sure Mambo's got EPI and I really want to start the treatment but can't do anything before the result's are back

he looks so poorly, it seems like he's getting even thinner everyday

Hope the tests will sort out what is wrong and he can get healthy again soon

Good luck for Tuesday!

If it's EPI it can be treated; not only with drugs but by continuing to feed raw! A GSD forum I post on has quite a few cases of EPI (GSDs are very prone to it) and without fail they have all improved with a raw fed diet.

bbimson wrote: The more I have looked into it, the more I have come to realize that the vet schools are recipients of loads of money from some of these dog food manufacturers (at least here) and low and behold, they recommend their food. Not sure they spend as much time on dietary research as treating ailments and physical maladies. Mine does best on raw as well.

I'm afraid that's all too true here as well. They have their 'recommended' food which I'm sure they get paid commission to promote.

Fingers X'd the blood tests come back with a diagnosis that can be treated easily. Poor Mambo, hope he gets better soon. ><

rang vets this afternoon, still no results back...
will call tomorrow afternoon again

Soz been crazy busy and forgot. Why not today? Hope you get them tomorrow you must be worried. How is he atm? Xx

Awww best of luck

well, it seems like he's getting even thinner, or maybe it's just me going crazy


I was told it won't necessary be Tuesday but I should call anyway.
Today is already a week since the tests so I hope the results are back... I will call them in an hour or two and let you know.

fingers and toes crossed and let us know what happens

><

How's things? Do you know anything yet?

Any news? Xx

I hope they can sort out Mambo's problem .. must be very upsetting to see him wasting away..
I noticed you said he has digestion problems..over here we can get a Dog Probiotic Powder ( made by Blackmores ).. just wondered if something like that in his food might help at all.

Hope everything will be okay...XX

ahhh so frustrating! called again at 4pm, no vets was available so the receptionist said they will call me back once someone's free... it's 5pm and no one's called back yet the centre is opened until 6:45 so I think I will wait until 6 and then call them again if they won't get back to me by then...

ahhhh I really want to find out what's wrong!

I really hope you get an answer. Xx

it won't be that easy... his pancreas is OK, the problem is in the small intestines...

his B6 levels are 3.7, while 8 is a minimum...

this means his small intestines are not absorbing any nutrients from the food, so basically his digestive system is only half-working

she said that she will do the research on Friday (she's off tomorrow) and find if any food companies are making the food that would be either digested in big intestines only, or will be specifically designed for digestive problems in small intestines.

she also said that to find out 100% what it is and why he's got it they will have to do the biopsy but she advised she wouldn't do it at this stage...

Sounds like it can be treated, you must be so worried
><

well, from what she said it sounds like it's the most complicated one of all three she suspected... I don't know, I'm researching in the internet now and can't find anything there's a lot about EPI and B12 vitamin insufficiency but almost nothing about B6

and i'm not that sure about her researching food companies for the solution... i don;t want to end up feeding mambo something just because the food company said it's good...
i'm probably overreacting a bit but i'm rally worried, there is no easy cure here

Sorry I don't know anything about it, hope you can find something on the internet, at least you know know what's wrong. I will have a look as well and let you know if I find anything

i expect that this is going to be the food they will prescribe:

http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/products/products/vet-products/canine-veterinary-diets/gastro-intestinal-gi-25

vet said she's going to call royal canin tomorrow, I've done my research already and I'm almost sure that's what they will recommend.

Something that's been sugested on another forum (hope you don't mind, I've been picking brains for some sort of answer) was Vitamin B Complex drops...

http://www.victoriahealth.com/product/Vitasorb-B-micellised-vitamin-B-Complex/2793/0/?utm_source=gpl&utm_medium=google&utm_campaign=feed_201111

I really don't know if they'll help, but they won't hurt!

thanks caryll! i will ask the vet tomorrow to explain the problem once again - when we spoke on Wednesday I didn't ask many questions, just listened and made the notes - now i found out a bit more about it myself, i can at least discuss it with her.

have you got any useful links to the discussions on other forums?

spuker1 wrote:i expect that this is going to be the food they will prescribe:

http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/products/products/vet-products/canine-veterinary-diets/gastro-intestinal-gi-25

vet said she's going to call royal canin tomorrow, I've done my research already and I'm almost sure that's what they will recommend.

When I had all my problems with Moo she was put on Royal canin sensitivity, it really helped, I would definatly give it a go if reccomended Xx

I think that whatever he will get prescribed now, if it works he will stay on it for life... his small intestines are permanently damaged but his health is most important now so whatever it is that works, we will go for it!

i made some calculations though and it seems that this particular food (royal canin gastro intestinal) would be only slightly more expensive than what we're paying now for his raw food (if we'll be buying rc online), we feed him quite a lot of meat because he needs it (1,5 of the amount he should be getting), but he wouldn't need such big portions of prescription food. so i guess it wouldn't be a bad deal... assuming the food will help of course!

Poor Mambo, I hope your vet can get it sorted soon. ><

poor mambo hope this works i could not find much on the internet about it for you

I looked as well but most of it mentions Vit B12 deficiency (which humans have as well). I can't recall much about humans with Vit B6 deficiency either.
The poor absorption of food in the small intestine and how to maintain his nutrition is probably the thing the vet needs to find a solution to.
Hope it's soon. Must be so distressing watching him.

Poor Mambo. Hope you find a solution soon.

OK, we've started the treatment now - I think the general forecast is good

Mambo was prescribed Royal Canin but not a gastro one as I thought, but the Hypoallergenic one: http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/products/products/vet-products/canine-veterinary-diets/hypoallergenic-dr-21


the vet called RC nutritionist and they discussed Mambo's blood test results and the symptoms, they concluded that what he needs most atm is hydrolised proteins so he can absorb everything his small intestines normally can't. he was also prescribed two types of de-wormer - chewable (one dose) and 5 doses of granules to give daily. this is just in case there's something more to his obvious intestine problems, plus he should be dewormed around this time anyway.

I was also told that it's unlikely he's got the inflammatory bowel disease, but at the same time his small intestines condition is probably not curable but hopefully possible to control with appropriate diet.

he will stay on the Royal Canin for at least 3 weeks and if he gets better he will stay on it for longer and have another blood tests done in 2-3 months to see if anything improves.

don't know yet what happens if this won't work, but I won't worry about it now because I want to believe this IS the solution!

I'm in a better mood now, we'll see tomorrow how Mambo reacts after his first portion of the new food (just had it few minutes ago - he loved it!), hope we won't wake up to a nasty surprise on the carpet in the morning

Thats positive news, and lets hope a positive outcome. Moo was on the RoyalCanine diet for about 6 months until I ventured changing from it, and I put her back on it when certain foods didn't suit.

Step by step, its a long winded process and I really hope (and believe) this will be the start of improvment Xx

Really glad you can now do something positive.

My 'guru' on the other forum has sugested that you also buy some Vitamin B complex drops (not tablets), as they will help with the body's ability to absorb the food's nutrients, and they won't harm him in any way.

Hope Mambo reacts well to the new diet and he starts to get better

Caryll wrote:Really glad you can now do something positive.

My 'guru' on the other forum has sugested that you also buy some Vitamin B complex drops (not tablets), as they will help with the body's ability to absorb the food's nutrients, and they won't harm him in any way.

thanks Caryll, I will try it!
hanks everyone for your nice words, it really helps

I will keep you posted!

just to let you know, Mambo has started his second bag of RC hypoallergenic yesterday - he loves it, and seems to be doing well on it. he poops 3 times a day now (he used to do 2 on raw diet) we were a bit worried at first, but it seems it's just how it's going to be now.

It's too early now to say whether it's working or not, specifically on his nutritions absorption and weight gain but we definitely see the improvement of his skin condition, and his scabby ears finally heal - doesn't scratch himself any more

we've ordered a big 7kg pack of RC for him and we'll probably be able to say if it really works after he will finish this one, so that should be in about a month.

it is all looking good now, so fingers crossed he will get better!

Good luck! Hope he starts to pick up very soon.

Good luck, I'd be suprised if a 7kg lasts a month, Moo was gettng through that and 24 cans of sensitivity control wet food also.

Really hope it works, it certainly was a god send to me. Xx

Lets hope this is a step in the right direction then for Mambo AND you !