(no subject)

[ksmith]

And the verdict is...not great.

Pancreatitis.

Not sure how he developed it. Could've been something that he ate (that I didn't know about). A GI irritation that spread. Vet said that sometimes, many times, they never figure it out.

Mickey had lost a few pounds. Vet exam revealed that he was guarding his upper abdomen and was nauseated and a little dehydrated. Blood tests revealed a lot--liver enzymes high, inflammation of the bile duct, and the two markers for pancreatitis. It's moderate so far. Hopefully, I can treat it at home.

Unfortunately, the drug used to treat is metronidazole, which tastes foul. I tried to give it to Mickey in a piece of cheese, then in a little dog food. No go either time--either he detected the bitterness or was still too nauseated, or both. The mistake I did make was to let him drink water freely. Thanks to a combo of thirst, nerves, and dodgy tum, he horked it back up all over the living room rug, which is now out on the deck drying. Lucky that we have a couple of hot, sunny days coming up.

Returned to vet's office for sucralfate (to coat his tum) and syringe barrels in which to dissolve tablets. The new regimen is pepcid, wait, sucralfate, wait, a little rice, wait, then the metro. If he horks it back up, wait and try again tomorrow morning. If he still horks it up, I'll have to take him to the emergency clinic so they can give him IVs.

So far, Mick has had the pepcid and the sucralfate. He's keeping down small amounts of water. Ten minutes and we'll try the rice and take it from there. I will feel much better if I get the metro into him and he keeps it down.

The problem with pancreatitis is that it can turn very bad, with one possible outcome being diabetes. Here's hoping it doesn't happen. All good thoughts appreciated.

Update: Fingers crossed. I administered the metro wrapped in tissue-thin bits of chicken--I was going to dissolve the tabs in a syringe barrel and shoot the suspension into Mickey's mouth, but he had so far managed to keep the pepcid, sucralfate, some water, and a quarter-cup of cooked rice down, and I didn't have the heart to dose him with a mouthful of bitter stuff.

Anyway, it's been about ten minutes, and the patient is still resting comfortably. He snapped up the chicken with *eagerness*, which was really good to see.

Comments

[coppervale.livejournal.com]

Good thoughts coming your way. I had pancreantitis for eighteen months (it was misdiagnosed!) so I have total sympathy for the poor guy!

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

He just ate a little rice and drank a little more water. Ten-fifteen minutes, and I try to give him the metro. If he can keep it down--and the vet warned me that he might not be able to--I will feel a lot better. And hopefully, so will Mickey.

18 months? You must have felt like hell. My Dad suffered a bout of it as well, only he had it in the 1960s. Not sure how well they could treat it then compared to now.

[coppervale.livejournal.com]

Well, from personal experience, I'd say treating humans for it hasn't improved - they kept saying it was an intestinal disorder caused by stress, and I should walk more and drink more water. I went an entire January without eating solids. I was tested for a gazillion things - and finally got air-evaced for emergency surgery (to remove my gall bladder).

My surgeon made the offhand remark that a pancreantitis attack is the closest thing to the pain of childbirth a man can experience - then noticed on my chart I'd had them weekly for EIGHTEEN MONTHS.

He blinked and said, "Jesus, Mr. Owen - I'm glad you're still with us."

So, yeah - at the moment I am TOTALLY bonding spiritually with Mickey.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

So, yeah - at the moment I am TOTALLY bonding spiritually with Mickey.

The Mickster appreciates it--he's dozing now, but says thanks!

[wood-dragon.livejournal.com]

Lots of good thoughts for the pup and you.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Thanks from me and Mickey both.

[robvagle.livejournal.com]

Heaps of hopeful healing thoughts for Mickey!

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[fireun.livejournal.com]

thinking healthy thoughts your way. keeping a bit of rice down and being eager for the chicken sounds encouraging!

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I am hopeful. I hadn't seen him that enthused in a couple of days.

[affinity8.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about it but it sounds like you're being wise and patient re the treatment and hopes are high. I hope the recovery is swift and painless.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Me, too.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

Poor Mick. Hope this works.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Thanks--so do I.

off topic...

[elmunadi.livejournal.com]

sorry for the odd topic... do you know someone by the name of Carol Wolf?

Re: off topic...

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the belated reply (I got buried under my inbox):

yes, I do know someone by the name of Carol Wolf.

[slave2tehtink.livejournal.com]

Me and the Hooligans are keeping him in our thoughts!

Tink has been on nearly that same regimen, though not for pancreatitis (she had a bout with Clostridium difficile). I ended up just sticking the metronidazole down her throat and then giving her post-pill cheese. But then Tink has been on pills so often that she considers this par for the course and is quite polite about it as long as I show her the cheese first.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Mickey says thanks! Or would, if he woke up long enough.

It's really hard to get his mouth open. He has AmStaff/pitbull jaws. Maybe a crowbar would help. As long as the chicken wrap works, I'll use it. When King took it during his bouts with stomach ulcers, the cheese ravioli trick worked.

Speaking as a pharma person, when an active is that bitter, you COAT THE SONOFABITCHIN' TABLET. There may be stability reasons why they don't, but every other antibiotic tablet I have ever seen/taken has been coated because the active tastes like crap.

[(Anonymous)]

Aww! I'm sorry he's not well. Best wishes for a full and quick recovery.

One trick I learned for opening reluctant dog jaws: with your hand under the lower jaw and fingers pointing up, catch a bit of his lip with finger and thumb, and then push it in over his teeth. The more he fights, the more it hurts. If he doesn't fight, it doesn't hurt him at all. When he opens his jaw, then he won't bite you because to do so means biting his own lips. Then stuff the pill as far down as possible. Then hold his muzzle shut until he swallows.

::rolls eyes:: even that doesn't always work. My Houdini could spit out pills hidden in anything, and cough up even the deepest swallowed.

Adrianne

[hoosier-red.livejournal.com]

Oh, that poor puppy! Here's hoping the meds work and get him back on his feet and pain-free ASAP.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Poor puppy! I hope he's feeling better today. Sending hugs to both of you.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I should know by the end of the day whether he's improving.

I wish that this had happened at the beginning of last week, so I would have been able to stay home with him and keep an eye on him. If it had to happen. If I'd have had my druthers, I'd have preferred it not happen at all. Bur no one bothered to ask me.

[kimsheard.livejournal.com]

Ginger is supposedly very good at counteracting nausea. My dog is on meds that make him nauseous, as well, and it helps to give him 4-5 gingersnaps a day as treats. I just get the cheapest grocery store brand.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

This is good to know--thanks.

My Mom used to give one of our dogs coca-cola syrup when he'd return after an all-night gallivant sick to his stomach.

Bitter vs Dawg

[elmunadi.livejournal.com]

Regarding bitter active principles uncoated on uncontained in capsules - peanut butter has been a magic ingredient for all our dogs and youngest relatives (who, like yours, know bitter well enough to find a way to filter and spit it out). The PB's relatively strong taste and oily consistency does wonders, even in small amounts, as long as the whole pill's coated with it. It works on adult humans and children as well, and doesn't tend to dissolve the gelatin of a typical powder cap the way that water-based goo can. You do have to be careful not to coat with so much that the dawg tries to lick the PB insted of wolfing it down. (Side benefit for humans with dry mouth - PB coated pills/caps can be swallowed dry without the pill sticking to the damp/dry spots and imparting a nasty taste or worse, bursting open - at least in local experience ;^) )

Re: Bitter vs Dawg

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, PB doesn't work with my guys. I've tried.

Re: Bitter vs Dawg

[elmunadi.livejournal.com]

Drat! Well, at least chicken does.

[rarelylynne.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

I'm sorry that your pooches are feeling poorly.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Looks like they're getting better, so fingers kept crossed.