Shaianne's Visit to the Vet!!!

Shaianne went to the vet today and this is what we found out:
Shai has a history of cholititis, she was treated for that about a year ago (I found that out b/c she was bleeding rectally and I was very frightened, I am an xray tech and know what that could mean). She was treated with two rounds of antibiotics and that was it. Well, the Dr. said today that she could have gastritis, and put her on 2 pills.
And we also decided to:
1-wean her off canned food, and go strictly to dry food
2-no rawhide treats that has a tendency to upset their stomachs
3-no moist treats just the dry ones
She said that we can try this and if doesn't help we may have to feed her Hills i/d which I suspected anyway. But the vet said we would try this route, b/c she knows that that food is quite a bit more expensive than regular food, and I am on a "limited" single person income. But whatever works for Shaianne I will do, I think the hardest thing is going to be no canned food b/c she doesn't eat dry food very well. But she better learn!!!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/wink.gif
I know the Hills i/d will be expensive but I got to thinking about how much canned food I buy, and the cost will probably equal out to close to the same.
Thank you for all the concern, I appreciate it and so does Shaianne http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
Hugs and nose kisses to all out furry friends out there!!!
Staci and Shaianne

I glad that she will be all right. I think your about the cost of the food equalling out. it probaly will cost about the same.

You said that she might not eat it. you could try and add warm water to it.

Staci,
I'm so glad you got some answers and at least have a direction to go with Shaianne's problems. I sure do hope it works for you. She might not act interested in that dry food immediately, but she'll get hungry and settle into a routine in no time. I'm paying $1.09/can for Iams now. Honey and Lilly share a can with their dry food each morning. You're bound to save some money over purchasing canned food.
I'm really into the research on this food issue and if I can add years to their life, I certainly want to try. Thanks for getting this whole food discussion started. It continues to be confusing. But I have this long list of websites, names, etc. to read and I plan to start this weekend. It really is interesting how opinionated people are about this topic.
From one "single" mom to another, I feel your pain (financial that is).
Logan

[This message has been edited by lhg0962 (edited January 05, 2001).]

Staci, Did your vet say why Shaianne is to be weaned off canned food? I saw in your forum about dog food that you mixed dry with canned? I'm just wondering because like Logan, I started giving Jeffrey and Bandit a can mixed in with thier dry in the mornings. I was just wondering if he suggested it because of Shai's previous medical history or if there was another reason. Bandit is due for a check-up this month. I'm going to ask my vet if the canned food is okay. I'm glad things are looking up for you and your dog.

Logan,
From one single Mom to another, I definitely understand finances. Use those coupons! Usually they offer $1 off bags and $1 off five cans. May not sound like much but I am a serious coupon clipper http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by Genia (edited January 06, 2001).]

Hi Staci! I know it's so hard to wean them off things they love since they're so habitual. I get 1 25 pd bag of Hills K9 RD and also get 24 can case I use 1c of dry and slightly more than 1/4 wet BUT!!! my mother, who originally wasn't thrilled with a dog upsetting our lives (she loves them but didn't want one) decided that plain ole dog food must be boring and wretched and took it upon herself to include about 1/2 shredded boneless chicken breast !!! Plus, the juice that goes with it since it includes some veggies!!! SOOOOO...all this leads to my suggestion of nofat, low or no sodium broth added to the dry to get S to eat it. Like, Cody isn't her spoiled granddog or nuthin!

Staci,
Glad to hear that something can be done for Shaianne. I know that sometimes special dog food can be expensive but...what we don't do for our babies!! For a while, my Killian was on Eukanuba F/P (fish and potatoes) with 1/2 can of salmon a day to treat his skin and weight problem when we first got him from the shelter. That was expensive,but the results were worth it ( a big, healthy, hairy dog)! Hang in there and I hope Shaianne recovers quickly!

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***Save a life, ADOPT***

You may like to try the prescribed canned food on four days and your own home made food of white fish, cooked rice, a teaspoon of oil and minced carrots and greens on the other three days. It will cut cost and encourage a healthy digestive system. (Add some raw, minced garlic too)

You've already gotten so much terrific advice. Perhaps with time you can start slowly incorporating some manner of "wet" food into Shai's diet?? Ask your vet the reasoning behind "all dry" (i.e. gastric irritability, dumping syndorme, etc.) Is it a chronic or acute problem? Perhaps, when you and the vet have a better grasp on the problem, you can work out a way of incorporating other food types gradually? Or, as Carrie suggests, alternate/limit certain foods with the dry? What a great Mom you are! Big hugs to Shai, brave girl!! It's so hard not to eat what we like!!!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by shais_mom:
[B]Shaianne went to the vet today and this , Well, the Dr. said today that she could have gastritis, and put her on 2 pills. >>>>>>>>>

I hope the change of diet and the pills work for Shai.
I looked up Gastritis since my male dog
spits up sporadically.
(he does like to eat anything
and everything in the yard)
I just wish I new what it was,
that was irrating his stomach,
and I would get rid of it.
Best wishes for Shai and please let us
know if she stops vomiting.

Good luck with the new regime for sweet Shai. I too think the warm water will help with accepting the dry food. I use about 1/3 cup (of warm water) with is divided between my two dogs' dishes so that isn't much. Also they eat the food so fast, it doesn't even make the dry food soggy, just releases some of the aroma of the food.

Verry sorry to hear about her!!!! I'm glad to hear she'll be OK!!!!!! Give her a hug for me!!!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

Thank you SOOO much everyone! I got teary eyed just reading the posts http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
My vet said that a dog with sensitive stomachs like hers, dry food is best. And dry treats like biscuits and marrow bones, not puperoni type. I knew that b/c when she gets the puperoni she has the most horrible gas and can clear a room!!
Some people said to cook for her lean ground beef and rice.
I am going to the pet store today and I think I am going to try to get the sensible choice natural selection that I mentioned in the dog food forum. About coupons- I am a coupon cutter too which is probably why Shai doesn't get a very good consistent dry food. (bad mom http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/wink.gif) I had a coupon on the sample bag of food for the Sensible Choice and forgot it and pitched it and then remembered and went thru the trash with latex gloves!!! Didn't find it tho!!! Oh well there goes $3!!
Shai has not vomited since Monday night so each day is a success in that respect. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
I WILL keep you posted--Thanks again everyone!!!

That's good news about Shai. I hope she continues to get better!

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***Save a life, ADOPT***

Great news from a great Mom! Sounds like you're on the right track. Hope Shai can "keep it down" and enjoy a good dinner tonight. Hugs to Shai.

Ask your vet about switching Shai to a senior food. It is more easily digested, but retains the fiber content needed for good bowel action. We've never had the cholitis, but my daughter adopted a dog that had severe gastritis. Ella was nothing but skin and bones when Charity adopted her and the vet didn't even think Ella would survive. Charity added (God, I'm having a major brain fart here) the nutrition supplement Nutri-something, comes in a tube like toothpaste. Anyway, Miss Ella is 6 years old and weighs about 50 lbs. and looks great, so there is hope for severe gastritis. Good luck with Shai.

Thank you!!!
I was wondering if anyone has a Petco near them? They advertised on Animal Planet Hill Science Diet Sensitive Stomach dog food. I was wondering what the cost was, I tried to find it on the website and they had 89 matches with science diet in it but they didn't have that. I am sure its cheaper then the prescription Hills i/d.

Hi Shais' Mom.
We don't have a Petco, but I know I saw that food at PetsMart yesterday. I can't find a price in today's advertisement, but it does have an ad about $7.00 off of the Science Diet food (35 pounds or larger). It should have an "on bag" coupon. Do you have Petsmart? I guess you could go online and find PetsMart too.
Good luck.

I found the food on the internet. for a 17.5 bag of dry food cost between $17.99-$18.49 I couldn't find any bags that were larger.
Hope this helps

Thank you so much!! It has been a week since Shai vomited last, she is doing great!!

[This message has been edited by shais_mom (edited January 11, 2001).]

It has been almost 2 weeks since Shai last vomited, she is doing great!!!! She is keeping everything down!!! And she is almost done with the antibiotibic!!! I am thrilled!!! Thanks EVERYONE!!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

So happy to hear such great news!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif What a brave girl! No more icky medicine. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/eek.gif Yeah! Big hugs and kisses to sweet Shai!

[This message has been edited by tatsxxx11 (edited January 11, 2001).]

Great news!!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

That is wonderful news.
Woo Woo Woo! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

Great news! Shaianne, give your Mommy a big kiss because she loves you so much! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by Genia (edited January 11, 2001).]

You guys are just so darn nice and sweet I could cry!!! Its been a week, but at least I haven't had to worry about Shai!!!
hugs and kisses!!
Staci and Shaianne


[This message has been edited by shais_mom (edited January 12, 2001).]

Dear Shais-Mom..I am so sorry I'm slightly backlogged with Pet Talk (hard to believe) but I am delighted that Shai is doing much better! What a relief for both of you!! You're such a good mom I'm sure she will continue to recover esp with so much love coming at both of you!! Keep us posted! And give big kisses for me!!!! Karen

Shai had a relapse last night, but we are still weaning off the canned food and I think the particular flavor she had is too rich for, she has vomited on it before.
She may have also had a bug b/c she had some diarrhea also. She seems fine tho.

Please give Shai a BIG hug. Hope the change in food will settle her stomach...Poor baby.
Thinking of you both with love.

Are you still giving Shai the Linatone? Maybe this could be adding to the upset of her tummy as well.

yes but she only gets like 2 squirts of it, and she has been on it over a year whereas the upset tummy has been like 6 mos. And I don't think I put it of last nights dinner and at least it was only one time!

I thought of you all on Friday. I bought a 20 pound bag of Iams Lamb and Rice at the Jewel Food Store because it was $3.00 off. I had just bought a 20 lb. bag a week or so ago and store it in these plastic pails. It takes awhile for us to go through the 20 lbs and the pails are all full but I couldn't resist that $3.00 off. Plus buying it at the Jewel is even cheaper than PetsMart.

Shais mom,
Is it possible that Shai ate something
in the back yard etc. that might not
have agreed with her?
Thinking good wishes for her and that she will keeps on improving with out relapses.



[This message has been edited by KYS (edited January 14, 2001).]

I am not sure, I honetsly think that the can I food I gave her was too rich, she has brought it up before, we are still weaning off the Alpo canned food.
Shai used to eat grass an awful lot w/o vomiting. I read at the greyhoundgang.com that that is just a trait that greyhounds have!! I think there has only been once when she vomited that I found grass in it.
She is doing well, no relapses since the other night.