alex/happy update

[joycenalex]

i think he has pancreatitis again. he's retching, stretching and there was one pile of clay colored stools in the yard. he's had 2 bouts, diagnosed by lab work and ultrasound, in the last 4 years. the er vet will see him of course, but their cost is horrible and we have an appointment with regular vet tomorrow. i'll hold his food and just give him minimal water and his phenobard tonight and tomorrow am. i feel so sad for him, and worried. he's 10, and he's been on seizure meds for 9 years. please keep him in your thoughts. i'll update tomorrow after the vet visit in the pm.

[4 Dog Mother]

Oh, poor Alex! We will keep him in prayer that he feels better and gets well soon.

[joycenalex]

he's done vomiting, no food will do that. he's had minimal water, just 2 ice cubes every couple of hours. he looks like he feels lousy. poor dog

[jenluckenbach]

Best of luck with Alex today.

[Ginger's Mom]

Poor Alex. It is hard to withhold food, but he really needs to clean out. I hope he feels better this evening.

[K9soul]

Prayers going out for Alex. I can just imagine how frightening this is for you. Hoping for a good update from the vet's.

[Logan]

I do hope that the vet can get Alex feeling better soon, Joyce. Keep us posted!!!

Logan

[joycenalex]

the vet didn't find anything on exam, she drew labs, which will be in tomorrow afternoon. she said it might have been a flare up of a subclinical pancreatitis, the clay colored stools were a clue, but the labs will the proof. so for tonight, rice, chicken broth, and a small amount of shredded chicken. i did the right thing in letting his GI tract rest without food. and my wallet is $300 lighter, he's worth every penny

[Glacier]

I hope Alex is better soon! Pancreatitis is a nasty thing. Paxil and Preacher have both had near fatal battles with it.

Paxil has a case of mild, chronic pancreatitis. She had a bout with the disease a couple years ago that was so severe her pancreais is permanently damaged. When Paxil has a flare-up now, it's much milder, but sounds much like your boy's symptoms. I give her sub-q fluids for a few days, along with no food(if she's vomitting) or a very bland diet if she's keeping a bit down. The fluids make a world of difference for her. Easy to do and saves a trip to the vet. I take her in if I don't see improvement with the fluids after a day or two(or if she continues to vomit.) Might be worth learning how to do fluids and keeping some on hand for Alex.

[joycenalex]

Easy to do and saves a trip to the vet. I take her in if I don't see improvement with the fluids after a day or two(or if she continues to vomit.) Might be worth learning how to do fluids and keeping some on hand for Alex.

i'd do the fluids for him in a new york minute , my day job is an xray tech, so i've started them iv drips on humans before. it can't be that different to do sub-q on dogs. thanks for the suggestion tamara, i'll ask tomorrow

[Glacier]

i'd do the fluids for him in a new york minute , my day job is an xray tech, so i've started them iv drips on humans before. it can't be that different to do sub-q on dogs. thanks for the suggestion tamara, i'll ask tomorrow

Way easier than on a human! You don't have to find a vein, just have to get the needle under the skin in between their shoulders. Paxil is really good about it, she just lays there and gives me her best pathetic look! My vet says that she feels lousy so she stops eating and drinking in an attempt to calm her own GI system down. The dehydration makes her feel even worse and she doesn't have enough fluid in her to help clear things out. The sub-q fluids help clear everything out and she feels better very quickly.

[joycenalex]

i got his labs back today, his amylase(normal 290-1125) is 2911, his lipase is (normal77-695) is 1726. yep he was working on pancreatitis. so another week of very low fat food. he's enjoying the chicken broth/rice/shredded chicken goop. and his sister peanut is very interested too

[lizbud]

I'm glad to hear that Alex is keeping food down with no problems. I do
hope he continues to eat & feel better.

[shais_mom]

aawww poor Alex -
thoughts and prayers with you.

[BOBS DAD]

Sounds like Alex is on the mend. He is lucky to have such an informed and educated MOM!!! Feel better soon Alex!!!