An Update On JD For All of Our Wonderful Friends

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

By rights, this should go in the Health and Medical Issues Group, if anywhere. I hate posting a discussion in the general forum about sicknesses and problems, and I'm not looking for advice, but the response to my posts in the Food Group, the PMs and requests for updates from our friends here on DK has been so overwhelming, I thought I would just do it this way. Blog approval takes too long, and I'm really exhausted both physically and mentally. If there is one good thing that has come out of JD's illness, it's that I am blown away by the genuine caring and concern that our friends here have for him. Moved to tears, in fact.

Anyway, in a nutshell, JD has been ill for almost three weeks now. Started with lack of appetite, progressed to his not being able to keep his food down after his appetite returned. No fever, no diarrhea, no behavioral changes.

He does not ever, ever eat anything he shouldn't, and he is never unsupervised for one minute.

Food is not moving normally through his digestive tract, regardless of what kind, including homecooked and dehydrated raw. The food comes back up looking pretty much the way it did when it went in, even after more than 4 hours. No retching or heaving, either. Drinking water can set it off. He can hold down plain cooked poultry or beef with rice as long as he gets very small amounts at a time. THIS IS NOT A FOOD ISSUE.

He has lost over 5% of his body weight in the past two weeks.

He is not (and has never been) lethargic, his behavior is normal, he wants to play, and his appetite is ravenous.

We've been to the vet 4 times in the past two weeks, costs are past $1800. Numerous X-rays have been done, full blood chemistry panels, stool specimens, an ultrasound, and now a barium swallow. The latter is the only thing that showed anything, and the Xrays have been sent out to the radiologist for opinions on what it might be and whether an endoscopy is next on the list.  

We have ruled out pancreatitis, parasites, infections or viruses, liver issues, kidney issues, any kind of obstruction or blockage, and (ThankYouGod) megaesophagus.  

It does appear that the problem is with the upper part of the GI tract, probably esophageal, and the food is not moving through the digestive tract as rapidly as it should, again regardless of what kind or form we try. 

(The Xrays also showed that JD has osteoarthritis in his lower lumbar spine. This of course has nothing to do with the digestive issues, it's just more unhappy news I didn't need right now.)

JD is on three different meds now to help him keep the food down and prevent further irritation, and is to be fed 1 cup of cooked meat/chicken and rice 4x/day, while we wait for more answers.

Anyway, that's where we're at right now. Again, this is just an update to our friends who have expressed concern, we are doing everything we can. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank every single person who has asked about him, both privately and publicly, because it's honestly what's helping us get through this. Hugs to you all.

 

 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks so much, Megann.

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

I do hope you can get some much needed rest but seeing that there are over 100 messages!!!  Wow - we are keeping you in our prayers Karen & JD and lots of doodlekisses from Jake and foster Oscar who is just starting to give them out to us!!! :0)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you Colleen. Hugs to you, Jake, and that big nosed foster boy!

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

 

Karen -

You know that the whole Doodle community is wishing that JD gets better quickly and lets his mother stop worrying. Please give him a hug and kiss for us. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Andy. I will, and please kiss your three for JD & me!

[Rose Ann and Amante]

I have been gone for awhile and am sorr to hear Jake has been ill!! Hugs kisses and prayers to you!  and JAck

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Rose Ann.

[Carol Brand]

Tumor on the spleen?  Addisons?  Cancer in general?  So sorry you are going through this.  You have been such a good owner to Jack.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I'm not understanding where you came up with these diagnoses. Jack's blood work was normal. Also, tumor on the spleen?

[Carol Brand]

Tumors on the spleen have been seen Standard Poodles.  If a tumor was large enough it could be pressing against the stomach or pinching off part of the intestine and causing a blockage of sort.  As far a blood work goes, I was hoping to hear what his white blood cell count was.  Finally, I simply wondered if he had been tested for Addisons.  Vomiting is a symptom (Vomiting,Diarrhea,Lethargy) and an ACTH test may not have been run.

Also, Karen, you said that Pancreatitis has been ruled out.  Just curious... what is Jack's TLI level?

[F, Calla & Luca]

If a tumor were that large I would expect a good vet could palpate it and it would produce other signs as well. And Jack is not lethargic and doesn't have diarrhea.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't know what any of the specific numbers or values are, I was just told that everything was well within the normal range. I know his white count did not indicate any kind of infection or anything else abnormal.

Plain X-rays and the ultrasound showed no blockage or obstruction of any kind, and all of the organs looked normal. Stomach was distended in the ultrasound last weekend.

It's been more regurgitation than vomiting, when he brings up food & water it is clear water and the food looks like it did when it went in. I've been cleaning it up with snow white towels. No bile, no retching or heaving. No diarrhea, very little stool at all except when we tried canned food, which produced bulkier stools that were mucus-y. It seems pretty clear that the problem is in the upper part of the GI tract. During the barium test, at one point the Xray showed the food was still in the stomach when it should have been in the intestines by then. But we went back 15 hours later and the Xray showed everything had moved through.

He has not been lethargic at all, he has his normal energy.