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.

 

 

 

[Lynda Kamrath]

So glad JD will be home with you for the weekend.  You can also clean up his eyes with a warm washcloth from your own loving hands.  He will like the hands on treatment.  Sounds like he has had the whole treatment at the vets and will be so happy to be with you at home.

I saw that somebody else talked about baking the creme of wheat.  If he doesn't want to eat it soupy, then try speading it on a baking dish and baking at low temperature until it can be cut into squares (like brownies), or you can cook slowly in a pan on the cook top until the creme of wheat is solidly formed.  Remove from the pan and cut in cubes and let cool down.  He will probably like eating the chunks and you can feed them to him by hand (which always seems to be preferred by our pups).  And chicken - my dog loved routisserie chicken even when he was at his sickest.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Just checking in for an update this morning...hope you were able to get a little rest last night and that today is the beginning of Jack's recovery.

[BG and Gavin]

After all this he still is in good spirits.  What a guy.  I will be standing by...

[Ellen, Brûlée, and Tira]

Karen, I've been away awhile, but saw your posts about Jack.  I pray Jack's vets find the right solution to Jack's issues.  He is going to be one happy Doodle to be back with you!  Worry about the other issues tomorrow, as Scarlett would say! We all look for your posts, and we pray while we wait! 

[Phoebe's Mom]

Good spirits is a good sign.  I bet he cannot wait to be home with you. We are thinking about you...

 

[Susan and Sasha]

Ohhhh...poor baby...

I hope his eyes heal very soon.  I agree...he doesn't need that too!

Have to say...personally...I love cream of wheat!  Not sure if JD will though...

Maybe if you sit there and have a bowl of it first...saying things like...Hmmmm...This is So Yummy!! 

Who knows....he might think it's a really great human food that is "off limits" and he just might like it!!  Lol...

Hoping the weekend  is a restful one for both of you...

Will be praying and sending Lots of Support...Hugs and Love...

 

 

 

 

 

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W

[Christine & Shelby]

Shelby and I are sending love and hopes for a speedy recovery.

[Pat and Traveler]

Trav and I checked in first thing this morning to see how Jackdoodle was doing--and how you were doing!  Glad you'll be back with the sweet guy today--he'll be SO glad to get home!  The thing with his eyes really pissed me off.  He's got enough going on already without something added that could have been prevented.  Fingers and paws crossed for you two. 

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

So glad the procedure is over and that JD can come home.  You'll both be happier.  Now on to the treatment plan!  Hopefully, he'll respond well and quickly!  I'm sending positive thoughts for strength and healing...

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

The way I look at it is today is good day, Jack is coming home to be with his mommy, who will coax, coddle and cuddle him all weekend.

Monday will be better because we all will be getting good news.

I will be stopping in to get update periodically, I really shouldn't be here now, but I dusted the desk while looking in.

I love Cream of Wheat Jack and we all know you love chicken...it's gonna work.

Hugs.

[Lauria Orr]

Karen, I am so relieved Jack will be coming home today...you may even have him with you now! You have said that Jack was playful and hungry even when he was losing weight and not keeping his under- digested food down. Hopefully,after his procedure, he will still be as frisky. I am hoping his eyes are better too.  I wonder what they used in his eyes? Jack has sensitivities and allergies...I imagine there is something new he is sensitive to. Thank you for being so great about keeping us posted.  My husband also sends his best wishes.....we are so happy you will be able to hug on your precious boy again today, and that he is able to come home to be with his Mom. He will be so happy to have you near. Chicken and cream of wheat ought to be very soothing.  Love to you both!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So JD is home napping, and I hope to join him as soon as I update you all and clean up the kitchen.

He cleaned his bowl of chicken, cream of wheat, and Metamucil. I hope that continues, because the biopsy results won't be back for 5-7 days, so this is his menu til then. He is on a low-dose of prednisone for inflammation, Zantac (I guess for acid), and Metronidazole as an antibiotic for the colon. Thank God, no more sucralfate. He gets fed 3-5 times per day, and nothing conflicts with anything else, so this will be a snap compared to what we were doing before. I hate that he's on steroids, but he needs them.

I got a very long, detailed report, all of the record info which will also be forwarded to his regular vet, including all of the blood values, a description of the entire procedure including what anesthetics were used and how long he was under, what was found, and what to look for in the next few days.

They took biopsies of the stomach, intestines, and colon. They had to take blind biopsies of the duodenum because the pyloric sphincter  was so inflamed it would not allow the scope to pass.

The lower esophageal sphincter was ulcerated/inflamed.

The stomach mucosa was normal.

The colon was ulcerated and inflamed.

Jack seems very nervous and disoriented, but I am sure he will get back to his old self soon. I just have to keep him from rubbing his eye and it should heal on its own.

Thank you all again, and I will keep you updated.

Wow, now that he's home, I realize just how exhausted I am! Later....