First off, it's not Addison's. That would have been too easy.
Buster has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition. We won't know what's causing it until the biopsies come back.
The internist (a veterinary specialist) is terrific. She is very thorough, extremely knowledgeable and competent, and warm, caring and very good at explaining things. These qualities don't always go together in doctors, and I'm very happy to have found them the full combination.
First she did a full medical history of all Buster's many health issues since the day we found him. No one has ever done that before. She said many of his behaviors which we put down to quirks or "sensitive stomach" were the classic early signs of gastro-intestinal disease.
It makes me sad to think Buster was walking around with untreated problems all this time. Of course this condition would only be diagnosed by a specialist performing an internal scope, and no one takes their dog to a specialist for what appears to be an every day issue, easily solved with a change of diet. So I'm trying not to blame myself for letting it go on for too long.
After our talk, the doc told us she suspected IBD, but a definite diagnosis was only possible from an endoscopy, an internal scope of the whole gastro-intestinal tract. She also explained that IBD could be caused by any of four conditions, which would then determine the course of treatment. That can only be known from biopsy results.
She gave Buster some sedation so they could deal with him (and his anxiety) more easily. Then she explained exactly what they would do, including a cost estimate, and sent us away.
Four hours later...
The good news: a full ultrasound revealed no tumors. So hooray for that.
The bad news: the endoscopy showed that Buster's entire stomach, small intestine and large intestine is "grossly diseased". She said it looked awful - red, inflamed, the lining flaking off, with several "pin-point ulcers" throughout the small intestine. Wow. As sick as he's been, it's a wonder he's been able to eat at all.
In the short term, the doc prescribed several medications for the ulcers and to soothe his system. When the biopsy results come back, she'll give us a more specific course of treatment.
She also told us that this condition should be monitored and treated by a specialist, not by a general vet. She's going to ask around about an internist vet in the Toronto area.
So. More meds added to Buster's already elaborate medication schedule. I'm not thinking much beyond that yet. Biopsy results later in the week.
As always, thank you so much for your support. I'm doing some NYC sightseeing with my mom today, and will report back later.
The patient, post-procedure.
19 comments:
Thanks for the update.
He looks like such a healthy dog though.
We take our cats to the Bay Cat Hospital, which has an attached Bay Dog Hospital. They're both very good, though since they're downtown they'd probably be a little far out of the way for you. They may be able to recommend other places, though.
http://www.baycathospital.com/
Did I ask this before...?
How old is he?
Poor baby - I hope his tummy feels better soon.
Poor fellow ... I hope the meds work well enough until the biopsy determines the proper course of treatment. David is right - he looks SO healthy in the pictures, it's hard to believe he can be that ill.
Thanks you guys, and thanks for the tip, James. Buster's poor health doesn't show, except that he's lost a lot of weight. He's usually more muscular, he's kind of skinny right now.
The main thing is I know this is treatable. I was becoming very frightened that we might lose him. I was imagining moving to Canada without him - how I would always associate the move with losing him... It was breaking my heart. Now, even though it's serious, I feel we've turned the corner. Whew.
Nio, you did ask. I linked to lots of Buster stuff at the bottom of this post.
It sounds pretty promising, L. It seems to me (from the little I've heard about IBD) is that it's highly treatable.
And for it not to be a tumour - hooray!!
What were the main symptoms? You said he was eating? Normally, or less than normal? Curious about how quickly it arose.
Glad to hear that you have some solid news n Buster. Our chow had a run-in with IBD last fall, but it didn't end up as well. I hope that you have better luck.
Oh Andy... he didn't make it? Tell me.
Stacie, it didn't come on suddenly. In fact the specialist says he's had low-grade symptoms all his life. Things we put down to "sensitive stomach" - like getting diarrhea from table scraps or rawhide treats - was really the beginnings of IBD.
Symptoms: Buster's had recurrent diarrhea for months. Sometimes very severe, sometimes low grade, but it kept returning, no matter what we tried. He's had a normal appetite the whole time, and has been eating - but also losing weight.
The most recent round of diarrhea was very severe and he was also vomiting.
Re your comment in the other thread, that is so true. Only people who love animals - and whose lives revolve around them! - can truly appreciate what we go through when an animal is sick.
I hope your pup will be ok!! What a lot to go through at such a young age. Your vet bills much be phenomenal. Do you get a volume discount?
He sure looks like very innocent dog! We have two American Eskimo they are at home with John and they always had a problem when eating dirt or when they swallowed all the food at once. They always had stomach problems but we taught them not to eat too fast by throwing the food in the air one piece at the time! You should of see them! it was very funny to see them jump in the air to grab it! So later they got better.
I hope he gets better!
gito
Re your comment in the other thread, that is so true. Only people who love animals - and whose lives revolve around them! - can truly appreciate what we go through when an animal is sick.
Our middle cat -- Grendel -- isn't too bright and has a very bad habit of eating thread. It's amazing how expensive a couple of meters of cotton quilting threat can be when half of it's inside a cat.
Grendel is the big fluffy one in our flickr Cats set.
Beautiful cat James!! Eating thread...yikes! I had a dog just the other day run into my cabin, and grab one of my small biking socks and half-consume it while I yelled at him to spit it out and chased him in circles. Luckily I got it. It was halfway down his throat!! He's never done anything like that before.
L - Volume discount! LOL! Well, I do get a 10% discount, which isn't much - but it does help.
More importantly, my vet is GREAT - which is worth paying for. Like yours, who was very thorough and warm. I feel totally confident with my vet. This dog has cost me a bit lately, but on the other hand I don't think I've been to the vet in the last two years.
This dog has cost me a bit lately, but on the other hand I don't think I've been to the vet in the last two years.
You do all the vaccinations and other routine stuff yourself?
Hey Laura,
No, our wonderful cjow chow T'Pau (my sweet baby's an even bigger sci-fi geek than I!!!) died at the end of May, at 13. Which is 2 yrs longer than average. Which is absolutely comfortless info, by the way!
Her IBD hit late last summer, and we were able to treat it. There were some carpet messes, but with medication it resolved itself inside of a week.
But it masked more serious liver problems. Out of the blue in May, after a perfect winter and spring, she wasn't able to walk, lost interest in eating (which was remarkable) and wouldn't stop panting. We brought her to the vet, and she was gone inside of three hours, probably due to a tumor.
The odd thing is that I don't think that I cried as hard when my own dad died.
Anyway--what a humdinger of a comment!!!Sheesh. We're talking about getting a new dog in the fall. The only problem is that I fall in love with every dog that I see, so SB's gonna go browsing alone first, before we select. The only pup that we've seen this summer jumped up and bit me on the knee. I thought that it was cue and endearing; SB thought that it was rude and a sign of insubordination to come.
Sigh... so Kyle's back to taunt you, is he? We need Blog Raid--to kill bugs dead!
I'm sorry your dog is ill. give him a pat from me.
Beautiful cat James!! Eating thread...yikes!
He's a beautiful cat, but very ditzy. We keep worrying that he's going to floss himself to death.
AndyM, I'm so very, very sorry about your loss. There is no loss like losing an animal you love. I speak from painful experience.
All you can do (as I'm sure you know) is know you gave T'Pau the best life you could, and that she didn't suffer longer for too long.
The odd thing is that I don't think that I cried as hard when my own dad died.
Not so odd at all. I saw Redsock sob like a baby when both our dogs died, in a way I'd bet he never cried in his life (including when each of his parents died).
In another Buster-related post somewhere, we were talking about this very phenomenon. I think our bond with our animals is so simple and pure, that our grief when we lose them is even more intense. No matter how much we love a person, there are always some mixed feelings, some negatives. But with our animals, there is only this pure love. So when we lose them, there is only this pure pain and grief.
We're talking about getting a new dog in the fall.
Yay!!
The only problem is that I fall in love with every dog that I see,
Ha ha, you are just like Redsock.
so SB's gonna go browsing alone first, before we select.
Sounds wise. You're going to shelters? If you're not sold on getting a very young puppy, there are so many great dogs around 7 to 9 months old (the age when they get abandoned) just waiting to love you.
Sigh... so Kyle's back to taunt you, is he? We need Blog Raid--to kill bugs dead!
Blog Raid - what a great idea! Can you do us a graphic?
Sassy: thank you!
We keep worrying that he's going to floss himself to death.
LOL. Yeah, that cat is a looker.
Chiming in late -- I was camping for a few days -- how's it going? I hope Buster's improving. Any word on a vet up here? My local clinic is stuffed with wonderful vets -- way out of your way, and probably not the specialist you need, but maybe I could ask for a referral?
Hi Marnie! I hope camping was fun. Thanks for your good thoughts about Buster. We are still waiting for biopsy results, which of course I'll post when they come in.
Thanks so much for the offer re vet. I'll see if the specialist here knows someone. I will definitely keep you (and James) in mind, perhaps to ask one of your local vets for a referral. It's a relief to know that's an option.
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