severely cachexic dogs

Re: severely cachexic dogs

Andrew Kent — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:25:18 GMT

It may be worth checking the TLI again or trialling pancreatic supplements if poor response as if EPI plus pancreatitis may get normal TLI. any imaging?

there are lots of novel proteins, but obviously they are different for each dog. If they are home cooking then fish plus potato? Or venison plus potato?

Re: severely cachexic dogs

mariette asselbergs — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:17:44 GMT

Have you ruled out intussusception? I remember cases of unexplained emaciation which turned out to have intussusceptions without causing complete blockage.

Mariette

Re: severely cachexic dogs

patrick murphy — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:37:57 GMT

cobalmins are all normal. I have put the first 2 on low fat prsecription foods, but the last cannot afford anthing but homemade. has been on metro and pred, but is not gaining anywhere near enough. is + camp, and althogh I do not think it could cause weight loss such as this in the absence of diarrhea have changed that. what novel proteins are there in this global world?

Re: severely cachexic dogs

Andrew Kent — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:30:24 GMT

[quote user="John Flynn"]

I have no good grounds for this and may change my habits based on suggestions in this thread, but I tend to use RCW Gastrointestinal (most often the low fat version, especially if clin path suggestive of lymphangectasia).

If diet responsive, normally notice an improvement in 2wks and after a little longer, once have some more meat on the dog, then can play around to find a cheaper suitable diet etc.

No success after 2wks, then I throw metronidazole into the mix.

Still no success further 2wks then 1mg/kg pred q12hrs.

A weekly B12 injection while assessing progress does no harm

Failing all this, biopsy in case GI lymphoma.

[/quote] The problem with RCW GI is that it isn't novel protein it contains multiple meat and fish derivatives so it may work in a non-specific way but it doesn't satisfy the suggestion for exclusion diets to rule out a diet responsive enteropathy. It is very high in energy which helps in dogs with weight loss. The GI low fat is great for pancreatitis cases however.

Re: severely cachexic dogs

John Flynn — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:53:58 GMT

If diet responsive, normally notice an improvement in 2wks and after a little longer, once have some more meat on the dog, then can play around to find a cheaper suitable diet etc.

No success after 2wks, then I throw metronidazole into the mix.

Still no success further 2wks then 1mg/kg pred q12hrs.

A weekly B12 injection while assessing progress does no harm

Failing all this, biopsy in case GI lymphoma.

Re: severely cachexic dogs

Andrew Kent — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:21:47 GMT

Personally I rarely use hydrolysed diets as they cause diarrhoea in some dogs and are not usually necessary. I take a careful dietary history and pick a novel protein diet based on this. I end up using a lot of eukanuba dermatosis FP.