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Post by melonie on Mar 4, 2014 13:13:01 GMT -5
Dear Chubs, quit trying to bankrupt your mom. Hopefully the vet can figure out what's going on with him and you can move on!
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Post by maryellen on Mar 4, 2014 13:18:41 GMT -5
How much calcium is in his food? You might have to switch to a food with less calcium phosphate to see if that works. FYI just because he doesn't look like a dog with cushings doesnt mean he might not be in the first stages, i would have the vet test for cushings anyway just to rule if out.
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Post by sugar on Mar 4, 2014 13:30:23 GMT -5
This is the food he's on: www.petfooddirect.com/product/15906/Health-Extension-Lamb-And-Brown-Rice-Dry-Dog-Food?extcid=PLA&gclid=CIabg-bA-bwCFRQS7Aod3kYAWgBack to Top Ingredients Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Whole Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Salmon Meal, Oatmeal, Sunflower Oil (Stabilized With Mixed Tocopherols (a natural source of Vitamin E), Dried Egg Product, Quinoa Seed, Alfalfa Sprouts, Fresh Whole Sweet Potatoes, Fresh Whole Carrots, Peas, Whole Flaxseed, Kelp, Sea Salt, Whole Blueberries, Potassium Chloride, Brewers Yeast, Salmon Oil Stabilized With Mixed Tocopherols (a natural source of Vitamin E), Spinach, Chicory Root Extract, Fresh Garlic, Sage, Basil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Green Tea Extract, DHA, Ginger, Primrose Oil, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, DL Methione, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Coral Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Niacin Supplement, Choline chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Biotin, Inositol, Omega 3 / Omega 6 Oils, Polysaccharide Complexes of Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Copper and Cobalt, Calcium lodate, Sodium Selenite, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Colostrum, Blue/Green Algae, Pectin, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Enterococcus faecium, B. Subtillus, Bacillus lichenformis, Bacillus coagulins, Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 24% Crude Fat (min) 14% Crude Fiber (max) 4% Moisture (max) 10% Would it say on the bag whats the calcium content?
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Post by melonie on Mar 4, 2014 13:42:46 GMT -5
Contact the company and request the information. I would hope they have that info!
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Post by sugar on Mar 4, 2014 13:43:08 GMT -5
ME, I think what he meant about Cushings (because he mentioned that before his first blood test after the collapsing episode) was that all his test results came back perfectly normal except for his liver. Now only half of the liver test is improving. He suspected Cushing's after Chubby's incident but said that the test results showed he doesn't have it.
Jeez, I feel like I'm getting to the end of my rope some days when it comes to Chubby's health problems. Besides the fact I'm continuously poor paying off vet bills and can't do much because I'm always either broke or just saving up for the next emergency. I just don't know how I can afford another chronic health problem on top of his 3-4 times a year tumor removal surgeries (which tend to run $1200-$1500 a pop), chronic changing diets due to both chicken allergy and random bouts of severe IBS he gets, his early onset arthritis...sigh, somedays just feel harder than others.
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Post by melonie on Mar 4, 2014 14:25:43 GMT -5
It's hard, balancing life and a medically needy animal. I often worry about something happening with Winston or Cleveland. I would have a hard time affording a major issue right now. Once I can move and have more employment opportunities it won't be so worrisome!
Have you tried contacting vets in a more rural or suburban area? Or a teaching college clinic? You might be able to find someone to perform the surgeries for less.
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Post by maryellen on Mar 4, 2014 14:27:52 GMT -5
Sugar it should say on the bag the calcium/phosphate ratio, if not call the company they can tell you... It is possible its just the water stuff you had in his water that is causing the issues and might need more time to come out, it could be ghe milk thistle as it might be the wrong one and he might need just regular milk thistle from the local health food store, or it could be the food needs to be changed, or maybe something else.
The fatty tumors that you have removed maybe try to find a vet who will cut you a break on price?
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Post by sugar on Mar 4, 2014 15:12:24 GMT -5
I'm at work now but once I get home I'll see the cal/phos if its on the bag. He's been off the water additive for about a month (but he was on it for about 2.5 months so it may take a little more time).
ME, the tumors he has removed are dermal hemangiosarcomas. Kinda wish they were just fatty tumors. Right now
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Post by RealPitBull on Mar 5, 2014 8:39:36 GMT -5
So Chubby has been on milk thistle supplement for about three and a half weeks. His major liver enzyme levels have gone down from close to 200 to 47. The vet is very happy about that. BUT (and because Its Chubby, there is always a BUT), his minor levels have not gone down. In fact they went up five point from 230 to 235. Vet said the high end of those levels should only be about 130 (he said its calcium-phophosate or phosphate or something that sounds like that). Vet said normally went one number goes down so does the other, and he is puzzled as to how one level can improve so dramatically while the other stayed the same or got a little worse. Vet needs more blood in the next two weeks for the second half of his chem panel and is considering an ultrasound in the next two or three months if things don't improve. never a dull (or inexpensive) moment with this dog of mine. Chubby, such a little conundrum dog! Keep us posted, I'm curious to see how his levels are in the next few weeks.
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Post by catstina on Mar 5, 2014 11:50:53 GMT -5
Thinking of you and Mr. Chubbs!
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Post by suziriot on Mar 5, 2014 11:57:07 GMT -5
Ugh, it's so scary and frustrating not having a definitive diagnosis. Hugs to you and Chubbs!
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