diarrea-skinny

[gracie'smom]

Our two yr old Aussie mix has had diarrea-pancake batter for months. The Veterinarian has ruled out parasites and anything in blood tests. She has gotten bony and now aggressive when she eats-leading me to consider putting her down. I keep thinking a enzmye or probiotic may help her absorb nutrients. Doctor gave her many meds no result. Not sure how much I can spend in further tests especially since she is getting so aggressive. DO I see another Veterinarian, order expensive supplements? Tried many foods, now have her on a rice diet. She prioalso eats anything-stuffing from toys, plays with rocks in her mouth. Other than her thin appearance, she is still active with her ball, etc. She was the runt of her litter, only 32 lbs. Trainers say her agressiveness can be trained away- Is there another test to see if its cancer that isn't $$$. No vomiting or fever or bloody stools. DO I give up? I'd give her up for adoption to a trainer skilled person but was hoping to cure her medically first.

[bitterrootbullies]

Originally Posted by gracie'smom

Our two yr old Aussie mix has had diarrea-pancake batter for months. The Veterinarian has ruled out parasites and anything in blood tests. She has gotten bony and now aggressive when she eats-leading me to consider putting her down. I keep thinking a enzmye or probiotic may help her absorb nutrients. Doctor gave her many meds no result. Not sure how much I can spend in further tests especially since she is getting so aggressive. DO I see another Veterinarian, order expensive supplements? Tried many foods, now have her on a rice diet. She prioalso eats anything-stuffing from toys, plays with rocks in her mouth. Other than her thin appearance, she is still active with her ball, etc. She was the runt of her litter, only 32 lbs. Trainers say her agressiveness can be trained away- Is there another test to see if its cancer that isn't $$$. No vomiting or fever or bloody stools. DO I give up? I'd give her up for adoption to a trainer skilled person but was hoping to cure her medically first.

Obviously there is a medical problem here and the aggression is likely due to that health issue. If your current Veterinarian cannot find a problem, then its time to get a second opinion. I would recommend seeing an internal medicine specialist. There is really no point in trying to cure the aggression issue till the medical issue is resolved. If the aggression continues after the health issues are cured, then that's a different story. Aggressive animals should not be rehomed. If you can't re-train or manage the behavior, then euthanasia may be your only other option.
Get the medical issues resolved and if it continues, get hands on help from a qualified behaviorist.
just my opinion!
amanda samantha sydney murphy foster and kipling

[mojosmama]

Get other opinions!!!!
Many years ago I had a VERY healthy dog that all of the starting vomiting thick mucus. It was awful, she threw up every single day, day and night and not the kind where you know its coming. She did projectile vomiting with no warning. It grew progressively worse.....it got up to 27 times in one day. I spent LOADS of money at the Veterinarian's office. She was eventually diagnosed with Myleostenogravis. (I know I spelled it wrong!) She was rejecting her own organs and the one that her body didn't "like" was her esophagus. She had an enlarged heart and all sorts of side affects but was so HAPPY and had so much energy that we couldn't put her down. So, we put her on several meds which helped and sometimes didn't help. The one thing I didn't do was stop observing her. I knew the diagnosis couldn't be perfect.....because the meds would have worked better. Long and short of it was that she was allergic to the formaldehyde in our carpet. We had recently moved in to a new home. We couldn't afford wooden floors so I gave her to a lady with wooden floors and she never got ill again! (I checked in over the next few years and she was always fine.)

What I am trying to say is that sometimes a second...or third opinion is called for. Lucy's problem was masked because we all expected it to be some thing horrific. The enlarged heart? Simply a by product of her constantly vomiting and putting pressure on her chest cavity organs. No matter how much you like, love and trust your Veterinarian, sometimes others need to check out the situation. Good Luck!

[gracie'smom]

Thank you for suggestions to get a second opinion- I did- and the new Veterinarian gave gracie a TLI test which showed she has a rare genetic disorder "EPI"-exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. She has been wasting away-no wonder she growls when you get near her food-she's starving. Treatable with somewhat expensive enzymes sprinkled on her food for the rest of her life. I biggest problem is my roommate was bit bad enough to go the the ER and dog's aggressive issues still threaten her life. It may take a few months for her to gain weight and be happy enough to try to train- yet she will have to be shut out of house for awhile for protection of my family-I still wonder if I am treating a lost cause- I only hope someday she will be adoptable and safe.

[bitterrootbullies]

Originally Posted by gracie'smom

Thank you for suggestions to get a second opinion- I did- and the new Veterinarian gave gracie a TLI test which showed she has a rare genetic disorder "EPI"-exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. She has been wasting away-no wonder she growls when you get near her food-she's starving. Treatable with somewhat expensive enzymes sprinkled on her food for the rest of her life. I biggest problem is my roommate was bit bad enough to go the the ER and dog's aggressive issues still threaten her life. It may take a few months for her to gain weight and be happy enough to try to train- yet she will have to be shut out of house for awhile for protection of my family-I still wonder if I am treating a lost cause- I only hope someday she will be adoptable and safe.

Great news on the diagnosis!
Give her a chance to get healthy again and then asses the aggression issue. Get hands on help from a qualified behaviorist if it continues. Ask your Veterinarian for a recommendation. Until then manage the behavior. Personally, I'd like to see the dog crated or in a separate room of the house rather than outside, but it all depends on your resources and abilities.
amanda samantha sydney murphy foster and kipling