Long story, but here's the quickie:
- Spring, I switched the boys from Pro Plan to Orijen (grain-free, 40% protein). Dogs loved it.
- June, one morning, Bacca's left jowl and underjaw had swollen up to alarming proportions. Rush to emerg...either an infection of some kind or lymphoma cancer! Two weeks of antibiotics; and all fine, but now Bacca wouldn't eat.
- Switched to Legacy - also 40% protein. He acted funny about food all summer
- Fall, decided we had to figure this out. Bloodwork done and yipes! He has hypothyroid, without any standard symptoms! Now on meds
- More bloodwork to see if meds are working. Now his ALT levels are quadruple normal levels - means possible a liver shunt! Now talk of ultrasounds, biopsy and possible surgery. We discuss the high protein diet and first step is to go back to a regular protein diet.
- we go back at end of January to retest again.
Is it the diet? We don't know for sure, but it seemed a reasonable place to start.