Tail doesn't wag and neverbarks

Brocolli and carrots

The sheltie rescue people told me last night to stop the string beans because of the roughage. Just meat and rice or pasta. And to give the largestortion in the am and split the others for lunch and dinner.
How did you know it was a parasite that caused the pancreatitis? We'll get through this, we have a large group of people who care.



Mikos_Mom said:
I have a dog that has struggled with bouts of pancreatitis pretty much since the day we got him. (about 13 months ago) The whole thing started from a parasitic infection… the problems caused by the meds he was given to treat that parasite threw his system completely out of whack. The kibble he was on (Blue Buffalo Chicken & Rice Puppy) was way too rich for him… he constantly had diarrhea (sometimes vomitting)… He was eating boiled chicken and rice more than he was eating a regular diet because he was sick so often. He was losing weight and at around 5 - 6 months I had some serious doubts as to whether or not he was actually going to survive all his tummy issues.

Finally, at about 6mos old, I was sick of the back and forth to the vet and feeding chicken and rice and med foods all the time, so I just said "scr*w it!" and started feeding him raw. I can't tell you the difference in that dog!! He put some weight back on (but just the right amount!)… his demeanor perked up… his BMs were pretty normal (sometimes on the days he had a lot of bone, his BMs would be a bit too hard) and all was good… Until I got complacent about removing the skin from the chicken and making sure I trimmed all the fat from the other meats he'd get. That's when we had another bout of sickness that ended our raw feeding days.

Looking back… and even looking forward… I think that feeding him raw was really working well for him, but I got overly confident that his tummy troubles were over and I made a mistake letting him have too much fat. I think we could probably go back to a raw diet and as long as I kept it low fat, he'd be fine. I'd like to try it … I just have to work up the courage to do it.

At the moment he's eating a mixture of boiled meat (chicken, stewing beef, beef heart), brown rice and a few veggies (he'll eat ANYTHING… but I usually use a bit of brocolli and carrot) and Nutro Herring & Potato kibble. It's working very well for him… his coat looks great… his BMs are normal … and his weight is good. BUT… I know deep down that it's not the best I can do for him. He gets eye crusties (a symptom of kibble ingredients)… and I feel bad that there's so little variety in his diet.

Anyhow… this is just my very long way of telling you that I think a raw diet would help your little guy feel better… but I can't stress enough how important it is to keep the fat to a minimum when you're feeding a dog with a damaged pancreas.

Good luck!!!
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While I'm not going to argue about the diet changes (it's a touchy subject, and everyone's got a different opinion), I will say this: sometimes it's all in their head.

I adopted a Sheltie (Bela) last June. For the first five months or so, she never wagged her tail, and never let out a single peep. I had her tested for just about anything my vet and I could think of, and she's perfectly healthy. But her eyes held a "dead" look to them for a long time, and I couldn't rouse her to be very enthusiastic about anything - not even food. I tried everything I could think of. The only time she got even a little bit interested was when we took her to the dog park. Then, she paced up and down the fence separating the small dogs (usually empty but for her) and the big dogs (usually 5 or 6 dogs), looking wistful.

My husband came home about six weeks ago with an outgoing, never-stands-still JRT/doxie mix named Gracie. We saw an immediate improvement in Bela. The "dead" look in her eyes is gone, and she became much more interested in just about everything. And wonder of wonders, we took both girls to the dog park one day, and Bela suddenly started barking! I think she was lonely being an only dog (she is a former puppy mill mama), since she was raised with a number of other dogs. She has become a happy, tail-wagging nuisance, and I wouldn't have it any other way. She continues to improve on a daily basis. She is a completely different dog. I believe she was depressed at not having any other canine company. They sleep curled up next to each other.

I've had pancreatitis and had my gall bladder removed as well. Any gall bladder problems will make it almost impossible to digest any kind of fat. That may be a problem with your Max. Plus, pancreatitis is a PAINFUL condition that may be affecting his mood.

I'm just trying to make the point that sometimes it's not got anything to do with diet or medications - it's just loneliness or any number of other environmental or emotional problems.

Keep us posted on Max's progress. It was like a miracle to me the first time Bela barked and wagged her tail. Now, she's trying to play but has absolutely no idea how - but she wants to desperately!
 
Lynnel said:
The sheltie rescue people told me last night to stop the string beans because of the roughage. Just meat and rice or pasta. And to give the largestortion in the am and split the others for lunch and dinner.
How did you know it was a parasite that caused the pancreatitis? We'll get through this, we have a large group of people who care.
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I don't actually know that the parasite caused his pancreas damage... it's just that it all went hand in hand. He arrived home with a parasite (a nasty one called coccidia). He was on meds (the breeder sent him to me with the meds). Those meds seemed to keep the parasite at bay, but never really got rid of the parasite. As soon as the meds were done, it came back full force. So another round of meds… this time a stronger dose… and the parasite was gone. BUT… I think that the combination of those meds and rich food (Blue Buffalo) really did a number on his system. No matter how carefully and slowly I tried to wean him off the chicken and rice, it was back to square one after a few days.

I have done a lot of reading about pancreas troubles in dogs.

#1. there is an opionion out there that shelties are known for this trouble. (I know that there are lots of differing opinions… but when I read things like that, consider my own experience and then read about all the tummy troubles of the other dogs on this board… I'm inclined to think that shelties are predisposed to tummy troubles)

#2. the more often the pancreas "flares up", the more damaged it becomes and can lead to life-long pancreas problems.

I'm pretty sure that #2 is the case with my Miko. Every tummy issue he had in the first couple of months was thought to be a result of the parasite… it never occurred to me that it could be diet. (nor did it occur to the vet!) So he just kept worming him, and giving him meds to kill the parasite… and all the while I was hurting him with food :( The damage is done now… he can't handle fatty foods and will likely be that way for his entire life. (he's 17mos old now)

I know when I've made a mistake and upset his tummy because he's completely not himself. He's lethargic… quiet… and pants a lot (panting can be a sign of pain). Luckily, I'm aware of the issue now and rarely make mistakes with his diet and if I do, I recognize the results right away and can make the appropriate adjustments by the next meal. He's rarely uncomfortable for long.

Anyway… I think the sheltie rescue folks are pointing you in the right direction. Cooked rice and some low fat meat should have him feeling better soon. You can add in a bit of low fat yogurt or cottage cheese too if he likes it. (Miko loves it!)

Again, best of luck!!
 
Tummy

This is what is great about the forum, unfortunetely the vvets don't read the way we do, and through no fault of our own we learn the hard way. Food has always been an issue with max in trying to figure out hia problema when we rescued him and we too had him on rich food for his allergies! So back to basics and with the network i have niw, i have high hopes for my max. When things calm down its holistic doc for us.
Do you know a better way to give meds beside sweet potato pie and cream cheese!
Good luck with you love too, when you care the way you do he will be fine.
 
Max

Diet diet diet. SheltieChe is giving valuable information here as are the others on the site.

Keep away from packaged foods, canned foods especially SD. Raw is best, chicken, pork, fish, potatos sweet and white, vegetables.

It is good that you are reading up on sheltie diseases. Gall bladder disease can lead to kidney disease and our shelties are prone to diseases of the gall bladder and the way to off set that is by a raw diet. I cook (boil) my meats and cook my other ingredients. It might be a little more but the savings in vets bills is well worth it all.

You and I are in South Jersey, chicken is oft on sale at Shoprite for 1.29 a lb. Cook it up and freeze it (no skin) My Harper Lee is a sixteen pound tri girl who is thriving on this diet we feed 2/3 cup potato mix and 1/4 meat mix twice a day. Her weight is perfect. We lost her brother Seamus to liver disease that started by gall bladder complications. Had I found this diet before and utilized it this may not have been true.

I don't relate this info to alarm, rather to inform.

Best to you and Max,

Kate
 
Thanks kate, for your help, i am now ,aking chicken and rice. Unfortunetly max is over weight by ten lbs, so i 'm watching everything, it get hypo allergetic treats plus i'm making sweet potatoe treats, i will be starting him om probiotics tobstart them switch over to holistic medication, since his scratching is getting worse eacg time they chane his meds. His immune system is taking a beating and i' m ready for a holistic change. I look at max and he seems more lethargic and the scratvhing is oit of control!
 
Lynnel said:
Thanks kate, for your help, i am now ,aking chicken and rice. Unfortunetly max is over weight by ten lbs, so i 'm watching everything, it get hypo allergetic treats plus i'm making sweet potatoe treats, i will be starting him om probiotics tobstart them switch over to holistic medication, since his scratching is getting worse eacg time they chane his meds. His immune system is taking a beating and i' m ready for a holistic change. I look at max and he seems more lethargic and the scratvhing is oit of control!
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I'm sure we'd all be pretty lethargic and subdued if we were itchy all the time too :( I hope you can get to the bottom of his issues very soon. Poor guy!!
 
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