The vet from the referral centre has just rung me to say Milos results were very interesting. They showed extensive inflamation of the stomach and part of the intestines, also thickening, which points to having this problem for years rather than months. It pointed to two things it could be but the one he feels it is, is the allergy problems and his allergic reactions to pratically everything.
He said he cannot rule out bleeding in other parts that they couldn't reach with the endoscope, but the only way they can check for that is to open him up and neither of us want to go down that route yet, unless we cannot get him some relief some other way first.
He said I was right to stop the diet he gave me after Milos severe reaction to it, and to continue with the diet I have put him onto, also to continue with the Zantac.
He said now they would normally hit this with steroids to get down the inflamation but as Milo is allergic to steroids it has the oppisite effect with him. So another drug was spoken about which he said works in the same way (cyclosporin) sp, but we would have to start him on a very very low dose as it is known to cause some stomach upsets. If he tolerates a low dose hopefully we will be able to build it up from there. If not thinking caps will go back on.
He is writing to my vet this weekend so they get the letter Monday to get them to give me some more Zantac (not sure about the cyclosporin ) and I am to keep him on that and the diet I have put him on for the next two weeks and then ring him to let him know how Milo is getting on and coping with it.
He said if Milo starts to go downhill in the meantime then to ring him immeadiatly before then.
Also milo is never to have another vaccination as he feels his puppy vacs may even have been the cause of this as to the timing of the puppy vaccs and results of a blood test done a couple of weeks later when he seemed off colour.
We had a very interesting talk about vaccinations too and he said although important there is a lot more long term problems from them than the vaccination manufacturers will admit to, and the lepto jab doesn't last much more than 3 months in the system anyway although the manufacturers of that are now looking at that problem and the strains that it is covering and not covering.
He reccomends dogs that swim in ponds and lakes have lepto, to try and safeguard but said for others it is not really of any use especially as they are covered for such a short time.
Anyway I will update you if anything changes or if all goes well when I speak to the referral vet next.
Thanks for all your support through this. We are still very far from being out of the woods yet, but hopefully now we know more we can try and find something to help my little boy.

Hi Bev and thanks for the update.  I hope the new drug treatment will be successful, keeping fingers crossed and sending healing thoughts to you both.

I do hope everything works out for Milo,Bev.I'll be thinking of you both.x

its sounding more positive at least :) best of luck with the new drug regime

Fingers still crossed for you and Milo.  Thanks for letting us all know.  Jean

Cyclosporin is Atopica I think...?

Best of luck with him x

Yes it is Atopica.

Glad you've got some solid results to work on. It almost sounds like a dog version of Crohn's or something similar? I hope that you get some positive results with the cyclosporin. Thanks for letting us know the latest. Milo is a brave boy.

Milo is sitting her on my lap and I have tears streaming down my face, we have just been having cuddles and I just so want him to be well again.
The more I think about my discussion with the vet the more vague the diagnosis seems.
I already knew he had the problems because of allergies, all I have really found out is how badly inflamed his stomach and intestines are and thats definetly where the bleeding is coming from.
I have been working on his food allergies for 4 years now for goodness sake and my poor little boy is suffering so much. Its just breaking my heart to see him like this, he is so sweet natured and gentle with everyone one and everything there is not a nasty bone in his body he doesn't deserve it and all he has been through.
I'm feeling really down and despondent now and I can't stop crying. Its all so unfair.
I love him so much I just want him to be able to lead a pain free happy normal life, is that too much to ask.

I already knew he had the problems because of allergies, all I have really found out is how badly inflamed his stomach and intestines are and thats definetly where the bleeding is coming from.

Oh Bev, I really feel for you because I know that all you want is a happy, healthy boy.  That's always my reservations about all these invasive tests, they rarely come up with anything that improves the quality of life. :(  Enjoy your cuddles. :)

I'm so sorry, I'm sure Milo knows how much you love him and just want him better.

bevb,

If it is a purely allergic reaction they should be able to isolate it, but it sounds as though you've done a lot of diet exclusion testing already. If it is some kind of autoimmune condition, Crohn's/inflammatory bowel disease,  then it is about long-term management. I'm just guessing, hopefully your specialist will be able to tell you more.

Really you are doing the best you can in very difficult territory because so little is known about how the immune system works and exactly what happens when it goes wrong. I really feel for you because you want to help Milo and have no ready answers. Just try to take a deep breath, step back a bit and accept you are doing all you can. We can't always control events and that hurts.

I hope I don't sound patronising because It is clear you are going through a tough time and none of us would want to be in your shoes, but there is no point beating yourself up about things that you cannot control.