Hi
hope someone can give me a bit advice for a friend she has a rough collie bitch aged 6, she started having bad dioreah, so was taken to the vet, vet said everything was fine, then yesterday morning around 4 am she could not get up and walk as if back end had given way, she was rushed to the vet given a scan, that was all clear, she was kept in and put on a drip and given anantibiotic injection, vet phoned back a few hours later, said she can go home as she was able to move around a bit and looked a little brighter, and given a course of antibiotics to take home to give to the dog. i spoke the my friend about 4.30 yesterday and you could hear the dog crying, she took the dog back to the vet straight away, and said it looked like she had addisons (spelling), and gave her a pain killer injection, she was to go back this morning for a check , now the vet doesn't think it was addison's but it is her pancreas, and told to feed her fish and rice only, the dog is able to walk now not as normal as she was, she can't sit, and can only lie down the vet said that was something to do with the pain she is experiencing,, has anyone had a dog with pancreas problems ? and what low fat diet should the dog have apart from fish and rice if there is any, if anyone can give me any information to pass onto my friend that would be a great help, as she is beside herself.
thanks
she also had bloods done and they all came back fine, just showed her blood sugar level was up and her colestrol was up.

Hi Violet-Anne,

I'd advise your friend to ask for specific bloods to test for each of Addison (ACTH stimulation test which requires the dog to stay for a couple of hours NB this is the only blood test to accurately determine Addison's) and also for EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency).  Neither of these illnesses can afford to have a vague diagnosis nor can they afford to be overlooked because they won't show up on a regular blood panel.   The dietary needs are very specific - for eg. in EPI without added enzymes to the food the dog will die.

I hope she gets a definitive diagnosis  - preferably clear of the above but nevertheless better to know now and for the appropriate treatment to commence.  Both are incurable but manageable conditions providing treatment is prompt.

If needed your friend may find this link useful http://www.addisondogs.com/support/group.html   I also have, somewhere, an address for a yahoo group on EPI which again could prove to be a source of useful information and support if required - will try and find it for you.   Good luck, Teri :)

EDITED TO ADD:  here is EPI group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/k9-EPIGLOBAL/  :)

thanks teri

i have printed out what you have said for her to ask her vet to do, can you suggest any low fat diets that she can give the dog.

thanks for your help
violet-anne

Hi again,

Until such times as she has a more accurate diagnosis, I would stick to something home prepared such as white fish with either potatoes or rice (I personally prefer potato as grains can be an irritant).  A diet for dogs with pancreatic disorders generally has to be high in quality but low in fat and very easily digestible.  Too much fibre in a diet for pancreatic problems is also an issue which needs to be addressed.

If the dog has EPI, (and that is only one, albeit very severe pancreatic condition) there are a couple of members currently going through this too who will be able to advise on what they are finding most successful but as with any food even in a healthy dog, what suits one will not necessarily suit another and regular monitoring of diet is essential.

I think there is also someone on the board with a dog who has been diagnosed with Addison's.  I have a few links which may be of use but to be honest am loathe to go too far down this route without your friend's vet having discussed matters further with her.  I don't want this to come across as a diagnosis - that's definitely not within my remit ;)  but should she need further suggestions after speaking to her vet I'm sure a few members will be able to assist.

Good luck and best wishes for a favourable outcome for your friend's dog.  Teri :)

Should the dog go a bit fussy on her while awaiting results, cottage cheese is an excellent alternative protein to fish - buy the highest quality and lowest fat option.   The dog may be able to eat chicken - however some dogs with pancreatic problems can develop an intolerance to poultry.   Teri

Hi Teri,
thanks for the advice, your opinion certainly has not been taken as a diagnosis, she will have to speak further to her vet, all i said i would do was try to find out as much info as i could as she has no acess to the internet, you have been very helpfull with your advice, she was told not to give chicken as it has more fat than fish, just give her fish and rice, but will let her know about the cottage cheese .

many thanks
violet-anne

Hi again, as your friend doesn't have access to the net, here are a couple of links that you could maybe print off for her. 

[link]http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/deaddisons.html/[link]

http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/depancrea.html[/link]

both the same site and doesn't unfortunately have a separate section covering EPI but the pancreatitis one should be useful to her as a general guideline.

Teri :)

thanks teri.
i have tried to find and print as much info as i can for her and posted them to her so she should get them tommorow, as she stays about 50 miles from me. so hopefully there will be something in there to help her understand it a bit more.she is going to phone later on to see what i have managed to find for her.

once again thanks for the info you have provided

violet-anne

Hi Sorry to hear about your friends dog being ill, I have a dog who has Pancreatitus she's had it for about 5 years, she has good days and bad days you never know how she will be from one day to the next.

The food she is on is DIGESTIVE LOW FAT this is the only food she can tolerate and can only be got from the vet on prescription it's made by Waltham.

She also gets bouts of Colitus and has developed stomach ulcers and is now on Cimetidine for life, this is I believe from the the long term effects of the Pancreatitus.  I have to also keep stress levels down to a minimum or this will make her illness worse.

I know it sounds bad but if you learn to manage the illness and if you know your dogs likes or dislikes you can make her/his life comfortable.

Hope this helps

Thanks Schiplab
i will pass the information on to her about the food, and about the stress levels being kept to a minimum

thanks again
violet-anne

Violet-Anne, I read your PM before I read this thread! My heart really goes out to your friend, esapcially as it is a Rough Collie.  I had Collies before my Flatcoats!
I have PM'd you with the details you requested.  Please let me know how you go on, fingers crossed for you :)

Thanks for the info hopevalley i will pass it on.

Hi Violet-Anne,

Any news on your friend's dog?  Has she had the tests done and if so what were the results?

regards, Teri :)

Any news? XX

have PMD you

have PMD you

You're a star, thanx.  Everything crossed, Teri :)