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Hi,:wave: I have been uploading photos to this site , some in the puppy section, members gallery and funny photos.....,and have a post on rainbow bridge in Jessie's memory. I have been enjoying reading the interesting posts and viewing the great photo gallery of all the handsome and beautiful retrievers, They are a breed like no other!!....as you would all agree!!!I would like to introduce myself and my 2 retrievers Asha 4 and Hudson 5 and half months. We live in Port Lincoln South Australia.
I am wondering if any members have had any experience or heard of pancreatitis in dogs, I hadn't ...........until Asha became very sick a year ago and was diagnosed with it.The vet told me it is a condition which is usually related to overweight, older dogs,who are poorly exercised, and have a poor diet, ie..fatty foods and table scraps,..... none of which related to Asha who was 3 at the time. She had symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea,generally unwell, depressed, no appetite and in a great deal of pain as time went on and the blood tests revealed what the vet had diagonsed.We have no clue as to why she got this.
She was able to be nursed at home( I took a week off work to nurse and be with her) as she was going to be much more comfortable and loved at home, One night she was in so much pain and very unsettled I had her by our bed , but ended up laying on the carpet with her holding her paw,comforting her until she eventually settled.We were extremely worried about her that night!!!!
I visited the vet daily and they gave me antibiotics initially and she had to be on a drip as she was dehydrated,..which I administered at home, as she did not eat or hardly drank for 6 days. The levels in her pancreas were very high. The pancreas only recovers with rest and no food. She eventually began to eat again on a strict convalescing diet prescribed by the vet, and now is on Royal Cannin low fat dry food and 1/2 low fat wet canned food..... both especially designed for this condition. She did take several weeks to get back to her old self and energy levels.
After an attack like this dogs are diagnosed as having acute pancreatis, which can reoccur....so diet must be strictly low fat.
Asha had been good and her condition under control, but has had small symptoms reoccurring.... I decided to research sites and find a natural approach to help to control her symptoms, and found a naturapath, who did an on-line consultation for me. She did a very informative report.....and options for Asha, and she is now on a human enzyme daily for her pancreas, she agreed her diet of Royal cannin was acceptable, but did give other natural raw options,( much harder to manage and introduce)No beef bones only skinless chicken wings ..raw one a day. She can tolerate a small raw beef bone, occasionally.... but I buy premium, meaty ,non fatty bones and take the marrow out. Also the naturapath suggested to add to her drinking water liquid Chlorophyll (internal cleanser and tonic)and organic apple cider vinegar, these things aid her digestion also.
Anyway that's the story, Today Asha is going well, loves the beach with a passion and swimming, and enjoys her new buddy Hudson.
Look forward to hearing other members stories!!
Bye :wave:
Ann
'Dogs are Miracles with Paws'
