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Original poster

Pancreatitis for over a week, should I prepare to say goodbye to my dog?

32 replies

Chandra · 31/03/2007 23:15

That's it, nothing else. Has not been able to eat or drink since sunday last week. Has been in a drip for 3 days, they let her come home yesterday and after a mouthful of rice she has been vomiting all the night . Took her back to vet today and he kept her in, he also said that there's not much else to be done but to keep her on a drip and see if her pancreas heals itself.

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friendlyedjit · 31/03/2007 23:42

so sorry sounds all so final, hope though she's comfortable and that she gets to come home
its always so hard when a family member is poorly.

Thinkstoomuch · 31/03/2007 23:49

So sorry to hear this. It must be absolutely horrible for you and your poor dog.

I don't have much positive to offer. My mum's dog had a bout of pancreatitis about six weeks ago and seemed at death's door. But she did recover with treatment from the vet. However she was never herself again, it had weakened her and she was showing her age more. Then quite suddenly last week she died of a heart attack. I'm sorry, that probably doesn't help you, but I guess I'm saying yes you should probably try to prepare yourself and do all you can to make her feel comfortable and loved.

But sending you lots of wishes that she pulls through.

PrincessPeaHead · 31/03/2007 23:50

oh chandra I'm really sorry. sounds horrible for her. And you. x

Chocadora · 31/03/2007 23:54

I'm sorry. Tough decision ahead. Be brave.

Original poster

Chandra · 01/04/2007 10:38

I have been doing a bit of reading and most things said that the only thing left to do was to starve her for some days to avoid stimulating the pancreas more, and wait to see what happens.

This morning the nurse rang to say dog was doing OK, no more vomiting, and that she was going to put her on "liquid food" to see if she could keep it in. As soon as she hang up the phone I realised this could kill her as she was not even able to hold water in without problems yesterday (or better said, all last week), forget about the food. I keep ringing the phone she used, but got just the answering machine (with no facility to leave messages), rang the emergency service and was forwarded to another vet from another practice, no way to contact the vets, I even drove there to see if she was still there, but nothing and... I'm terrified at what the 4:00 pm ring will bring

OP posts:

Thinkstoomuch · 01/04/2007 10:48

Horrible for you, but try to stay calm. Presumably they can't make her drink if she doesn't want to anyway?

Original poster

Chandra · 01/04/2007 10:54

Can't they put a tube through? that's what I'm afraid of .

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Thinkstoomuch · 01/04/2007 11:02

By 'liquid food' I guess she could mean very bland mushed up food or she might even mean a drip again. I would hope that they would know, since it's a readmission, that they have to take it in very small steps so as not to put too much strain on her. Are you still trying to call? They must stay there in the building to monitor the animals presumably - did you try banging on the door?

Original poster

Chandra · 01/04/2007 12:55

There's nobody there, they told me they check them up at intervals during the weekends. Nurse is due to return at 4:00.

What worries me is that first doctor that treated her missed the pancreatitis and even was considering "opening her up" to see if there was an obstruction. Second doctor (who is one of the seniors) realised about the pancreatitis when he checked her file on Saturday -and had another doctor come in to confirm-, what I'm afraid is that the last diagnosis may have been overlooked particularly if my dog is back into the care of the previous doctor.

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Original poster

Chandra · 01/04/2007 15:18

one hour to go ....

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PrincessPeaHead · 01/04/2007 17:14

oh dear chandra - what is the news? so frustrating and worrying for you.

Spidermama · 01/04/2007 17:19

Hi Chandra. Thinking about you. I hope you're OK.

For a few weeks before my dog died I liquidised his favourite food and squirted down his throad with a turkey baster. It sounds crazy now. I wish I hadn't. I think he was just ready to slip away and we weren't letting him.

It's very painful to watch though.

All the best. xx

Original poster

Chandra · 01/04/2007 18:34

ok, have spoke to the nurse, dog is fine (has refused to eat, she only had a tiny bit), I have mentioned about the pancreatitis and the instructions of the doctor on Sat about not to give the dog food or liquids, nurse said the doctor had given instructions for the food but then she said the doctor who gave the instructions is a different doctor (the one who missed the pancreatitis through out the week). She has asked me to ring tomorrow and talk to the doctor again. But in the mean time, she is OK. Thanks for your posts

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wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 02/04/2007 14:51

chandra sorry to read this. How's she doing now?

Don't know if this is of any help... my dog had severe pancreatitis about 18 months ago. She spent three days on a drip and then was sick again as soon as she came home. She was re-admitted and put back on a drip and they did x-ray and endoscopy to see if she had an obstruction. She didn't, but at the same time they did a micro biopsi of the stomach lining, and this showed that she had a micro bacteria, and I can for the life of me not remember what it was called, but basically it's a bacteria that burrows into the stomach lining and causes illness. This can coincide with pancreatitis. The treatment was a two week course of two lots of anti biotics and antacids. It's definitely worth asking your vet if this is also a possibility, as even if the pancreatic hormone levels (whatever they're called) are back to normal, if she has this bacteria also she will continue to be sick.

I was convinced my dog was going to end up dying, or that I was going to have to make the decision to have her put to sleep, something which I would have found doubly devostating as she was my first guide dog, but she bounced back and is now perfectly healthy (she's 12 years old now). I had to change her diet after but she is perfectly ok now.

hth

Original poster

Chandra · 02/04/2007 15:07

Thanks Wannabe, I talked to the vet a few hours ago and they told me they will keep her in antibiotics (guess because of the possibility of the bacteria you talk about), the drip and if things get worse they would... what's the word... anyways feed her directly to the intestines to avoid stimulating the pancreas.

It may sound strange, but the fact they are still considering so many extra things has given me some hope.

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Thinkstoomuch · 02/04/2007 21:14

Keeping fingers crossed for you. x

Rumpel · 02/04/2007 21:26

Chandra - my DH's parent's dog had pancreatitis a couple of times, first one was really serious (he wouldn't have got it again but they stupidly gave him nuts or titbits one night with fat in them so he was back at the vets'). It is now 8 years on and he is positively ancient by his breeds standards now. He is fine as long as he sticks to his diet and takes his pancreatic enzymes with his food.

Fingers crossed for you though.

Original poster

Chandra · 02/04/2007 23:25

Thanks for your posts, I went to see her this afternoon and although skinny she was full of energy, jumping and in general very happy to see us. Which is fantastic, the nurse told me they will starve her for another 24 hrs before introducing food and will take it from there. So positive news, at last, although... she was perfect before the spoonful of boiled rice on Friday that send her back to square one

But hopefully, she will be fine

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PrincessPeaHead · 03/04/2007 12:14

so glad to hear it chandra - keep us posted?

wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 03/04/2007 12:23

glad she seems better Chandra.

One thing I noticed with my dog after she'd come home, if she ever seemed to feel sick etc she would refuse her food. it's as if she knows that if she eats it'll make her sick. she's a lab and had never refused food before this - ever. so I would just take the food away and feed her later. Fingers crossed she hasn't actually done this for some time now, so think the healing process did take a long time.

friendlyedjit · 03/04/2007 15:55

fab...finger's crossed

Original poster

Chandra · 03/04/2007 16:00

Thanks again, she has had her rice and so far no vomiting, so that's good news, they will introduce the normal food this afternoon and we'll see what happens. But (fingercrossed) everything will be OK

Thank you.

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piglit · 03/04/2007 16:03

My parents dog has this and she is fine now. She has to have a very low fat/fat free diet so she has lots of fish and rice. Since the diagnosis and change in diet she's been much better and back to her happy old self.

I hope it all works out for you.

PrincessPeaHead · 03/04/2007 19:33

that sounds like really good news chandra... hurrah!

Spidermama · 03/04/2007 19:50

Chandra this is really good news.

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