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Help with my mini schnauzer, wasting away, undiagnosed illness

57 replies

ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 03:47

My Schnauzer has been poorly with diarrhoea and occasional vomiting since March. She has lost catastrophic amounts of weight now, rapudly so in the last few weeks. She is on high dose Steroids and a chemo drug, protexin too. She is dying. I am absolutely desperate. She's 10, rescued from a puppy farm 4 years ago having been a bredding bitch, she was a terrible mess, I've nursed her to health and now this. Vets have tried everything, done every test including biopsies. She's seen European level internal medicine specialists, nothing else can be done as no cause is found. We're treating her for chronic ibd, but she has no diagnosis. She is not absorbing any nutrition from her food. I am in despair. Any advice? She's on Arden Grange white fish and potato, extra boiled fish on top, all good and the diarrhoea has subsided but she is still dropping, her weight chart looks like a cliff. Help.

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ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 03:50

She started a chemo drug in Thursday morning, if after 3 weeks she hasn't gained weight the vets think that is the point where we should put her to sleep. I don't want to lose my beautiful girl. Please anyone help.

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NutsandPuffs · 01/11/2021 03:54

Sorry to hear of your poor puppy, it's so hard for you to see her like this. I don't have any magic answers but a few thoughts...

Is she having vitamin!12 supplements? Imperative if she is deficient. If not I would strongly recommend to speak to your vet about this (it may have been she has been tested and found to be normal)

Is she on a good quality veterinary probiotic?eg. Fortiflora

Good luck!

ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 03:57

Never heard of Fortiflora, I'll call them about it. Thank you. She has had the entire Ibex catalogue (according to my vet). She is so so thin. It's horrible. I love her so much

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NutsandPuffs · 01/11/2021 04:02

Ok sounds good, and just double ck with your vet about b12 just in case - I'm sure they've checked it already but no harm in asking. Fortiflora tastes yummy and is an excellent probiotic.

ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 04:03

I'll ask about b12, I suspect not deficient though. She's had every test going. Tomorrow morning I am going to try to get onto the RCVS. I can't lose her. I just can't. She had such a crap start in life but she is the gentlest little soul.

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Kanaloa · 01/11/2021 04:03

I’m so sorry, this sounds awful. If she doesn’t improve I’d agree being pts seems like the best option - she is ten years old and has had some good years with you, I bet they seem even better to her because she had a rubbish start in life.

Is it just one vet you’ve been seeing? I might be staying the obvious and sounding stupid but perhaps visiting another for a second opinion just to set your mind at ease.

StarCat2020 · 01/11/2021 04:05

I wish I could help you but I can only offer you my best wishes.

I have an elderly cat and the thought of something happening to her is awful.

Some of the other PP had some new ideas so that could be hopeful.

Good luck for you and your dog!

ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 04:08

We've seen specialists at a referral vets. Got to be honest they haven't been brilliant once it became clear all the usual things have been ruled out, very wishy washy, difficult to get solid answers (they're the experts but we're so vague, repeated a load of tests, set us back 3 months if I'm honest). Local vets have been brilliant though, but we're now outside of evidence based medicine with the chemo drug she's on. She just ain't getting anything from her food, it might as well be air for all the good it's doing her.

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ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 04:10

Thank you starcat2020x

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ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 04:15

I think I lost that post.. Sorry. Its the not knowing what is happening, why she is wasting away that is hurting so much. If I knew why I could maybe help her. I have a typo above, it's 2 weeks not 3 weeks. So I have really got another 10 or so days to keep trying things. She is my world. Her age is a guesstimate because when she was rescued she was estimated to be 6 because she was in such a mess. I think she is younger as she has such young eyes.

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ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 04:21

If anyone has had anything similar, please contact me.

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momiamarichman · 01/11/2021 04:25

Not a vet but I have a mini schnauzer of my own so desperate to help you! Have they looked in-depth at her pancreas or small bowel? Just as incidents of intestinal malabsorption tend to occur from disorders within those organs.

I'm sure you've probably read this article and spent hours on the internet but it provides quite a good explanation and potential reasons and treatments for the symptoms your dog is suffering with.

Have parasites been ruled out? You haven't traveled anywhere out of your normal area with her shortly before symptoms began? No ticks?

https://wagwalking.com/condition/intestinal-malabsorption#symptoms

I'm so sorry you're experiencing this Sad

ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 04:32

I'll look again at that article thanks, I've read everything, she doesn't seem to fit any patterns, everything is negative or inconclusive. The only test we can't do now is a full piece of the bowel wall taken for testing (it's more involved than the biopsy) be use the Steroids will affect the result. Reading the you posted article right now. Thank you x

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momiamarichman · 01/11/2021 04:32

Also some natural yogurt might help provide some great probiotics? If tolerated by your pup of course. The full fat version might be too rich but still good to try for the calories!

Have your vets looked into 'villous atrophy' (it's an issue with the villi found within the stomach that help absorb food)

I've attached a few paragraphs that seemed interesting and something to rule out/make sure has already been ruled out. As mentioned above, B12 seems to be quite key in treating some issues.

Help with my mini schnauzer, wasting away, undiagnosed illness
Help with my mini schnauzer, wasting away, undiagnosed illness
ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 04:32

I'll go over all suggestions with my vet.

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momiamarichman · 01/11/2021 04:33

@ClementineWardobe

I'll look again at that article thanks, I've read everything, she doesn't seem to fit any patterns, everything is negative or inconclusive. The only test we can't do now is a full piece of the bowel wall taken for testing (it's more involved than the biopsy) be use the Steroids will affect the result. Reading the you posted article right now. Thank you x
I'm sure you've read everything ten times over by now! I'd have done the same Sad

Your pup is lucky she has you fighting for her. Thanks

momiamarichman · 01/11/2021 04:34

@ClementineWardobe

I'll go over all suggestions with my vet.
Good plan! Don't feel afraid to question them and bring things in from google, if they're good vets they will take it on board and investigate all suggestions.
ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 04:38

I'd read the wag walking article, we're at the Chemo drug stage, but she has had no diagnosis at all to back any of it up. I am absolutely in despair.

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HoppingPavlova · 01/11/2021 04:39

I have no suggestions OP, just a shout of support for an extremely crap situation, and I wish you both the best and have fingers crossed Flowers.

ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 04:40

And my god I am fighting for her. She is so brave and gentle and doesn't deserve this.

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HoppingPavlova · 01/11/2021 04:46

She is so lucky to have you, and even should the worst transpire, she would have had wonderful years with you. Cut short and unfair, but you can see how lucky she is to have had her ‘new life’ with you. Again, hoping for the best but if not please take comfort in what you did bring to her life and animals know this, they can tell.

MissMarpleRocks · 01/11/2021 04:46

I’m sorry to hear this.

I’m sure the vets have tested but have they checked her pancreas? Our girl was a rescue & it was found she had pancreatitis after a while.

Also a bit random but she was very unwell recently, as were other dogs in this area, with harvest mites.

ClementineWardobe · 01/11/2021 04:48

Thank you all, and hoppingpavlova, I can't lose her. I just can't.

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Perching · 01/11/2021 04:49

Diabetes?
So sorry for you and your pup x

lydia2021 · 01/11/2021 04:53

Just wondered... have you emailed the Supervet, Noel Fitzpatrick. He might have come across a dog with similar symptoms before.. worth a try.. bless her, I hope you find help soon. My dog wasted away with Ketoacidosis, a muscle wasting illness