Wow that is fast Dan, but either way I can wait 3-4 weeks, maybe even 5 ..LOL. His parents are both clear, I am doingthis for peace of mind as well as one more dog tested theory..the more in the system the better.
My Haley has Fanconi…........
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Day 2 wasn't quite as easy as day 1, but not too bad as far as the pills go. She turned her nose up at the prescription dog food, though….both this morning and tonight. She woofed (heehee) it down yesterday. She tends to be a picky little eater normally.
Here are two odd things I've noticed today:
1. For a couple of months now her coat has not looked good. Seems like her fur is really thinning out. It's been dull and just doesn't feel normal when I pet her. BUT, today it feels much softer......noticibly...and appears a little shiny! I asked the vet if one or two days of vitamins, etc. could make a difference and he said probably not. So....weird.....don't know, but it feels great to pet her now.
2. Suddenly she's very pink on her little belly and any place that doesn't have much fur on it.....like arm-pits and the white part of her muzzle. Kind of like she's flushed or something. She doesn't seem sick at all, but her belly is a little warm. It doesn't seem to itch, but now and then when I've petted her belly for a little while, she'll yelp a little like I hit something that hurts. She did have urine removed from her bladder with a needle on monday morning....so there may be an internal bruise or something. Regarding the pink skin, the vet said she could be reacting to one of the supplements or something in the new Rx dog food. He said I should feed her our normal way (not the Rx food) for a few days and see if the pink goes away. Anybody out there ever seen this pink skin after starting vitamins and supplements or new food?
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i have not experienced anything like what you described with the pink on the belly. hopefully someone else can chime in. You could also post on the yahoo fanconi group and see if anyone there has seen it.
Tayda is a really picky eater - I switched to feeding her once a day, she seemed to be more consistant when I did that. Like it gave her more time to get hungry or something. I prefer to feed twice a day but I got sick of trying to get her to eat for like 1/2 hour in the morning - and usually she only ate about 1/4 of what i'd give her after all that effort.
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Thank you, Thank you, Thank you everyone. Your comments, advice, and support are so valuable to me. Believe me, I am reading and noting everything you say. I look forward to signing on each day in case someone has posted something. I'M PITIFUL
but VERY appreciative!!!!! -
Anytime! The advice isn't free though! You must pay us by posting pictures of little Haley!
Just kidding, obviously, but would love to see pics!
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What prescription food are you feeding? What are the ingredients? My first thought would be a corn allergy or a grain allergy.
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i have not experienced anything like what you described with the pink on the belly. hopefully someone else can chime in. You could also post on the yahoo fanconi group and see if anyone there has seen it.
Tayda is a really picky eater - I switched to feeding her once a day, she seemed to be more consistant when I did that. Like it gave her more time to get hungry or something. I prefer to feed twice a day but I got sick of trying to get her to eat for like 1/2 hour in the morning - and usually she only ate about 1/4 of what i'd give her after all that effort.
Good idea….I'll try the once a day feeding. I should make it at a different time than when I'm giving her 10 to 12 pills that are coated in yams or other food.
I tried to get accepted into the Yahoo Fanconi Group and also the group I saw on this forum.....but haven't heard anything back yet. I'll try again. Thanx!
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Anytime! The advice isn't free though! You must pay us by posting pictures of little Haley!
Just kidding, obviously, but would love to see pics!
Too funny! But, OK…..you may be sorry!!!
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Anytime! The advice isn't free though! You must pay us by posting pictures of little Haley!
Just kidding, obviously, but would love to see pics!
Oh I just saw some pics in your user profile. She's adorable, love the fairy costume and Prince is very handsome! Lovely pair you have there!
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Re: The yahoo fanconi group,
I bet the moderator is just busy with Thanksgiving stuff - I'm sure they'll get to your membership soon! There's tons of good advice there so I'll look forward to seeing your welcome post shortly!
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Good idea….I'll try the once a day feeding. I should make it at a different time than when I'm giving her 10 to 12 pills that are coated in yams or other food.
Yeah, try it and see how it goes - in general - feeding twice a day helps to reduce the bile throw up from empty stomach… and if she takes pills on an empty stomach it might not sit well with her, but maybe she'll be fine with it. keep trying things until you find something that works. something will work. I pill tayda in the morning before i go to work, and just give her a few baby carrots, or a little pasta or rice (she has to be on a low protein diet cause of her high BUN/CREATININE) so that her stomach isn't empty. she gobbles those things up. then when i get home I feed and pill separately. Seems to work so far....
So how are Haleys kidneys doing besides the Fanconi? Is her BUN/Creatinine under control? What food did your vet recommend?
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What prescription food are you feeding? What are the ingredients? My first thought would be a corn allergy or a grain allergy.
It's Royal Canin Renal MP….....low/medium protein because we are expecting that her kidneys are involved or that she also has a kidney infection. I'll know the answer to that when we get the results of the urine culture - probably Friday.
The DRY FOOD has rice, corn, wheat, chicken meal and fat, egg, oil and lots of vitamins and stuff.
The WET Food has meat by-products, water, chicken by-products, rice and a bunch of minerals and vitamins.
Doesn't sound appetizing to me.
So, there's lots of grains.....I guess because it's low protein.
Hmmmmm......I wonder if she getting way too much of one or more of the vitamins or minerals since she's also taking Pet-Tabs Plus, Centrum and a potassium supplement per the Fanconi Protocol?
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So how are Haleys kidneys doing besides the Fanconi? Is her BUN/Creatinine under control? What food did your vet recommend?
Her BUN/Creatinine was high as of Friday. I think we'll do another blood gas and urine test in a couple weeks. Friday I'll find out what her urine culture says about kidney involvement, too.
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Tayda is also on a low protein diet cause of her kidneys - I haven't had her on a prescription formula yet… vet hasn't recommended one, Dr. Gonto recommended switching her to a senior diet.... I've fed her all of these with moderate success..
Blue Buffalo Senior - 18% protein
http://www.bluebuff.com/products/dogs/lp-senior-chick.shtmlWellness Senior - 18% protein
http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog_wellness_dry_super5mix_Just_for_seniors.html?page=dog_wellness_dry_super5mix_seniorNutro Ultra Senior - 22% protein
http://www.ultraholistic.com/senior-dog-food-kibble.htmlI also mix in some wet food that is around 8% protein. She only likes the crap wet food so I won't tell you what that is….
Obviously, I'm not a vet or anything, but just wanted to share what foods have worked for my picky little eater that needs low protein. Oh and sometimes i pour some hot water into her food, mix some random things in - like veggies, potatoes, rice, pasta, pumpkin... whatever I have around that is low/no protein. basically, i put more effort into preparing her meal than I do for my own!
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i put more effort into preparing her meal than I do for my own!
ISN'T IT THE TRUTH?!!!!
When my sons come for Christmas they'll say I didn't put THAT much effort into feeding them when they were kids! Which is so NOT true, but that's what they'll say!!!
I'll write down your dog foods…...because the more I think about it, the more I think that the prescription food has too many vitamins and minerals to use while on the Fanconi Protocol that includes a ton of vitamins and minerals. That will be one of my questions to Dr. Gonto.
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You also should have a full thyroid panel done, not just the part that is done with regular blood work. Many times Fanconi affected dogs have very low thyroid which can effect them in a number of different ways with hair coat, things like hives, mood, temperament, eating (or not eating), weight gain or loss… Here is a link about thyroid testing. You should tell your Vet you want the full panel done. Also Dr. Dodds is another one that is happy to talk to people about thyriod problems, test results (even if they are not done through her), and treatment.
http://www.hemopet.org/services.html -
You also should have a full thyroid panel done, not just the part that is done with regular blood work. Many times Fanconi affected dogs have very low thyroid which can effect them in a number of different ways with hair coat, things like hives, mood, temperament, eating (or not eating), weight gain or loss… Here is a link about thyroid testing. You should tell your Vet you want the full panel done. Also Dr. Dodds is another one that is happy to talk to people about thyriod problems, test results (even if they are not done through her), and treatment.
http://www.hemopet.org/services.htmlOK…..I will. Thank you, Pat!
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Haley's urine culture came back and it shows e-coli, for heavens sake! So, we're keeping her on the low protien diet that gives her kidneys a break and adding an antibiotic to the daily regimine for the next couple of weeks.
The twice daily pilling is going pretty good at this point (probably shouldn't have said THAT out loud!!!!) and her appetite seems to be getting a bit better.
She still doesn't know she's sick and continues to antagonize Prince (the BRAT rescue)!
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Haley's urine culture came back and it shows e-coli, for heavens sake! So, we're keeping her on the low protien diet that gives her kidneys a break and adding an antibiotic to the daily regimine for the next couple of weeks.
The twice daily pilling is going pretty good at this point (probably shouldn't have said THAT out loud!!!!) and her appetite seems to be getting a bit better.
She still doesn't know she's sick and continues to antagonize Prince (the BRAT rescue)!
That is great, keep up the good work….. and I am sure she will feel loads better with the antibiotic
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Good to hear that she is doing better..keeping my fingers crossed she will take to the protocol with huge leaps..
is that Prince form TX?..if so he is beautiful…
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Syber-
Did you decide to go with a raw diet? Was just wondering what you decided to feed Haylie. I was also going to say that I'd be hesitant to start a dog on raw if she had some health problems or a compromised immune system. However, I will say that I do not feed raw to my dogs, so I may be biased. I do know many people who feed raw and their dogs do great on it. I think in Haylie's case, if you want to try raw, I'd start with cooked and get her healthy first.
I feed my dogs Evo or Evo/Canidae, but would NOT NOT NOT suggest Evo for a dog with Haylie's health problems.
Anyway, sounds like she's on the upswing and that's great news.
