My dog is home from the hospital!

[Samurai_Writer]

Thanks everyone for all your good thoughts. Magic is home from the hospital after being treated for pancreatitis. He seems to be doing OK, although a little tired and unable to jump up on things (like sofa or car seat). He has 3 pills to take twice a day, and will be on special food for life now. The vet gave me canned Hill Science Diet ID formula for this week, and then he can go on the dry if I want to do that. Does anyone know if this is a good brand for this type of food?

I had to leave him to go to work, about 30 minutes after I got him home. I felt so guilty! But I will be getting off work early to spend more time with him.

Bella

[Lauri16]

1. Glad to hear he's okay!

I use Hill's Science Diet all the time for my cats. It's the only food they get. I also know alot of people that use (not sure if this is spelled right) Eukanuba. Depends on what they like better.

Feel better soon, Magic!:)

[cleofus1]

2. good for you!

I hope he gets better soon!

[xmas74]

3. Glad to hear he's doing well.

[Pool Hall Ace]

4. Hang in there, RFF and Magic!

:hi: Glad he is home from the hospital.

[livetohike]

5. He'll recover faster at home now

:-).

[El Fuego]

6. That's great!!!

I know just having him home with you again is a big relief.

:hi:

[redacted]

7. Science Diet ID/pancreatitis

Both my dog and I have had pancreatitis. It's incredibly painful and potentially life threatening.

While I have some issues with Science Diet -- do not vary from your vet's recommendation. Pancreatitis patients need a very specific diet -- and changes in diet can dramatically hurt their progress or can cause recurrence.

A few months from now when your dog is healed -- you can switch her to a different food. At that time you can PM me for quality--blue dog food brands.

[Samurai_Writer]

8. He's back in the hospital today :(

He would not eat at all when I got him home, and would not take his meds, even if they were in a piece of cheese or some peanut butter. He threw up twice and was very lethargic. The vet said she is going to keep him again at least one more day, push more meds,and see how he does. :(

[redacted]

11. DO NOT GIVE A PANCREATITIS PATIENT PEANUT BUTTER OR CHEESE

Sorry abt the caps but dietary fat is what gives dogs pancreatitis.

I can't beleive your vet didn't tell you that. It could cause serious complications.

Edited to say: you might want to consider another vet. That's a big oversight.

[Samurai_Writer]

13. I was only going to give a tiny amount so he would take a pill

So what do you wrap the pill in so he will take it? He wouldn't eat the cheese or peanut butter anyway.

[redacted]

17. Be very careful.

I don't mean to be harsh or alarm you -- a friend of ours lost her dog to it by being careless and I don't want you to suffer the same fate. Her dog kept getting it over and over again and each tine it was worse. My dog had it a while ago after my husband shared his dinner with her (table scraps can cause it in suspectible dogs). I had it (it was caused by a drug reaction, which is a rare). It takes alot of time and patience to get over sometimes. I was in the hospital fasting for 18 days. It was very very painful, and I could take painkillers -- dogs can't.

Be very careful and take it seriously even if your vet says it's a mild case.

If you do some research online to see how the pancreas works -- you'll understand.

You can buy fat free cheese slices at the grocery store -- they work great. They don't have fat-free lunch meat, but you could give the dog the lowest fat lunch meat you can find -- and just a small amount.

He'll be fine. Give him a big hug for me when he get's home.

[peacebuzzard]

9. Glad he is home. I missed the original post. How did you know it was

pancreatitis?

[redacted]

12. Blood tests will indicate pancreatitis -- lipase and/or amylase high NT

[Sannum]

10. Awww. Hugs to you

It is always so difficult when they are sick. I was more worried when my cat was in the hospital than when my mother was in the hospital!

[enigmatic]

14. Glad to hear this!

Good vibes your way:)

[ps1074]

15. Missed the original thread

But I am so glad Magic is home and recovering. Give him a kiss from me :) I just love dogs...

[KitchenWitch]

16. Science Diet is top of the line!

Very good nutrition for the furry friends.

[redacted]

23. We've used IVD Vegetarian Formula since Sarah had Pancreatitis

and have had no relapses. And these days she gets the IVD kibble instead of both treats and table scraps. We keep a small bowl of it on the table at meals to substitute for scraps.

3 months after her acute attack we were able to add cooked chicken breast, and just recently we've started substituting cooked turkey breast, which has about the same fat content. And a little nonfat chicken broth.

[Rhiannon12866]

18. My beloved Barney had pancreatitis.

The key, if I remember, was a low fat diet, Science Diet W/D and R/D are good examples. I/D, if your vet prescribed it, should be fine. I had this for my cat. That's intestinal diet, and he must have had his reasons. Barney was on Science Diet W/D, which my vet prescribed. And he really did well, never had any more problems. What kind of dog is yours? My Barney was a cocker. And I lost him two years ago, not to this, but because he was at least 18 years old, not that it made things any easier. I still miss him so much, since he was the love of my life. Just be careful with diet and check in with your vet, regularly. This never became a consuming problem with Barney, despite his age. It's totally controllable, through diet. But I always went with canned, since my dogs preferred it. Good luck with this and, please, let me know how you're doing!:hug:

BTW, here's my beloved Barney:

[Samurai_Writer]

19. My dog is a cocker spaniel too.

I've always been very careful in never giving him table scraps, except for a very small slice of cheese occassionally. He would have milk bones every day, but I don't know the fat content in those. Other than that, just normal dog food (dry and occassionally wet).

He wouldn't even touch anything I tried to feed him yesterday, not even the Science Diet ID, which the vet said he ate Monday morning. The vet is supposed to call me today and tell me how he is doing. He's lost about 5 pounds, from 39.5 to 34.2. :(

Here's Magic.

[Rhiannon12866]

22. Oh, what a sweet boy! Yikes, I can totally understand your concern,

As I sure had. Your concerns are certainly most viable. If my vet wouldn't listen to me, he'd soon be replaced, but he was the one who was concerned and who knew, with my beloved dog. I would definitely check out other foods, wet, since they definitely prefer it. My guys just don't go for dry. I'd run it by your vet, again, and, if he doesn't get it, get a second opinion. I'll be seeing my vet, with both of my dogs, on Thursday. Spell it out and I'd be happy to run it by him. He's not only brilliant, and has helped me out, in the past, with a couple of questions I've brought him from DU, but is totally devoted to animals and is a fellow liberal, a vanishing breed. Let me know how your pup makes out. I've been there.:hug:

[redacted]

24. Wow. If it wasn't caused by table scraps -- and it doesn't go away

quickly -- you might want to have the vet look into it further. My aunt has a collie who never got table scraps -- got pancreatitis. It didn't go away right away and they found that it was really a different problem (that I now can't remember.) But it was good info for her -- the dog is doing much better on a special diet.

The beautiful Sarah-bear.

[swag]

20. Good deal.

I'm so glad for a happy outcome.

Have a good time with Magic today.

[swag]

21. Good deal.

I'm so glad for a happy outcome.

Have a good time with Magic today.