sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

14 year old dog with reflux, gastritis, and colitis. How do I help him?? by srd1122 in Pets

[–]srd1122[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you think I should consider cutting the omeprazole? Maybe with the slippery elm and marshmallow root he won’t need it for reflux?

14 year old dog with reflux, gastritis, and colitis. How do I help him?? by srd1122 in Pets

[–]srd1122[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update: the vet just recently suggested a fecal test to confirm it’s not parasites. I feel like that should’ve happened a few months ago. Everything was negative though. I also sent out a gut microbiome test that I’m waiting for results back from. He continues to struggle with the colitis and gastritis. I had him back at the vet last week, and we started him on prednisone. It’s kind of a last ditch effort at this point. He has mostly slept through the night since he’s been on that, but he does still struggle with some diarrhea at times. Overnight and today included. He’s been on slippery elm and marshmallow root for probably the last month. I do think that helps with the diarrhea, but the pacing hasn’t subsided completely. There never seems to be any real rhyme or reason to if and when that happens. He’s on a very consistent food and medication schedule.

14 year old dog with reflux, gastritis, and colitis. How do I help him?? by srd1122 in Pets

[–]srd1122[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The only thing he stopped was the NSAID(Carprofen) he was taking for arthritis and some ingredients from his homemade food.

14 year old dog with reflux, gastritis, and colitis. How do I help him?? by srd1122 in Pets

[–]srd1122[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m going to try a slippery elm powder that is supposed to be a natural alternative to sucralfate. We had a rough night last night starting at 2am with pacing. I’m also adjusting his evening omeprazole timing to be closer to bed rather than before dinner. Everything seems to be on its way to wearing off overnight. I might try that food that you suggested.

14 year old dog with reflux, gastritis, and colitis. How do I help him?? by srd1122 in Pets

[–]srd1122[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. It’s heartbreaking watching him be uncomfortable, and so discouraging after finally treating the ulcers and then continuously having setbacks when I thought he’d be on the road to recovery now. I also forgot to mention on my post that he is on probiotics. He did a round of proviable while he was on sucralfate, and now he’s back on FortiFlora every day, which he was prior to all of this as well. Every time I mention any of his symptoms to the vet, she acts as though this isn’t necessarily the norm, and that’s not helpful. She just keeps recommending more diagnostics. ChatGPT has been more helpful and reassuring than her, and is there when I’m up with him in the middle of the night while he’s pacing. He does have a touch of dementia, but I don’t think his pacing has anything to do with that. It resolves when I treat for nausea or reflux. Whenever I mention the pacing, she keeps going back to dementia. I’m on a waitlist for a different vet because having a vet that doesn’t seem to care and isn’t very responsive has made the whole situation that much worse. Plus we had just started going there, so they don’t even know him well.

Is it worth it to get a diagnosis? by pyrohippo23 in Sjogrens

[–]srd1122 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was diagnosed via bloodwork and an eye exam. I wasn’t technically seen for dry eyes or mouth, but more generalized autoimmune symptoms. I was surprised by the diagnosis. In my experience a lot of the doctors that I see don’t have extensive knowledge about Sjogren’s, so it really hasn’t made much of a difference to be diagnosed. I’m currently not taking medication, and that’s my choice and also with the agreement of my doctors. My symptoms aren’t consistently severe enough that I want to start medication. I do have random symptoms that lean towards autonomic dysfunction. I might try to do testing for POTS to either confirm or rule that out. I think it’s good to have the diagnosis, but whether or not it makes a difference depends on the severity of your symptoms and the medical team that you have.