sick dog, failure to absorb proteins

[Knudsen Family]

Hi, two years ago my neighbour got two pups from us. One of them was the runt. That dog has now taken ill and the vet is stumped on what is causing it and how to treat it. Maybe someone has come across the same problem and can give us some advise. The dog started out having diarreha, low energy. Later on her abdomen swelled to the size of " very pregnant". Felt like it was fluid filled. The vet did bloodtest and all organs are working. They x rayed and there is no blockage. Dewormed. She prescribed meds for ulcers and inflammation of the bowel. The abdomen is now almost back to normal but the dog is not absorbing proteins and is getting very skinny. Vet is not very hopeful about the prognosis. Any suggestions out there?

[Fred Hems]

Sometimes when a dog gets diarreha, they damage the lining of their bowels and then it becomes hard for them to properly absorb nutrition through that digestive lining. We had a very similar thing happen to us and it was heart wrenching to watch. Perhaps that is why only liquids are best when an animal has that problem so the lining has time to heal properly before food in reintroduced to the system. I hope things improve for the dog. Good luck.

[KB1]

I'm sure the vet would have thought of this... but what about the food that is made for atopic or allergic dogs that's made with 'pre-digested' or very small proteins? Wonder if that would help at all.

[Knudsen Family]

The owner got some special canned food from the vet but the dog refuses to eat it. I recommended she give her chicken and rice and some coconut oil mixed in. The dog looks slightly better , they will take her to the vet tomorrow and they will do more blodwork.

[HRE]

I am willing to bet that if you give the dog a whole beaver you will see a quick recovery!
Dr. English

[matt]

just wondering how much you're willing to bet?? (lol,jk) what does "a whole beaver" do for a sick dog????

[donny poulin]

Like Fredf said best bet is to try and put the dog on a broth diet for a few days to alow the linings of the stomach and intestines to heal.Add some rice should help.

[HRE]

I haven't had a dog with this problem for many years but my guess is that beaver is easy to digest and that a dogs instinct tells it what part that it needs. (not too scientific I know) I have had dogs with similar problems, and after the vet wasn't able to find the problem and reluctant to treat without being sure of the illness, I gave the dog a whole skinned beaver and treated for parasites. In my case this was a last resort try to get food into the dog and every time it has worked. Another suggestion would be to give the dog sulfa drug. You can buy calf capsules (used to treat scours) and treat the dog with them. Half a capsule for 40lbs.
When a dog won't eat anything else they will eat beaver!
Matt- I'll bet you a cup of coffee next time we meet on the trail!

[patricknorth]

yeah; i agree with beaver meat cause it has some traditional medicine on them

[TLizotte]

I finally have to get in on all this good info being passed around on this site, the best site around in my eyes for this kind of stuff. I have to agree with Pat that some there might be some kind of secret medicine on the beaver for dogs , my grandfather danny mcqueen talk about feeding beaver during his years racing and running dogs and there was nothing better to feed a dog other then buffalo. He always said a dog would never turn down beaver meat.

[HRE]

A friend of mine runs the PA to La Ronge race. He told me that quite often the dogs will stop eating at a certain point in the race. I made him up some beaver snacks for his dogs and he didn't have a problem with the dogs not eating that year!

[Fast E]

One yr when we were in the Territories hanging in Yellowknife our dogs were so sick they would eat nothing--we tried everything- evan beaver-no way.
The only thing they would eat was a chicken head of all things--go figure--so for yrs after that we always had a bag of frozen chicken heads on board just incase.

[Knudsen Family]

Hi guys, I will relay the advice. University vet told them she had liver cancer or something wrong with her belly. !! They took her home and I think they got some other special canned food.
I will have to send Carl out for some beaver hunting.

[HRE]

How is your dog? Hope he is ok!

[Knudsen Family]

Hi, the dog is no better or worse. She has a swollen abdomen and the rest of her is emaciated. But she is happy!!