Colitus?

Hello...yes, new to this forum. Have hopes that someone else can help. We have two black Pugs...Luther and Jeezer...brothers...since they were very young. They have each had their share of health issues, especially Luther...but Jeezer always seemed to be the robust of the two, although very sensitive. Now, Jeezer has developed a severe stomach issue...started one day with a lot of vomiting and diarrhea. We got the vomiting under control, (this was over a couple months ago), but he has since just had a constant case of diarrhea. His stool is always loose and he has lost weight. The Vet(s) have had us put him on a prednizone regimen with an anti-biotic and stuff to make his intestinal flora stay up. They did blood tests and saw that his albumen levels are low. We have tried a variety of foods, but after a while it seems he does not want any of them. He definitely is not gaining weight, he has raunchy gas from time to time...so...my question is...has anyone had such a problem and did you successfully get your pug over it? I was also wondering if he was hurt by that Chinese chicken jerky...I gave him some a while back as well as Luther who is not at all afflicted with this situation...Luther, in the meantime, is as healthy as a horse.

Thank you.

Who prescribes antibiotics to encourage digestive flora? Best way to put things out of whack is with antibiotics, in my opinion. And, pred will lower the immune system.

Sounds like you need a second opinion at the least. I would also add some pre- and pro-biotics to the diet. If he does not like anything you are offering (I assume kibble / canned), this is a great opportunity for you to consider a homemade diet, after researching it of course.

Couple of questions first:
* has a fecal been done to rule out giardia and coccidia as well as other parasites?
* antibiotics won't help with keeping the flora up--do you know what antibiotic he's on? the usual one for diarrhea is metronidazole (flagyl). I'm assuming the vet also gave something like Forti-Flora? It will help, but again, the antibiotics are flora killers.
* What are you currently feeding? I'd go with the most basic diet--might be worth checking out the Wellness simple solutions line: http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/categories.aspx?pet=dog&cat=3

Or home cook and start with bland and simple--chicken and rice.

I'd avoid any dairy, any eggs and any fat.

Could have some kind of irritable bowel disorder, could be a parasite, could be PLE.. While I'm not a big fan of the vet diets, might be worth seeing how Jeezer does on the canned Gastro formula. Would at least possibly give his intestinal tract a break.

You may need to push for further diagnostics. Here's some information on low albumin in dogs and what it could mean:

Low Blood Albumin in Dogs


Hypoalbuminemia in Dogs

When the levels of albumin in a dog's blood serum are abnormally low,
it is said to have hypoalbuminemia. A protein formed in the liver and
carried into the blood, albumin is responsible for regulating blood
volume by controlling pressure in the blood compartment. It is also
important for retaining fluid in the vascular compartment. Therefore, a
deficiency of albumin can pose grave risks for a dog, including
dangerous fluid buildup.



Hypoalbuminemia has not been found to occur at any particular age.
Moreover, there are no apparent breed or gender predilections.



Symptoms and Types

• Abdominal distention
  
• Diarrhea and/or vomiting
  
• Difficulty breathing
  
• Swollen limbs
  
• Generalized swelling
  

Causes

• Chronic liver disease: chronic hepatitis; cirrhosis
  
• Inadequate fluid or food intake - malnutrition/malassimilation
  
• Amyloidosis (insoluble proteins are deposited in organs)
  
• Glomerulonephritis (a primary or secondary immune-mediated renal disease)
  
• Lymphangiectasia (an intestinal disease of dogs)
  
• Lymphoma
  
• Severe inflammatory bowel disease
  
• Histoplasmosis (fungal disease)
  
• Oozing sores on the skin
  
• Chronic severe blood loss
  
• Repeated large volume of fluid in the abdomen
  
• Inflammatory effusions:
  
  
  
  • Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
    
  • Peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of the abdomen)
    
  • Chylous effusions (milky bodily fluid consisting of lymph and
    emulsified fats flowing into cavities where it is not intended to be)
    
  • Pyothorax (infection in the chest).
    
  • Vasculopathies (diseases of the blood vessels)
    
  • Immune mediated
    
  • Infectious: tick fever, infectious canine hepatitis, sepsis syndrome (infection of the entire body)
    

Diagnosis




Because there are so many possible causes for this condition, your
veterinarian will most likely use differential diagnosis. This process
is guided by deeper inspection of the apparent outward symptoms, ruling
out each of the more common causes until the correct disorder is settled
upon and can be treated appropriately.



Before your veterinarian can determine an effective treatment plan,
the underlying cause of the low albumin count in the blood stream will
need to be conclusively identified. For example, if the cause is severe
liver disease, your dog may have all of the symptoms listed. A complete
blood analysis and urinalysis will help your doctor to zero in on the
cause. Chest and abdominal X-rays may also be required, as well as
ultrasound and liver and kidney biopsies.

It sounds like it could be PLE--in which case, we've had good success in the rescue with the prescription diet for it. Here's some info on PLE:

http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/research/SCWT/ple.htm

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1381

Renee wrote:Who prescribes antibiotics to encourage digestive flora? Best way to put things out of whack is with antibiotics, in my opinion.

I actually read it differently. I read it as being on an antibiotic (I'm assuming because the vet suspected something bacterial) and also being on something to encourage digestive flora. It's possible I read that wrong, though.

GingerSnap wrote:

Renee wrote:Who prescribes antibiotics to encourage digestive flora? Best way to put things out of whack is with antibiotics, in my opinion.

I actually read it differently. I read it as being on an antibiotic (I'm assuming because the vet suspected something bacterial) and also being on something to encourage digestive flora. It's possible I read that wrong, though.

You could be right. I read it as the vet prescribed antibiotics to encourage digestive flora... which seems counter-productive. If the abx were for bacterial infection, then I do see the point.

I guess we won't know unless the original poster comes back and gives additional information.

If it was metronidazole--well and good--that makes good sense. And if the dog has PLE, prednisone is a standard treatment. The low albumin is a diagnostic classic for PLE.

It does sound like it could be PLE.

Thanks for the replies. I meant that the Vet has prescribed prednizone along with Forti-Fauna and an anti-biotic. I will look at the diet suggestions you have made. The diagnosis so far is PLE. We did do the blood tests, other tests for parasites (which came up negative), etc. The tests on the albumen have so far resulted in the conclusion that he does not have fluid build up in his lungs. But he does at times have a distended stomach and some of the other symptoms mentioned. We have three Vets consulting on this. I agree with what someone said about prescribing an antibiotic while diarrhea is a problem...we have asked that question of the Vets, too.

There is a terrific forum for owners of dogs with PLE--the most common form of which is Lymphangiectasia. Here is the link to the forum and it would be worth checking out as it can give you some much needed information when asking questions of the vets, etc.

http://savelouie.com/phpBB3/