Sighthound owners (gastritis/ulcers)?

[snoozles]

Hi,

Just wanting to see if there are any seasoned sighthound owners on here that may have experience of what's bothering my little boy. I've already taken him to the vet for blood tests, various samples etc and all were negative.

He's having bouts of going off his food (usually has a keen appetite) followed by being sick - watery bile and quite alot of bright red blood from time to time despite being on I/D food for the last 9 months. I give him zantac syrup twice a day which seems to help and after a few days he stops being sick and can keep water down and starts to want to eat again. By which time he has lost what little extra weight he had so keeping his weight on is worrying.

I was wondering if they are particularly prone to ulcers, as he quite nervous (vet seems to poo poo this idea, which I thought was reasonable?), or whether it's just bouts of gastritis caused by nerves/goodness knows what. Also, are there other illness I should be pushing my vet to look for?

Thanks in advance

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Not had one with ulcers before, but I have lost one to lymphoma of the gut and another to an undiagnosed illness (didnt shown on 3 lots of blood tests, but I think it must have been cancer of some kind) which basically meant she just faded away in front of my eyes

It wouldnt bother me if one of mine regularly went off their food, both lurchers I have had did that at least monthly whereby they had grumbly guts and refused to eat for a day or two, but they would never throw up blood just bile. To me vomiting fresh blood like that is a sign that something is surely very wrong...

I would try a different vet if I were you - try this forum which was recommended to me: http://thehoundlounge.proboards.com/index.cgi - lots and lots of expert sighthound people on there who may have some more advice and help for you

I do hope you get to the bottom of this, I would be worried senseless if I were you

 

[snoozles]

Hi Splotchy thanks. I am a bit worried it's lymphoma, or autoimmune in development too (bloods were ok 2 months ago) - I'm not a worrying sort but he does worry me as it keeps happening! His weight is normal just now, but due to this bout he will lose a bit again and err on the thin side. He's perky enough when it happens. Sickwise, I've collected it and taken it in to show just how bloody it is and should also mention there is no action coming out the other end. He gets no other food apart from his strict diet ID stuff and that seems to keep him looking well inbetween these bouts. He is always on the lead when exercised outwith my garden so no nibbling rabbit droppings. My old jack on the other hand must have guts of steel - she eats anything and everything and nothing bothers her. My vet says they don't often see sighthounds in general, so will follow this up this time for a second opinion. Thanks very much for the link - that's really helpful!

 

[harkback]

What breed of sighthound? I assume your vet has checked thyroid when you say bloods have been taken? I have bred and owned a sighthound breed for 40 yrs, just once I have had one that was susceptable to gastritis and this was a rescue bitch who had been starved at one point to the point of emaciation. She could not tolerate anything with wheat/potato/fish/maize.

She bled so much overnight one time from her gut that in the morning I woke to find the hallway looking like a massacre had taken place and she was lying in a corner almost comatose. No signs of anything the night before but she recovered after 3 bags of saline iv. Blood showed no infection or bacterial cause. I worked out by process of elimination that it was a salmon and potato based food that triggered it. If I soaked the kibble in water for 1 hour it went into a rubbery mass rather than a soft mush and I never used that again.

Some sighthound breeds are more prone to gastric upsets. Scottish Deerhounds have a pattern of inherited disease in some lines FACTOR VII DEFICIENCY which is an autosomal recessive trait inhibiting blood clotting. This mutation can be identified by a bucal DNA swab.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Well you sound to be doing absolutely the right thing, it just seems that your vet is not very experienced in the ways of sighthounds

I am so lucky, my vet is the one used by Greyhound Rescue West of England, where I get my rescues from, so he is used to dealing with sighthound types

Good luck with your second opinion, I really hope you get to the bottom of this. Incidentally when my boy showed symptoms of his lymphoma it was very quick - he got chronic diarrhoea, which just didnt clear up. Had him back to the vets a few times and they found he had guardia, which we treated him for, but it still didnt improve, so he had an exploratory op which showed his whole gut was massively inflammed

I made the decision to have him PTS before he came round from the anaesthetic, vet had taken biopsies which confirmed lymphoma

It was all over in a couple of months maximum - incredibly shocking - I realise that not all dogs will show the same symptoms etc but just thought I would share what happened with Talisker (in my avatar)

 

[snoozles]

Thanks splotchy and harkback. I've asked for a referral to vet school - so will update with any findings. Today, zantac syrup has helped him keep down his water and he has peed (hurrah), instead of vomiting blood and water everywhere. The jack is standing guard lying infront of his sleeping bag playing nurse and grumbling at me as I approach with the medicine. He's not had the runs since a pup, poos are twice a day as clockwork and then this starts with the first sign not wanting his breakfast.

Update on the last blood test was the white cells were a little low but not low enough to worry them (worrying me now!!)

I'm getting a copy of them sent through to inspect myself.

Thanks again