Thursday, April 18

Please keep a good thought for Yasha Inu

UPDATE:  The news is not at all what we'd hoped for.  Yasha has an inoperable mass in her bowels.   Please keep her in your thoughts.  She'll be a hospice girl and live out her days as a beloved family member with her foster family.

Adorable little Yasha Inu was surrendered when her owner moved to Hawai'i.

She's been suffering from serious diarrhea for weeks, and courses of Flagyl and other drugs have had no effect at all.  She's currently on a special diet to see if her problems can be controlled that way.

We are afraid that she may have IBD or IBS, two different diagnoses that present similarly.  Many of you will remember Slava, the terribly sick girl we brought in to FBRN several years ago.  Slava recently passed away after taking a serious downturn.

Yasha's foster mom says this:  "Yasha has very bad diarrhea. She has been treated with Flagyl, Tylan, Clavamox for a UTI, Forti Flora and B12. She shows signs of muscle wasting and nutritional deficiencies.

We are in the middle of a food trial as one of the vets she saw thought her constant diarrhea was allergies. Based on the muscle wasting and coat condition, and the fact that she comes to you and lays at your feet after she poops so you can clean her up, I bet this has been a pretty chronic thing for her. Poor sweetie reminds me of Slava.

Yasha is probably a very sweet girl. She enjoys eating, going for walks and gets super happy when I come home .... But overall my personal impression of her is she looks and acts sick; listless and sad.

We headed up to my vet Monday night; did a fecal culture and a full blood panel for pancreatitis and a pancreatic enzyme test. All her blood work came back Tuesday as good, in fact damn near perfect. We hope to get the results today or tomorrow for the fecal.


We hope to find a bacterial cause and if not we will do a sonogram to check for a mass and/or swelling. My vet seems to think the issue is in the small intestine.

I have another call into the vet today, because the blood concerns me, but when I called them Monday and Wednesday they reminded me that “fresh blood” is probably due to straining and not to panic.

My vet is not ruling out IBD/IBS, just wants all the facts and to rule out infection and then a mass before we start down the long twisting path of IBD/IBS treatment in dogs."


This poor girl could really use some support.  Please keep a good thought for Yasha, pleads


The Frog Princess

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

As an IBS sufferer, I understand the long and arduous road to diagnosis and relief - and, it's so much more difficult for dogs. Praying that a different answer is found for poor Yasha and that her sad life turns around quickly for the good.

Anonymous said...

Yasha Inu, you are in my thoughts and prayers and I am saddened to hear about the new and or diagnosis but I am sure you are a fighter deep down and want good things to come you way! Stay as healthy as you can, you beautiful creature!

little pitcher said...

I read this the other day: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/as-dogs-waste-away-owners-seek-answers/
it is food for thought.

TheBastiansen said...

Poor baby, keep your chin up... you're in good hands now with people who love you and care what happens to you. Wishing you a speedy diagnosis and recovery. Lots of sweet kisses for a sweet baby

Amy M. said...

My kitties respond to Slippery Elm syrup...all natural! 1/2 cup cold water in a saucepan with 1 tsp powdered slippery elm. Whip with a fork. Bring to simmer over low flame, stirring constantly. Simmer 1 or 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Cool and refrigerate. Keeps for 7 or 8 days. Give 1 tsp before each meal. I so hope she gets better soon, sweet baby.

Angelina said...

Yasha Inu, I am so sorry to hear about your health and your past bad owner. I wish you a speedy and painless as possible recovery. We(my husband ,Rocco and I ) have so much love to give you and when you feel better ,we would love to be considered for your forever home here in No Cali. Rocco a Boston Terrier and hopefully future brother and us would be over joyed to have you be part of our family.. Much Love, Angelina

Anonymous said...

Have you looked into a diagnosis of SIBO, small intestine bacterial overgrowth? My Frenchie, Winston, was diagnosed with it at an early age. Diet has helped a great deal. Sending prayers to Yasha Inu!