My Maltese is very sick and we would like a second opinion on what is wrong with him and how to treat him?

Question

Maltese: 1 1/2 yrs old, male, was very healthy and active
Symtons: Xrays show large amounts of fluid around the abdomen area. Extreme low activity level, seems to walk as if in pain from all the fluid. Problems urinating in the house uncontrollably and going a few days without pooping (probably from the fluid pushing up his organs). No vomit, high temp, or blood in stools, but all swelled up in the middle from fluid. Blood tests show kidney and liver were normal, but his protein enzyme level is .2 (normal is >2.5) and the vet drained most fluid to relief him (all clear fluid). We were sent home with 3 meds: Lasix, an antibiotic, and prednizone. He said to try this and if the prednizone works, we would have to keep him on it for life. Any other options or thoughts on what is causing this? We did change his food brand around the same time this all happened, but we are going to put him back on Science diet now just in case that could help. It breaks our hearts-help!

Answer 1

If I were in your shoes, I would be seeking the opinion of another vet in your area.

Answer 2

the prednizone will cause the dog to get huge and have a gigantic appetite. get him back on the food he was on but do it GRADUALE over a couple weeks period or you will have twice the trouble with the stomach finish up all the antibiotic. lasix is a water pill be carefull he is getting the right dosage and keep plenty of pure drinking water for him. what kind of food had u switched him from and why if the science diet was working? I think thats a lot of the problem.I hope you get a second opinion and can avoid the prednizone. Get the food all straightened out first and let the vets know about the food changes. sounds like he had allergies to that new food and will take time for the fluid to go down.try some prescription diet canned food from the vets and start mixing small amounts in the science diet until you get him on it full time

Answer 3

You need a vet for a second opinion. No one can make a diagnosis over the net- not even a doctor.
The dog is urinating a lot because Lasix is a diuretic.
As for Prednisone, depending on the prognosis, just because it works, the dog will need it for a lifetime? What did the vet say is wrong? Adrenals not functioning properly?

Highly unlikely that changing the dog's food caused some chronic condition unless there was a contaminated batch. Is your dog still eating normally? I'd change to a better food than Science diet unless it's a prescription food. There are much better foods out there.

Is the vet guessing with the antibiotic and prednisone? Or were you given a diagnosis, even a preliminary one?

Answer 4

If you are following the protocols that the vet prescribed and the dog isn't getting better then call the vet and maybe schedule another visit. If this fails then contact another vet for a second opinion.

If you can find a very reputable breeder for this breed of dog perhaps you could contact them. Often they can give better advice than a vet, about the peculiarities of a particular breed.

Is there a veterinarian school near you? Many of the colleges that end in "state" have vets schools. Texas State, Michigan State, Illinois State. Purdue in Indiana has a famous one. Perhaps you could have your vet contact them or you could contact them directly. Sometimes they will take on tough cases.

Three things come to mind from the symptoms you describe.

1. some form of chronic peritonitis

2. an adynamic ileus

3. diabetes

Here I go again trying to apply human medicine to an animal that I've never seen. So the above are just suggestions to ask a vet about.

Answer 5

I think I would get a second opinion from another vet. Your dog sounds very ill! Anyone on here unless they are a vet can only guess at what may be wrong with your dog. Some claim to be a vet, but we have no way of knowing if this is true. Seek out the professional advice of a real vet. Good luck. I hope the dog will be okay.

Answer 6

Fluid in the abdomen could be a number if different things especially for a dog so young.

Get a second opinion, especially if the first vet did not send the fluid that they tapped off to be analysed by a laboratory.

Be sure to get copies of the chart, labwork and meds to take with you when you go.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Wasn't there some kind of a dog food that had mold in the food or something that caused illness in the animals? I would get to a "teaching vet college for an exam" I spent two years with my vet before going to a well known vet college--learned that our dog had a slow growing cancer in the ear. If you have the money to spend, you'll get an answer. Expect to spend a thousand or more. However we opted out of the $9,000 Chemo treatment for our 11 year old dog. It is heartbreaking, I feel for you. Best of luck!

Answer 8

I hate to tell you this but if you go to a low budget hospital, when your dog has something obviously wrong they scam you, try going to one with alot of buisness and why? The low budget one doesnt get much buisness so they will " take x-rays " and take one and ask you to come back then " they need to take multipul ones ", where as the higher end ones, yes more pricey but when you get results with one x-ray and will tell you what food to buy and give you protein for pets, and are ok if you just walk in. I have a papillon and she has the same case. Ask a vet what food is best and then buy her pet protein, and any other meds your vet supplies, then reward your dog for anything it drinks, because your dog as it may seem its dinking its wetting its tounge, and little dogs die from dehydration FAST!
I hope this helps, I hope both our dogs get better!

Answer 9

The vet is right as far as treatment.
I don't know why such a young dog would be having this problem. Usually it's very old dogs that get this when their kidneys start failing.
You need to get some blood work done. It will show any damage or non-function of all the organs.
Contact the breeder. Ask it they've had this trouble before. I'm thinking this is a genetic defect.
Sorry for your troubles. I hope it works out for you.

Answer 10

To me, it seems like the vet is treating the symptoms, not the problem. I would go get a second opinion from another vet and preferably from a University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. I hope that he gets better!

Answer 11

Whatever this is, it is not caused by your new food. Ask the vet what the dx is. In the meantime, if no meds help and you are doubting your vet, get another opinion. Otherwise, your dog may need to be humanely euthanized to put him out of pain and misery. But, whatever caused this or whatever this is, is not food related. No need to cause more stress in the dogs life by changing his food yet again.