My poor puggie...what is wrong?

[puglogic]

Well, a visit to the ER, an xray, an ultrasound, and a week of various meds later, my poor Ike is still in pain. Has anyone ever experienced this with their pug, and found an answer?

He's a healthy, athletic, non-overweight neutered male, 10 years old. Suddenly, he has started having severe abdominal pain after eating. It's temporary (it lasts about 2 hours) but that's the longest 2 hours of my life, watching him pace, hunch his back, and cry out in pain. The ER vet says his blood chemistry is normal. The ultrasound vet came back and said that everything looked fine except a portion of his small intestine is thickened....whatever that means. They prescribed him a painkiller, a stomach-coater (sucralfate), an antibiotic, and an antacid (prilosec). The attacks keep coming. We seem to be able to minimize them by giving him extremely small amounts of food (like a tablespoon of plain rice). But he is losing weight rapidly and obviously can't live forever on that regimen.

Has anyone ever had a puggie with this kind of abdominal pain immediately after eating, but that subsides? He has no vomiting or diarrhea.

Thanks for listening. I haven't slept for a few days so I'm sorry if I sound a little whiny and desperate.... :(

[Wonka & Nilla]

I'm sorry I have no advice to offer, but I hope Ike gets better soon and the med's ease his discomfort. Poor pug, he sounds so uncomfortable.

[Katie <3 Nano]

I'm so sorry I have no advice, i've never heard of a situation like this :(

We just wanted to let you know we're thinking of you both, and hoping that the issue gets resolved soon. Pug hugs <3

[Pugs-R-MandyBait]

I'll be interested in what Lisa has of say ... but why Omeprazole?? Why not Ranitidine (generic Zantac) or Cimetidine (generic Tagamet) or Famotidine (generic Pepcid)?? Much cheaper to buy OTC. ... an in my ulcerous life - work better than the 'new & improved' things like Prilosec or Nexium

Depending on the pain killer, it can be hard on the tummy ... and that is not what you want at this point

Thickened small intestine tells me it is reacting to something ... the tissue is building up to protect itself. A piece of bone or rock or toy or plastic. I'd look at a second opinion.

Why just rice?? Poach a bit of chicken breast and mash up a couple of egg yolks (if little one is not allergic to either) an mix that with the rice 50/50. Chicken is protein, and the egg is fat and calories. Make the rice with a home made stock to add flavor and extra calories. Baby meats are as bland as they come and I have raised lots of babies on it mixed with goat's milk.

In race horses with an ulcerous gut, we feed a touch of Aloe Vera juice to help the eat and soothe the GI tract ... worth asking about ;-) A lot cheaper than Sucralfate

And as with any meds for our dogs - the vets charge a premium. Human pharmacies can usually fill drugs at a lower cost than the Vet. Never hurts to ask, and to be familiar with the $4 list at Wal Mart. It is a rare Pharmacy that will not match it ;-)

Good Luck!

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

I haven't had such a situation. Anne's advice seems pretty sound to me. What color are his stools? Are they black or tarry looking? Perhaps they should be looking at his esophagus if they can't find much in the stomach/intestines.

Take care,
Lisa

[shaynapug]

I agree with Ann....

There is also a supplement by Standard Process. I gave it to Kelev.....and take it myself. For me...I take it when I'm having stomach problems...just before I eat....and it really helps! For Kelev.....I gave it to help his pancreas.

It's called Zypan.

Seeing your boy comfortable!!

[Lu Ci and Ri Ki]

I am so sorry you and Ike are going through this. Prayers that the problem can be found and successfully treated.

[Tinker's mom]

Prayers they find out what is going on and he has a speedy recovery.

[puglogic]

Bless you all. Thanks for this good guidance. Only you all can understand how torturous it is to watch a card-carrying member of the sweetest, funniest breed in the world be in such pain and not be able to fix it.

They want to do an endoscopy and see if there's anything the ultrasound might have missed....small ulcers, etc. But with no vomiting and normal stools (nothing black or tarry, perfectly normal), and normal liver/kidney numbers, we're all at a loss as to what it might be. Doesn't seem to match the descriptions for things like IBD, or liver shunt, or ulcers.

I did read an article (you know how you read obsessively when these things happen?) from a vet who has seen cases of chronic bloat -- a temporary gastric twist, and pain that resolves itself slowly over a matter of hours after eating. I wonder if any of the doctors would take that seriously..... Do dogs ever take anything like Gas-X (simethicone)?

Anyway, thanks so much. I've felt so alone in this, with no good answers coming to my boy's rescue. Maybe I'll be able to stop crying now.

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

I had a pug who was chronically bloated, she just passed away last week. She got simethicone capsules two or three times a day, 1/2 human Zantac twice daily(which helps the stomach contract and move food/air through), and 1/4 of a reglan (similar actions as the Zantac) twice daily.

With her you could definitely feel and see the bloating and it was very uncomfortable for her to be held or carried or fussed with much. She also avoided sitting and lieing down as much as she could....and she farted a lot and loudly. It really doesn't fit the symptoms your dog is experiencing.

Take care,
Lisa