Any advice please.
My nearly 13 year old miniature poodle started vomiting back in april after being at the kennels. He had quite a bad bout of vomiting and diarrhoea. He got through that but has continued to vomit on and off since then. He is very thin (back bone and hip bone protruding). He has always been lean but has lost a substantial amount of weight. He now has bouts of vomiting on average from once a week to a couple of times a week.
He has seen the vet several times since this started and has had the following procedures, blood test which didn't show anything other than slightly higher white blood cell count. A barium study, which showed that the dye was getting through but pooling a bit in the stomach. Also on X-ray showed he had a large spleen (which the vet said could just be him). He then had surgery and biopsies were taken of his stomach etc. There was some thickening at the start of his intestine. Biopsy results were unremarkable but it did show helicobacter infection. We are half way through treating him for this, two lots of antibiotics and an antacids. So far nothing has changed. He is on a diet of chicken, several times a day. If this doesn't work the vet said it could possibly be diet.
The other odd thing that happened last week to him. He had a ping pong ball sized lump on his hind quarter that had been there for several years. Every time we went to the vet it was prodded and poked. On the weekend it burst and lots and lots of pus came out and now there is a smallish lump the size of a pea. I don't know if this has any relevance whatsoever but thought it was rather odd.
My gut is telling me it is neither the helicobacter or diet but I have no idea what could be the cause. I am considering asking the vet to refer me to Werribee but also don't want to put him through anymore invasive procedures as the last one took a lot out of him.
Does anyone have any idea as to what I should do from here.
Thanks
