13 Year Old Dog Vomiting

[Jetson]

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

[Willem]

I'm always concerned about the side effects of using antibiotics - there is always a good chance to wipe out all the good bacteria in the digestion system that are required for the digestions. Without the good bugs poor digestion with possible vomiting and diarrhea - pretty the same symptoms the bad bugs cause. (Might be one of the reasons puppies like to eat poo to built up this variety of bugs). Some light reading here: Stomach Infection with Helicobacter

When you mention that he is on a 'diet of chicken'; do you really feed only chicken?...he might lack a lot of other nutrients that will also effect the digestion negatively.

Edited October 16, 2015 by Willem

[Ruffles]

Have you been to a medicine specialist, as opposed to a regular vet?

That might be your next step.

I'm sorry that you've been unable to get an answer and your pooch is still unwell

[gapvic]

You could try Advanced Vet Care in Kensington rather than Melb Uni? It's a specialist referral practice. Stephen Holloway is a great vet.

[Jetson]

Thanks all.

I will look them up gapvic.

No Willem he hasn't only had chicken just since the surgery. I have spoken to the vet today and we have put him on some anti nausea tablets and put him back onto his normal food.

[cowanbree]

I had a similar thing and went through various tests and surgeries over a period of 3-4mths. He had a partial obstruction in the form of scar tissue that allowed the barium through but not the food. It didn't show up on x-rays either so I was referred to a specialist and we had him scoped which gave us a video of everything internal. If I had to do it again I would go straight to the specialist.

[*kirty*]

I'm not sure about the tummy issues, but I can help with the lump. It would have been a sebaceous cyst - they are usually benign cysts full of gross chunky puss stuff. They will usually refill if the burst. Only way to get rid of them is with surgery but you don't need to remove them unless they are causing a problem. Keep it clean and see how it goes.