by Amanda
(Galveston, Texas, USA)
My 3 year old Catahoula, Alamo, developed IMHA at 6 months old, following the completion of his puppy shots.
The cause of the IMHA was determined to be idiopathic, and we almost lost him as his PCV count was 9 at it's lowest point.
Babesia was suspected, but all tests for numerous tick born diseases came back negative, and he was tested multiple times.
Only after giving him Imidocarb, did he start to make a recovery. After the second dose of Imidocarb, he rebounded quickly.
He was also on numerous antibiotics and prednisone. After he recovered, he was completely weaned off all medications. All this is just a background for you.
In the past 1 1/2 years, he started having really bad digestive issues.
Originally, diagnosed with giardia, was treated for it and got better for 5 months, then started having more digestive issues. Tests for standard parasites came back negative.
He goes through periods of vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes with blood in both. It seems as if now, all foods disagree with him, and it has made him very finicky. Chicken is the least offending protein, and so many foods have been tried, all with the same result.
Catahoulas are typically a very hardy breed, with few health problems. And it is well known that Catahoulas DO NOT SMELL. They do not have any kind of odor, but in the past year, he has developed ear issues, eye discharge, rashes between his toes etc.
Of course, numerous, numerous, numerous vet visits only to try "putting another band-aid" on it. By that I am am talking about another medication that simply helps the symptoms but doesn't cure the issue.
This whole process has caused me to shed many tears for him, and I know there has to be an answer. It is just not being diagnosed. I am in desperate need of help for him, as I feel this could lead to something worse.
It always seems like the situation is 1 step forward, 3 steps back...so it is continually getting worse.
One more note... Recently I made him some homemade food so that I could start trying to eliminate possible food allergies. I made a small batch that was chicken, broccoli, and kale... With added calcium and supplementing vitamins. It did help, and his stool firmed up considerably and looked more normal... but just feeding this is not really balanced and healthy, and gets very expensive.
He is a very large Catahoula, but not at all overweight, weighing in at 105 lbs.
Please, do you have any insight?
Comments for Catahoula With Ongoing Digestive Issues and Other Dog Health Issues
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