~ Heartworm Treatment ~

Re: Ivermectin

Has your Vet sent off a fecal sample to an outside lab?

Here is a link to the 5 minute consult regarding chronic diarrhea
https://www.vetconnect.com.au/5min/data/00500051.htm

Sometimes adding a little fiber to their diet can help. I am sure you alredy spoke to your vet regarding food. Some food can cause diarrhea to certain dogs. Dogs are individuals each one can react differently to things.

They key word is that YOUR vet thinks it can not hurt. And you are in contact with your vet. I would hate for someone to not be under the supervision of a Vet or a qualified individual and do more harm than good.

 

Re: Ivermectin

Both stools have been sent out to the lab as i learnt early on if you dont ask they do it at the vet and can only test for a few things. As far as food goes both dogs eat dif food as one has allergies and the other as a result of this has been put on boiled chicken and rice. Both dogs did fine on both foods in the past and when fed and neither has been on either very long.

 

Re: Ivermectin

How much money have you wasted at the vet so far Mr. Brownstone?

 

Re: Ivermectin

Wardogs I am sure you are aware that diagnostics sometimes are a process of elimination. Especially with something as vague as chronic diarrhea. You are do gung ho aboutnot going to the Vet. While yes many things can be taken care of at home by a knowledgable person. But let's be honest knowledgable people are few and far between. And yes they has been proven to me over the years from fixing owner screw ups.

I do find it comical your attitude regarding the Veterinary Field and the people in it. While yes some do overcharge. But some are still fair. These people to go to school and their student loans are damn near the same as human doctors. How would you like to go to school and then dsl with people hitching about paying for a service.

Chronic diarrhea can be more than just an intestinal parasite issue. There are many factors. And many times it is just not that cut and dry.

 

Re: Ivermectin

I believe that vets are underpaid for the amount of school they have to go through. They have to learn about every animal under the sun. I can't imagine the amount of patience and dedication it takes to invest that much time into so many things. I know about dogs. Its not rocket science. I've learn from experience, books, and other people. I don't think you need to take a dog to the vet. There is so much info out there that your money could be better spent on other bills. I feel mr brownstone should get his money back. If I took my car to the mechanic and he says my alternator needs replaced and he does the work. I get home and it didn't fix it. I take it back to him and its the battery. I want my damn money back. Mr brownstone could of bought both books I metioned and took his wife out to a nice dinner and filled his car up with gas for the piece they charged him and it still didn't fix the situation.

 

Re: Ivermectin

Again diagnostics is a process of elimination. Which means ruling out things. Which mean tests need to be ran. Chronic diarrhea is so damn vague. It can be many things under the sun. Intestinal parasites, IBD, dietary indiscretion, to countless diseases and metabolic problems. You can not ask for your money back.

Shoot I had exploratory surgery last year and they still did not get a diagnosis. Still dealing with trying to find out what is going on. I went from regular Dr to specialist. I can not ask my regular doctor for a refund.

 

Re: Ivermectin

The HSUS and ASPCA worked in conjunction to build and develope a database for the purpose of tracking specciffic blood lines. An I have worked for and worked with ppl that will turn you in at the very thought of someone fighting dogs. Didn't matter that it may have been a legit accident. You got a bulldog thats banged up....you can be labled as a digfighter.

 

Re: Ivermectin

Damn I have never worked for or with people like that. And I hope I never do.

 

Re: Ivermectin

My dogs both eat a strict diet of only the dog, no treats no table scraps. They have every vaccine suggested even lepto! Not sure i will do that again as i have now talked to a holistic vet and some feel the vaccines can often weaken the immune system and do more hard then good in some dogs. Shit if i knew how risky lepto was when i gave it i never would have done it in the first place. I only figured it out after my girl had a negative reaction to it.

I have one vet at the moment and will soon have two as i am now in contact with a holistic vet. I also see a holistic doctor but i also see a traditional doctor.. i do feel both are nec for different situations, sometimes you need surgery! I do feel any medical feild is nothing but trial and error, however at times we do need em, Cancer, hernia, brain hemorrhage. However i think you also have to use common sense and identify on your own to a degree when it is something that you can deal with just as well as the docs can. I mean i know so many people whom have major health problems and the medical field in this country leaves them with no real answers and they are left on there own to figure it out. In many cases is comes down to sorry i just cant tell you what is wrong i have tried everything. At this point you can accept it or you can take it into your own hands and look for alternative options and resources and do as much reading and asking around as you can. When traditional medicine feels i think it comes down to how dedicated you are to finding a cure.

In the case of my dogs i am being told i have no idea, maybe you should buy some food from us and give that a try. Maybe the dog has a blood disorder that is causing the problem... hello it is both my dogs and one got it first and then the ass licker/sniffer got it second and has the same exactly symptoms. Not saying anything as my vet just wants to help but has no good answer. She is also the first one to say i dont need to see your dog with the skin problem you can just come pick up some meds as you are doing everything you can all on your own and i trust what you are doing is as good as i could suggest or treat.

Just sucks having two dogs sick and one sick with two things. It is frustrating, you feel bad for them, you worry about if they will get better and you worry you might go broke!!!

 

Re: Ivermectin

No Vet knows everything. It may be time to get a second opinion. Which you are. I myself am not a completely holistic bandwagon person. I do feel that holistic medicine in conjunction with traditional medicine can work. But I am a sceptic. LOL

Most reactions to vaccines are because of Lepto. However I have only seen one dog die because of an allergic reaction to vaccines and they did not even get Lepto. I have seen a handful of swollen faces. But that is it. Lepto is a real risk in certain parts of the country. Where I live ALL my dogs get it except for 1 because he does have reactions. But because I live in a high wildlife area they need it. We just treated a Pug this week for Lepto. And euth'd a dog because of it in the last month. Also Lepto is zoonotic. Which means people can get it.

So IMO if your dog is high risk of coming in contact with outside water sources, rodents (squirrels, mice, rats and so forth), and/or wildlife they need it.

 

Re: Ivermectin

The regular vet i am at now is my second opinion. I had a dec vet but only dec, they where not very attentive and did not take much of anything very serious. After a year of this i decided it was time to find a good vet. I am pretty big on i spend the most time with my dogs and in my case am with them 24 hours a day and know everything they get into and can make sure they dont get into anything.. i am also big on not letting them do anything that could make them sick as they always seem to pick something up despite all my efforts all the time. Before the allergies the best i would get is few months with no health problems. But again i am out in the woods with them an average of 4 hours a day. I feel pretty strong that anytime you give one thing to fix one problem it can in many cases just cause another problem in the body that it then needs to heal and work through a common and simple example would be antibiotics and the need for a probiotic after to rebuild the stomach flora. In some way most any medication will have a affect such as this and when you have a dog that is always on something you have many residual problems as a result of all the meds you have given them. With that said i am still at this point all for pumping my dogs full of everything i can to treat god knows what as the traditional method of going tot the vet not once not twice but three times has left myself and the vet at a loss.

What is the treatment for lepto?

 

Re: Ivermectin

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Depending on how severe it is Suportive care. IV fluids (LRS), possible blood transfusion (again based on severity), and Antibiotics. Also depending on how much damage to the kidneys and liver. Because even if they survive they may have lasting effects form the damage done. [/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Pathophysiology
Leptospira penetrate intact or cut skin or mucus membranes, rapidly invade the bloodstream (4-7 days), and spread to all parts of the body (2-4 days), resulting in fever, leukocytosis, transitory anemia (hemolysis), hemoglobinuria, and albuminuria The fever and bacteremia soon resolve and cytotoxic capillary and endothelial cell damage occurs (petechial hemorrhages). Leptospira rapidly invade and multiply in the liver (hepatic necrosis) and kidney (leptospiruria), and early serum antibody appears. At this point, death may result from acute septicemia or hemolytic anemia, or kidney parenchyma localization may result in focal interstitial nephritis and vascular damage. Because of tubular damage, leptospira may localize in renal tubules, resulting in prolonged leptospiruria. Death may result from interstitial nephritis and renal failure. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]PREVENTION/AVOIDANCE
• Vaccinate dogs per current label recommendations; bacteria-induced immunity lasts only 6-8 months and is serovar specific (i.e., no cross-protection outside of the serogroup); revaccination at least yearly; dogs at risk (hunter, show dogs, dogs with access to water/ponds) vaccinate every 4-6 months, especially in endemic areas
• Strict kennel sanitation to avoid contact of animals with infected urine
• Monitor and remove carrier dogs from kennels until treated.
• Isolate affected animals during treatment.
• Rodent control in kennels
• Limit access to marshy/muddy areas, ponds, low lying areas with stagnant surface water, and heavily irrigated pastures.
• Limit access to wildlife. [/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]RISK FACTORS
• Direct transmission--host-to-host contact via infected urine, postabortion discharge, infected fetus/discharge, and sexual contact
(semen)
• Indirect transmission--exposure to (via urine) a contaminated environment (vegetation, soil, food, water, bedding) under conditions in which leptospira can survive [/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Environmental Factors
Favorable conditions for survival of leptospira outside of the host:
• Warm and moist environment (temperature ranges of 7-10 C (44.6-50 F) to 34-36 C (93-96 F)
• Presence of standing water of neutral or slightly alkaline pH; survives 180 days in wet soil and longer in standing water; survives better in stagnant versus flowing water; higher incidence of disease in wet season (high rainfall areas) of temperate regions; low lying areas that are marshy/muddy/irrigated; warm humid climates of the tropical and subtropical regions
• Dense animal population (kennels and urban settings versus rural settings) which increases chances of urine exposure.
• Exposure to rodents and to wildlife [/SIZE][/FONT]
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Re: Ivermectin

Def a tuff one with Lepto. I just finished reading a bit about it a few dif places and dogs can get it just from sniffing a infected animals urine! My dogs are the biggest sniffers ever. I dont let em do it as much as they want to but i do let them sniff maybe till they empty and on slow recovery type walks every 5-10 minutes for portions of the begining and end of the walk as i feel like you gotta let a dog be a dog and they see with the nose so. I am however starting to feel about sniffing as i do about water, my dogs for the most part are not allowed to swim. This whole spring summer and fall i think they got in the water twice cuz i felt bad and know how much they love it. As i also said i spend many hours a day in the woods "on leash of course" but they still get all dirty and step in puddles, mudd and sneak a quick sip of water from one every once in a while. It really is impossible to protect your dog from everything unless you keep em locked in a crate all day.

 

Re: Ivermectin

Thanks for the link! That will come in handy.