Hair loss, excessive thirst...?

Barkley · #1 16th February 2012, 01:06 AM

Jordan just had a lump removed from his side, and cytology will be back tomorrow, so maybe I am jumping the gun here, but the vet thinks he is perfectly healthy and I am not so sure, so I thought I would, once again, draw from the wealth of knowledge and experience here.

My concerns are thus: for about six months or so now, when we walk, he is on constant watch, like he is hunting, for Kleenex or other paper products to eat. I am constantly on guard and having to grab stuff from half way down his throat. About a month ago, he had what I think was a bout of acute pancreatitis...the ER vet didn't do lab work, and at the time I didn't know to ask for it, but post-visit research and subsequent labs that showed pancreatic enzymes in the 'grey area' indicate the pancreas as a likely culprit. I have switched him (regretfully) from Ziwi Peak to Wellness Core low-fat, and we have had no further acute bouts, but then I wouldn't expect to, given that it's not a common occurrence.

In addition to the paper product lust, he is generally quite hungry. We feed small meals, four times a day, and have done for five years or so, which started after his first bout with tummy trouble (also undiagnosed, but probably an acute pancreatitis attack, in retrospect).

He is happy, playful, and energetic, so no behavioral symptoms outside of appetite/tummy trouble. But in the past few months, his coat has thinned, and it seems like he is also drinking a lot more. Normal urine and feces, btw.

As I said, bloodwork was all normal except for pancreatic enzymes. I have ordered an enzyme supplement, thinking that maybe the hair loss/hunger symptoms are due to malabsorption of nutrients.

Oh...and there are a couple of hard lumps on the back of his neck, shoulders, that the vet assures me are cysts, nothing to worry about. They seem to migrate, though...sometimes I can find them, sometimes not.

I know this is a weird mix of worries, but I am interested to get your opinions. We are in Germany and the language and cultural barrier with the vet is challenging, to say the least. I love this little boy so much it hurts, and I am working myself into quite a state, particularly considering he doesn't 'act' remotely sick.

Your thoughts? Thanks in advance,
Jenn
Owned by Jordan, 8yr old floppy brindle and his 'big sister' Barkley, fawn floppy nut job

Cami · #2 16th February 2012, 07:49 AM

I'd have a complete thyroid panel done to confirm or rule out hypothyroid. This test must include a TgAA and not the basic test most vet offices do most frequently. It would at least be a starting point and may very well provide some answers.
Good luck with the cytology results.

Barkley · #3 16th February 2012, 09:23 AM

I was looking at hypothyroid, but the doctor said his thyroid was normal when his blood tests came back. Wouldn't something have shown up?

hurleygirl · #4 16th February 2012, 01:23 PM

Thyroid problems was my first guess too. Make sure they do the complete thyroid panel though.

Barkley · #5 16th February 2012, 07:01 PM

It is 3 am and he just asked to go out, which isn't common but also not unheard of. However, he came in and drank (a lot!)' which is unheard of. Something is wrong...I am taking him in first thing tomorrow (today, actually). Thanks for your help, please keep us in your thoughts.

Holden's Mom · #6 16th February 2012, 07:04 PM

Have him checked for Cushing's. Excessive thirst and hunger, dry skin are symptoms.

Pam and Autry

TwoDogs · #7 16th February 2012, 07:48 PM

Cushing's was my first thought too.

Barkley · #8 16th February 2012, 08:09 PM

I'm pretty much out of my mind with worry, while he is peacefully cuddled next to me, chasing big German bunnies in his dreams. It's good to be a dog, sometimes.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to have a thyroid panel done and test for Cushing's, in addition to investigating whether blood sugar was done prior to his surgery. If not, we may start looking at his kidney function and sugars, too. Very glad for insurance right now.

I can't sleep. Night three.

Barkley · #9 16th February 2012, 08:14 PM

By the way...does it seem odd to anybody else that this drinking thing would flare up right after his surgery for getting that lump removed? I can't help but feel that it is connected somehow.

EAO76 · #10 16th February 2012, 08:37 PM

My senior girl has Cushings and her symptoms are increased hunger (always looking for scraps, steals napkins, paper, even will eat my son’s crayons), a pot belly, thinning hair on both sides, & increased thirst. Cushings is a disease of the adrenal glands and it’s not easy to diagnose. There is no simple blood test to find it. There are a few ways to confirm the diagnosis but it’s usually a series of tests and sometimes the results are inconclusive so additional testing is needed. What tipped us off is her liver was a bit off and a few other things (Her cholesterol I think?) were slighly off on her regular senior blood panel so they did further testing. It’s also a very slow moving disease so many dogs have it for a long time before its diagnosed. Lots of people dismiss the symptoms because they think it’s just a dog changing due to old age.

Sadly our girl also has terminal cancer so we have decided not to treat the cushings but the diagnoses was 100% confirmed when we did an ultrasound and they looked at her adrenal glands.

Also I think dogs w/ Cushings are more prone to pancreatitis so that is another clue/ indication in your case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkley

By the way...does it seem odd to anybody else that this drinking thing would flare up right after his surgery for getting that lump removed? I can't help but feel that it is connected somehow.

Did he get any pain meds or anything after the surgery that could have affected his kidneys?

Gatorblu · #11 16th February 2012, 08:53 PM

Was Jordan given an NSAID after surgery? Common brand names in the US are Deramaxx or Rimadyl. These can cause issues, or bring to light underying issues, with the liver or kidneys. Both of which could cause excessive thirst. Since you are running into a langauge problem, can you bring someone that you trust along as a translator? Or if you have a smartphone they have translator apps now. Maybe you can get one of those. Or try communicating with the vet thru emails that can be translated on your computer.

Barkley · #12 16th February 2012, 09:25 PM

No pain meds post-surgery. I don't know if what they gave him during would affect the kidneys or not, but will add that to my list of questions...thanks. And thanks for the detail on Cushing's...those symptoms all sound eerily familiar, so I will bring this up with the doc. As to the language barrier, thanks, too, for those suggestions, but it isn't quite that insurmountable. It's hard to explain...we can communicate information, but what gets lost in translation is more...I don't know...confidence? Comfort level? I just miss our old vet in SC so much! But, that's enough whining. I will go in as soon as I can get ahold of hem this a.m., and we'll take I from there. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the responses, as I lay here awake all night. Thanks a ton...I will keep you posted!