Question:
My Sheltie is 7 years old and won't eat. He's always been a sick dog (he was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was just a year old) but we had him on medication for it and he's been fine until now. Though he will drink water, no matter what we do he will not eat. We've spent so much time, energy, and money at the vet trying to figure out what's wrong, yet they still can't come up with anything. I've tried feeding him anything... even boiled chicken and he just walks away from his bowl and ends up throwing up bile. It's so much stress for Cocoa and my family for him to keep having to go back and forth to the vet so they can pump him full of fluids. We don't know what to do anymore; we love him so much and don't want to put him to sleep unless he's in pain or untreatable. It hurts me to see him like this and not being able to do anything for him. If you have any information, comments, or ideas that you would like to share, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer:
have any x-ray's been taken? Maybe an ultrasound of the pancreas would shead some light?

Answer:
Yes, x-rays have been taken; he's had an ultrasound and has been on every medication you can imagine. I did some research on diseases of the pancreas because you mentioned it and I found that his symptoms are exactly that of pancreatitis. Yesterday, I took him back to the vet and she agreed to put him on fluids for 10 days. Thank you so much for your help!!!!!!!!!

Answer:
Hope your baby is okay. Best of luck and keep us posted. For the future another option when your vet is baffled call the University of Guelph animal sciences they are an incredibly helpful group of vets and students.

Answer:
I hope all works out well

Answer:
So the vet did xrays before blood workup?
Thats irresponsible IMHO
The symptoms are so direct to pancreatitis or other organ failure and cancer your vet should have done a blood workup on your dog immediately to determine if the white blood cell count was high/low and if there were increased enzyme levels (pancreatic)

I hope your dog is going to be okay, do you remember the dog having anything greasy/fatty the past while just before this started?

When you say 'fluids' I Hope you mean IV fluids this dog if it has pancreatitis CAN NOT have ANYTHING by mouth not even water!!!!
3/4 days nothing by mouth is usually a good start. Blood work should be done every day!!

Answer:
Well it seems as though I'm back to square one once again... the vet did a test to see if my sheltie has pancreatitis and it came back negative. My family and I decided to take him to a organ specialist and within 20 minutes of our visit the vet found a growth in his stomach. Now his white blood cell count is high and we're all very worried it might be cancer. I want to thank everyone who posted a reply to my urgent message. Hopefully Cocoa will be alright...

Answer:
That's why I was thinking of an ultrasound of the pancreas. It sounded like a pancreatic tumour. I just didn't want to scare you with the c word, especially as I'm not a vet. :(

This is soo sad. Did your regular vet not do a CBC profile and check the white cell count?

Answer:
Hello Tina and I'm so very sorry.

Are they able to biopsy this tumour or are they wanting to do surgery for removal right away.

It's heart breaking I know, I've been through it with my dog who did pass on. He however did have cancer and multiple tumours not just one.

Please know we are all thinking about you and your sweet dog, hoping for the best and prayin it is not cancer.

Answer:
My previous poodle had mild epilepsy. We had considered putting him on medication but his attacks were mild and not close together and we elected not to. I remember reading that the medication had side-effects that would shorten his life-span, but I don't remember the details since we didn't have to go that route. Could that possibly be what's happening? Have you checked into the side effects as a possible cause?

Answer:
I'm sorry I haven't kept everyone updated, the past two weeks have been very hard for me. Cocoa did have a canerous tumor in his stomach and the specialist was going to operate on him since it was small but that he would only live for another year or so. I decided to go for it. During the operation though, she called me saying that the tumor had more than doubled in size within just a week. She said that he wouldn't have enough stomach left to survive after the surgery. So I had to make that hard decision; they put him to sleep last friday while he was still under the anethesia on the operating table. I feel so horrible having to be the one who chose to end his life. Apparently the tumor was what the specialist called a "bad luck" tumor; I guess they just show up for no reason in some dogs. I feel blessed having had him in my life for 7 years, but as I search for another dog (no puppies, I'd rather adopt) I find myself looking for my baby, but I can't have him back.

Answer:
I am so sorry for your loss. That is always the hardest decision to make.
{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}
I hope you find a wonderful new companion who needs you as much as you need them right now...

Answer:
Oh, Tina, I am so sorry for your loss. Yes, it is the most heart-wrenching thing to have to make that decision. I know, I've been there. :( Remember that he loves you and that he will be forever in your heart.

Answer:
I am so sorry. It was a hard decision but it was the right one no matter how bad you feel the decision you made was for your baby so she went in peace and believe me she knew you loved her. Dogs have that built in instinct and know these things. Remember she will always be in your memories and they will keep the good time with her alive.

Answer:
I'm so sorry. {{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}} :(

Answer:
Tina, I feel for what you're going through right now. It's a horrible decision for every pet owner but you didn't let Cocoa down. You were there for him all his life and you didn't allow him to suffer at the end. Don't rush into finding that puppy til you're ready for it and you'll know when you are. I've had 4 Den-Dens and they all have been individuals. One of these days, one will look up at you with that special look that you'll recognize. One thing I will tell you is that when you do find one, you'll suddenly find yourself reliving all the good memories again and not just be haunted by the last 2 weeks. {{{HUGS}}}

Answer: