Pancreatic cocker Spaniel now diagnosed with IMPA and on steroids

[melhardy71@gmail.com]

My Zak

[Penel CIMDA moderator]

  awwww he's so cute.  I do love a blue roan cocker (I have one myself!)

[melhardy71@gmail.com]

thank you I think he is a cutie but I am a little biased lol. I have a golden cocker as well but there personalities couldn't be more different. Zak the Blue Roan is a complete clown and doesnt take anything seriously, doesnt sulk when told off and can't do anything slowly. But Macey the golden cocker is very shy, reserved and will sulk for hours if she gets told off. She acts like a proper little princess and does get rather fed up of the clown cocker jumping around at her all the time and just get on her nerves really lol. My little cross breed keeps the peace quite well by distracting Zak away from her and licking her face when she gets fed up of him lol. Never a dull day in the house 3 dogs 5 cats one of which is convinced he is a dog so sits for treats and hangs out with the dogs all the time just waiting for him to bark lol.

[Penel CIMDA moderator]

Sounds hilarious!  it's great to live with a multi dog household and adding cats (who think they are dogs) makes it even more fun!

[melhardy71@gmail.com]

Hi everyone Zak has now been on 1/2 a tablet every day now for 4 weeks so 2.5mg a day. He seems to be coping fine at the mo. The groomers kindly closed the salon so both my cockers could go in for a full clip each so zak didn't mix with any dogs while in there which was brill. His little legs are like sticks there doesn't seem to be any muscle left on his legs bless him. Had a panic when a bird dropped a piece of bread on the patio and he ate it but its been 72hrs now so looks like we got away with that not causing a flare up. So fingers crossed no sign of relapse yet with IMPA or flare up of his pancreas. Really hoping he is going to grow out of the IMPA as he was only 13 months when he got it so high chance he might. Back for next check up next week. Hope all fur babies are also doing ok on the site and wish you all well x

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi Mel

That's really good news about Zac.  I really don't see why he won't grow out of the IMPA but you will probably always have to watch out for his pancreas.  Cockers are a nightmare for eating the wrong things.

Jo

[melhardy71@gmail.com]

Hi another update on Zak, he was dropped down to 1/2 tablet every other day for 5 weeks then had full bloods done to check what his bacterial overgrowth readings were as there has been little weight gain and he has about 5-6 No2's a day and also tries to eat the other dogs no2's and after my vet discussing the results with the specialist it has been dedided that because he has done so well with the IMPA and the tapering has been so slow he can come off the steroids over the next 2 weeks with just 1/2 tablet twice a week. But the overgrowth readings were even higher so they pretty sure he has EPI now. So we have just finished a high course of antibiotics and he has gained 1/2kg already in 9 days which is good and we start the EPI supplements this week. So my iclke boy has gone from having no hope 7 months ago to hopefully been medication free from Thursday this week apart from the EPI supplement, he is also staying on the hypo allergenic moderate calorie food for his pancreatis. It has been a very rocky ride with all the conditions that Zak has had of the last few months and the amount of phonecalls we had about him being critical and there being little hope but with little hope there is hope and Zak has proved that. I know that this could all come crumbling back down again but for now we are relapse free and have a pancreatic dog with , IBD, IMPA, SIBO and now EPI but he is a tough little nut and has fought each one of these with his goonish humour. to those of you who are going through these rollercoaster journeys at the min there is hope it is just a very slow process to get everything right including medication, diet, dogs stress levels, exercise levels but we are finally getting there touch wood and which all of you and your dogs well

[Penel CIMDA moderator]

Hiya - good to hear from you.  I know Zak has been through a lot, but it's all worth it isn't it.  I hope the EPI medication all works as it should for him, please keep us updated won't you.  We do like to hear how the CIMDA dogs are getting on.

[Jo CIMDA]

Well done to Zak and you.  He is a success story and he should do well on the EPI medication.

I found out last week that a beardie girl who I have had a lot to do with over the years died.  Yes it is very sad but this old girl was nearly 15 and a half.  She became Addisonian when she was quite young, and then she developed SLO (nail destruction) and she got AIHA, oh and she was also hypothyroid, so she too is an amazing success story and I never thought she would make old bones but she did.  Just thought I would share this with you.

Jo

[shawkyelisabeth]

Great to hear this success story...congratulations...it shows that one should not give up hope in confronting these difficult diseases...it is one more success for CIMDA and its great members!
Good luck
Elisabeth with Cecil and her late soulmate Stella

[melhardy71@gmail.com]

Thank you so so much for your comments and it is good to read (even though a sad story) that dogs with these conditions and medical setbacks can live to get old bones. It is something we discuss alot in our house with Zak and cats that have had vrious serious health issues. We don't let Zak run around of lead like a loony bin he is incase it causes a relapse but try and balance a good dog life for him. We don't treat him the same as the other two dogs as we are aware that he is his own worse enemy but have now seemed to of found a happy balance with all three dogs. They all now have low fat food none of them get any human treats and Zak is seperated at feeding times so he doesnt get to see them have there dentastix's lol. We want him to have a long life but also a happy dogs life without putting him in cotton wool. Having said that when off lead he wears a DO NOT FEED hi-vis jacket and when on a kids playing field area off lead we sometimes muzzle him just so he cant find something he shouldn't eat on the field. Zak has taught us alot about being dog owners as well as learning how to deal with his various illnesses but most importantly patience with these things. There is no quick fix with these illnesses it takes time and alot of research and the invaluable daily diary which helped keep a constant log of how his body was coping with it all. I always read this forum and feel for the people who haven't got to the stage we have yet and I watch Zak everyday for any changes as they can happen so quickly but am very thankful that he is for the moment as healthy as he can be with the illnesses.

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi Mel71

It is so good to read about the positives of  having Zak in your life and how he has enabled you to adjust, and how he enjoys his life with you and the rest of his family.

Success!!!

Jo