Advice for Diesel and his prednisone hunger.

[Trisha]

Hello all. My 10 mo old pup has SLE. He was diagnosed a month ago and he had great improvement when we first started his meds. Unfortunately with him growing and gaining weight he had a total relapse over the weekend. We have been back to our wonderful vet and his meds have been upped. Diesel is already dealing with extrem hunger and with the meds being up I have to think that the hunger will get worse. He is well trained and listens well but we struggle to keep him from eating sticks, grass, leaves and feces(Yuck!!) while outside. He is always supervised outside when he's out I'm out.  I was wondering if anyone has any tricks or tips to help ease his hunger without adding more calories to his diet? 
   
   A very hungry Diesel thanks you!

[Clover]

Mine still has the hunger too!    If he tolerates veggies ok then green beans and plain pumpkin are full of fiber and low calorie, helping to make him feel fuller. In my experience though, they are never truly satiated. Mine will still eat stool if I'm not watching over her, and she's not even on the pred any longer (and she was never coprophagous before). She also eats lint and kitty litter dust off the floor. 
I sympathise!

[Catherine]

Trisha, I can offer a tip to help stop him picking up and eating things outdoors and that is to put a muzzle on him when he goes outdoors, especially off the lead. If you get him used to a muzzle, maybe the soft type, indoors first and gradually he should soon accept it especially if you can take his mind off it. He will probably look very sorry for himself and make you feel guilty BUT it will help stop him getting tummy upsets or whatever by eating everything in sight! Also it will save you having to keep trying to get to the undesirables before he does! Beware, though, with some muzzles they can still get their tongues out to lick things.

[Trisha]

Clover and Catherine thank you for your help. Clover great idea on the pumpkin I used that years ago with another dog and I guess I had just forgotten about that and the green beans he loves. Catherine we have been talking about getting a basket type muzzle for outside. I guess I didn't do it yet because I felt bad but it's got to be better than eating nasty thing and getting sick. Thanks for the advice makes me feel better to know someone else is thinking the same way I am. I will be getting a muzzle soon so he can have some more outside time free from me following him all over.  Thank you all

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi

I'm sorry Diesel has relapsed.  I hope the vet has put him on a gastroprotectant.

Jo

[Trisha]

Jo
  Thank you. We are hoping this new dosage will help. It is much more acurate for his weight. Also yes he is on a stomach protectant. We started that weeks ago when we first started his pred. He takes it 2 times daily when he takes the pred. It seems to work well in protecting his stomach we have only had a few times where he has vomited or acted as if the meds bothered his stomach. Fingers crossed this dose works if there is no improvement by next week doc wants to try another drug or at least add another in. 
     

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi

I'm pleased he is on a gastroprotectant.

I think its is a good idea to start another drug because the ones they use as a 'combination' drug, such as cyclosporin or Azathioprine, take at least 4-6 weeks and sometimes a lot longer to have full effect.  Starting this now will allow you to wean down the steroids and still maintain a good level of immunosuppression.  A combination drug is probably needed more with SLE that any other AI disease.

Jo