Jax is getting put down

[jon carman]

I have talked to a bunch of people today and it seems the best I can hope for is Iams repaying me for the 2 bags of food I have. Jax is back home for a bucket list week and will go back in next week. I got a lot of responses on craigslist, but none had any signs as bad as mine. My vet said it could be the food, or any number of things over the past 4 years.

So I switched Josie to Nutro and am about to give Jax a bath and bring him in the house for the week.

[angel]

Would he be able to take a sample of the food and submit it for analysis? That's what some are doing. If it were one dog getting sick that would be one thing, but when both of them are sick it does point toward something they're eating not something they have going on inside them.

[dogtoothcichlid]

Jon,
I had forgotten about the recalls associated with melamine found in Menu Foods brand pet food in 2007. Here is a link to more info:
www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/safetyhealth/RecallsWithdrawals/ucm129932.htm

Kidney failure was the main symptom caused by the melamine, an industrial chemical which came from Chinese sources and was inserted to artificially increase the protein content.

I am not sure if you have any of the Iams food left, or how much a test for melamine would cost, but thought I should mention it.

Once again, I wanted to say how sorry I am to hear about Jax, and my thoughts are with you and your family during this ordeal.

[jon carman]

I got Jax on Blue canned dog food, and boiled chicken. He didn't throw up for the first time in a month today. He is under thirty pounds when he was 70, but if I can even get him to gain a little I will have hope. If somehow I can get him turned around by changing the food, then it was for sure the food.

The kidney problem is terrible because he can't hold his bladder and he just goes without warning.

[signde]

i hope he makes it. makes me sad to think about this.

[jon carman]

IMPROVEMENT!!! I switched his food and have been hand feeding him daily. I feed him Blue canned food in the morning and cook him boiled chicken breast at night. He hasn't thrown up in three days. He was on a thirty two day throw up streak. He is still skin and bones, but eating well.

His Kidneys may be what will do him in.

[brio]

Jon,
Very happy that Jax is eating again. Just wondering whether he had been tested for diabetes? Some of the symptoms are there.
Although you may be reluctant to feed him a different food since the one you're giving him seems to work for him, here is, just in case, a recipe that's been used with great success to increase weight gain:

Satin balls

2 ½ pounds of course ground regular ground beef (highest fat content)
2 cups multigrain type cereal (ie Total)
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup wheat germ
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup flax seed oil
1/3 cup molasses
2 envelopes Knox Gelatin
2 large eggs
½ cup garlic salt

Mix all ingredients like a meat loaf. Roll into meat balls. Freeze on cookie sheet.
When frozen transfer to zip lock bags.
Thaw a few each day and feed 3-4 satin balls per day.[/b]

Is he on a grain-free diet?
I really hope he feels better.
Sending dog zen to Jax.

[angel]

Do you cook this?

[jon carman]

Thanks, I will try it and see how he likes it.

[jon carman]

Update:

Jax is still sick, but I haven't put him down yet. He doesn't seem in pain except for bowl movements and puking. He doesn't throw up when he eats boiled chicken breast, but everything else won't stay down.

[angel]

Maybe there's hope he'll get better. That's good news Jon.

[nitroglyc]

Have you tried Science Diet? I feed my son, Runt (4 yo Rat Terrier), SD for sensitive skin. A bit pricey, but like most everything else, you get what you pay for.

[signde]

very sad but sounds like there is a chance. i hope he recovers.

[emilyee]

Sorry to hear that,Jon.

[charden]

Dude that is so sad